News & Views

Vodacom KZN to invest $53M into network improvement, rural sites

Paula Gilbert
9/22/2023

Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will invest over R1 billion (US$53 million) this financial year into its network — to increase capacity and resilience and accelerate connectivity, particularly in rural areas of the SA province.

Omdia View: August 2023

Guest Perspectives
9/22/2023

Highlights in August 2023 in the Middle East and Africa included a commercial 5G launch from Ethio Telecom and the signing of a virtual wheeling agreement between Vodacom South Africa and Eskom – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Cassava Tech Talks, Ep. 1: Building African Intelligence

Paula Gilbert
9/21/2023

The pilot episode of the Cassava Tech Talks podcast covers the transformative power of technology to reduce the digital divide by leveraging true African Intelligence. Guests are Hardy Pemhiwa, Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, and Hendrik Malan, CEO of Frost & Sullivan Sub-Saharan Africa. #sponsored

Interoperability key for mobile financial inclusion – AfricaNenda

Paula Gilbert
9/20/2023

AfricaNenda Deputy CEO Sabine Mensah believes that increased interoperability in Africa's fintech sector and more policy harmonization will aid financial inclusion.

Bob van Dijk steps down as Naspers, Prosus CEO

Paula Gilbert
9/19/2023

Bob van Dijk – the CEO of Africa's biggest listed company, Naspers, and Dutch technology investment company Prosus – has stepped down with immediate effect.

InDrive enters Zimbabwe's Bulawayo

Matshepo Sehloho
9/19/2023

Ride-sharing platform InDrive is expanding its services to Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo after successfully introducing its services in the capital of Harare in May this year.

Kenyan President pitches Silicon Savannah investment to Silicon Valley

Matshepo Sehloho
9/18/2023

Kenyan President William Ruto met several American tech CEOs during a US-Kenya business roadshow last week to pitch Kenya as an investment destination.

MTN signs IoT deal in SA, e-waste recycling project in Benin

Paula Gilbert
9/18/2023

MTN South Africa announced a partnership with Eseye, a global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) services, while MTN Benin has opened up about an e-waste recycling project in collaboration with Ericsson.

Egyptian government to sell more of Telecom Egypt

Matshepo Sehloho
9/15/2023

The Egyptian government is considering selling another 10% - 15% stake in Telecom Egypt, following a 10% sale in May.

Ethiopia gives global investors more time to apply for telecom license

Paula Gilbert
9/15/2023

The Ethiopian Communications Authority has extended the deadline for international operators to show interest in applying for a new telecom license to operate in the country.

MTN Nigeria adds more spectrum to network arsenal

Matshepo Sehloho
9/14/2023

MTN Nigeria has acquired spectrum in the 2.6GHz band from OpenSkys to enhance capacity and customer experience on its Nigerian network.

Liquid launches Kenya-Ethiopia, Zambia-Malawi fiber routes

Paula Gilbert
9/14/2023

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has announced the launch of two new terrestrial fiber routes connecting Kenya to Ethiopia and Zambia to Malawi.

Ethio Telecom launches commercial 5G in Ethiopia

Matshepo Sehloho
9/13/2023

Ethiopian state-owned telecom operator Ethio Telecom has launched commercial 5G services.

SA government pledges $158M for 'SA Connect' program by 2025

Paula Gilbert
9/13/2023

South Africa plans to spend R3 billion (US$158 million) by 2025 on its 'SA Connect' project, which aims to connect all government municipalities, healthcare facilities and schools to the Internet.

Congo warns Airtel, MTN over low SIM registrations

Matshepo Sehloho
9/12/2023

L'Agence de Regulation des Postes et des Communications Electroniques (ARPCE), has issued a warning to Airtel and MTN over the failure to register an adequate rate of SIM cards to subscribers.

Kenya authorities want TikTok live banned

Matshepo Sehloho
9/11/2023

The Kenyan Film Classification Board (KFCB) has requested video platform TikTok to disable its live feature as part of content regulation measures in the country.

