Author: Akin Naphtal

Smart Payment Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with Castles Technology, a global leader in payment hardware, to significantly enhance its flagship G8 payment gateway. The collaboration integrates Castles Technology’s advanced, device-agnostic hardware platforms with Smart Payment Technologies’ sophisticated software ecosystem, creating a more robust and flexible payment processing solution. The combined offering is PCI P2PE-certified, ensuring high security standards while allowing merchants and independent software vendors (ISVs) to deploy scalable systems across diverse environments.Early rollouts will target high-demand sectors such as electric vehicle charging, unattended kiosks, hospitality, entertainment, and retail, industries where reliable, adaptable payment systems are essential. The…

The UK government has launched a major new initiative to enhance the security and resilience of digital public services, backed by more than £210 million in funding. The Government Cyber Action Plan aims to protect citizens’ data and ensure uninterrupted access to essential online services such as applying for benefits, paying taxes, and booking healthcare appointments. Driven by a newly established Government Cyber Unit, the plan seeks to address escalating cyber threats that could disrupt daily life in minutes. Digital Government Minister Ian Murray emphasised the urgency of the measures: “Cyber-attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes –…

Network International, a leading digital payments enabler in the Middle East and Africa, has made history by becoming the first payments platform in the United Arab Emirates to support stablecoin transactions through the acceptance of AE Coin. The milestone follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al Maryah Community Bank (MBank). Under the partnership, AE Coin – the UAE’s first Central Bank-licensed, fully reserved, and AED-denominated stablecoin – will be integrated into Network’s point-of-sale (POS) terminals and e-commerce platforms. This will allow merchants to accept the stablecoin seamlessly in both physical stores and online channels. The move…

Africa’s leading payments giant, Flutterwave, has acquired Mono, a prominent Nigerian open banking startup often dubbed the “Plaid of Africa,” in an all-stock transaction valued between $25 million and $40 million. The move unites two key players in Africa’s fintech infrastructure landscape, allowing Flutterwave to expand beyond traditional payments into advanced data access, identity verification, and direct bank transfers. Flutterwave, which processes local and cross-border transactions across more than 30 African countries, will integrate Mono’s APIs into its platform. These tools enable businesses to securely access customer bank data (with consent), verify accounts, initiate payments, and analyze financial patterns—capabilities crucial…

MTN Digital Infrastructure, operating commercially as Bayobab, has announced the appointment of Sajid Ahmad Khan as Regional Managing Director for South and East Africa, effective 5 January 2026. In this newly created role, Khan will oversee Bayobab’s operations across the region while directly leading the company’s business in Kenya. Khan’s mandate includes translating Bayobab’s pan-African connectivity vision into tangible regional impact, with a focus on driving commercial performance, accelerating network monetisation, and enhancing customer value through strategic leadership and cross-border collaboration. With more than 26 years of global leadership experience across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Khan has a…

MTN Digital Infrastructure, operating commercially as Bayobab, has named telecommunications veteran Lloyd Mphahlele as Managing Director of Bayobab South Africa FibreCo, effective 1 January 2026. In this role, Mphahlele will oversee the FibreCo operations in South Africa, focusing on strategic execution, maximising returns on investment, and managing end-to-end performance across the fibre network. With more than 28 years in the sector, Mphahlele previously held senior positions at Telkom SA and Vodacom SA before joining MTN Group as General Manager for Transport & OSS Tools. He has played a key role in advancing Open and Disaggregated Transport technology across Africa, establishing…

stc Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading digital enabler, has signed a new five-year Master Frame Agreement (MFA) with Swedish telecom giant Ericsson to fast-track the deployment of advanced digital infrastructure and enhance technology adoption across the Kingdom. The agreement allows stc to leverage Ericsson’s cutting-edge portfolio, including 5G hardware and software, cloud-native solutions, advanced managed services, and comprehensive network support. It builds on the companies’ longstanding partnership, which dates back to the successful rollout of one of Saudi Arabia’s first 5G networks in 2019. Key focuses of the MFA include accelerating nationwide 5G expansion through technologies such as 5G Standalone, 5G…

MTN Digital Infrastructure, operating under the commercial brand Bayobab, has appointed Rami Farah as its new Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO), effective 1 January 2026. Farah will report directly to Mazen Mroué, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Digital Infrastructure. Farah brings over 25 years of deep expertise in network transformation, technology architecture, and large-scale operational delivery. He joins Bayobab from MTN South Africa, where he has served as Chief Technology Officer since 2023. During his tenure, he spearheaded significant enhancements in network availability, achieved benchmark leadership in performance metrics, accelerated the nationwide 5G rollout, and drove substantial improvements in…

ADYA Inc, a Canadian-listed telecom and technology holding company, has made a strategic investment in Karrier One, a decentralized wireless infrastructure provider (DePIN), to deploy the country’s first fully sovereign, SCION-encrypted Internet network. Built on the Sui Layer-1 blockchain, the initiative will deliver carrier-grade, cryptographically secure connectivity across urban centres, rural communities, and Canada’s Arctic territories. The partnership addresses escalating geopolitical and cybersecurity risks by integrating SCION – a next-generation Internet protocol developed at ETH Zurich and already used by global financial institutions and defence networks – with Karrier One’s decentralized model and Ericsson’s programmable radio technology. The result is…

Google Cloud and NextEra Energy, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar, have significantly expanded their strategic partnership to co-develop multiple gigawatt-scale data centre campuses throughout the United States. The companies revealed that three sites are already under development, with additional locations in the pipeline. The collaboration is designed to accelerate the availability of land, power interconnections, and energy resources required to meet surging demand for AI infrastructure while simultaneously modernising America’s electric grid. As part of the expanded alliance, the partners plan to launch their first commercial AI-powered energy solutions in the Google Cloud Marketplace…