Africa Tech News
Teraco’s R8 billion JB7 data centre to revamp Africa’s digital infrastructure
Teraco, a leading provider of interconnection platforms and vendor-neutral colocation data centres in Africa, has officially commenced construction on its JB7 hyperscale data centre at its Isando Campus in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, South Africa. The new facility, with a capacity of 40 megawatts (MW) of critical power, will significantly enhance Teraco’s role in Africa’s digital ecosystem. […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleTikTok deletes 12 million videos across Africa, enforces stricter age rules
TikTok on Wednesday announced the deletion of 360,000 videos in Kenya, making it the tenth African nation to experience a crackdown as the video-sharing app adopts stricter measures to enforce guidelines. This brings the total videos deleted across 10 African countries to over 12 million in the second quarter of 2024. The recent media report […]
Staff WriterAl Mada Ventures acquires YoLa Fresh to strengthen Morocco’s agritech supply chain
Moroccan investment company Al Mada Ventures has acquired control of the agritech business YoLa Fresh, according to a statement released by Morocco’s Competition Council on October 3. Aiming to simplify Morocco’s scattered fresh produce supply chain, the acquisition gives Al Mada Ventures, a firm committed to supporting technology innovation in Africa, a powerful role in […]
Pelumi ApantakuPhony X accounts stir up Ghana’s election climate
A network of 171 phoney accounts on X (previously Twitter) was exposed on November 12, 2024, as trying to steer the next Ghanaian elections. Automated bots created these accounts to spread false information and control online conversations. The announcement raises concerns about electoral integrity as Ghana prepares for a critical election. The Ghana Commission for […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereEcobank partners Nium to enhance cross-border transactions in Africa
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Nium, a global fintech business that specialises in cross-border payments, have partnered strategically to provide real-time payment capabilities in 35 African markets. The agreement, which will enable 35 Sub-Saharan African nations to have access to smooth, effective international transactions, was signed last week by the Group CEO of Ecobank, Jeremy Awori […]
Staff WriterEthiopia sets deadline for standardised QR code payments to unify digital transactions
Starting December 1, all payment service providers in Ethiopia are required to adopt the Standard for Interoperable QR Code Payments as mandated by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). This directive aims to unify the various QR payment codes currently in use, ensuring that all providers align with the central bank’s guidelines to create a […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleZimbabwe: ICT minister denies plan to license WhatsApp group admins for $2500
Tatenda Mavetera, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (ICTPCS) has denied plans by the government to license WhatsApp group administrators with a fee ranging from $50 to $2500. The statement, which was released on Saturday, is in response to media reports suggesting that the minister allegedly directed WhatsApp group administrators to […]
Staff WriterSafaricom records KES 17.5 billion loss as Ethiopian birr depreciates
Safaricom’s profit in Ethiopia plunged by 17.7 percent to KES 28.1 billion, down from KES 34.1 billion, according to the company’s half-year financial report released on Thursday. As one of Africa’s leading telecom operators, the decline in profit for the half-year that ended September 30, 2024 was largely attributed to the depreciation of the Ethiopian […]
Staff WriterTruecaller names Rishit Jhunjhunwala as new CEO, co-founders step back
Truecaller’s board of directors has appointed Rishit Jhunjhunwala as the new CEO of the company, reshuffling positions to allow co-founders, Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam take a backseat on running the company. Truecaller’s co-founders, Messrs Mamedi and Zarringhalam, are transitioning from their operational roles within the company, according to a statement on Wednesday. Read also: Truecaller […]
Modupeoluwa OlalereChitChat introduces cross-border remittance feature to support African communities
ChitChat, a leading African social commerce platform, has launched a new remittance feature enabling users to send and receive money seamlessly across 13 countries worldwide. The new feature, released on Monday, November 4, enhances the platform’s existing financial services. It allows users to access cross-border transfers directly within chat conversations. It is supported by a […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleKotani Pay launches in East Africa, merging cash and crypto for seamless payments
Kotani Pay, a licensed on-ramp and off-ramp service provider, is expanding its operations into Rwanda and Uganda. This is a significant step in enhancing digital payment accessibility across East Africa. The fintech company announced the expansion via X on Wednesday, October 30: “Exciting news! Kotani Pay has expanded its on-ramp and off-ramp services to Rwanda […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleKenya’s first e-mobility youth forum and motor show kicks off in Kisumu
Kisumu City is set to host Kenya’s inaugural E-Mobility Youth Skills Forum and Motor Show from November 1–3, 2024, with a central theme, “Accelerate to Green.” The event aims to engage Kenyan youths in the green technology and electric mobility sectors, covering topics such as reducing emissions, transitioning to green energy, and advancing EV innovations […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleRwanda joins global tech leaders at SWITCH 2024
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Jean De Dieu Uwihanganye, joined influential diplomatic and global leaders at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2024 opening ceremony, signalling Rwanda’s commitment to the global tech landscape. Held on Monday, October 28, at Marina Bay Sands and hosted by Enterprise Singapore, SWITCH 2024 brings together over 300 […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleDigital divide: 76% of Ethiopians lack access to internet, says report
According to a research released this week by the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA), 76 percent of Ethiopians still lack access to mobile Internet. The results showed that the majority of people without mobile Internet access reside in places where mobile networks are available. According to the report, closing the gap is essential […]
Staff WriterNigeria, Switzerland forge strategic partnership to drive tech innovation
Nigeria has formed a strategic alliance with Switzerland through the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Innovation Park, led by Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology. In a statement released on Saturday, Dr Felix Ale, Director of Media and Corporate Communications at the National Space Research Development Agency, announced and shared details […]
Staff WriterPerplexity pushes back against media criticism in copyright lawsuit
In response to News Corp’s recent lawsuit, Perplexity, an AI-powered search startup, publicly addressed the allegations of copyright infringement, pushing back against the media industry’s concerns regarding AI’s impact. Filed by News Corp earlier in the week, the lawsuit claims Perplexity News Corp, in the lawsuit filed earlier in the week, claimed Perplexity committed extensive […]
Olanrewaju AdeniyiUnlocking 10x Growth: Primatec’s tailored IT solutions for African SMEs, startups
African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups often face challenges securing the right technology and expertise to grow in an increasingly competitive global market. Limited access to technology, scarce resources, and competitive pressures make it difficult for these businesses to scale effectively. That’s where Primatec, an IT solutions provider, steps in. With a mission […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleNigerian government proposes 5% tax on telecom, betting and gaming services
As part of a new plan to restructure Nigeria’s tax system, the federal government has proposed a five percent excise fee on gaming and betting operations, as well as telecom services. The bill was obtained from the National Assembly on October 4, 2024, and was titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts […]
Staff WriterHackathon: NITDA, ECOWAS empower West African youths to protect continent’s cyberspace
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have collaborated with other key stakeholders to strengthen the cybersecurity skills of West African youths, a critical move to safeguard the region’s digital infrastructure. This initiative is a strategic response to the growing threat of cybercrime in West Africa. […]
Ibukunoluwa Josephine BankoleSouth African group files complaint against LinkedIn for using citizens’ data to train AI models
The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) on Tuesday, made a submission to the Information Regulator of South Africa that LinkedIn was harvesting citizens’ personal information to train AI models without their consent. The association advocates for the responsible use of AI in South Africa. Dr Nick Bradshaw, the founder of SAAIA, said it was […]
Modupeoluwa Olalere