tagresults
[South Africa] Mastercard and Bidvest Bank partner for international remittances
Mastercard has partnered with South African Bidvest Bank to provide a solution that allows customers to send international remittances at their convenience.
[South Africa] 2024 to see tighter IT budgets, more local cloud uptake, says Routed
The pace of change in the technology sector has always been brisk, as demonstrated by the rapid development and massive innovation that occurred in 2023. As we prepare for 2024, it's clear that developments in IT will continue to reshape the business world.
Sophos anticipates AI-based attack techniques and prepares detections
Sophos has released two reports about the use of AI in cybercrime. The first report demonstrates how, in the future, scammers could leverage technology like ChatGPT to conduct fraud on a massive scale with minimal technical skills.
[Ghana] NoOnes appoints ex-Paxful chief Ray Youssef as CEO
NoOnes, the financial communication super app connecting people of the Global South to the world’s financial systems has appointed ex-Paxful boss Ray Youssef as CEO
Swiss-Israeli fintech startup Okoora spearheads European expansion with new Cyprus branch
Swiss-Israeli fintech startup Okoora has opened a new branch in Limassol, Cyprus. These new European offices will support the organization’s push to obtain an EMI (Electronic Money Institution) license, which will assist it in facilitating incoming and outgoing electronic payments within EU countries
[Kenya] Sky.Garden unveils rebranded e-commerce ecosystem
The Lipa Later Group-backed investment in Sky.Garden has revamped its platform to introduce new features in it’s Ecosystem and aspires to connect 100,000 merchants in the next year.
[Column] Christopher Saul: Why businesses in Kenya need to adopt a cloud mindset
Driven by an increase in local data centres and the availability of cloud computing platforms, organisations in Kenya are some of the biggest cloud spenders in Africa.
[Kenya] President Ruto commits to sign Startup Bill into law by April 2024
Kenya’s President William Ruto has promised to sign the Startup Bill 2022 into law. Speaking during the Kenya Innovation Week (KIW), the president said he will sign the bill into law by April next year.
Visa launches global AI advisory practice
Digital payments fitm Visa has announced the launch of its Global AI Advisory Services Practice. The new value-added service will be offered by Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA), the payments consulting advisory arm of Visa.
47% of companies in the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa region plan to outsource cybersecurity, report
Company bosses are boosting their cybersecurity following an alarming increase in cyberattacks, a new study commissioned by Kaspersky has found.
Kenyans embrace online platforms for savings and investment solutions, report
More than 63 per cent of Kenyans rely on the Internet and technology for their savings and investment needs. This is according to a new study by Enwealth Financial Services.
[South Africa] BT partners with Digital Realty to help customers unlock data value
BT today announced it is rolling out its transformational Global Fabric network-as-a-service (NaaS) in strategic Digital Realty carrier neutral facilities (CNFs) around the world.
[Kenya] Bolt suspends more than 5,000 drivers from its platform
On-demand mobility platform Bolt on Wednesday revealed that it has suspended more than 5000 drivers in Kenya from its platform in the past six months.
[Nigeria] Commodities platform AFEX launches new digital trading platform
Africa’s commodities player, AFEX, has launched Africa Exchange, a digital platform for trading commodities. The platform follows AFEX’s first foray into digital commodities trading with the launch of ComX in 2020.
Head and Heart Philanthropy launches Mosaic Genius Tech Studio for tech entrepreneurs in Africa
Head and Heart Philanthropy – the philanthropic arm of Mosaic Genius has launched Mosaic Genius Tech Studio, a new accelerator program targeting entrepreneurs in Africa.
Fuse launches $10M grant program for web3 payments innovators
Fuse Network has unveiled a $10 million grant program to support businesses by providing essential funding and infrastructure for streamlined access to Web3 payment systems
Finnfund and Nokia join hands to close digital gap in South Africa
Finnfund’s investment bridges the digital divide in South Africa with help of technology from Nokia.
