Author: Akin Naphtal

French telecommunications operator Orange is introducing two redesigned super-apps, Orange and Sosh, from 19 November 2026, bringing artificial intelligence, telecommunications management, cybersecurity and everyday digital services together in a single mobile experience. The new applications will replace the existing Orange et moi and MySosh apps, giving customers a central platform to manage their mobile plans, bills, data usage and devices while accessing services such as email, television, news and cybersecurity tools. A major feature of the launch is Orange IAs, a new artificial intelligence service designed to make multiple AI models accessible through one platform. The service will be available…

IHS Holding Limited, operating as IHS Towers, has reported a 21.4% year-on-year increase in revenue from continuing operations to $490.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, driven largely by strong growth in its Nigerian business. The telecommunications infrastructure company, which owns, operates and develops shared communications infrastructure across emerging markets, recorded revenue growth from $403.9 million in the corresponding period of 2025. Nigeria contributed $359.4 million, representing a 34.1% increase year-on-year, while revenue from its Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) segment declined by 3.5% to $131.1 million. According to the company’s financial results, growth in Nigeria was supported by…

Kenya has launched the SecureKE Sovereign Security Operations Centre (SOC) at Konza Technopolis, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s national cybersecurity capabilities and protecting its growing digital infrastructure. The launch was announced by Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, who said the centre would provide shared cybersecurity services to government institutions and private-sector organisations. The facility is designed to support continuous security monitoring, AI-assisted threat detection, incident investigation, vulnerability management and coordinated cyber response. The initiative comes as Kenya expands digital connectivity and moves more public services online through its Digital Superhighway programme. According to Tanui, the country had recorded…

Mastercard has partnered with Liabify’s payroll technology platform, LiaPay, to introduce Mastercard Platinum prepaid cards for salaried employees across four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, expanding access to digital payments and earned wage access. The collaboration will initially launch in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, before expanding to Saudi Arabia and Oman. It will enable employees to access their earned wages through the LiaPay mobile application and use their prepaid cards for everyday transactions, both online and in physical stores, as well as cross-border remittances. LiaPay combines payroll services with earned wage access (EWA), allowing employees to withdraw…

President William Ruto has nominated Lydia Sitienei, currently Director of Legal Services and Corporation Secretary at the Communications Authority of Kenya, to serve as the country’s second Data Commissioner, following a recommendation by the Public Service Commission. The nomination, announced by the Executive Office of the President, has been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval under the Data Protection Act, Cap 411C. Should Parliament approve her appointment, Sitienei will succeed Immaculate Kassait, the inaugural Data Commissioner, whose six-year tenure is nearing its end, and will take charge of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). The…

Alexandra Olive Naa Korkoi Mensah As global leaders prepare to meet in Doha, Qatar, Ghana has an opportunity to advance a digital agenda that places people, opportunity and inclusion at its centre. For a young Ghanaian learning to code or a family without reliable mobile connectivity, digital transformation means opportunity, improved livelihoods and participation in a connected world. This is the broader context for the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference, PP-26, scheduled for November 9 to 27, 2026, in Doha. PP-26, the ITU’s highest policy-making conference, will determine its strategic direction, elect leadership and approve strategic and financial plans…

Ghana has called for stronger international cooperation, investment in digital infrastructure and equitable access to emerging technologies to ensure that the global digital revolution benefits all countries, particularly developing economies. The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, made the call at the Doha Ministerial Roundtable in Qatar, where he emphasised that the future of digital development must be defined by inclusion, partnership and practical action. He warned of an emerging digital divide centred on access to computing power, quality data and the capacity to develop advanced technologies. Using the example of a young Ghanaian innovator…

Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has joined global telecommunications leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders at the 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Doha, Qatar, as the country seeks to strengthen international partnerships and accelerate its digital transformation agenda. The three-day congress officially opened on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), bringing together key players across the global telecommunications and technology ecosystem to deliberate on emerging technologies, digital innovation, connectivity and the future of the digital economy. Organised by the Global System for Mobile Communications…

Telecom Egypt is showcasing its artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions at Cairo ICT 2026 as it expands its focus beyond traditional connectivity into enterprise digital services. The operator is participating in the 30th edition of the exhibition, taking place in New Cairo from 7 to 10 November, under its “Beyond Connectivity” strategy. The strategy focuses on developing digital solutions tailored to businesses and public institutions across Egypt. Its portfolio targets sectors including healthcare, education, manufacturing, smart cities, ports, airports, hospitality and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). READ ALSO: KENYA’S WAYAWAYA, CHOICE BANK PARTNER…

Fintech company WayaWaya has partnered with Choice Bank to launch WayaWaya Banking, a digital banking service that enables users to open bank accounts, hold funds in multiple currencies, make local and international transfers, and pay utility bills under the regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Under the partnership, Choice Bank will provide the regulated banking infrastructure, while WayaWaya will manage the technology platform and customer experience. The arrangement combines Choice Bank’s banking capabilities with WayaWaya’s digital services and personalisation technology. The service is built around what WayaWaya calls “Intelligent Adaptive Banking”, an approach that uses artificial intelligence…