Author: Akin Naphtal

Ericsson and MTN have collaborated to offer free financial training to small- and medium-scale women entrepreneurs in Kampala, Uganda. This initiative aims to drive financial and gender inclusion and empower African women to reach their full potential. The two companies launched a three-week training program for local female traders at one of Kampala’s largest markets. The program not only enhanced financial literacy but also showcased the benefits of MTN’s mobile financial services platform, MoMo, powered by Ericsson Mobile Financial Services, encouraging participants to utilize it for their businesses. The training commenced with an official opening attended by Sylvia Mulinge, Chief…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the ‘Digital Literacy for All’ initiative, to ensure inclusive growth and equip Nigerians with essential digital skills. The initiative was aimed at ensuring every Nigerian access to be equipped with the necessary tools to access and utilize online resources for education, employment and government services safely. According to NITDA, the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority to reform the economy for sustained inclusive growth. It stated that the ‘’Digital Literacy for All’ initiative sought to ensure that every Nigerian has access to digital literacy, ensuring no one is left…

Facebook and Instagram parent company, Meta Platforms, has been fined $220 million by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for violating local consumer, data protection, and privacy laws. The fine follows a 38-month investigation conducted in collaboration with Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission. Meta has yet to comment on the Nigerian fine. The FCCPC’s investigation revealed that Meta inappropriately appropriated the data of Nigerian users on its platforms without their consent and exploited its market dominance by imposing unfair privacy policies. The commission also found that Meta subjected Nigerian users to discriminatory and disparate treatment compared to users in…

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has temporarily halted all flights on Friday due to a technical fault, with delays expected to persist throughout the day although check-in services have resumed. This disruption comes amidst a tech outage affecting carriers, media companies, banks, and telecom firms globally. In a related incident, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air grounded flights shortly after Microsoft announced it had resolved a cloud services outage that impacted several low-cost carriers. Hamburg Airport reported that four of the airlines it services were experiencing problems with Crowdstrike, a global cybersecurity firm, though the disruptions were described…

The Indian business management credit system, Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, has rated Kaspersky Threat Intelligence highly across the parameters of technology excellence and customer impact for the second consecutive year. The solution has been praised for providing contextualized analysis that aids security teams in detecting, responding to, and mitigating external threats promptly. The company’s Spark Matrix offers a detailed analysis of global Digital Threat Intelligence (DTI) market dynamics, major trends, vendor landscape, and competitive positioning, helping companies evaluate various vendor capabilities, competitive differentiation, and market positions. The Head of Threat Research, at Kaspersky, Alexander Liskin, commented: “Kaspersky Threat Intelligence is regularly…

IXAfrica Data Centres has launched East Africa’s first and largest hypercloud data center, named NBOX1, in Kenya, in collaboration with Schneider Electric, an energy management leader. This new facility aims to provide stable, reliable, and renewable cloud services powered by the country’s grid. NBOX1 is the largest and most technologically advanced in East Africa, designed for cloud, colocation, and connectivity. It uses Schneider Electric’s MV and LV switchgear and EcoStruxure for Data Centers architecture for maximum resilience, uptime, cost efficiency, and sustainability. In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO), of IXAfrica, Snehar Shah said: “Kenya is a hypercloud-ready region with…

In a groundbreaking move towards enhancing transactional security, Avanti Communications, a global leader in multi-orbit connectivity services, has successfully conducted a satellite connectivity test with BankservAfrica and Capitec Bank in South Africa This pivotal test marks a significant advancement in the realm of digital banking, highlighting the transformative potential of satellite communications in bolstering financial operations. As Africa’s largest automated clearing house, BankservAfrica’s collaboration with Avanti showcases a forward-thinking approach to ensuring a resilient and digitally inclusive banking future. Some of the insights from the satellite connectivity test are its link demonstrated consistent stability, a crucial element for uninterrupted financial…

Energy management and automation company, Schneider Electric, has teamed up with Nairobi-based IXAfrica Data Centres to inaugurate Kenya and East Africa’s first and largest hypercloud data centre. The facility, nicknamed ‘NBOX1’, is built around Schneider Electric’s Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) switchgear to ensure stable, reliable cloud services powered sustainably by Kenya’s grid. NBOX1, now operational, stands as the most advanced and extensive carrier-neutral, AI-ready data centre in East Africa. It aims to attract hyperscale and internet customers, offering a user experience on par with leading facilities in North America and Western Europe. The foundation of NBOX1 is…

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, welcomed U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Arun Venkataraman, and his team to his office on Wednesday, 17th July, to discuss U.S. companies investing in Nigeria’s ICT and startup sectors. Dr. Tijani shared the news on his LinkedIn page, highlighting discussions that centred on increased U.S. investment opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), and data protection. The conversation also touched on U.S. President Biden’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative, which aims to expand digital access and literacy and strengthen digital enabling environments across the continent. A notable highlight…

Movie streaming giant, Netflix is expected to report slower subscriber growth for the April-June period, adding around 4.82 million new users, following its crackdown on password-sharing, and viewers’ shifting attention to summer sports events like the Euro football tournament. Despite fewer new subscribers, the fewest in five quarters, Netflix’s lower-priced ad-supported tier has been very successful, more than doubling ad revenue in the June quarter. Overall, Netflix’s revenue is expected to rise 16.4% to $9.53 billion, the fastest growth since the second quarter of 2021. Popular shows like Bridgerton and Baby Reindeer helped Netflix stay on top of the most-watched…