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Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem
  • Africa Tech Perspectives
New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.
MTN, Microsoft trial 5G in cloud
  • Connecting Africa News
MTN Group has conducted a proof-of-concept deployment for a 5G standalone core using cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure.
Omdia View: February 2023
  • Connecting Africa News
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.
GSMA backs African climate resilience startups
  • Connecting Africa News
GSMA opens applications for grants backing projects that use mobile and digital technology to improve climate resilience and help with adaptation in selected regions, including Africa.
BFS to manage Burkina Faso's fiber route
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Burkina Faso has contracted Bridge Fiber Solutions (BFS), a subsidiary of Telecel Faso SA, to manage and operate its 3,000km national fiber optic backbone network.
SA power cuts knock $38M off MTN Group earnings
  • Paula Gilbert
Extensive power cuts in South Africa impacted MTN Group's earnings by R695 million ($38 million) as the operator plans to ramp up installation of more power backups for towers across the country.
Zambia's active mobile subscriptions drop by 2%
  • Matshepo Sehloho
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has released a report that shows active mobile phone subscriptions have fallen by 2% to 19.8 million at the end of 2022 from 20.2 million in 2021.
Orange, OneWeb ink deal to connect Africa's underserved
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Pan-African telecoms operator Orange has partnered with UK-based LEO satellite company OneWeb to use its burgeoning constellation to provide fronthaul and backhaul connectivity to the telco's African customers.
African telcos, vendors make deals at MWC 2023
  • Paula Gilbert
The 2023 Mobile World Congress saw several deals made between Africa telecoms operators and global vendors like Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei for rollout of 4G and 5G across Africa.
Kenyan enterprises lag in leadership gender parity – IBM
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Tech giant IBM has released a report claiming that Kenyan organizations are lagging when it comes to female representation, with only 11% of C-suite jobs held by women, while 41% of junior professional/specialist roles are filled by women.
Challenges and opportunities for women's tech careers
  • Africa Tech Perspectives
A new survey reveals that COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, skills shortages and a lack of mentorship have negatively affected women's career development over the past two years.
Massive BCS fiber route & Orange digital center coming to DRC
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Telecoms company Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank to build a 1,200km fiber network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Orange has also launched its 15th African digital center in the country.
Hot startup of the month: Egypt's Plstka
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Egyptian startup Plstka is helping companies and consumers in the Delta region exchange their recyclable trash for discounts and coupons for everyday services like food, healthcare, and transportation.
Sonatel Group profit rises by 10% in 2022
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Orange subsidiary Sonatel Group recorded a consolidated net profit of 279 billion CFA francs (US$450 million) at the end of the 2022 financial year despite tough competition.
Five sustainable startups to watch in 2023
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Connecting Africa has compiled a list of five sustainable startups that are making innovative impacts in the lives of the communities they serve.
Namibia kicks off spectrum auction
  • Matshepo Sehloho
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has commenced an auctioning process for radio frequency spectrum in the 700MHz and 800MHz bands.
Vodafone sells out of Ghana
  • Paula Gilbert
Vodafone has completed the sale of its 70% shareholding in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Group.
Bolt to invest $530M in Africa
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Ride-sharing platform Bolt has announced that it will be investing €500 million (US$530 million) in its operations on the African continent over the next two years.
SA networks given deadline for 4G/5G completion
  • Paula Gilbert
South Africa's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says that telecoms operators have five years to complete the rollout of 4G and 5G networks in the country – including to all rural areas.
MTN, Airtel sign roaming deal in Congo
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Congo's Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Post (ARPCE) has announced that mobile operators MTN and Airtel have signed a roaming deal in the country.
MTN to invest $1B in Ghana
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Mobile operator MTN has committed to investing US$1 billion in Ghana over the next five years after the Ghanaian government exempted the telco from US$773 million in tax claims.
Ericsson, Tigo to launch 5G in Tanzania
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has entered a partnership with Tigo Tanzania to launch 5G services and upgrade the operator's existing 4G network.
Survey: Opportunities for Women in Tech
  • Africa Tech Perspectives
Take our new survey for women across Asia, Europe and Africa looking at the biggest challenges and opportunities for women-led enterprises and trends in tech careers for women.
2Africa reaches the shores of Madagascar
  • Paula Gilbert
The 2Africa subsea cable system has made another step forward, this time landing in the island nation of Madagascar as it works its way up Africa's East Coast.
Innovative tech contributes to fatality-free mines
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Industry experts spoke about the role technology plays in reducing fatalities in the mining industry as part of a panel discussion in Johannesburg, hosted by Spanish technology company Torsa.
Telkom SA shedding 15% of workforce
  • Paula Gilbert
South African telecoms operator Telkom is joining the global layoff trend, announcing plans to shed up to 15% of its workforce as part of a group restructuring.
Orange opens Digital Center in Sierra Leone
  • Matshepo Sehloho
Pan-African operator Orange and the German Development Cooperation have opened an Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone's capital city Freetown, making it the 14th center of its kind across the Middle East and Africa.


Innovation hub

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

Video

Podcast: What's the Story? African tech startups score $3.3B in funding

Connecting Africa's Paula Gilbert joins this Light Reading podcast to explain why the fintech sector is bringing in the most funding, which countries are leading the way for most funding and what these trends mean for the continent as a whole.

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Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

Story

Challenges and opportunities for women's tech careers

A new survey reveals that COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, skills shortages and a lack of mentorship have negatively affected women's career development over the past two years.

Story

Survey: Opportunities for Women in Tech

Take our new survey for women across Asia, Europe and Africa looking at the biggest challenges and opportunities for women-led enterprises and trends in tech careers for women.

More AfricaCom perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: July 2022

By Omdia Analysts

Kenya and Zambia move towards 5G with new spectrum allocations while Tunisie Telecom plans to shut down its 3G network - that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: June 2022

By Omdia Analysts

5G was the major news trend across Africa in June, as Orange became the first operator to launch 5G in Réunion and operators in Senegal accelerated their 5G plans despite spectrum delays.

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