![[Africa Tech Review] Duncan Mochama: MTN is investing $1.5 billion to expand broadband access across Nigeria](Images/Key Persons/DuncanMochama-IncentroAfrica.JPG)
[Africa Tech Review] Duncan Mochama: MTN is investing $1.5 billion to expand broadband access across Nigeria
This has been quite an interesting week in tech across Africa. We Covered a number of interesting stories from different countries. In Nigeria, MTN announced plans to invest 640 billion naira, approximately US$1.5 billion, over the next three years to expand broadband access across the continent’s most populous country This is in line with the federal government’s 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan and in support of MTN Group’s strategy, Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
In Kenya, Safaricom unveiled “its M-PESA Super App for customers and its M-PESA for Business App with an “Offline Mode” and “Mini Apps”. With the new M-PESA Super App, Safaricom has basically brought front-end insights on customer spending, direct access to statements, and much more into one single app. Still in Kenya, Telkom launched a new offer that will see new customers get to enjoy a lifetime value of 1GB of Mobile Internet Data and 100 minutes of talk time to make Telkom-to-Telkom calls, for free, every month.
African startups were also in the news this week. In Kenya, three local startups each received Ksh 1.25 million in cash awards from an innovation hub steered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) in collaboration with Prudential Life Assurance Kenya Limited (Prudential). Britam Asset Managers and Kenya-based fintech startup KOA, announced a partnership to offer customers access to low-risk investment opportunities. Moja Ride, an Ivorian startup providing a reservation and cashless payment system for transport services in Abidjan, partnered with O-CITY for its next phase of digital innovation and future expansion. C. Moore Media International Public Relations (CMM), a New York-headquartered PR agency focusing on the US, UK, and African markets, also announced the second edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program
This week, AAR Insurance inked a deal with telecommunications provider Safaricom to roll out new technology infrastructure based on the Amazon Web Services (AWS). Microsoft also officially rolled out its Future Ni Digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and career skills programme that seeks to equip over 50,000 owners of Micro Small Enterprises (MSEs) across Kenya with the relevant digital skills by the end of this year.
MainOne, the provider of connectivity, cloud and data center solutions in West Africa this week also announced that it plans to launch the Appolonia Data Center of its subsidiary, MDXi, in Accra, Ghana.Africell Group appointment of Christopher Lundh as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africell Angola.
Other top highlights of the week include Opera launching Hype Clubs, public and interest-based group chats in Hype, the new chat service built into the Opera Mini web browser and Bolt Food expanding its operations into new areas within Nairobi. The service will now be available in South C, South B, CBD, Mombasa Road, Loresho, Girgiri, Kitisuru, Runda, Muthaiga, and Ruaka.
Duncan Mochama is the solutions consultant at Incentro Africa.
