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Apple has reportedly begun discussions to integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) engine into the iPhone, according to Bloomberg News, with sources saying the negotiations centre around licensing Gemini for upcoming features in the iPhone software slated for release later this year. While the specifics of the agreement, including terms and branding, remain undecided, the prospect has already generated significant market reactions. Alphabet, which owns Google, has seen its shares surge over 6% in early U.S. trading, while Apple saw a 2.5% increase. Although any potential deal is unlikely to be finalised before Apple’s annual developer conference in June, the…

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Popular messaging platform Telegram has successfully raised $330 million through bond sales, according to its founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, who announced the achievement on his own Telegram channel. “The increased demand for our bonds shows that global financial institutions value Telegram’s growth in audience and monetisation,” Durov remarked, noting the strong investor interest in Telegram’s future prospects. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Durov expressed the company’s aspiration to achieve profitability in 2025 as it moves closer to a potential stock market listing. Speaking on Telegram’s determination to compete with major players in the market, Durov further…

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The Digital Economy Magazine has named the CEO of MTN Uganda, Mulinge Sylvia M.B.S, as its Personality of the Week. Sylvia is a driven leader passionate about using technology to improve lives and empower communities, especially women. With over 22 years of experience in telecommunications and consumer goods, she has a strong track record in strategic thinking, brand building, and business development. Prior to her joining MTN Uganda, Sylvia served as Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, where she played a key role in increasing brand equity and revenue market share. She is also a member of the Meta…

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Kenya is set to join a select group of nations in Africa where content creators can monetise their content on Facebook and Instagram, with the feature expected to roll out by June this year. The announcement was made by the President of Global Affairs at Facebook, Nick Clegg, during a meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto at State House Nairobi. The move marks the conclusion of a year-long effort by the Kenyan government, led by President Ruto, to enable creators to earn from their online content. “Kenyan content creators who meet the eligibility criteria will now earn from their Facebook…

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Orange, a leading telecommunications operator in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) which supports the development of new digital services, has opened submissions for the 14th Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP), beginning on Monday 18th March 2024. Entrepreneurs from the 17 countries within Orange’s footprint are invited to submit their innovative start-up projects with a positive societal impact. The OSVP, established in 2011, aims to recognise and reward start-ups leveraging new technologies to address challenges in various sectors including education, healthcare, e-commerce, agriculture, and the environment. By fostering social and environmental innovation, Orange seeks to contribute to socio-economic development and…

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To address Ghana’s ongoing network disruption, the National Communications Authority (NCA) convened a face-to-face meeting with representatives from all four subsea cable landing service providers, namely ACE, MainOne, SAT-3, and WACS, alongside the three major mobile network operators, AT, MTN, and Telecel. The gathering, attended by top management figures from these entities, served as a platform for updates on the disruption which began last week, and discussions regarding the path forward. It was disclosed that mobile network operators and subsea cable landing service providers are actively collaborating with international partners in the sub-region to enhance data service capacity progressively. Reports…

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African financial institutions typically scale their solutions using a mix of local and foreign tech. Appzone is one of the standout local fintech software providers for banks and fintechs, providing better pricing and flexibility. For over a decade, the Nigeria-based Appzone has functioned as an enabler (at payment rails and core infrastructure) within banking and payments, building custom software and software-as-a-service products for over 18 commercial banks and more than 450 microfinance banks across Africa, including Ghana and Kenya. In 2022, the fintech software provider, founded by Emeka Emetarom, Obi Emetarom and Wale Onawunmi, decided to self-innovate by delving into…

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Gbenga Odegbami (CEO) founded Youverify in 2018 to provide an API for address and identity verification to many institutions. Since then, the company has expanded its real-time business verification operation into 145 jurisdictions in 48 countries. The company also handles real-time individual verification in 46 countries, which includes credit history and national identity numbers. The startup reportedly exceeded its original plan to expand its service coverage to 30 African countries, a goal the company set during its seed extension round in 2022. However, Youverify only serves commercial customers in 12 countries, processing 4 million applications per month for over 3,500…

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Vodafone Ghana has rebranded itself as Telecel Ghana, as part of a broader effort to expand access to communication services across the country. Telecel Ghana has now taken over various operations previously managed by Vodafone, including fixed telephone lines, internet services, voice and data services, as well as cash transfer and other business services. The transition follows the acquisition of a 70 percent majority stake in Vodafone Ghana by Telecel Group. Speaking more on the acquisition, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, stated that “in February 2023, Vodafone Ghana ended its work in Ghana. So, we signed a deal…

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The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) has today launched an ambitious Strategic Plan 2023-2027 with an aim to spur ICT to great heights of achievements. Speaking during the launch that was held in Nairobi, MICDE Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Eliud Owalo stated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is an important milestone for the Ministry since it serves as the foremost policy blueprint and roadmap, that will guide the Ministry’s implementation of its activities, projects and programmes for a five-year period. He reiterated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is the culmination of concerted efforts by the Ministry and…

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