Author: Akin Naphtal

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) has announced a landmark AED 2 billion ($544.54 million) partnership with Microsoft to develop a new hyperscale data centre in the United Arab Emirates, marking a major step forward in the country’s digital transformation agenda. The facility, which will be built and operated by du, will have Microsoft as its anchor tenant. The data centre’s capacity will be rolled out in phases, according to a statement released during Dubai AI Week. Hyperscale data centres are large-scale facilities designed to provide robust data storage and cloud computing solutions for enterprise customers—an area of growing demand…

Yesh Surjoodeen, Managing Director for Southern and Central Africa at HP, has raised alarm over the increasing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks targeting Nigerian businesses. In a recent opinion piece, Surjoodeen urged companies to adopt smarter device security measures and cultivate a strong culture of cybersecurity awareness to stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats. With Nigeria ranked the 13th most vulnerable country to cyberattacks globally, business leaders are being urged to match the pace of cybercriminals leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for increasingly sophisticated attacks. “The race is on between Nigerian hackers using AI to attack and Nigerian businesses using AI to…

Orange France has announced a major partnership with Ericsson to modernise its mobile network infrastructure, aiming to significantly enhance network performance while reducing environmental impact. Under the renewed four-year agreement, Ericsson will deploy its advanced radio solutions across 60% of France, covering major urban centres including Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg, and Montpellier. The upgrade is set to improve uplink performance—crucial for enabling next-generation 5G applications—and deliver a more seamless user experience. “This partnership takes a dual approach to improving mobile service performance for our customers while also reducing our energy consumption,” said Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of Orange France. “It…

Google has appointed Kate Alessi as its new Managing Director for the United Kingdom, marking a significant leadership shift at a time of both global opportunity and scrutiny for the tech giant. Alessi will officially assume her role in June, succeeding Debbie Weinstein, who was promoted in December 2024 to lead Google’s operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In her new position, Alessi will oversee the company’s UK operations, including its 7,000 employees, the majority of whom will be based at Google’s soon-to-open King’s Cross headquarters. Her appointment follows a turbulent period for Google, as two recent U.S.…

Safaricom has announced a significant $300 million (KSh40 billion) upgrade to M-PESA, Africa’s most successful mobile money platform, marking a bold move towards enhancing service reliability, security, and innovation. The investment, which heralds the arrival of M-PESA 2.0, was revealed by Safaricom Group CEO Peter Ndegwa last week. Speaking during the announcement, Ndegwa described the upgrade as “the next big leap” aimed at boosting the platform’s stability, processing capacity, and customer experience. “By the time it’s fully rolled out, there will be zero downtime for customers. Safety and security are always our top priority,” Ndegwa affirmed. He further emphasised Safaricom’s…

According to Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and cofounder of Google DeepMind, the future of work will involve a deep, interactive partnership between humans and artificial intelligence, AI In a recent episode of the Big Technology Podcast, Suleyman described a future where managing AI agents becomes a central part of daily professional life. “I do think your day-to-day workflow just isn’t going to look like this in 10 or 15 years’ time,” he said. “It’s going to be much more about you managing your AI agent, asking it to go do things, checking in on its quality, getting feedback,…

In a significant development aimed at enhancing digital communication experiences, MTN Group has partnered with Meta to improve the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 African markets. The strategic collaboration leverages application-aware networks and network-aware applications to create a seamless and high-quality user experience. The initiative optimizes the interaction between MTN’s mobile networks and real-time calling apps, ensuring efficient traffic delivery and enhanced call performance. Nigeria Leads with First DeploymentThe enhancements were first rolled out in Nigeria, where MTN and Meta teams have been working since MWC 2024 to…

Ericsson has launched a new wireless-first branch networking architecture designed to support enterprises managing increasingly AI-driven and distributed operations. The innovative architecture integrates 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and SD-WAN technologies into a unified platform to simplify network management while enhancing performance for critical business applications. At the heart of the solution is the newly introduced Cradlepoint E400, a powerful routing and security device equipped with support for 3GPP Release 17 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity. The E400 forms part of a broader ecosystem that includes new LAN switches and Wi-Fi 6 access points, all managed via…

Equinix, the world’s leading digital infrastructure company, has officially launched its latest data center expansion in Lagos, further strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy. The new facility, named LG2.3, is designed to support the country’s ongoing digital transformation by delivering advanced colocation and secure interconnection services to enterprises across West Africa. The inauguration was led by Bruce Owen, President of EMEA at Equinix, who joined other company executives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly expanded site. The event marks a significant milestone in Equinix’s investment strategy for Africa, reflecting its long-term commitment to enabling scalable, secure, and…

MTN South Africa, in collaboration with Lynk Global, has successfully conducted Africa’s first-ever satellite-to-phone voice call using standard mobile phones. The historic event took place in Vryburg, a small town in South Africa’s North West Province, and was attended by top executives from both companies, including MTN South Africa’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, Rami Farah, and Lynk Global’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dan Dooley. “The beautiful thing about this trial is that using the satellite, you are able to connect large, unreached areas, thereby eliminating the connectivity challenges that traditional terrestrial infrastructure faces,” said Farah. “After this trial and the…