News & Views

Digital transformation needs security to be sustainable – BlackBerry

Matshepo Sehloho
8/14/2023

BlackBerry executive Neelam Sandhu believes that for digital transformation to succeed on the African continent, cybersecurity needs to be at the forefront.

Mastercard to buy stake in MTN's $5.2B fintech business

Paula Gilbert
8/14/2023

MTN Group announced that Mastercard plans to become a minority investor in its fintech business, which the pan-African telco values at $5.2 billion.

Senegal's national roaming live

Matshepo Sehloho
8/11/2023

Senegal's Regulation Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP) has welcomed the implementation of roaming arrangements between the country's mobile network operators.

South Africa's CompCom says no to Vodacom-MAZIV deal

Matshepo Sehloho
8/10/2023

South Africa's Competition Commission (CompCom) has recommended that Vodacom's $696 million acquisition of a stake in fiber operator MAZIV be blocked.

WACS, SAT-3 undersea cable breaks slow SA's Internet

Matshepo Sehloho
8/8/2023

The West African Cable System (WACS) and the South Atlantic 3 (SAT-3) undersea cables have experienced breaks causing slow Internet in South Africa.

Safaricom Ethiopia closes $257M IFC deal

Paula Gilbert
8/8/2023

Safaricom Ethiopia has closed a deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which includes an equity investment of $157.4 million and a $100 million loan.

Podcast: What's the Story? SA regulator cracks down on Big Tech

Connecting Africa Video
8/8/2023

Connecting Africa's Paula Gilbert joined the podcast to discuss why global online platform giants Google, Apple, Booking.com and Uber Eats as well as local online retailers and classifieds are in trouble with South Africa's Competition Commission.

Edtech app G-Quiz helping Gambian students pass exams

Connecting Africa News
8/7/2023

Gambian edtech app G-Quiz is helping secondary school students prepare for exams and has ambitions to expand into both anglophone and francophone countries in West Africa, as well as parts of North Africa.

Powertel to invest $50M in Zimbabwe's fiber network

Matshepo Sehloho
8/7/2023

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) subsidiary Powertel Communications will be investing $50 million toward expanding the country's fiber network.

Uber Eats pledges $10.7M investment in SA, after competition watchdog report

Paula Gilbert
8/4/2023

Uber Eats promised to invest R200 million (US$10.7 million) to create economic opportunities for youth in South Africa's low-income areas just days after landing in hot water with the country's Competition Commission.

There are no borders in cybersecurity – Gambian Comms Minister

Matshepo Sehloho
8/4/2023

Ministers and deputy ministers from five African countries agreed that to protect their citizens from cybercrime, they needed to stop working in silos, they said during a panel discussion at Cybertech Africa in Rwanda.

Emtel launches 5G in Mauritius

Paula Gilbert
8/3/2023

Telecoms operator Emtel has become the second operator to launch 5G services in the island nation of Mauritius.

5G launches in Uganda, Zambia

Paula Gilbert
8/2/2023

MTN and Airtel have both launched 5G services in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, and Airtel has begun rolling out 5G in Zambian capital Lusaka.

Africa must work together to fight cybercrime – Rwanda ICT Minister

Matshepo Sehloho
8/1/2023

Speaking at Cybertech Africa, Rwanda ICT Minister Paula Ingabire urges African countries to collaborate on cybergovernance. 'The importance of a reliable digital ecosystem cannot be overstated,' she says.

SA competition watchdog takes on Google, Apple, other online platforms

Paula Gilbert
8/1/2023

South Africa's Competition Commission has taken aim at global tech companies Google, Apple and Uber Eats, as well as local online retailers and classifieds, demanding remedial actions to improve competition for smaller players.

Opensignal: South Africa has Africa's fastest download speed

Paula Gilbert
7/31/2023

New analysis from Opensignal shows that smartphone users in South Africa enjoy the fastest download speeds and most consistent quality of mobile services in Africa, while Morocco leads for upload speed.

Skills training important to combat cybersecurity breaches

Matshepo Sehloho
7/28/2023

The Zora Group CEO Kgomotso Motshidi believes that providing cybersecurity skills could work in alleviating security breaches.

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's She Code Africa

Matshepo Sehloho
7/28/2023

This month's hot startup is She Code Africa, a non-profit organization that aims to empower young girls and women in Africa through digital skills.

