Author: Akin Naphtal

Ericsson has announced that MajBritt Arfert, the company’s Chief People Officer, will be stepping down at the end of May 2025, concluding a 38-year tenure with the telecommunications giant. Arfert, who joined Ericsson’s Executive Team in 2016, will continue in her role until a successor is appointed. Ericsson President and CEO Börje Ekholm praised Arfert’s contributions to the company, stating, “MajBritt has been a valued member of the Executive Team for almost eight years and has been instrumental to where we are today as a company. We have come to an agreement that this is a good time for a…

Deloitte has launched its new Innovation Hub in Cairo, reinforcing its commitment to advancing digital innovation and harnessing Egypt’s growing talent pool. The inauguration, reported by The Egyptian Gazette, was led by Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat. The $30 million investment will span over three years, positioning Egypt as a key hub for digital services, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity solutions for clients across Europe and the Middle East. Talaat highlighted the hub’s role as a testament to Egypt’s strong reputation as a digital innovation destination, underpinned by a young, skilled workforce proficient in computer science, engineering,…

SEACOM, Africa-focused telecom, and managed services provider has broadened its offerings to include colocation and IP transit services via the Equinix-operated JN1 International Business Exchange data center in Johannesburg, South Africa. This state-of-the-art facility began operations in July 2024 and was officially launched on October 23. The partnership marks SEACOM’s first venture into providing colocation services within Equinix infrastructure, allowing enterprise clients access to secure, neutral colocation and interconnection services. SEACOM’s agreement with Equinix aims to offer a robust IT infrastructure environment with dependable power, cooling solutions, multiple layers of integrated security, and service-level agreements ensuring uptime and resilience. Alongside…

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and Mastercard have launched a strategic partnership to expand mobile financial services across Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to bring digital payments to millions. This partnership, among the largest in the region, will integrate Orange Money wallets with Mastercard’s global merchant network by 2025. The initial rollout will cover seven countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. With just 48% of adults in Africa holding bank accounts, as highlighted by the African Digital Banking Transformation Report, the partnership intends to boost financial accessibility and empower underserved communities. The initiative will enable…

In a collaborative effort to bolster socio-economic inclusion and educational opportunities for refugees and displaced communities, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IHS Cameroon, and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) have launched a new partnership in Cameroon’s Far North Region. This initiative is designed to foster improved access to connectivity, skills, and economic opportunities, aligning with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy (NDS 2030). The Far North Region hosts nearly two million displaced individuals—about 500,000 refugees from the Central African Republic and Nigeria—facing significant humanitarian and developmental challenges. In response, the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets the framework…

At the close of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24) in New Delhi, India, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced a consensus on priority areas for advancing global standards in artificial intelligence (AI), the metaverse, and sustainable digital transformation. Over the past ten days, ITU members reviewed and updated existing guidance, agreeing on eight new resolutions aimed at addressing fast-evolving global digital demands and supporting developing countries. “The outcomes of WTSA-24 remind us that humanity has one Earth, one human family, and one shared digital future,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. She emphasized ITU’s commitment to a digital future focused…

Ethiopia’s digital economy could contribute more than $10 billion into the nation’s GDP by 2028, according to a recent report by the GSM Association (GSMA), titled Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Ethiopia. The report underscores how telecommunications reforms and investments in mobile technology are fueling growth across vital sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and public services. These digital advancements are expected to create over a million jobs and contribute an additional $467 billion in tax revenue by 2028. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, praised Ethiopia’s strides, stating, “Ethiopia is well-positioned to be a digital leader in…

Cincoze, a leading brand in rugged embedded computers, has introduced its CRYSTAL product line, specifically designed for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) applications in harsh environments. The CRYSTAL series comprises three main product categories: industrial panel PCs for indoor environments, sunlight-readable panel PCs for outdoor use, and open-frame panel PCs for seamless integration with machinery. The product line offers nearly 100 customizable combinations, including various screen sizes, display ratios, computing performance options, and touch methods, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. Smart Manufacturing Solutions: Industrial Panel PCsCincoze’s industrial panel PCs (CV-100/P series) are recommended for smart manufacturing HMI…

Google has officially rolled out SynthID Text, a tool designed to watermark and detect text generated by artificial intelligence (AI) models, making it freely available to developers and businesses. The announcement was made through a post on X (formerly Twitter), with Google stating that the technology can now be accessed on both the AI platform Hugging Face and Google’s updated Responsible GenAI Toolkit. “We’re open-sourcing our SynthID Text watermarking tool,” the company said. “It will help developers and businesses identify AI-generated content.” SynthID Text operates by embedding unique patterns within the token distribution of AI-generated text, allowing users to verify…

Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has identified a new, lighter variant of the Grandoreiro banking trojan, which has now expanded its operations to include targets in Asia and Africa. Despite law enforcement efforts, including a major INTERPOL-coordinated arrest of key operators earlier this year, the malware continues to pose a global financial threat. This new variant is part of a fragmented version of the original Grandoreiro trojan, with attacks aimed at financial institutions in over 45 countries. As of 2024, the threat targets more than 1,700 financial institutions and 276 cryptocurrency wallets, with the latest additions being regions…