Author: Staff Writer

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) announced it had commenced with the Opt-In Phase of the spectrum auction process in line with its commitment for the licensing of high demand spectrum today. ICASA said in a statement that bidders submitted their bids in person between 10h00 and 12h00 this morning, and the bids’ evaluation was carried out in front of all authorised representatives following the close of the bids’ submission window. Even though there were four bidders who were eligible to bid, only three bidders submitted valid bids, namely Cell C, Rain Networks and Telkom, said ICASA. The…

Nearly a third of South Africa’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) see digitisation as a challenge. Many are unsure about what to prioritise or feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of technology decisions to make, often without the support of IT departments or chief information officers (CIOs) that guide larger businesses. This is why V-Hub was created. Launched by Vodacom Business, V-Hub is an online resource portal, specifically designed to help SMEs unlock their full potential as they embark on a digital transformation journey. “Adopting the right digital solutions will help SMEs become more agile and resilient, enabling them to…

Avo super app by Nedbank has grown beyond the bank’s expectations, further solidifying its place in the e-commerce space as it reaches the milestone of 1 million customers. The banking group said it had seen exponential growth and have doubled customer base in the last 4 months, with a staggering 50% of that being achieved in the last 4 weeks. Avo is becoming one of South Africa’s preferred destinations for online consumers, as it continues to lead the way in offering inflation-busting deals and promotions. Consumers are spoilt for choice with an ever-expanding selection of restaurants and liquor outlets with…

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published a brief on the process for the imminent auction of high-demand radio frequency spectrum. ICASA said it stands ready for the much-anticipated and long-awaited auctioning of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) – also referred to as high demand – spectrum, starting on 8 March 2022. This auction process follows the recent announcement of six (6) qualified bidders for the auction. The radio frequency spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands is made available through this licensing process for the purposes of providing national broadband wireless…

Airtel – India’s largest telecom service provider for customers & business – has teamed up with Axis Bank, the nation’s third-largest private sector bank, to launch what they term the “first-of-its-kind” Credit Card with exclusive benefits. The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card benefits include pre-approved instant loans, Buy Now Pay Later offerings and many more. The alliance, with its significant reach across the country will help penetrate tier 2 and tier 3 markets by enabling higher adoption of digitized payments. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card users will enjoy exciting rewards* on their card spends – 25% cashback on Airtel Mobile/DTH recharges, Airtel Black and…

JSE-listed Metrofile, a leading document and electronic information management specialist in Africa and the Middle East, posted a 1% rise in headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months to end-December 2021. HEPS is South Africa’s main profit gauge. Metrofile said revenue increased by 4% to R474 million. The company said MRM Middle East has demonstrated significant growth over the past 18 months and is now its largest region outside of South Africa for both revenue and operating profit contribution. Secure storage contributed 58% to group revenue and was down 5% year-on-year due to a 5% reduction in paper…

Sony Group Corporation (Sony) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) today announced they are planning to form a strategic alliance that aims to create a new era of mobility and mobility services. The New Company plan to engage in the joint development and sales of high value-added battery electric vehicles (EVs) and commercialise them in conjunction with providing mobility services. “Sony’s Purpose is to ‘fill the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology’, said Kenichiro Yoshida, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation. “Through this alliance with Honda, which has accumulated extensive global…

As the world looks to avert the worst of the climate crisis, it will be crucial for companies in all industries to make use of the latest innovations to ensure that they operate as sustainably as possible. For those in the ICT and digital spaces, making use of green optical networks will be crucial to their ability to do so. That was among the key messages at the Green All-Optical Network Forum 2022 hosted by IDATE, a well-known French research and analysis organisation. At the summit, all parties called for accelerating the construction of green optical networks. Huawei’s Richard Jin,…

Under the remit of its recently established Africa Transformation Office (ATO), Microsoft has announced new initiatives to accelerate the growth of 10,000 African startups and fast-track investment in Africa’s startup ecosystem over the next five years. Microsoft’s recently launched global Founders Hub will now be available to African startups through the ATO. The Founders Hub is a self-service hub that provides startups with a wide range of resources, including access to mentors, skilling content, tools like Microsoft Azure and GitHub, and go-to-market and business support. Microsoft is also creating new partnerships with accelerators and incubators across Africa, including Grindstone, Greenhouse,…

South Africa may be behind the curve when it comes to electric vehicle adoption, but as the shift to mainstream EV acceptance edges closer, more and more motorists are weighing up the pros and cons of electric versus petrol and diesel. While there’s no denying internal combustion engine (ICE) cars still enjoy many inherent benefits, there’s one contest where EVs have an indisputable advantage. They’re simply cheaper to run per kilometre. Much cheaper in fact. To prove the point, Jaguar South Africa sent one of its senior driving instructors on a week-long mission to record and report the electricity consumption…