Author: Akin Naphtal

Spectranet, the Internet Service Provider offering 4G LTE based Home Broadband services and Fiber-based Fixed Broadband services, has introduced another innovative product ‘Stryker’, a high tech internet modem to enable multiple users to browse the internet while on-the-move or at their homes and offices. The all-new sleek MiFi device is designed specifically with football as its theme, timed to join Nigerians as they root for the Super Eagles of Nigeria against the Black Stars of Ghana in a world cup qualifier in March. The MiFi is named Stryker to show support and to acknowledge the natural flair of the Nigerian…

Tecnotree, a finnish-based global provider of digital transformation solutions for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and Digital Service Providers (DSPs), has announced the launch of its digital multi-experience platform, ‘Tecnotree Moments’, in collaboration with MTN Nigeria. The multi-experience partner ecosystem offering aims to create lifestyle bundles of content, applications and connectivity through a pre-integrated digital partner ecosystem for global, local and glocal high-demand and hyper growth sectors. The platform will attract leading partners across different sectors such as education, entertainment, gaming, sports, health and wellness, to enter Nigeria and using direct customer billing to convert ecosystem partners into instant revenue generators…

Meta Platforms Inc (FB.O), the parent company of Facebook, will restrict access to Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union, the company’s head of global affairs said on Monday. Nick Clegg said in a Twitter post that the social media company received requests from a number of governments and the EU to take steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media on its platforms. Clegg said Meta would continue to work closely with governments on the issue. The European Union said on Sunday it would ban Russian state-owned television network RT and news agency…

The Dean of the University of Ghana’s Law Faculty, Professor Raymond Atuguba, has asked for the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) Bill to be passed. Although averring to the tax policy Although he, explained that funds generated from the said levy will save the country from looming economic threats. Speaking at a Public Lecture on Monday, Prof Atugubah declared that “Ghana is broke.” According to him, the country’s current financial state is a threat to its democracy since studies have confirmed that an ailing economy is the originator of all successful coup d’états in the sub-region. In view of this,…

A 2019 World Bank report says 85% of Africans live on less than $5.50 per day. A large percentage of these adults are unbanked and underbanked; thus, they don’t have access to credit and can’t afford important purchases outright. M-KOPA’s financing platform has proved helpful to this set of users since launching as an energy provider in 2011. The company, which enables underbanked customers in select African markets to access a broad range of products and services without collateral or a guarantor, announced today that it has raised $75 million. The titular “growth equity round” highlighted by M-KOPA in its press statement is its fifth…

Google has disabled live traffic data from being displayed on its Maps app in Ukraine. The app displays this information by collecting anonymous data from Android smartphones, which shows how busy roads and different places are. But it has now been switched off in the region temporarily to protect users. Google confirmed that it took the action for the safety of local communities, after consulting regional authorities. Although traffic data has been disabled, normal maps navigation features are still functioning properly in the area. Data like this has long been used by people involved in desktop detection surrounding significant events.…

In a bid to continue providing affordable and accessible healthcare for its customers in Ivory Coast, Senegal and Cameroon, an Ivorian startup, Susu is being backed with $1 million in pre-seed funding for the the health support in the area of rise in hypertension in Africa. The equity raise saw participation mainly from angel investors, as the company also raised $1.2 million in debt and grant financing from BPI France, the French government’s public investment bank. Bola Bardet founded the company with Laurent Leconte (CTO) and Sandrine Egron (COO) after losing her father to complications from a chronic health condition due to poor management. “My father died…

Paga, emerging African payments and financial services ecosystem, has been licensed to operate a payment gateway in Ethiopia, which is experiencing a digital finance revolution after the official introduction of its first telco-operated mobile money platform, Telebirr last year. Already active in Nigeria where it says it has 19 million users, Paga connects consumers, merchants and sellers under its platform. The company has also just signed a partnership with Ethiopia’s Bank of Abyssinia. “Paga Group is delighted to announce its partnership with the Bank of Abyssinia, and its receipt of regulatory approval from the National Bank of Ethiopia to launch…

MTN will invest over US$1-billion into telecommunication infrastructure in Ghana over the next five years, the company said on Tuesday. It added that it would interconnect with rival operators in the West African nation for roaming and airtime distribution. Interconnection has been a key theme across many African markets and is considered a solution for poorly serviced areas that would benefit from infrastructure sharing and cross-connections of platforms and systems between operators. “Beyond the opening of its systems and digital channels for the distribution of other operators’ airtime, MTN is pleased to announce that it is in advanced stages of…

Ukrainian citizens are depending on cryptocurrency for financial transactions as many of the displaced residents, including Nigerians cannot access their accounts. The United Nations said on Sunday at least 150,000 persons had fled Ukraine following last week’s invasion of the country by Russia, with many losing their accounts and credit cards. In order to survive the financial crisis caused by the war, the refugees and the Ukrainian government are turning to Bitcoin and Ethereum for goods and services. In a tweet on Saturday, the Ukrainian government said: “Stand with the people of Ukraine. Now accepting cryptocurrency donations. Bitcoin, Ethereum and…