Author: Akin Naphtal

Siris, a leading private equity firm focused on investing and driving value creation in technology companies, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire BearCom, a leading North American solutions provider of wireless communications and security technologies, from Bertram Capital, a middle market private equity firm headquartered in Foster City, California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1981, BearCom has been trusted for decades by customers across North America to provide land mobile radio systems that support critical business and security processes. BearCom has more than 1,000 employees, including 350+ in its service workforce across the United States…

MPost, the Kenyan tech startup that transforms mobile numbers into virtual addresses is moving its headquarters from Nairobi to Rwanda effective November 2023. The Kenyan Tech pioneer says this strategic move reveals a significant shift in its operational landscape and aligns with the favourable business environment that Rwanda offers to tech startups. Founded in 2016 by Abdulaziz Omar and Twahir Ahmed, the startup’s platform enables the conversion of mobile numbers into official virtual addresses, which allows notifications to be sent to clients whenever they get mail through their postal addresses. It currently operates in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi, and has…

Applications are currently open for the sixth edition of the Africa Tech Summit (ATS) Investment Showcase, scheduled to take place at the Sarit Centre Expo in Nairobi, to connect over 1000 African and international industry leaders, investors, and startups from across the African tech ecosystem. The Investment Showcase, slated for 14th to 15th February 2024, holds a pivotal role in the Africa Tech Summit, aiming to unite investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent. The event is geared towards propelling business and investment in the tech ecosystem. Successful applicants will have the chance to present their ground-breaking…

A global leader in cybersecurity, Eset has announced the launch of its new innovative and streamlined offering for South African consumers. With more than 30 years on the market, Eset has moved to unify its broadly deployed consumer product portfolio. Specifically, Eset is introducing three brand-new customer-centric subscription tiers, providing both broad and reliable digital life protection via new features such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) and a Browser Privacy & Security extension. In a digital world, Eset is taking antivirus protection a step further with all-in-one protection for consumers. Considering just how much of our lives are spent online,…

MTN Group has announced its participation in the global campaign “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls”, which aims to combat gender-based violence (GBV) that affects around 736 million women worldwide. The campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, is a 16-day campaign of activism that focuses on breaking the barriers of silence and stigma that often surround GBV, empowering women to stand strong and speak out. “The staggering number of women affected by gender-based violence globally requires more than just awareness – it demands action,” says MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo…

NEC Corporation, a global leader in information and communications technology, and MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, have announced the launch of Phoenix, the continent’s first 400G optical transponder solution. Phoenix is a cutting-edge technology that can transmit data at speeds of up to 400 gigabits per second, enabling faster and more affordable internet access across Africa. Phoenix is part of the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP) Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) project group, a collaborative effort involving multiple telecom operators and technology providers. The solution has met TIP’s rigorous test requirements, earning it a Controlled Environment Silver Badge, indicative…

Pure Health, the UAE’s largest healthcare group, has acquired Dubai-based IT services provider PureCS as it boosts its portfolio amid preparations for an initial public offering in Abu Dhabi next month. The 100 per cent acquisition of PureCS will help Pure Health use the latest technology to enhance its services and solutions, “underpinned by the importance of the role of AI and technology in the healthcare and consumer sector”, Pure Health said in a statement on Thursday. Pure Health, which is backed by Alpha Dhabi Holding and International Holding Company, declined to disclose the value of the deal to The…

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called on Nokia Networks to increase its investments in Research and Development (R&D) to support the growth of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Nigeria. Following the reports, Maida was quoted in a conversation when a delegation from Nokia Networks of Finland led by the Deputy Minister, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Jarno Syrjala, visited the commission recently to explore further opportunities for mutually-beneficial relationships. He told the delegation that the Nigerian…

Leveraging innovative technology and strategic partnerships to combat gender-based violence (GBV), MTN Group has announced our participation in the global “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls” campaign. Our involvement underscores our commitment to creating safer, more equitable environments for women and girls. UNiTE! is a 16-day campaign of activism against the scourge of GBV which affects around 736 million women worldwide. The campaign focuses on breaking the barriers of silence and stigma that often surround GBV, empowering women to stand strong and speak out. According to the World Health Organization, in sub-Saharan Africa a third of women…

I love engaging and insightful discussions about technology. I have a knack for doing that with total strangers, a true sign of an extrovert. This article was inspired by a discussion I had with one of the greatest minds in Satellite Radio in Asia last weekend when I shared a ride with him as we headed to the International Telecommunication Union -World Radio Communication Conference in Dubai. I enjoyed our chat because many people had raised similar topics since taking up the realms as the MD-CEO of NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LIMITED (NIGCOMSAT). It was refreshing to have a chance to…