NEC XON and MTN launch Africa's first 400G optical transponder
The Phoenix solution marks a significant step forward in the telecom industry, with the potential to revolutionise networking and connectivity across Africa and beyond
[South Africa] Deimos launches Infrastructure-as-a-Service Platform
Cloud-native solutions provider Deimos on Monday announced the launch of Deimos Managed Infrastructure (DMI), The company says DMI is a solution that promises to transform the way businesses manage their cloud infrastructure.
[Column] Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar: The need for positive regulation in the ride-hailing industry
Positive regulation has emerged as the linchpin that can propel the industry's growth while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders. There are a myriad of reasons why embracing positive regulation is vital for Kenya's ride-hailing industry:
Outsourcing and technology service provider VFS Global appoints Jose Manuel Aisa Mancho as CFO
VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, appointed Jose Manuel Aisa Mancho as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
5,300 African entrepreneurs graduate from Google’s Hustle Academy
Five thousand three hundred (5,300) small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) from across South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria have graduated from Google’s Hustle Academy.
Kenya’s MPost relocates its headquarters to Rwanda
MPost, the Kenyan tech startup that transforms mobile numbers into virtual addresses is relocating its headquarters from Nairobi to Rwanda effective November 2023.
Tier IV Onix data centre in Ghana to connect to Angola Cables Network to expand digital offering
The carrier-neutral, colocation Tier IV Onix Data Centre in Accra, Ghana, is joining the Angola Cables Global Data Centre Interconnect.
Virtual Pay Group opens its global headquarters In Mauritius
Virtual Pay Group (‘Virtual Pay’), a leading global payment and technology service provider has opened its headquarters in Mauritius.
Africa remains one of the regions most targeted by cybercrime in 2023
At a recent press conference in Johannesburg, Kaspersky shared some insights and statistics related to the regional threat landscape in the third quarter of 2023 and made forecasts on how the situation is going to develop in 2024.
[Column] Todd Schoeman: Building networks for the new digital age
As the likes of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) integrate into business operations, companies are becoming more reliant than ever on the cloud.
[Column] Christopher Sau: Plugging Kenya’s brain drain: Unlocking the value of training and IT talent retention
As Kenyan enterprises continue to transform and invest in enterprise IT and digital technologies, there is high demand for the skills and talent needed to sustain that transformation.
[South Africa] AWS and SoftwareOne collaborate on RISE with SAP
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SoftwareOne Holding AG, a global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions have announced a new collaborative initiative to help customers transition to RISE with SAP on an AWS cloud environment.
[Kenya] Government bets on Microsoft’s cloud services to enhance public service delivery
Microsoft will engage the National Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies through the ICT Authority in a joint working framework according to an agreement signed on Wednesday. The framework is expected to be finalized in February 2024.
[Kenya] Lawyers Hub opens applications for the 2023 Startup Law Accelerator
The Africa Startup Law Accelerator seeks to accelerate the business growth, legal setup and compliance, operational capacity and impact of startups working on legal-tech and justice innovations.
Huawei, partners push for $100 billion internet connectivity investment across Africa
Additional investment of more than Ksh 10 trillion, (USD 100 billion) in internet infrastructure, policies and ecosystems is necessary to raise the degree of digital access in Kenya and across Africa.
Dubai launches $136M venture capital fund to invest in tech startups
The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) has announced the launch of a venture capital (VC) fund worth US$136 million to invest in tech startups.
Data quality essential in training ChatGPT, says PBT Group
They are applicable not just to ChatGPT, but to conversational AI and other AI applications like generative AI. All this reinforces the importance of data quality across the spectrum of AI technologies,” concludes Conradie.
CMC Networks Partners with aconnic to Bring NFV and NaaS to Service Providers in Africa
Global Tier 1 service provider CMC Networks has partnered with German network solution provider aconnic to bring network function virtualization (NFV) to service providers across Africa and the Middle East.
Dimension Data appoints Peter Gitonga new GM for Managed Services, East Africa
IT infrastructure and services company Dimension Data has appointed Peter Gitonga as the new GM for Managed Services, East Africa.
