Author: Akin Naphtal

Network International, a fintech company operating across the Middle East and Africa, has launched Network MAX, a new suite of business card solutions designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE improve cash flow, strengthen financial control and manage everyday business payments. Network MAX brings together two digital-first solutions designed for different SME needs. For micro and small businesses that often face working-capital pressures while waiting for settlement funds, the service provides instant access to settlement funds through the My Network business app, helping merchants maintain operations while earning cashback on eligible business spending. For established and…

Spectranet Limited has appointed Sumit Gambhir, CA, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) as the Nigerian broadband provider strengthens its leadership team and prepares for its next phase of growth. Gambhir, who previously served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), brings more than two decades of international experience spanning telecommunications, technology and financial services. New Leadership for Spectranet’s Next Phase Gambhir’s appointment comes as Spectranet focuses on improving operational efficiency, strengthening its infrastructure and responding to changing customer expectations. In his new role, he will oversee company-wide operations and contribute to the company’s long-term infrastructure planning and expansion…

Visa has expanded its Visa Direct ecosystem in Saudi Arabia through collaborations with financial institutions including alrajhi bank, Alinma Bank and Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), supporting faster domestic and cross-border money transfers. Visa Direct Expansion Targets Growing Digital Remittance Demand Visa Direct enables participating banks, fintech companies and payment providers to send money to eligible cards, bank accounts and wallets globally through Visa’s payment network. Visa said transaction volumes through Visa Direct cards in Saudi Arabia increased by more than 50% year over year, while card transaction volume across the KBO region grew by more than 300%. The expansion comes…

Anthropic has announced a partnership with Accenture to carry out independent evaluations of frontier AI models. The initiative supports a commitment outlined by Anthropic’s CEO in the essay “We Must Pace the Frontier,” which called for independent evaluators to be embedded within AI companies. The partnership will be led by Faculty, Accenture’s specialist AI business, and will focus on evaluating and red-teaming AI models, conducting alignment assessments and testing model safeguards. Accenture’s experience helping businesses and governments deploy AI across different industries is expected to provide an enterprise perspective to the evaluation process. ALSO READ: BANKIT REBRANDS AS WAYVEPAY FOR…

Bankit Microfinance Bank has transitioned to WayvePay, introducing a new brand identity as part of its strategy to build a smarter, faster, more secure and accessible digital banking and payments platform for Nigerians. The transition, which takes effect on September 18, 2026, goes beyond a change in name and visual identity. Under the new positioning, “WayvePay — Banking & Beyond,” the platform is expanding on Bankit’s existing foundation with enhanced technology, improved functionality and additional services for banking, payments, savings and money management. Speaking on the transition, the Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Kingsley Ezenwa, said the new identity…

Internet Technologies Angola S.A. (ITA) showcased its OneWeb satellite connectivity solution at the Angola Oil & Gas 2026 conference held from September 9 to 10, highlighting how satellite technology can provide reliable communications in areas with limited terrestrial network coverage. The solution uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver faster and more resilient connectivity, particularly for industries operating in remote locations where traditional telecommunications infrastructure may not provide adequate coverage. For the oil and gas industry, OneWeb connectivity can support remote facilities, communication between field teams, operational monitoring and critical systems that require continuous data transmission. The solution can…

Ericsson has introduced NetCloud Private, a new offering designed to give organisations greater control over the deployment and management of Ericsson Wireless WAN infrastructure within their own environments. The solution is aimed at government agencies, critical infrastructure operators and other regulated organisations that depend on 5G and wireless networks for essential operations. It allows customers to centrally manage Ericsson Cradlepoint devices while keeping network-management and telemetry data within their own environment. The launch comes as organisations face growing requirements around digital sovereignty, data protection and local data governance. Gartner predicts that more than 50% of multinational organisations will have a…

Old Mutual, a Financial services group is positioning itself to expand its presence in South Africa’s fibre and digital infrastructure market through its African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) fund. AIIM, which has built a significant portfolio of telecommunications assets, is assessing a potential merger between its fibre businesses Octotel and MetroFibre. The combination could create a larger fibre infrastructure company capable of competing more directly with established operators such as Vumatel and Openserve. Octotel and MetroFibre have separately confirmed that discussions around a potential merger are being assessed. AIIM currently owns 100% of Octotel and holds a 37% stake in MetroFibre,…

Aeon, a Nigerian cybersecurity startup, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by defence-tech company Terra Industries. Resilience 17, the venture fund founded by Flutterwave co-founder and CEO Olugbenga Agboola, along with Kaleo, DFS Labs, Ajim Capital, and Seedstars, also participated in the round. Aeon plans to use the funding to advance its cybersecurity products, strengthen business development and convert existing pilot programmes with financial services and cloud infrastructure companies into commercial deployments. The funding comes as businesses and governments across Africa face increasing cybersecurity risks. INTERPOL estimated that cyber incidents across the continent resulted in more…

Mastercard and Trip.com have partnered to demonstrate how AI-powered and agentic commerce technologies could transform the way consumers search for, book and pay for travel services. The initiative is powered by Mastercard’s Agent Suite for Merchants and developed in partnership with Network International. It demonstrates how travelers can use Trip.com’s AI agent, TripGenie, to discover travel options, make bookings and complete purchases through an integrated digital experience. As consumers increasingly use AI assistants to discover products, compare choices and make purchasing decisions, Mastercard’s Agent Suite for Merchants is designed to help businesses integrate agent-powered shopping experiences into their existing e-commerce…