Author: Akin Naphtal

Tanzania is accelerating its bid to establish a strong digital economy as more than 600 foreign companies, primarily from China, prepare to invest in the country’s electronics manufacturing sector. This surge in foreign interest is poised to reduce Tanzania’s reliance on imported ICT equipment, create new jobs, and potentially position the country as a major hub for technological innovation in Africa. The government took a key step in this direction by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Electronic Information Service Co. Ltd. (CECIS), a subsidiary of China Electronics Corporation (CEC). This agreement follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s September…

GSMA and UK Finance have collaborated to introduce Scam Signal, a new tool designed to curb Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud by leveraging mobile network data. This solution, supported by major UK mobile operators – EE, Virgin Media O2, Three, and Vodafone – alongside UK Finance member banks like NatWest, aims to protect customers by identifying fraudulent bank transfers in real-time. The Scam Signal solution operates through an Application Programmable Interface (API), enabling banks to use real-time mobile network data to detect suspicious transactions. By analyzing correlations between phone calls and unauthorized bank transfers, the API provides crucial insights to…

Ericsson has called on African governments to lead in developing policies that prioritize internet access and digital learning as tech giants expand their #AfricaInMotion strategy Ayub Osman, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility for Ericsson Middle East and Africa, emphasized the need for government and private sector collaboration to build digital infrastructure and ensure school connectivity. Osman highlighted the essential role of productive partnerships between governments and technology providers to implement robust digital infrastructure and support access to digital education. He underscored Ericsson’s involvement in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) GIGA initiative, a global effort to connect schools to the…

Vodafone Egypt has acquired a 5G license for $150 million and extended its existing spectrum licenses by five years, securing these rights through 2039 at an additional cost of $17 million. These fees will be paid in the second half of the financial year, as confirmed in Vodacom Group’s recent interim results release for the six months ending September 30, 2024. The 5G licence was officially granted on October 7 by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, represented by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Egypt has emerged as a pivotal market for Vodacom Group, which operates across multiple African…

Safaricom’s Ethiopian subsidiary reported robust customer growth, marking a 47.3% increase in active users over the six months ending in September. The announcement during Safaricom’s first-half financial results presentation in Nairobi highlighted the expansion, which now brings the subsidiary’s monthly active user base to 6.1 million. The company disclosed that it currently serves 46% of Ethiopia’s population, reflecting the rapid market adoption of its services. Despite the growth, Safaricom noted that Ethiopia’s currency devaluation impacted overall profitability. To mitigate the effects of foreign exchange challenges, Safaricom has taken steps such as renegotiating foreign currency-denominated contracts, engaging more local suppliers for…

Visa has announced strategic investments in four African start-ups from the first cohort of its Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program, marking a significant push to expand fintech solutions and financial inclusion across the continent. The selected start-ups include Ghana-based business finance platform Oze, Kenya’s HR tech firm Workpay, Nigeria’s address verification service OkHi, and ORDA, a restaurant software provider operating in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. These investments highlight Visa’s commitment to fostering fintech growth across Africa, with the company stating that each investment is a step toward enhancing financial access and digital payment solutions on the continent. The Visa…

Amazon Web Services has announced the formation of the Generative AI Partner Innovation Alliance, a strategic initiative designed to broaden the reach and impact of the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC). The alliance aims to empower customers worldwide with the resources needed to develop and deploy generative AI solutions successfully. Launched in June 2023, GenAIIC connects AWS clients with a team of AI/ML scientists and strategic experts to facilitate the development of generative AI applications. The center has already helped thousands of organizations—including DoorDash, Nasdaq, and the PGA TOUR—bring generative AI projects to fruition. Currently, over half of the…

Mobily, a leading Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) company in Saudi Arabia, has partnered with Telecom Egypt, a major telecom operator and subsea cable provider, to lay the first Saudi submarine cable connecting Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The new subsea cable, wholly owned by Mobily, will traverse the Red Sea, creating a direct link between the two nations and offering expanded connectivity options for Europe.The cable, part of Mobily’s broader expansion of subsea cable systems, aims to support increasing telecommunications traffic and rising demand for internet services both locally and internationally. It will land at strategic locations on the Red…

MasterCard and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) have entered a decade-long partnership to enhance digital payment solutions in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The partnership aims to improve financial accessibility and the digital banking experience for both individuals and businesses in the region. The partnership focuses on introducing innovative, secure, and convenient payment options, including customized card products and advanced services for peer-to-peer, business-to-business, and person-to-business transactions. As part of their commitment to fostering seamless digital experiences, MasterCard and DTB plan to develop tokenization-based passive payment wearables for the Kenyan market, bringing contactless payment technology directly to consumers. In collaboration with Tappy…

Equinix, a global leader in digital infrastructure, has named Wole Abu as Managing Director for its West African operations. Abu’s role includes overseeing Equinix’s business across Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on fostering local connectivity, collaborating with multinational partners, and spearheading expansion efforts. This move aims to strengthen Equinix’s digital infrastructure footprint in the region. Abu steps into the role following Funke Opeke, MainOne’s founder and CEO, who will continue with Equinix as a strategic advisor for the West African region until March 2026. With over two decades in the Nigerian telecom industry, Abu previously served as…