MTN Nigeria terminates tower deal with IHS, picks ATC

Paula Gilbert
9/11/2023

Telecom operator MTN is changing its tower supplier in Nigeria, ending a deal with IHS Nigeria and signing with American Tower Corporation (ATC) from 2025 onward.

MTN SA launches Xlerator to support small businesses

Matshepo Sehloho
9/8/2023

MTN South Africa has launched the MTN Xlerator program to scale and improve procurement processes and the development of its local small and medium enterprise suppliers.

4Sight Holdings ramps up 4IR, enterprise tech expansion

Paula Gilbert
9/8/2023

4Sight Holdings CEO Tertius Zitzke spoke with Connecting Africa about the diversified technology group's expansion plans in Africa and globally, as demand for digital transformation and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) tech grows in the enterprise market.

Bayobab gets national long-distance operator license in Nigeria

Matshepo Sehloho
9/7/2023

Bayobab Group, formerly MTN GlobalConnect, has been granted a national long-distance operator license by the regulatory authorities in Nigeria.

Niger's military council proposes merger between Niger, Zamani Telecoms

Matshepo Sehloho
9/6/2023

The military council of Niger's communication, posts and digital economy minister, Sidi Mohamed Rahilou, has proposed a merger between state-owned Niger Telecoms and mobile operator Zamani Telecom.

Vodafone, Amazon's Project Kuiper to extend 4G/5G reach

Matshepo Sehloho
9/5/2023

Vodafone and Project Kuiper, Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications initiative, have collaborated to extend the reach of 4G/5G services to its customers in Africa and Europe.

Telkom Kenya's towers shut down by ATC due to non-payment of fees

Matshepo Sehloho
9/4/2023

American Towers Corporation (ATC) has disconnected Telkom Kenya from its tower infrastructure for failing to pay site leasing fees.

Safaricom inks deal with Kenyan banks to fund sustainability agenda

Connecting Africa News
9/4/2023

Kenyan telecoms operator Safaricom has announced the closure of a US$103 million sustainability linked loan to strengthen its environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda.

Malawi, ITU launch mobile network quality project

Matshepo Sehloho
9/1/2023

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have launched a project to deal with concerns about the declining quality of service (QoS) in mobile services in the country.

MTN gives $53K to women-owned digital SMMEs

Connecting Africa News
9/1/2023

MTN Foundation has chosen ten female digital pioneers who will each receive R100,000 (US$5,360) in prize money from the 2023 edition of the MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge.

Five African healthtech startups to watch

Matshepo Sehloho
8/31/2023

Connecting Africa has compiled a list of five African healthtech startups that have been making an impact in the lives of the communities they serve and are worth keeping an eye on in 2023.

Vodacom, Eskom sign 'virtual wheeling' power deal in SA

Paula Gilbert
8/31/2023

Telecom operator Vodacom has signed a "virtual wheeling agreement" with state-owned power company Eskom, which aims to help accelerate efforts to solve South Africa's energy crisis.

Power cuts, Cell C impact SA's Blue Label Telecoms earnings

Paula Gilbert
8/30/2023

South Africa's Blue Label Telecoms' full year earnings have again been negatively impacted by its investment in mobile operator Cell C, as well as rolling blackouts that plagued the country over the past year.

MTN invests in Cameroon, signs 5G enterprise deal in Nigeria

Matshepo Sehloho
8/30/2023

MTN Group has committed to invest US$225 million over three years in Cameroon in a bid to rectify a legal dispute, while MTN Nigeria is set to deploy 5G services to facilitate business optimization to Seplat Energy.

African fintechs raised $2.7B since 2021 – Disrupt Africa

Paula Gilbert
8/29/2023

Disrupt Africa's 'Finnovating for Africa' 2023 report found that the number of African fintech startups grew 17.7% over the past two years and they raised more than $2.7 billion in funding.

Testify equips Nigerians with software testing skills

Matshepo Sehloho
8/29/2023

Nigerian software testing consultancy firm and academy Testify aspires to equip 5,000 people with employable tech skills through software testing by 2025.

