Author: Akin Naphtal

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations (MoCDTI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (29-05-25) with the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and Presight AI to establish the Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub. The hub aims to position Ghana as a continental leader in digital transformation and technological advancement, creating a platform for investment, innovation, and job creation. The partnership is expected to drive economic growth, build export capacity in advanced technologies, and strengthen diplomatic ties between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hon. Samuel George, Minister for Communication,…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to face a significant digital divide. New initiatives are emerging to address this challenge, including the Smart Village Project, which aims to reduce digital inequality and expand access to essential services The DRC signed a partnership agreement with Chinese tech multinational Huawei to launch a pilot smart village. The project is designed to improve living conditions in rural communities by integrating digital technologies into an ecosystem of connected services and smart devices. “I was honored to represent Prime Minister Judith Suminwa at the signing of the partnership agreement with Huawei for equipping a…

IHS Holding Limited, one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of shared telecommunications infrastructure, has announced an agreement to sell its Rwandan subsidiary, IHS Rwanda Limited, to Paradigm Tower Ventures. The deal, which includes the transfer of approximately 1,465 tower sites, is valued at $274.5 million and reflects a transaction multiple of 8.3x adjusted EBITDA after leases. Pending customary regulatory and government approvals, it is expected to close in the second half of 2025. “This agreement to sell our Rwanda operations to Paradigm Tower Ventures was carefully considered as part of our broader strategy to enhance shareholder value,”…

M-PESA, the mobile money platform jointly powered by Vodacom and Safaricom, has once again demonstrated its dominance in Africa’s digital financial services space by processing over $450.8 billion in transaction value during the financial year ended March 2025. The latest figures, released as part of Vodacom Group’s annual financial results, underscore M-PESA’s vital role in driving financial inclusion across the continent. According to Vodacom, the platform recorded an 18.3% year-on-year increase in transaction value, highlighting robust demand for mobile money services across its seven operating markets. Financial services revenue—which includes M-PESA, grew by 17.6% on a normalised basis and accounted…

South African network provider Reflex has adopted Nokia’s advanced Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) technology as part of a major upgrade to its network infrastructure. The move aims to streamline operations, enhance connectivity for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and extend high-quality broadband access to underserved communities and businesses nationwide. With Nokia’s scalable BNG solution—anchored by its 7750 Service Router platform—Reflex is positioned to deliver improved broadband services with reduced energy use, greater efficiency, and faster ISP onboarding. The upgrade is expected to support future growth, with Reflex benefiting from better use of space and power in its network design. “This collaboration…

Safaricom PLC has partnered with iXAfrica Data Centres, Kenya’s leading hyperscale-ready data centre operator, to introduce East Africa’s first AI-ready data centre services, tailored for enterprise and cloud solutions. This collaboration equips businesses and government clients with scalable, cost-effective solutions for data storage, backup, and high-performance computing, ideal for AI-driven workloads, cloud and edge computing, data analytics, disaster recovery, and flexible bandwidth needs. The infrastructure supports Kenya’s ambition to become a key player in the global AI landscape. “This partnership strengthens Safaricom’s enterprise offerings with cutting-edge data centre services, aligning with our vision to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company…

Visa has appointed Victor Makere as its new country manager overseeing operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. The appointment places Mr Makere at the helm of Visa’s strategic growth efforts across the four East African markets. He will be tasked with driving business expansion, deepening client engagement, and promoting the adoption of digital payment solutions to foster financial inclusion and economic growth. Visa said that in his new role, Mr Makere will oversee a diverse portfolio of clients, setting business objectives, leading key projects, and supporting the rollout of new products and services. His mandate includes enhancing Visa’s value…

NTT has announced a major global expansion of its data centre operations, acquiring land across North America, Europe, and Asia to support nearly one gigawatt (GW) of future capacity. The strategic move is part of the company’s previously unveiled $10 billion investment plan aimed at scaling its data centre infrastructure through 2027. According to Doug Adams, CEO and President of NTT Data’s Global Data Centers division, the expansion aligns with the company’s vision to provide scalable, AI-ready infrastructure in high-growth regions. “By bringing new capacity to high-growth regions, we’re building the foundation enterprises need to innovate, scale and lead confidently…

Cassava Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with Zindi, a global platform for artificial intelligence (AI) talent, to accelerate AI development and digital transformation across Africa. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see them collaborate on providing AI solutions and Graphics Processing Units-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) across the continent. The partnership aims to combine Cassava’s data centre GPU capabilities with Zindi’s AI innovation platform to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem. According to both parties, the collaboration will unlock new opportunities for developers, start-ups, and entrepreneurs, and enable the development of AI solutions tailored to address local challenges.…

Bayobab Uganda, a subsidiary of MTN Group, has officially launched its latest fibre optic route — a 260-kilometre stretch from Malaba to Kampala — aimed at enhancing digital connectivity and positioning Uganda as a strategic hub in the East African digital ecosystem. The new Uganda Railway National Long Distance (NLD) fibre link was unveiled on May 6 in Kampala and runs parallel to the existing railway infrastructure, linking communities from the Kenya border through Tororo to the capital. The development is part of Bayobab’s broader mission to power Africa’s digital economy by strengthening regional interconnectivity and enabling access to high-speed…