Author: Akin Naphtal

Blue Label Telecoms, which owns almost half of Cell C, is considering making an offer to take control of the mobile operator in the coming months, according to co-CEO Brett Levy. Speaking to TechCentral, Levy said that Blue Label wants its and Cell C’s reporting periods aligned by May 2024 and that the firm will make a decision by its financial year-end, or 31 May, about taking control of the company. He cautioned that the process could be delayed by regulatory issues. “We have a big percentage [in Cell C] but we don’t have control, which is not an ideal…

Nvidia, the world’s largest supplier of chips used in data centres for training AI, has reported first-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates, driven by increasing demand for AI services such as chatbots. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated that the use of the company’s chips to power AI services “has gone through the roof in the last 60 days”, boosting the company’s outlook and driving up its shares by 8% in extended trading. “AI is one of the few areas where tech companies are still spending even as the sector slashes jobs”, notes the article, with large tech firms such as…

Apple has been working on a secret project known as E5, which aims to create a noninvasive and continuous blood glucose monitoring system. This breakthrough would be of great benefit to diabetics, and if added to the Apple Watch, would make it an essential item for millions of diabetics worldwide. Using chip technology called silicon photonics and a measurement process called optical absorption spectroscopy, Apple aims to use lasers to emit specific wavelengths of light into an area beneath the skin to detect the concentration of glucose. “Apple’s senior executives believe this problem is one that it’s uniquely positioned to…

Rectron, a subsidiary of Mustek, has partnered with Chinese drone maker DJI to launch a drone academy in Midrand, Johannesburg. The academy offers three courses designed to improve the skills and proficiency of drone pilots, with certifications available for remotely piloted aircraft systems maintenance technicians, remote pilots and beyond visual line of sight. Each course lasts for three to four months, combining theoretical and practical training to address challenges including a shortage of skilled professionals, limited applications in rural areas and regulatory hurdles. The academy also offers learnerships aimed at enhancing the digital skills of the youth. Andre Witbooi, learning…

South African entrepreneurs Niel Schoeman and Johan “Joe” Pretorius, who co-founded fibre network operator Vumatel, have launched Toco, a new digital currency platform aimed at fighting climate change. The payments platform seeks to value the environment by uniting a global community that believes carbon reduction has intrinsic value. The Toco currency represents one tonne of carbon dioxide that has been credibly removed from the atmosphere. Carbon removals, when independently verified, become tradeable certificates that become carbon credits, carbon offsets or carbon mitigation assets. Toco is designed to be used as a store of value, a means of exchange or as…

Mobile telecommunications giant MTN South Africa has announced an average 5.1% increase in consumer post-paid subscription fees, which will come into effect on April 1. The company cited a “challenging market environment” as the reason behind the price hikes. According to MTN, the inflationary environment has resulted in increased input costs, driven by load shedding, rising fuel usage, battery theft, and vandalism, which has forced the company to push through the price increases. “In some instances, the actual subscription fee increase may be higher than the average of 5.1%, with a maximum of 7.4%. This mainly represents a R10 increase…

Apple ramped up testing of iOS 16.5 internally this month, according to mounting evidence of the update in our website’s analytics logs. iOS 16.5 will likely be one of the last notable updates before Apple announces iOS 17 at WWDC in June. It’s unclear what features will be introduced with iOS 16.5, but the wait continues for some previously-announced features, including the Apple Card savings account, Apple Music Classical app, and iMessage Contact Key Verification security option. Apple Pay Later is also coming soon, but is expected to be enabled with a server-side update. READ ALSO: Microsoft Edge VPN Launch…

Following information for a while, we’ve known that a VPN was on its way to Microsoft Edge, and now it looks like the parent company is ready to begin the rollout to users who aren’t enrolled in the Insider program. According to the company recent announcement for testers to try out, the Microsoft Edge VPN allows users to remain private when browsing the web, though there’s one major catch. The feature doesn’t come with unlimited traffic, as Microsoft will only offer 1 GB of data per month – right now, the limit for insiders is 15GB, but once the VPN…

OPPO a global technology brand has announced to the public the newest addition to its popular Reno8 series, OPPO Reno8 T 5G, across the GCC region in an online streamed format. Additionally, Oppo has also launched wireless earbuds, OPPO Enco Air3, as part of the brand’s growing IoT line-up. Speaking on its new features, it features contains a Dual Micro-Curved Design, the Reno8 T 5G offers an all-new premium look with a 120Hz 3D Curved Screen and 3D back cover. The smartphone also introduces an Ultra-Clear Imaging System backed by a 108MP Portrait Camera that delivers high-resolution photos with unprecedented…

Strate, South Africa’s principal central securities depository and central collateral platform, has announced the acquisition of Trustlink, an enabler of the secure and reliable exchange of information. André Nortjé, CEO of Strate, stated that the acquisition will enhance and complement its Integration Services business, allowing the company to leverage scale and efficiencies to the benefit of all its clients. “As a purpose-led company, we are committed to serving the South African financial market”, Nortjé added. The acquisition of Trustlink’s Swift bureau services business has resulted in the remaining entity being split into two sister companies, Omnea and Tegra, both owned…