Connecting Africa Podcast S2 Ep. 10 – Financial inclusion reality check

Connecting Africa News
8/28/2023

On the final podcast episode for season two, hosts Tobi Lafinhan, Paula Gilbert and Matshepo Sehloho discuss financial inclusion in Africa and whether fintech services like mobile money are making the impact they promise.

Malawi, Zambia ink affordable Internet MoU

Matshepo Sehloho
8/28/2023

Malawi and Zambia have signed an agreement to establish a 'Diplomatic Data Corridor' aimed at enhancing Internet connectivity and reduce data prices between the two countries.

Ghana to establish neutral shared infrastructure for 5G

Paula Gilbert
8/25/2023

Ghana will establish a neutral shared infrastructure company to deliver nationwide 4G and 5G services, according to Communications and Digitalisation Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

Mauritania mandates SIM registration process

Matshepo Sehloho
8/25/2023

Mauritania's telecommunications regulator, ARE, has told mobile subscribers to register their SIM cards before October 6, 2023.

Google launches AI accelerator for Africa

Connecting Africa News
8/24/2023

Google has announced a new Startups Accelerator: AI First program aimed specifically at startups looking to use artificial intelligence to solve local challenges.

Hot startup of the month: South Africa's Quro Medical

Matshepo Sehloho
8/24/2023

This month's hot startup is Quro Medical, a digital health company offering various remote patient monitoring solutions in South Africa.

Somalia bans TikTok, Telegram and 1XBet

Matshepo Sehloho
8/23/2023

Somalia's communications minister, Jama Hassan Khalif, has banned online platforms TikTok, Telegram and 1XBet over concerns related to the spread of explicit content, blackmail and promotion of gambling.

South Africa's comms bill could impact investment – MTN CEO

Matshepo Sehloho
8/22/2023

MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita has slammed South Africa's Electronic Communications Amendment Bill saying that it could impact on investment opportunities for the private sector.

What lies ahead for digital regulations in Africa

Connecting Africa News
8/22/2023

ICT Analyst Francis Hook outlines the future of digital regulations in Africa.

Airtel Chad fined $8.3M for deteriorating network

Paula Gilbert
8/21/2023

Chad's telecoms regulator has slapped Airtel Chad with a fine of 5 billion Central Africa CFA francs (US$8.3 million) for poor network quality.

InDrive enters Lesotho, Bolt announces African milestones

Matshepo Sehloho
8/21/2023

Ride-hailing platform InDrive has expanded into Lesotho while Bolt has completed 400 million rides in South Africa as well as 100 million in Kenya.

MTN SA CTIO leaves, two execs replace him

Paula Gilbert
8/18/2023

MTN South Africa's Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) Michele Gamberini has resigned, and his role has been split with two new execs appointed.

2Africa submarine cable lands in Mozambique

Paula Gilbert
8/17/2023

Vodacom has landed the latest section of the 2Africa submarine cable in the city of Nacala in northern Mozambique.

Safaricom launches M-Pesa in Ethiopia

Paula Gilbert
8/17/2023

Mobile financial services platform M-Pesa is now officially live in Ethiopia, three months after Safaricom Ethiopia was given a license to operate mobile money in the country.

MAZIV embarks on $21M SA fiber expansion project

Paula Gilbert
8/16/2023

MAZIV, the parent company of fiber infrastructure providers Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel, has embarked on a R400 million (US$21 million) infrastructure expansion project in South Africa.

Cell C CFO Lerato Pule resigns

Matshepo Sehloho
8/16/2023

South African mobile operator Cell C CFO Lerato Pule has resigned less than a year after taking over from Zaf Mahomed.

MTN not pursuing Telkom SA buyout

Matshepo Sehloho
8/16/2023

MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita has refuted rumors that there are fresh merger talks between the Group and Telkom SA.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies launches Gaborone metro fiber ring in Botswana

Paula Gilbert
8/15/2023

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has launched its Gaborone Metro Ring, aiming to boost connectivity for businesses in Botswana.

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Omdia View: February 2023

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In February 2023 key events in the Middle East and Africa included a major Internet project for Africa's underserved by Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Microsoft as well as a 5G launch in Tanzania – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

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