Connecting Africa Podcast S2 Ep. 9 – Financial literacy & wealth creation

Paula Gilbert
7/27/2023

The Connecting Africa Podcast team spoke to Bamboo co-founder and CEO Richmond Bassey about his fintech app, which is giving Africans global investment opportunities and promoting financial literacy to help grow the wealth of the continent and its people.

The state of Africa's edtech sector

Connecting Africa News
7/26/2023

Africa's edtech market continues to grow as tech and education entrepreneurs seek to improve the digital education divide and prepare the workforce for jobs of the future.

SpaceX's Starlink launches in Malawi

Matshepo Sehloho
7/26/2023

Elon Musk's SpaceX satellite Internet service, Starlink, has entered the Malawian market.

Axian to buy controlling stake in Free Senegal

Matshepo Sehloho
7/25/2023

Axian Telecom has signed a deal to acquire a further 40% stake in Senegalese operator Free, taking its total ownership up to 80% shareholding in the operator.

IBM: Egyptian & South African CEOs bank on advanced AI success

Paula Gilbert
7/25/2023

A report from IBM's Institute for Business Value found 50% of CEOs in Egypt and South Africa believe generative AI, deep learning and machine learning are crucial to their success over the next three years.

MTN, Airtel launch 4G in Rwanda

Matshepo Sehloho
7/24/2023

Telecommunications operators MTN and Airtel have launched 4G networks in Rwanda after both telcos' operating licenses were amended to allow them to roll out 4G technology in the country.

Vodacom Q1 revenue jumps 37% on back of Egypt deal, weak rand

Paula Gilbert
7/21/2023

Vodacom Group revenue increased almost 37% to US$2 billion for the first quarter of the financial year, due to its addition of Vodafone Egypt and the rand's recent depreciation.

Telkom SA wins legal battle against President's SIU probe

Matshepo Sehloho
7/21/2023

South African telecom operator Telkom has won a court case against SA President Cyril Ramaphosa over his directive that authorized a wide-ranging probe by the country's Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

Africa Tech Perspectives
7/21/2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Ghana regulator introduces technology neutrality for telcos

Matshepo Sehloho
7/20/2023

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) has introduced technology neutrality for non-SMP telecommunications operators as a measure to correct market imbalances and boost consumer choice.

BOSS Money expands into Francophone Africa

Paula Gilbert
7/19/2023

Money transfer and remittance service BOSS Money is expanding into Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and the DRC.

Elon Musk's Starlink enters Kenya

Matshepo Sehloho
7/19/2023

SpaceX's satellite Internet service, Starlink, has entered the Kenyan market, intensifying competition to the country's local players.

Sonatel gets 5G license in Senegal

Paula Gilbert
7/18/2023

Senegal's telecoms regulator has granted a 'provisional' 5G license to Sonatel (Orange Senegal) as it outbid the competition.

SA ride-hailing drivers turn off engines in protest

Matshepo Sehloho
7/18/2023

South African ride-hailing drivers from Uber, Bolt and inDrive are participating in a nationwide protest over poor working conditions, low wages and safety concerns.

African telcos must prepare for sophisticated AI cyberattacks – Magix

Paula Gilbert
7/17/2023

Magix MD for Africa Kevin Wotshela told Connecting Africa that the African telecoms industry must prioritize implementing strong security measures, as threats continue to become more sophisticated due to artificial intelligence.

MTN focuses on youth development in SA & Zambia

Matshepo Sehloho
7/17/2023

The MTN Group has focused on youth development in South Africa and Zambia through its Digital Skills for Digital Jobs program and PachiPanda Innovation Challenge.

Vodacom Business chief William Mzimba to retire

Paula Gilbert
7/14/2023

Vodacom South Africa's Chief Officer of Vodacom Business, William Mzimba, will retire at the end of September after a five-year tenure at the operator.

MTN's Bayobab to manage Central African Republic fiber infrastructure

Matshepo Sehloho
7/14/2023

Bayobab, subsidiary of Pan-African operator MTN, has secured a contract to manage, operate and maintain national fiber infrastructure in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Ericsson, MTN connect rural Benin with solar-powered towers

Paula Gilbert
7/13/2023

Ericsson and MTN are partnering to provide mobile broadband services to remote rural areas in Benin using solar power solutions.

Angola gets connected through multiple deals

Matshepo Sehloho
7/12/2023

Angola is set to receive high-capacity wireless offshore communication solutions from Paratus and Ceragon as well as high-speed connectivity through fiber backbone expansion by Liquid Dataport.

