News & Views

Content posted in June 2021

Mobile services disrupted in Eswatini amid protests

Paula Gilbert
6/30/2021

Mobile users in Eswatini are experiencing connection problems, with reports that the government has forced an Internet shutdown.

Nigerian SIM registrations limp on

Paula Gilbert
6/30/2021

Nigeria's SIM card registration process continues this month after yet another extension in the deadline, this time until July 26, 2021.

Vodacom unveils VodaPay 'super app' details

Paula Gilbert
6/29/2021

Vodacom has begun onboarding merchants and developers for its 'super app,' VodaPay, which is set to launch in South Africa later this year.

Research Bites: ICT adoption amongst Uganda's SMEs

Guest Perspectives
6/28/2021

This article, in collaboration with the African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, explores the factors influencing the adoption of ICT by small and medium enterprises in Uganda.

Interview: Orange's Elisabeth Medou Badang on digital inclusion

Connecting Africa Video
6/25/2021

Senior VP for Orange Middle East and Africa, Elisabeth Medou Badang, sat down with Paula Gilbert to discuss digital inclusion in Africa and the telco's recent investment in Moroccan health-tech company DabaDoc.

Cell C has switched off a third of its RAN network

Paula Gilbert
6/24/2021

Cell C has now decommissioned 34% of its physical radio access network (RAN) sites in South Africa and 100% in the provinces of the Eastern Cape, Free State and Northern Cape.

Safaricom launches M-Pesa 'super app'

Paula Gilbert
6/23/2021

Safaricom has launched its long-awaited M-Pesa 'super app' with new features like offline mode as well as mini-apps within the app.

MTN commits $1.5B Nigerian investment

Paula Gilbert
6/22/2021

MTN has pledged to invest 640 billion naira (US$1.5 billion) over the next three years to expand broadband access in Nigeria and will also build a new flagship headquarters in Lagos.

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Bankly

Tom Jackson
6/21/2021

Nigerian startup Bankly is digitizing cash for people who work in the informal sector and helping unbanked Nigerians save money, invest and gain access to credit and other financial services.

MTN appoints Eliane Houphouet-Boigny as new Guinea-Bissau CEO

Connecting Africa News
6/18/2021

Eliane Houphouet-Boigny is taking over as the CEO of MTN Guinea-Bissau from Freddie Mokoena.

Sub-Saharan Africa has world's worst mobile gender gap

Paula Gilbert
6/18/2021

Women in sub-Saharan Africa are 37% less likely to use mobile Internet than men, according to the GSMA – giving it the largest mobile gender gap globally.

5G lags in sub-Saharan Africa

Paula Gilbert
6/17/2021

Ericsson believes 5G and 4G subscriptions will continue to grow in sub-Saharan Africa over the next six years, but 3G will remain the most dominant tech in 2026.

Ethiopia starts process to sell 40% of Ethio Telecom

Connecting Africa News
6/15/2021

Ethiopia's government has officially opened the tendering process to private investors for the sale of a 40% stake in state-owned telecoms operator Ethio Telecom.

Former Vodacom CTO to take reins at DFA

Paula Gilbert
6/15/2021

Former Vodacom Group CTO Andries Delport will take over as the CEO of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), with long serving CEO Thinus Mulder stepping down in September.

SA spectrum impasse could be settled by August

Paula Gilbert
6/14/2021

South Africa's spectrum auction could be in motion as early as September, according to the SA telecoms regulator, which says settlement negotiations on spectrum litigation are unfolding well.

Building a green Africa and bridging the energy gap

Partner Perspectives
6/11/2021

Connecting Africa sat down with James Li, member of the supervisory board and president of global marketing, sales and services for Huawei Digital Power to talk about how green ICT can profoundly impact African markets.

SA towers hit by power cuts, theft and vandalism

Paula Gilbert
6/11/2021

Telkom SA says it could have built about 35 new basestations with the money it lost from battery theft last year, while Vodacom says it loses about $8.8 million to vandalism and theft annually.

Nigerian minister expands social media ban

Connecting Africa News
6/10/2021

Nigerian minister of information Lai Mohammed says social media must be Nigerian and licensed, following widely criticized Twitter ban.

Africans buying more smartphones in 2021

Connecting Africa News
6/9/2021

IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that Africa's smartphone market grew 16.8% in the first quarter of 2021.

Interview: Nir Kshetri on cybersecurity in Africa

Connecting Africa Video
6/8/2021

Ahead of North Africa Com 2021 Emily Parrett sat down with Professor Nir Kshetri to discuss increased cybersecurity risks amid digital transformation in emerging economies.

Nigerian operators ordered to block Twitter

Connecting Africa News
6/7/2021

The Nigerian government has ordered mobile operators in the country to block Twitter access.

Spectrum delay tactics hurting SA's 5G future

Paula Gilbert
6/4/2021

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub believes that the court cases which are delaying South Africa's spectrum licensing process are just delay tactics which will ultimately hurt SA's 5G future.

Omdia View: May 2021

Guest Perspectives
6/3/2021

This month, Omdia's analysts provide context and analysis about new licenses for operators in Ethiopia and Uganda, and Nigeria's 5G rollout plans.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies surpasses 100,000 km of fiber

Paula Gilbert
6/2/2021

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has reached a major milestone, laying 100,000 km of fiber in Africa.

Women in Tech: Ericsson VP Eva Andrén

Paula Gilbert
6/1/2021

Ericsson VP Eva Andrén spoke to Connecting Africa about how to inspire young girls to join the ICT sector and how women in the industry need to find their own version of a work-life balance that makes them happy.

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Ivorian fintech takes Ecobank Challenge top prize

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Elon Musk hosts African leaders while Starlink faces challenges in Kenya

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Women in Tech: Spotlight on tech talent with RedAcademy's Jessica Hawkey

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Women in Tech: Spotlight on digital skills with Kreative Campus' Keitesi Aisha

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Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

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US-Kenya tech exchange aims to bridge digital gap, boost STEM education

By Eden Harris

Connecting Africa Correspondent Eden Harris investigates the USAID Edtech Africa initiative which aims to enhance tech education in Kenya and the US and teach the skills needed to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the digital age.