Author: Akin Naphtal

T2mobile, a leading Nigerian telecommunications provider, has signed a landmark multi-million dollar partnership with global ICT giant Huawei to modernize its core network and drive the next phase of connectivity across Nigeria. The agreement, sealed with a symbolic handshake between T2mobile CEO Obafemi Banigbe and Constantine Jiang, Managing Director of Huawei Nigeria’s Carrier Business Group, marks a significant milestone in T2mobile’s return to the forefront of the nation’s telecom industry. This strategic collaboration is set to deliver a future-ready, secure network, providing faster and more reliable services to millions of customers while powering Nigeria’s digital economy. The partnership aligns with…

Africa is emerging as a dynamic hub for artificial intelligence (AI), driven by visionary leaders addressing critical challenges like limited computing access and resource scarcity. These trailblazers—Strive Masiyiwa, Mfikeyi Makayi, Paula Ingabire, and Bosun Tijani—are leveraging AI to transform industries, economies, and communities across the continent. 1 Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Cassava Technologies, is tackling the stark reality that only 5% of Africa’s AI talent has access to high-performance computing, as noted by the UN Development Program. Through a partnership with Nvidia, Masiyiwa’s company is building Africa’s first AI factory in South Africa, offering 3,000 GPUs for rent to researchers…

T2 Mobile, previously known as 9mobile, has marked a significant milestone in its recovery, gaining 290,601 new subscribers in July 2025, the first such increase in nearly two years, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This boost has expanded T2 Mobile’s customer base from 2.4 million to 2.7 million, raising its market share to 1.6% and signaling a potential turnaround after a prolonged period of decline. The resurgence aligns with T2 Mobile’s strategic rebranding in August and a pivotal roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, enabling its customers to access MTN’s extensive nationwide network. This move has…

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has acquired Waylay NV, a generative AI software platform, for an undisclosed amount. The strategic move aims to enhance Vertiv’s ability to deliver intelligent, data-driven solutions, enabling customers to maximize uptime, optimize energy usage, and strengthen operational intelligence across critical infrastructure. The acquisition integrates Waylay’s advanced AI technology, which specializes in real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, into Vertiv’s portfolio. This will enable Vertiv to provide proactive, optimized solutions for some of the world’s most demanding environments, ranging from data centers to edge computing facilities. ALSO READ: DIGITAL REALTY BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST…

Digital Realty has broken ground on its first data centre in Rome. The new ROM1 facility will cross the Mediterranean and will support advanced AI technologies and offer access to a wide range of global and regional connectivity providers. It will also connect to multiple subsea cable systems, making it a strategic hub linking Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. ROM1 complements Digital Realty’s other Mediterranean locations, including Athens, Marseille, Zagreb, and the HER1 facility in Crete and supports plans for a future interconnection hub in Barcelona. The new site will provide over 3MW of IT capacity at launch,…

INX-ZA, South Africa’s oldest internet exchange operator, has unveiled a significant infrastructure upgrade in collaboration with Nokia, introducing high-performance routing technology with up to 400Gbit/s throughput per platform. The initiative, aims to bolster the nation’s digital backbone by enhancing connectivity and resilience for businesses and end users. The upgrade will implement 400GE connectivity and expand 100GE services across INX-ZA’s internet exchange points (IXPs) in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The rollout begins in Johannesburg at JINX, Africa’s oldest internet exchange, which has maintained 100% uptime since its inception in 1996. By the end of 2025, JINX will expand from seven…

MTN Group has named Karl Toriola, the current CEO of MTN Nigeria, as the new Vice President of Francophone Africa, effective November 1, 2025. The telecom giant announced the move as part of a broader strategic leadership reshuffle aimed at strengthening its market presence across key regions. Toriola will retain his role as CEO of MTN Nigeria while taking on the additional responsibility of driving growth in Francophone markets, including Senegal, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire. MTN stated that the appointment is designed to accelerate its strategy and enhance value creation in the medium term. “These leadership changes will support accelerated…

M-KOPA, a UK-headquartered fintech operating across Africa, has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100,000 customers in South Africa, just two years after entering the market in 2023. The company attributes this success to its women-led direct sales network, with 80% of its 3,000 active agents being women, advancing digital and financial inclusion across the continent. “From Gauteng to the Western Cape, our women agents are connecting rural communities with digital and financial solutions,” M-KOPA stated. The company’s smartphones, embedded with its Smart Money Platform, serve as gateways to affordable credit, health insurance, and device protection, particularly for low to…

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has announced major upgrades at the center3 Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Riyadh, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure and supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda. The enhancements, carried out at the Remal facility (RDC102), expand the availability of 100GE ports and introduce 400GE connectivity services to meet growing demand from global networks, content providers, and enterprises seeking high-capacity, low-latency interconnection. “Demand for high-speed, resilient connectivity in the Kingdom continues to grow, and these upgrades ensure that the Riyadh IXP remains at the forefront of regional interconnection,” said Halil Kama, Director for the Middle East at…

Kenya and Huawei deepened their partnership on Thursday with the launch of the 10th Huawei ICT Competition in Nairobi, aimed at equipping young Kenyans with critical digital skills for a tech-driven future. The event, attended by senior government officials, Huawei executives, students, faculty, and innovators, is expected to attract over 10,000 participants from tertiary institutions across the country. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula praised the competition for fostering creativity and digital literacy among Kenyan youth over the past decade, contributing to reduced unemployment and accelerated economic growth. “The Huawei ICT Competition has become a cornerstone of ICT excellence, enabling young…