Author: Akin Naphtal

Kenya is in discussions with TikTok to introduce monetization tools for local content creators, following Meta’s recent rollout of similar features. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to create job opportunities for young Kenyans through digital platforms. The discussions were highlighted during the launch of TikTok’s first Safety Advisory Council for sub-Saharan Africa, held in Nairobi. The TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa team, led by Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda , Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, paid a courtesy call to me today. We had an insightful discussion on partnerships and initiatives for enhancing online security and safety for our creative…

Apple has partnered with India’s Bharti Airtel to offer Apple Music and Apple TV+ for free to the telecom giant’s premium customers, a move which allows Apple to expand its digital services to thousands of consumers in the world’s most populous nation. The collaboration is aimed at boosting Apple’s presence in India’s $28 billion media and entertainment market, where the company faces stiff competition from streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar, as well as Mukesh Ambani’s JioCinema. Airtel ranks as India’s second-largest telecom operator with 281 million subscribers, and getting access to such numbers could…

Video streaming giant, Netflix, has announced the launch of a new sports series titled Starting 5, which will provide its viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the 2023-2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The 10-part series, set to premiere on 9th October, 2024 will feature footage of popular NBA stars including Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum. Starting 5 is being produced in collaboration with LeBron James’ digital media company, Uninterrupted, as well as Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. The series continues Netflix’s growing push…

Korean technology giant, Samsung SDI, and General Motors (GM) have completed an agreement to build a joint electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility worth $3.5 billion in the state of Indiana, United States. The project is set to have an initial production capacity of 27 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year. Mass production is targeted to begin in 2027. The joint venture, first announced in April 2023, could potentially see the facility’s capacity rise to 36 GWh annually. The Indiana plant will manufacture nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical battery cells, boosting GM’s battery technology portfolio. Kurt Kelty, GM’s Vice President of Battery…

Redington, a leading technology distributor, has partnered with global software company Zoho to increase access to Zoho’s cloud-based business solutions across emerging markets in Africa. This joint effort aims to empower businesses of all sizes by providing them with tools to enhance customer experiences, boost collaboration, and streamline operations. The partnership will primarily focus on key African markets, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon. Zoho’s suite of solutions, such as Zoho Workplace for enterprise collaboration, Bigin CRM for small businesses, and ZeptoMail for reliable transactional email, will be more accessible, helping African…

Telecom Namibia has announced plans to initiate commercial 5G trials in 2026, aiming to align with competitors such as Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), which began its 5G testing earlier this year in collaboration with Huawei. This update was provided by Dr. Stanley Shanapinda, CEO of Telecom Namibia, during a session organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Windhoek, focused on the implementation of the company’s Mobile and Data Turnaround Strategy. In his address, Shanapinda confirmed that the company is on track to deploy 500 new base stations across Namibia to enhance network coverage, with at least 77…

MTN Group has strengthened the leadership of its fintech and digital infrastructure platforms by appointing four non-executive directors to the boards of its MTN Group Fintech and Bayobab businesses. The appointments, which include prominent industry figures, align with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, aimed at accelerating growth and enhancing its digital services across Africa. Herman Bosman has been appointed as the independent chairman of the MTN Group Fintech board of directors. Bosman, who brings extensive experience and leadership to the board, previously served as the CEO of Rand Merchant Investment Holdings and RMB Holdings. He holds a B. Com and…

The United States government took a bold step in cybersecurity by releasing three new encryption algorithms designed to withstand the future threat of quantum computers. These algorithms, two of which were developed by IBM, are intended to protect sensitive digital information, such as confidential emails and e-commerce transactions, from potential cyberattacks by quantum computers. Why quantum-safe encryption matters? Quantum computing is a rapidly advancing technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems much faster than today’s computers. While this technology holds great promise for scientific breakthroughs and economic growth, it also poses a serious threat to…

Meta and Spotify are reportedly exploring a deeper integration of music within Meta’s Instagram app, potentially allowing users to continuously share the music they’re listening to through Instagram’s Notes feature. The new functionality, currently in testing, was first identified by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, known for uncovering unreleased app features. Paluzzi shared a screenshot on Meta’s Threads platform, revealing an option that would enable users to “continuously share” their Spotify music on Instagram, rather than manually selecting a song from Instagram’s existing music catalog. The feature would allow users to stop sharing at any time, according to the screenshot. While…

Starlink, the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet service, is now accessible in Botswana, three months after securing an operating license. Starlink’s launch in Botswana comes after one year of engagements with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). The company submitted its license application in early 2023 but got the license in May 2024. Starlink’s application was rejected in February 2024 citing missing information, people familiar with the matter said. The regulator denied the claims. In February 2024, BOCRA banned the use, sale, and importation of Starlink kits in the country. In May, President Masisi met with a delegation of Starlink’s executives…