Author: Akin Naphtal

The Zambian government has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 520 new communication towers across the country by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to achieve 96 per cent nationwide coverage for phone and internet services. The country’s minister for Technology and Science, Felix Mutati announced the plan while commissioning a communication tower in Itezhi-Tezhi. “The construction of these communication towers is intended to help Zambians access online services provided by the government,” Mutati stated. Of the 520 towers, the government will construct 340, while the private sector will build the remaining 180. Once completed, Zambia will have a…

The Senegalese Space Study Agency (ASES) has agreed to collaborate with SatNav Africa Joint Programme Office (JPO) to unlock the power of space technology in Africa. According to a statement posted on the Space in Africa website, ASES and SatNav Africa JPO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a comprehensive framework for collaboration in satellite navigation and space applications. The MoU focuses on fostering innovative business clusters in Senegal and across Africa,” reads part of the statement. The SatNav Africa JPO champions the development of Satellite Navigation (GNSS/SBAS) services in Africa based on European solutions EGNOS and Galileo.…

U.S.-based tech giant, Apple has launched Apple Vision Pro in its stores across China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Vision Pro is a cutting-edge device that integrates digital content with the physical world, offering powerful spatial experiences that revolutionize work, collaboration, connection, memory reliving, entertainment, and more. In the aim of providing them with an exclusive guided demo, Apple team members celebrated the arrival of Vision Pro alongside the first customers in these regions, to have experience of the new technology at Apple Retail stores. Meanwhile, customers can visit the Apple Store online to book a personal one-on-one demo of…

A new program that will benefit over 180 million people by 2032 is poised to significantly increase access to the internet and the inclusive use of digitally enabled services and transform the digital landscape in Eastern and Southern Africa. Digitalization is one of the most potent tools available today to eradicate poverty on a livable planet. Yet, the Eastern and Southern Africa region has the slowest pace of digitalization globally, with only 64 per cent of the population covered by high-speed internet, and just 24 per cent of the population using the internet as of 2023. To accelerate digitalization, the…

By Huawei In Shenzhen, which is one of the most efficient cities in China, the time needed for new enterprise registration and approval is less than one minute. Governments worldwide are seeing the value of strengthening their digital infrastructure to better deliver innovative and inclusive e-services. In establishing e-government services with the help of Huawei, headquartered in Shenzhen, 53 government departments in the city have been able to migrate more than 230 core services to the cloud. Around the world, more governments are seeing the value of digital and intelligent transformation. By strengthening their digital infrastructure, they can better deliver…

Worldline [Euronext: WLN], a global leader in payment services, has announced a strategic partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a globally renowned brand dedicated to supporting independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences for over 50 years. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in streamlining payment processes and elevating the guest experience within the luxury hospitality segment, benefiting more than 600 member properties across 80 countries. Through this alliance, Worldline aims to offer a broad range of solutions, including eCommerce and Acquiring services, with a strong focus on Europe, to meet and exceed the expectations of hospitality customers. The integration…

Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, through the eTransform project, has made significant strides in enhancing connectivity across Ghana, bolstering the country’s digital infrastructure, and ensuring it has access to high-speed internet and modern communication tools. Launched in January 2015, the eTransform Project is a government initiative funded with World Bank support. The project was restructured in January 2018 to accelerate the attainment of its development objectives, which focus on improving the efficiency and coverage of government service delivery using information and communication technology (ICT). The eTransform Project, a cornerstone of the Digital Ghana Agenda, focuses on several key areas:…

Cognite, a leader in data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, has been awarded the Energy and Resources 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. This marks the third consecutive year that Microsoft has recognized Cognite for its excellence in delivering impactful, scalable industrial transformations through its core Industrial DataOps platform, Cognite Data Fusion. Girish Rishi, CEO of Cognite, expressed his pride in the company’s achievements, stating, “Cognite continues to lead the charge in global Industrial DataOps, enabling Energy and Resources companies to leverage AI for a transformative digital journey.” Cognite’s unique blend of industry-specific AI capabilities, deep industrial domain knowledge,…

Pyypl, a fintech company operating in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has teamed up with Visa to offer virtual and physical prepaid Visa cards through its mobile app. This partnership aims to enhance financial inclusion in the region by providing wider access to prepaid Visa cards across various markets. The initiative has received approval from local regulators. The fintech operates in several African and Middle Eastern countries, with a mission to digitize financial services for 850 million underserved smartphone users. The integration of Visa’s virtual cards is expected to significantly broaden access to financial services. “With the support of…

Canada’s BlackBerry has announced that it has exceeded first-quarter revenue estimates as of Wednesday, 26th June, driven by strong demand for cybersecurity services amid increasing online threats. The company’s U.S.-listed shares surged 7.2% in after-hours trading following the announcement. BlackBerry, which offers cybersecurity and data protection services to enterprises and governments, reported quarterly revenue of $144 million, surpassing analysts’ average estimate of $134.1 million, according to LSEG data. Over recent months, notable companies including CDK, UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare unit, and Live Nation Entertainment’s Ticketmaster unit have experienced large-scale data breaches. Despite a broader slowdown in tech spending, these high-profile…