Podcast: Blessing Abeng on digital skills for Africa's youth

Connecting Africa Video
7/12/2023

Africa Tech Radio Host Anthony Ibe joined Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert for a crossover podcast episode with Ingressive for Good Co-Founder Blessing Abeng about digital skills development in Africa.

Africa's fintech market to top US$65B by 2030

Paula Gilbert
7/11/2023

South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya are leading the way for Africa to become the fastest growing fintech market, with fintech revenues projected to grow thirteenfold to US$65 billion in 2030, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors.

Partnerships key for Uganda's digital transformation – Regulator

Matshepo Sehloho
7/11/2023

Uganda's ICT regulator believes that smart partnerships are important to help the country become fully digital.

Telkom SA says 'no thanks' to another acquisition offer

Paula Gilbert
7/10/2023

Telkom South Africa's board has decided not to continue discussions with a consortium led by former CEO Sipho Maseko, which had made an offer to acquire a controlling stake in the operator.

Airtel launches 5G in Kenya

Matshepo Sehloho
7/10/2023

Airtel Kenya has become the second telecom operator to launch a fifth-generation (5G) network in the East African country.

Ericsson eyes mobile financial services growth in Africa

Paula Gilbert
7/7/2023

Swedish multinational Ericsson is pushing further into mobile financial services and working to improve financial inclusion for underserved Africans, especially women.

Huawei: Skills shortage hinders Africa's digital transformation

Matshepo Sehloho
7/7/2023

Africa's skills shortage is limiting the continent's ability to realize its full digital potential, Huawei's sub-Saharan Africa President Leo Chen told the Huawei Eco-Connect 2023 conference in Johannesburg this week.

SA's FTTH prices slowly trending down – Africa Analysis

Paula Gilbert
7/6/2023

Research from Africa Analysis found that uncapped fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) users in South Africa experienced slight declines in monthly fees over the past two years, while some ISPs increased line speeds at no additional cost.

SA's Information Regulator fines justice department over data breach

Paula Gilbert
7/5/2023

South Africa's Information Regulator has handed down a landmark fine of R5 million (US$267,400) to the country's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for failing to protect personal information during a data breach in 2021.

Five African AI startups to watch in 2023

Matshepo Sehloho
7/5/2023

Connecting Africa has compiled a list of five AI-powered startups that have been making an impact in the lives of the communities they serve and are worth watching in 2023.

Telecoms liberalization in Africa, what lies ahead for national operators

Connecting Africa News
7/4/2023

ICT Analyst Francis Hook outlines Africa's telecommunications liberalization journey and discusses the paths that national operators can take to successfully move into the digital era of telecoms.

Sedna technologies creating smart African mines

Matshepo Sehloho
7/4/2023

Sedna Industrial IT Solutions is working with Southern African mines to deploy smart technologies that help improve functionality and safety.

<<
<
Page 2 / 2

View Content by Month

[close this box]

Latest resources

More Information resources

Innovation hub

Story

InDrive enters Zimbabwe's Bulawayo

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.

Story

Five African healthtech startups to watch

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.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

Industry announcements

Nominations open for Africa Tech Festival Awards 2023
Johannesburg, Thursday, August 24, 2023
Cybertech Africa: The pan-African event for innovation and networking
Kigali, Rwanda, Wednesday, May 17, 2023

More Industry announcements

Accelerating Africa's business opportunities with an adaptable 5G

By Red Hat

Future proof your business with integrated customer experience

By Digital Solutions Group

Boosting digital inclusion for socio-economic improvement

By Amdocs

How innovative device financing can help Africa's mobile evolution

By Trustonic

Augmented reality's impact on the future of work for frontline workers

By TeamViewer

All Partner Perspectives

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

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.

More AfricaCom perspectives

Upcoming events

Nextv Series Africa

October 4-5, 2023
Hotel Sky Sandton, Johannesburg

Africa Tech Festival, Home of AfricaCom and AfricaTech

November 13-16, 2023
CTICC, Cape Town

More Upcoming events

Flash poll

All polls

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: August 2023

By Omdia Analysts

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.

Story

Omdia View: February 2023

By Omdia Analysts

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.

More Guest Perspectives

News & Views

Latest resources

Innovation hub

Latest video

Industry announcements

Sponsored video

Partner perspectives

Africa Tech Perspectives

Upcoming events

Flash poll

Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up