Author: Akin Naphtal

AXIAN Group has appointed Ahmad Mokhles Aly El-Deen as Group Chief Executive Officer, placing a veteran of African and Middle Eastern telecommunications and digital infrastructure at the head of its multi-country technology portfolio. El-Deen assumes the role with a mandate to architect, build and scale the critical platforms that will underpin the next generation of the digital and artificial-intelligence economy. His brief spans AI factories, hyperscale and high-performance computing data centres, and the orchestration of strategic partnerships with global hyperscalers, cloud providers and leading technology ecosystems. The aim is to turn infrastructure capacity into scalable compute, sovereign cloud and AI…

MTN Group has announced that its President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, has been elected to the GSMA Board of Directors for the 2027–2028 term. The GSMA Board consists of 26 senior representatives from mobile operators worldwide, including multinational groups and independent operators. The Board provides strategic direction to the GSMA as it works to support the mobile industry and expand the benefits of connectivity for people, businesses and communities. “It is a privilege to continue serving on the GSMA Board, and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me. This term comes as AI begins to reshape our industry,…

Zimbabwe, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Uncommon.org, is stepping up efforts to expand broadband connectivity across all 2,400 administrative wards and improve access to digital services in underserved communities. As part of this initiative, the government has launched an artificial intelligence (AI), digital and innovation hub at Nyamuroro Vocational Training Centre in Gokwe North, a predominantly rural area in the Midlands Province. The facility is the ICT Ministry’s first AI digital innovation hub established in a rural community. The hub is expected to give young people access to computers, digital skills training, artificial intelligence, coding…

Tlou Energy and Kala Data are considering expanding the Kala Data Centre in Botswana following its initial operations, which began generating revenue at a proof-of-concept scale after commissioning in February 2026. According to Tlou Energy’s annual report for the year ended 30 June 2026, the commissioning demonstrated an integrated process linking gas production and gathering with on-site electricity generation and power supply to the data centre. The initial operating phase also provided technical data that could help identify improvements in gas supply, power-generation reliability and data centre capacity utilisation. Tlou Energy executive chairman Dr Ian Campbell said the facility was…

Orange Egypt has partnered with Wadi Degla Developments to deploy digital infrastructure at NEO, a residential development in Mostakbal City, east of Cairo. Announced on October 1, 2026, the agreement covers high-speed internet, television, fixed-line telephony and smart solutions for managing the residential complex. Under the partnership, Orange Egypt will deploy and operate a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network, bringing fibre-optic connectivity directly to NEO’s residential units. Residents will also have access to Triple Play services, which combine high-speed internet, fixed-line telephone services and television through a single infrastructure. The agreement includes a dedicated Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform that will provide…

MTN Eswatini has partnered with Lubane SACCO to introduce a smartphone loan scheme designed to improve access to mobile devices and connectivity for cooperative members in Eswatini. Under the arrangement, eligible Lubane SACCO members can obtain smartphones through loans facilitated by the SACCO, alongside MTN data packages. The initiative combines device financing with telecommunications services to help more people participate in the digital economy. The partnership was officially launched in Ezulwini on 3 October 2026. Initially, the scheme will serve Lubane SACCO members, with the possibility of extending the opportunity to members of other Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs)…

Vodacom has tested a compact antenna system designed to increase 4G and 5G network capacity at sites where there is limited space for additional equipment. Following the pilot, the South African operator plans to deploy the technology at selected sites across its network where additional capacity is required. Developed in partnership with Nokia, the system combines conventional passive antennas with active Massive MIMO radios in a single unit. Massive MIMO uses multiple antenna elements to direct signals towards individual users, helping mobile sites handle higher volumes of network traffic. Vodacom said the system was piloted in the Western Cape and…

NVIDIA has announced the NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform, an open software platform and reference system designed to strengthen the security of AI agents from testing through deployment. The platform provides governance and control across the software, hardware, computing and robotics systems used by AI agents, allowing organisations to apply security measures based on their specific requirements. NVIDIA said recent AI security incidents have demonstrated the need for open and customisable tools that give organisations greater control over autonomous, long-running agents. In some cases, agents have bypassed application-level security controls while attempting to complete assigned tasks. “AI’s extraordinary potential for…

Eight years after commencing operations in Nigeria, financial technology company OPay has reaffirmed its commitment to using technology to make financial services simpler, more accessible and inclusive for Nigerians. Since entering the Nigerian market in 2018, OPay said it has expanded beyond digital payments and money transfers into a broader range of financial services, including merchant services, cards, savings and security solutions. “Eight years after commencing operations in Nigeria, OPay continues to build, innovate and serve, using technology to make financial services simpler, more accessible, and more inclusive for Nigerians.” The company said its services have become part of the…

Cryptocurrency exchange Luno has acquired Kenyan cross-border payments company GTXN for an undisclosed amount, bringing GTXN’s licensed collection and payout infrastructure into Luno’s operations. Following the acquisition, GTXN will become Luno’s cross-border payments arm, with founder Dan Kleinbaum remaining as its Chief Executive Officer. The acquisition will allow Luno to expand beyond its traditional role as a platform for buying and selling cryptocurrency by incorporating cross-border payment capabilities into its services. The company said businesses will be able to collect and make payments through a single provider, with transactions settled against Luno’s liquidity. Luno said integrating the payment infrastructure could…