[Kenya] Epson highlights sustainable tech’s role in education ahead of COP28
Epson's Regional Head for East and West Africa Mukesh Bector says Epson views technology as an enabler, with products that are designed to use fewer resources in production, last for longer, are more easily repairable, can be re-used and are more easily recycled.
Bolt Appoints Ms Caroline Wanjihia as Regional Director for Africa
Bolt has today announced the appointment of Ms Caroline Wanjihia as Regional Director for its Ridehailing Operations in Africa and International Markets (Middle East, Asia and LATAM).
[Kenya] Communications regulator slashes mobile calling rates
Kenyans will from March next year enjoy lower calling rates after the Communication Authority (CA) slashed the country’s Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) and Fixed Termination Rates (FTRs).
L’Africa Investment Forum recueille 34,82 milliards de dollars d’intérêts d’investissement
Les Market Days 2023 de l’Africa Investment Forum (AIF) ont suscité 34,82 milliards de dollars d’intérêts d’investissement pour des projets dans les infrastructures, l’agriculture, les soins de santé et les industries créatives.
AMN announces backhaul agreement with Starlink to connect millions across Africa
Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) announces the agreement with Starlink to connect AMN’s mobile network base stations with high-speed, low-latency broadband services, to serve even in the most remote and rural communities around the world.
LINX's interconnection hub in Nairobi goes live
The London Internet Exchange (LINX) have announced that their interconnection hub in Nairobi, Kenya is now live and ready for business.
Generative AI skills gap slowing down AI adoption EMEA region, report
Organisations in the EMEA region plan to embrace AI solutions but are slowed by a generative AI skills gap. This is according to a new report released by hybrid multi-cloud computing provider Nutanix.
[Kenya] Machakos students with special needs benefit from government's digital Lab
Konza Technopolis has launched the first ever Jitume Lab for youth with special needs at the Machakos Technical Training Institute for the Blind. The launch was presided over by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr. Felix Koskei.
[South Africa] Teraco commences CT2 data centre expansion, increasing critical IT load to 50MW
Africa’s interconnection hub and vendor-neutral data centre provider Teraco, has announced a 30-megawatt (MW) expansion of its CT2 hyperscale data centre facility in Brackenfell, Cape Town, South Africa.
Universal School Connectivity initiative Giga expands its reach to 30 countries
Giga, the global initiative to connect every school in the world to the Internet by 2030 has announced that it is now operational in 30 countries.
[South Africa] Tarsus On Demand elevates cybersecurity offering with Sophos partnership
Tarsus On Demand has partnered with Sophos, a global leader in cybersecurity to bring cloud expertise and cutting-edge security solutions to South Africa.
Yedpay collaborates with Mastercard to lead the future of payment technology
Yedpay, a Hong Kong-based payment technology company, has partnered with Mastercard to provide a new payment tool for real-time cash flow.
Retailers are struggling to deal with ransomware attacks, Sophos report
After surveying 3,000 IT/cybersecurity leaders in organizations with between 100 and 5,000 employees (including 355 from the retail sector), across 14 countries in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific Sophos found that only 26% of retail organizations this past year were able to disrupt a ransomware attack.
Cloud provider Servercore launches in Kenya
The company says its new cloud solutions are designed to help businesses grow by providing them with the scalability, flexibility, and security they need to succeed in today’s digital economy.
[Kenya] Private and public sectors asked to collaborate to enhance AI readiness
There is a need for players in Africa's private and public sectors to start working together to centre the continent in the global generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) dialogue.
PIN and partners join forces to counter surveillance and digital repression in Africa
Paradigm Initiative (PIN), in partnership with Open Society Foundation (OSF) and Unwanted Witness, hosted the convening on Countering Surveillance and Digital Repression in Africa.
Safaricom's Net income to closes at KES41.6 billion in Half -Year ended September 2023
Safaricom has recorded a strong growth in profitability for the six months to 30th September 2023 with the Kenyan business hitting a double-digit growth in Net income to close at 10.9% to KES41.6 billion.
Vertiv announces partner programme for Africa to reward its distributors
Vertiv has announced its enhanced partner programme for Africa, with a strong focus on rewarding its local network of expert distributors and resellers across South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco.
