An Analysys Mason study commissioned by Nokia concludes that operators can expect to save up to 65% on costs by implementing IP network automation. Analysys Mason interviewed a group of global operators about their network automation strategies and results, collecting more than 60 data points. The analysts then extrapolated the benefits that can be expected from going down the automation route.

MTN Uganda is going ahead with an initial public offering (IPO), announcing its intention to float 20% of its shares on the Uganda Securities Exchange.

And, in related news, MTN-owned IHS Towers has begun marketing its IPO of 22,500,000 ordinary shares. IHS Towers operates more than 30,000 towers across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Belgium's Proximus is launching Banx, a digital banking platform which, says the operator, allows users to monitor the impact of their purchases on the planet, thereby encouraging more "sustainable" choices. The platform is also linked to a CO2 dashboard developed by Swedish company Doconomy; this allows Banx customers to see their ecological footprint expressed in kilograms of CO2.

Olivetti, which these days is Telecom Italia's IoT arm, has agreed to acquire Rome-based Staer Sistemi, a system integrator and product developer in the IoT sector. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Ericsson has landed a five-year BSS gig at Qatar-based operator Ooredoo. The Swedish vendor's Digital Monetisation Platform (DMP), a suite of convergent charging and billing software, will form part of the deal.

Greece's Intracom Telecom has teamed up with Ecomaks Solutions for a smart-city project in Belgrade, Serbia. The hope is that Intracom's data acquisition and modeling tools will help reduce air pollution, using a network of air-quality monitoring stations spread across the city.

As if Facebook didn't have enough on its plate at the moment, Reuters reports that the social media giant could still face a substantial fine at the hands of Russia's communications regulator for failing to delete banned content quickly enough. Last week the regulator, Roskomnadzor, threatened to whack Facebook with a fine of up to 10% of its annual Russian turnover unless it got rid of the offending content, which included posts containing child pornography and extremist content.

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading