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Africa Tech News

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Ecobank 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 Writer
16

Ethiopia 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 Bankole
37

Zimbabwe: 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 Writer
39

Safaricom 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 Writer
20

Truecaller 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 Olalere
16

ChitChat 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 Bankole
16

Kotani 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 Bankole
16

Kenya’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 Bankole
16

Rwanda 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 Bankole
37

Digital 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 Writer
37

Nigeria, 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 Writer
32

Perplexity 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 Adeniyi
16

Unlocking 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 Bankole
37

Nigerian 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 Writer
16

Hackathon: 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 Bankole
20

South 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
20

South 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. Dr Nick Bradshaw, the founder of SAAIA, said it was worried by the “breakneck speed” at which AI products were getting introduced […]

Modupeoluwa Olalere
20

Namibia adopts digital tools for pathology testing

Namibia’s Institute of Pathology (NIP) is revamping the health sector by distributing 370 tablet devices to clinics nationwide. This project streamlines pathology test results retrieval, lowering patient wait times. NIP’s five-year Integrated Strategic Business Plan, Za Tuka, includes digital transformation to boost operating efficiency and ease access to laboratory results, particularly in distant areas. Read […]

Modupeoluwa Olalere
37

Nigeria introduces new biometric passport application

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced yesterday that this vision has finally become a reality, fulfilling his promise to deploy a contactless solution for biometric capture. The Minister convened a diverse group of stakeholders on Friday, October 4, including media representatives, top government officials, members of civil society organisations, and tech experts, to […]

Staff Writer
37

Kenyans to pay more for DSTV subscription fees as MultiChoice hikes price by 4.7%

MultiChoice Kenya intends to raise the cost of DStv by up to KSh500, effective November 1, 2024. DStv Premium package users will now pay KSh11,000, up from KSh10,500, and Compact Plus subscribers will now pay KSh6,800, up from KSh6,500, representing a 4.7% and 4.6% increase, respectively. MultiChoice sent a notification saying, “We would like to […]

Staff Writer
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