Google brings generative AI to Search in Africa
Google has announced that is rolling out its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the SSA region. The AI-powered experience is available in English as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs.
Carnegie Mellon to receive $25 Million investment for computational biology education
Carnegie Mellon Trustee Ray Lane and Stephanie Lane invest $25 Million in CMU's Computational Biology Department.
Chipper Cash partnership with Visa to drive financial inclusion across Africa
Chipper Cash, a financial services company serving over five million customers across Africa and the US, has announced a strategic partnership with Visa to drive growth and financial inclusion across the African continent.
[Kenya] Bolt Food launches scheduled delivery service in Nairobi
Bolt Food has launched a new scheduled orders feature that allows customers to pre-order meals and place them, even when restaurants are fully booked, closed, or when couriers are in high demand.
MarketForce closes shop in three out of its five African markets
The startup is exiting Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania and will now remain operational only in Kenya and Uganda with Kenya remaining its headquarters.
[South Africa] Jason Andrew joins Trellix as new Chief Revenue Officer
Trellix has appointed Jason Andrew as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Jason joins the cybersecurity firm from BMC, a global IT Management solutions provider and software company, where he led their sales organization in the same position for two decades.
75% of healthcare organisations lose data to ransomware attacks, Sophos report
Cybercriminals successfully encrypted data in nearly 75% of ransomware attacks on healthcare organisations. This is according to the The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2023 report released by cybersecurity firm Sophos.
[Kenya] Airtel to roll out additional 100 5G sites across the country
Airtel Kenya has revealed plans to roll out an additional 100 5G sites across the country before the end of the year. The rollout of the new 5G sites will increase from 180 wards to 221 wards and, from 15 counties to 32 counties.
Norrsken22’s tech growth fund closes at $205m to back African tech startups
Pan-African venture capital firm Norrsken22 has closed its first African technology growth fund at $205m, surpassing its target of $200m. Norrsken22 is a first time fund, led by a team of partners that each have decades of experience in investing in Africa, and in tech.
[Column] Daniel Wolman: Cybersecurity vs customer trust - an inseparable duo in a digital economy
The digital age has ushered in a new era of the customer experience, where data has become a valuable currency. However, this currency is also coveted by cyber criminals who are constantly seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the ever-expanding digital marketplace.
[Kenya] Government starts trials for new digital ID cards
Also set to receive the new card with enhanced security are applicants seeking replacements for defaced or lost cards as the government tests the country’s preparedness for a full rollout of digital IDs.
[Kenya] Airtel Money reduces its Paybill and wallet to bank charges
Airtel Money Kenya has today reduced its Paybill, bulk payment and wallet-to-bank charges as it seeks to drive affordability for its customers.
[Column] Tunde Abagun: Securing Kenya’s Digital Superhighway
As Kenyan Citizens and residents increasingly turn to digital channels for services, they demand a digital backbone they can trust, one resilient in the face of relentless cyber assaults.
dLocal and ACE Money Transfer partner to facilitate instant and convenient remittances in APAC and EMEA
As trusted payout partners, dLocal and ACE Money Transfer are providing fast, secure, and cost-effective remittance solutions in emerging markets.
Africa's digital payments network MFS Africa rebrands to Onafriq
MFS Africa, Africa’s digital payments network has rebranded to Onafriq. According to Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO the trademark MFS belongs to another company in the US, and their ability to use it outside of Africa was becoming difficult.
[Kenya] Safaricom expands 5G coverage to 35 counties
New counties where 5G is now present in select towns include Bomet, Busia, Isiolo, Kitui, Mandera, Migori, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Homa Bay, West Pokot, Embu, Kirinyaga, Muranga and Turkana.
[South Africa] Verdant Capital raises EUR 10 million of debt funding for Bridge Taxi Finance
Bridge Taxi Finance (Bridge Taxi), a Mokoro Holdings subsidiary, is a development company offering finance and support products to the minibus taxi industry in South Africa
Verdant Capital advises Open Access Data Centres on landmark Joint Venture Agreement with Texaf
The agreement crystallizes the two parties’ intention to usher in the next evolution of the DRC’s digital ecosystem by launching the country’s first open-access, carrier-neutral data centre.
[South Africa] Stanchion Payments appoints Pierre Aurel as chief product officer
Stanchion Payments has announced the appointment of Pierre Aurel as its new Chief Product Officer. With a remarkable track record in payment product development and innovation, Pierre brings a wealth of experience to his role in Stanchion's dynamic and expanding team.
[Kenya] Bolt secures licence renewal
. In a statement shared on Tuesday, Bolt announced that it has secured licence renewal from NTSA as per the regulators 2022.
Kaspersky exposes Lazarus’ new campaign exploiting legitimate software
A new campaign by the infamous Lazarus group targeting organisations worldwide has been uncovered by Kaspersky's Research and Analysis Team (GReAT).
[Kenya] Government commits to growing digital economy through a secure cyber space
Kenya's ICT and the Digital Economy Permanent Secretary (PS), Eng. John Tanui has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to growing the country’s digital economy by enacting a safe and secure cyberspace.
African governments must find scalable means of tax collection to generate additional income, Bento study
The Bento study delves into taxation systems in 53 African countries and underscores the advantages of governments adopting digital payroll systems to collect income tax and other obligatory deductions accurately.
[Column] Victor Basta: The most valuable ‘white spaces’ today in African investing
With low manufacturing capabilities, high youth unemployment rates, poor-quality health care, and inadequate infrastructure, Africa’s sustained growth now depends on its digital economy.
Kenya opens its first local smartphone assembly plant
The East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK ) was unveiled on Monday by President William Ruto and is a joint venture of local Mobile Network Operators including Safaricom Jamii Telecommunications and Chinese firm Shenzhen TeleOne Technology
Kenya among top countries receiving most DDOS attacks amid ongoing geopolitical unrest
Kenya has been listed among the top five countries hit by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in the first half of 2023. Other countries include France, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia
[Column] Heino Gevers: In the mind of a hacker: what motivates cybercriminals?
According to Mark T Hofmann, a business psychologist that specialises in profiling cybercriminals, the perpetrators of cybercrime are often 'clever psychopaths' who are proud of the damage they do and feel little remorse for their actions.
[Kenya] Bolt suspends its 5% booking fee
Bolt Kenya now says it has suspended the 5% booking fee included in the riders' fare. In a statement shared on Monday, the ride-hailing fee said it had suspended the fee pending clarification with NTSA around the interpretation of the regulation on this particular matter.
EU and Finnfund to mobilise more than €1 billion of sustainable investments in digital infrastructure
EU and Finnfund launch the Africa Connected Programme to mobilise more than €1 billion of sustainable investments in digital infrastructure.
Verve partners with Sterling Bank to unveil its first credit card
This partnership marks another milestone in Verve's journey as a payment brand focused on improving the lives of Africans one card at a time, deepening financial inclusion, and facilitating access to credit in partnership with card issuers.
[Column] Ryan Mer: Does cyber insurance truly mitigate financial risks?
The estimated impact of cybercrime on the South African economy is R2.2 billion per annum. Impersonation crimes, especially, are of huge concern. These fraud instances, where fraudsters assume the identity of a victim, increased 356% from April 2022 to April 2023.
[Nigeria] Kaspersky records an increase in mobile threats in Africa in Q2 2023
Among the most prevalent mobile threats that were detected in Africa are adware and mobile banking threats. The Kaspersky report indicates substantial adware detections in Q2 2023, with a spike of 94% in Nigeria, 39% in Kenya and 27% in South Africa.
[Kenya] Seven women-led startups awarded Ksh. 9.8 million seed funding
Standard Chartered Kenya has announced the graduation of the sixth cohort of the Women in Tech programme with seven startups awarded a total KES 9.8 million in seed funding.
MFS Africa partners with Madagascar’s MVola for international money transfers
Pan-African digital payments network, MFS Africa, has partnered with Mvola, Madagascar’s leading mobile money provider, to facilitate inbound international money transfers.
