Author: Akin Naphtal

Space42, a UAE-based AI-powered space-tech company under the G42 technology group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft and Esri to launch the “Map Africa Initiative.” This ambitious project aims to deliver high-resolution, scalable base maps covering all 54 African countries, serving over 1.4 billion people, the company announced this week. The initiative, set to span five years, will create the most comprehensive base map of Africa to date, addressing critical infrastructure, investment, and institutional gaps. By leveraging advanced geospatial technology, the collaboration will provide precise, accessible data to national and regional stakeholders, fostering economic development and innovation across…

NTT Data, a global leader in digital transformation, and French AI innovator Mistral AI have announced a strategic partnership to provide secure, sustainable, and enterprise-grade private AI solutions tailored for regulated sectors, including financial services, insurance, defense, and the public sector. The collaboration merges NTT Data’s extensive AI service expertise and global delivery capabilities with Mistral AI’s cutting-edge open-weight generative AI models, renowned for their efficiency and adaptability. The partnership focuses on three core objectives: co-developing secure and sustainable private AI solutions, enhancing IT infrastructure and customer experiences through agentic AI in regions like Europe and Asia Pacific, and expanding…

Nokia has partnered with AFR-IX Telecom to deploy the Medusa submarine cable system, a groundbreaking initiative set to transform digital connectivity across the Atlantic coast, Mediterranean Sea, and Red Sea. The subsea fibre-optic network will connect key nations, including Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Egypt, fostering a more inclusive digital future. Announced in 2025, the Medusa cable is designed as an open-access system, enabling telecom providers in the region to leverage advanced infrastructure for 5G, cloud services, and AI technologies. This strategic project aims to meet the growing demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity while supporting scalable, cost-effective solutions for operators.…

The Africa Digital Economy Awards (ADEA), Africa’s biggest technology awards, marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, celebrating a decade of honoring the visionaries and organizations driving Africa’s digital transformation. Launched in the mid-2010s, ADEA has become the continent’s premier platform recognizing excellence across fintech, healthtech, edtech, infrastructure, and more. Now in its 10th year, ADEA will honour Africa’s digital champions, innovators, creativity, and inventions across multiple areas of an ever-evolving sector. This milestone edition introduces a special category – the Top 50 Digital Economy Leaders in Africa – spotlighting individuals shaping the continent’s digital future. This year’s event will be…

Sonatel Group, a subsidiary of global telecommunications giant Orange, has appointed Brelotte Ba as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ba succeeds Sékou Drame, who has led the company since 2018 and will conclude his tenure on July 31, 2025. The Senegalese national telecom announced that Ba, with 24 years of telecommunications experience, will steer the company toward maintaining its leadership in Africa’s digital economy and advancing digital transformation across the continent. His appointment follows a distinguished tenure as Deputy Managing Director of Orange Middle East and Africa since 2022. A graduate engineer from Ecole Polytechnique de Paris and Ecole Nationale…

MTN Group has achieved a significant milestone in its Ambition 2025 strategy, with MTN Uganda shareholders overwhelmingly approving the structural separation of MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited from its GSM operations. The decision, backed by a 99.9% vote at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on July 22, 2025, aligns with MTN’s vision of delivering “leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.” The separation of MTN’s fintech and Mobile Money (MoMo) businesses from its traditional GSM operations aims to boost scale, efficiency, and customer service delivery. MTN Uganda is the first of the group’s listed subsidiaries to secure shareholder approval for this…

Safaricom PLC, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, announced today that it has surpassed 50 million customers on its mobile network, marking a historic milestone in its 25-year journey. The company expressed profound gratitude to its customers, attributing this achievement to the trust, loyalty, and partnership of the Kenyan people. From its launch in 2000 with just 17,000 customers, Safaricom has grown into a cornerstone of Kenya’s digital landscape, reflecting the nation’s spirit of innovation and resilience. As the company approaches its silver jubilee in October 2025, CEO Peter Ndegwa reaffirmed Safaricom’s commitment to driving progress and creating transformative solutions for its…

In a significant step toward advancing Kenya’s digital landscape, iXAfrica Data Centres, East Africa’s premier hyperscale, AI-ready data centre, has partnered with TouchNet to launch the Zadara AI Sovereign Cloud. This enterprise-grade cloud computing solution, locally hosted at iXAfrica’s Nairobi One (NBOX1) campus, marks a pioneering milestone as the first of its kind in Kenya, following successful deployments across other African markets. The Zadara AI Sovereign Cloud offers a robust suite of services, including computing, networking, storage, and GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), all fortified by world-class security, performance, and compliance standards. Hosted within iXAfrica’s state-of-the-art, carrier-neutral infrastructure and managed by a Kenyan…

Oklo Inc., a pioneer in advanced nuclear technology, and Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to develop tailored power and thermal management solutions for hyperscale and colocation data centers. The partnership leverages steam and electricity from Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse to drive Vertiv’s cutting-edge cooling systems, aiming to meet the surging energy demands of AI and high-performance computing. The initiative, set to kick off with a pilot demonstration at Oklo’s initial Aurora powerhouse, focuses on co-optimizing power generation and cooling to enhance energy efficiency. By integrating heat from Oklo’s onsite nuclear power plants with…

Orange Africa and Middle East (OMEA) has solidified its position as a key driver of digital transformation in the region, reporting a 28% surge in its fiber optic internet subscriber base to 1.4 million by the end of 2024, according to the company’s 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report. Operating in 17 countries, including 16 in Africa, Orange now provides fiber internet services in ten markets, fueled by a $1.4 billion investment in network infrastructure last year. The company’s aggressive push into fixed and mobile networks, including next-generation technologies, has connected 4.9 million homes with fiber optics across the region by December…