Author: Akin Naphtal

South Korean electronics maker, Samsung has launched its newest version of foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, along with Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro. The company unveiled these new products at their second Galaxy Unpacked event, held in Paris, France. It would be recalled the firm ushered in the era of mobile AI through the power of Galaxy AI. With this introduction of the new foldables, Samsung is opening the next chapter of Galaxy AI by leveraging its most versatile and flexible form factor perfectly designed to enable a range of unique mobile experiences. Samsung…

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, has met with a delegation from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) East Africa, led by Chief Technical Advisor Ms. Caroline Njuki, to discuss initiatives to expand Kenya’s digital jobs ecosystem. Eng. Tanui shared the news on his LinkedIn page, highlighting the key areas of discussion, namely the development of a comprehensive Digital Job Creation Strategy, implementation of fair labour policies, establishment of digital skills guidelines, and execution of capacity-building programs. These efforts aim to create a strong framework for digital job opportunities in Kenya. The…

New research from digital identity security specialists, ID Crypt Global, has revealed a 230% increase in the number of fake social media accounts on TikTok over the past year, adding to content-related challenges such as harassment, self-harm encouragement, misinformation, and child sexual exploitation. The analysis by ID Crypt Global highlights a troubling trend, specifically the rise of fake accounts on social media platforms. In Q1 2024, Facebook removed 631 million fake accounts, marking a 48.1% increase from 426 million in Q1 2023. However, TikTok’s figures are even more alarming, with a 232.5% increase in fake account removals over the past…

Global smartphone shipments have seen a notable increase of 6.5% in the second quarter of 2024, according to preliminary data released by International Data Corporation (IDC) on 15th July. The surge in shipments is attributed to the efforts of leading smartphone manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and Apple. Both companies have been at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to appeal to price-sensitive consumers and expand their market share. According to Reuters, Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, highlighted the growing excitement in the smartphone market fuelled by higher average selling prices and the anticipation surrounding next-generation…

Network International, a leading enabler of digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa have agreed with Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK), in the bank’s efforts to improve e-commerce solutions for its merchants. Through this partnership, ABK merchants will benefit from Network International’s expertise in digital payments, gaining advanced capabilities to accept credit card transactions on their websites and provide convenient payment links. This initiative aims to streamline online payment processes and offer merchants the flexibility to generate and share payment links, significantly improving customer convenience. Additionally, the merchants will accept payments through popular digital wallets, including Apple Pay,…

Huawei has held its 2024 edition of Africa Connect, focusing on the impact the of digital era in sectors like finance, transportation, internet service provision (ISP) and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. Held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, the event marked a new era for enterprise-focused annual gathering, with Huawei senior leaders expressing their commitment to the continent. The Executive Director of the Board and Chairman of the ICT Infrastructure Managing Board for Huawei, David Wang emphasized that the company’s investment of $156 billion in Research and Experimental Development (R&D) over the last decade…

Global cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky is monitoring Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and has identified nine active threat actors targeting organizations, government entities, energy sectors, and telecommunications companies, which are primary targets across Africa. APTs are sophisticated threat actors known for their prolonged and targeted attacks, often motivated by espionage, financial gain, or hacktivism. Prominent APT groups in the region include MuddyWater, FruityArmor, and Sidewinder. Kaspersky collaborates with legal authorities to provide crucial intelligence for tracking cybercriminals involved in these attacks. These threat actors employ various techniques to infiltrate their targets. Social engineering tactics, such as fake job advertisements aimed at software…

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) is undergoing a strategic transformation from a traditional telecommunications entity to a leading digital e-commerce business. This decisive move was part of the telecom’s 2022-2025 strategic plan, aimed to position the country’s premier digital services provider, focusing on e-health, e-learning, and fintech. At the presentation of the company’s 2023/24 financial year results, BTCL’s Managing Director Anthony Masunga highlighted the importance of digital transformation in creating shareholder value. “We have made significant investments in modernizing our network, building data centres, and improving our mobile services,” Masunga stated. Meanwhile, the company’s financial performance has been strong, with…

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani announced the approval of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to support the deployment of 90,000km of fibre optic cable for universal access to the internet across the country. Dr Tijani explained that, “Nigeria needs 125, 000km of fibre optic cable. Fortunately for us, the private sector has invested 35, 000km. Since the emergence of this administration, it has been very clear that President Bola Tinubu, with the support of the ministry, will aggressively deploy 90, 000km of fibre optic cable.” “About six or seven weeks ago, the Federal Executive…

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), in collaboration with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), has successfully climaxed its Girls-in-ICT (GIICT) training programme. The Climax ceremony of the 10-day programme was held at the University of Ghana’s Cedi Conference Centre on Wednesday, 10th July, 2024. It was supported by MTN, the National Communications Authority (NCA), ATC Ghana, GES, GIZ, and Kodris Africa The ceremony, led by the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, also saw key female stakeholders in the technology industry, including the CEO…