Author: Akin Naphtal

Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group, including Cassava Technologies and Econet Wireless, has issued a compelling call to action for Africa’s youth to harness artificial intelligence (AI) as the continent’s next economic frontier. In his Linkedin newsletter tagged “#Reflection: A brave new world in progress Don’t be afraid… Be brave!” and from his visionary perspective honed through decades of building telecom giants across Africa, Masiyiwa drew a striking parallel between AI and the historical taming of fire, arguing that just as early humans transformed fire into a tool for progress—powering cars, airplanes, and even space rockets—AI holds…

Kalaam Telecom and Riedel Networks have announced the renewal of their strategic partnership, solidifying their commitment to delivering mission-critical communications across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Building on their successful collaboration from 2022 to 2024, which powered high-performance connectivity for major motorsport events in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, the extended agreement aims to enhance regional network infrastructure and expand services for sports, media, and enterprise clients. Since 2022, the partnership has leveraged Kalaam’s fully-owned terrestrial KNOT cable system, anchored by a key Point of Presence (PoP) in Manama, Bahrain. This PoP integrates seamlessly with…

In a bold stride toward dominating Africa’s experience economy, Wakanow, the continent’s leading online travel group, has snapped up Nairabox, Nigeria’s premier digital platform for event and cinema ticketing. The acquisition catapults Wakanow from flight bookings to a seamless empire where travel, entertainment, and payments collide—unlocking richer, more connected adventures for millions. This isn’t a random pivot; it’s the culmination of Wakanow’s meticulously crafted strategy. Just last year, the company restructured into a powerhouse group entity, unleashing innovative arms like Kalabash for fintech solutions and RoomDe for accommodations. Group CEO Bayo Adedeji laid out the vision at the Wakanow Unpacked…

Moniepoint, a leading Nigerian fintech and one of Africa’s fastest-growing unicorns, has raised an additional $90 million to finalize its Series C funding round, just one year after achieving unicorn status with a $110 million initial raise. The latest investment, led by Development Partners International’s African Development Partners III (ADP III) fund and anchored by impact investor LeapFrog Investment, positions Moniepoint for aggressive growth across Africa and into international markets. A robust lineup of global investors participated in the funding round, including Lightrock, Alder Tree Investments, Google’s Africa Investment Fund, Visa, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco, Swedfund, and Verod…

MTN Group announced it has achieved its Ambition 2025 strategic target of serving 300 million customers, just three decades after launching its first commercial operation in South Africa. The milestone was unveiled at the company’s annual Ambassadors Appreciation Dinner, where African diplomats, public sector leaders, MTN market CEOs, and Group Executive Committee members gathered to toast collaboration, investment, and policy alignment driving the continent’s transformation. “The time is now for Africa to take charge of its own socioeconomic progress. We need to look within for solutions and to develop our own communities,” declared MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita,…

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, is extending its collaboration with Airtel Africa through Nxtra, its data centre division. Starting with Nigeria, this collaboration is a first step in Nxtra’s strategic objective of establishing one of the largest high-capacity data centre networks in Africa, strategically located in major cities and bolstered by its extensive operations experience in India. “Nxtra has been a valued customer for nearly three decades,” said Karsten Winther, president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for Vertiv. “This next chapter in our collaboration demonstrates the power of combining local support in Africa with international…

Vodafone has partnered with Ericsson in a five-year strategic agreement to modernize its radio access network (RAN) infrastructure across key markets, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Romania, and Egypt. The deal positions Ericsson as Vodafone’s sole RAN vendor in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal, and a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt, deepening a decades-long collaboration between the two companies. The partnership will see Vodafone deploy Ericsson’s cutting-edge, Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO radios, RAN Compute solutions, and 5G Advanced RAN software to enhance network performance. This modernization effort is designed to support the widespread rollout of 5G Standalone, enabling…

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has named Paul Ryan as its new president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), effective January 1, 2026. Ryan, currently the chief procurement officer, will succeed Karsten Winther, who will retire from the role on December 31, 2025, after a distinguished tenure. Winther’s leadership has been pivotal in strengthening Vertiv’s EMEA operations. “Karsten has made impactful contributions, navigating complex market dynamics with strong leadership and a passion for growth,” said CEO Giordano Albertazzi. Winther, who progressed from regional sales to executive leadership, drove business strategy, operational excellence, and profitability across…

BasiGo, a n e-mobility startup, is transforming public transportation in East Africa with its innovative electric bus model. Starting with just two buses in Nairobi in 2022, the company has rapidly expanded, deploying its 100th electric bus across Kenya and Rwanda by mid-2025. These buses now serve over 20,000 passengers daily, save 250 tonnes of CO₂ emissions monthly, and support more than 1,000 local jobs. BasiGo’s success hinges on its pioneering “Pay-As-You-Drive” financing model, which addresses the high upfront cost of electric buses—often six times that of diesel alternatives. This comprehensive package includes the bus, charging, maintenance, insurance, and a…

Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, underscored Ericsson’s commitment to nurturing world-class talent, pointing to the company’s work in designing custom silicon for 5G products and leading AI applications in telecom. “Our engineers are building the foundation for a connected future,” he said, encouraging students to bring their curiosity and ambition to the industry. Ekholm recently visited Chalmers University of Technology, where he engaged with students on the transformative potential of 5G, AI, and the evolving telecom industry. Addressing a group of aspiring engineers, Ekholm emphasized the critical role of education and adaptability in shaping the future of technology…