[South Africa] Telcos must embrace digital transformation to drive customer retention, says MAZIV
According to a recent survey by PWC, 90% of South African telco customers who were surveyed in 2022 expressed dissatisfaction with the level of service they received.
[Kenya] NCBA and Visa target launch new spend management tool for businesses
NCBA Group and Visa have announced a partnership to roll out an innovative solution dubbed Visa Spend Clarity for Enterprise for commercial card clients of NCBA.
[South Africa] Airbnb launches a $500k fund to support tourism growth in Africa
Airbnb on Tuesday announced a USD $500,000 fund to support inclusive and sustainable tourism growth in Africa. The company made this announcement at the Africa Travel Summit in Johannesburg.
The 7th Future Investment Initiative (FII7) convened in Riyadh for a new “global compass” call
Delegates call for new global compass to boost economic environment and supercharge renewable energy investments.
[South Africa] Companies acknowledge inadequate budgets to address the root cause of breaches, J2 Software survey
A recent survey revealed that 58% of organisations believe their budgets allocated to manage insider risks are insufficient to effectively mitigate the increasing costs and frequency of security incidents instigated by individuals within the organisation.
[Kenya] Konza Technopolis launches new platform to unify medical records in public hospitals
Konza Technopolis and the Ministry of Health have unveiled a new medical system designed to unify medical records in public hospitals across the country.
[Kenya] Dimension Data and Cisco launch new cyber security and networking service
Dimension Data has today launched a unified network and security service that consolidates several capabilities addressing IT operations and Cyber security risks.
Chil Femtech Center unveils Africa’s first e-hygiene shop
Chil Femtech Center has unveiled an E-Hygiene Shop, a first-of-its-kind online platform aimed at significantly enhancing the hygiene standards in partner health facilities across Africa.
Kenyan signs MoU with Huawei to promote digital transformation
The Kenya Government has entered into an agreement with Huawei Technologies that will see the two parties collaborate on the development of the country’s ICT infrastructure, promote the digitization of various sectors of the country.
Sweat Economy to usher 140 million users to Web3, launches in nine countries including Ghana
Sweat Economy, the Web3 ecosystem has expanded into the United States and eight new countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Ghana, Jamaica, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.
Airtel Africa CEO calls on telcos help drive Africa’s digital and financial inclusion
Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya has challenged the telecommunications industry in Africa to leverage emerging technologies to enable all people in the continent to connect, engage and transact with the rest of the world.
Chenosis partners with Botlhale AI to bridge language gaps in African businesses
Chenosis, a pan-African Accelerator Platform has partnered with Botlhale AI Solutions to remove language as a barrier when it comes to the use of AI. Under this partnership, businesses will be able to engage with their clients on the Accelerator platform in their own language.
COLUMNS.
[Column] Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar: The need for positive regulation in the ride-hailing industry
Kenya's ride-hailing industry has rapidly transformed into a thriving ecosystem, attracting both entrepreneurs and enabling residents ...read full column here
[Column] Christopher Sau: Plugging Kenya’s brain drain: Unlocking the value of training and IT talent retention
Enterprises have much to gain by investing in their people and exploring talent-building and upskilling strategies ...read full column here
[Column] NJ Ayuk: Oil market predictions and what they mean for Africa
Of course, the oil market is nothing if not volatile, but few eras match the last several years for dramatic ups and downs ...read full column here
INTERVIEWS.
[Interview] Oluwole Eweje, CEO-WATT Renewables Corporation
We provide sustainability for communities, especially communities that have very few businesses … read full interview here
[Interview] Kenneth Njeru, Director of Africa Afya Healthcare
I had an interest in investing and I identified industries that were great and also brought change to the community, healthcare and Information Technology … read full interview here
[Interview] Yvonne Nelson, Actress and Entrepreneur, Ghana
Yvonne Nelson is a renowned Ghanaian actress and producer who has led a life filled with significant moments that illuminate her remarkable characteristics as a human being… read full interview here
B2B Events
[EVENT] Unlocking Success in New Markets: Cross-Border Payments Strategies for South African Businesses
Join us for this event on Thursday 30th November ... read more and register