Author: Staff Writer

MTN is leveraging our expansive footprint across Africa to test and ultimately deploy OpenRAN – an innovative technology that will enable us to launch new services more quickly, cost-effectively and seamlessly, supporting our strategy, Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress. “We plan to modernise our radio access networks using OpenRAN. This is in line with one of five vital enablers of our strategy: to build technology platforms that are second to none, thereby allowing for the rapid expansion of 4G and 5G population coverage across our markets,” said Charles Molapisi, MTN Group Chief Technology and Information Officer. “With…

Huawei announces much-awaited 2021 App development competition: Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP). Not all superheroes wear capes. Some sit behind a desk conjuring up ways in which they can use technology to make the world a better place. Whether it’s to improve health and education systems or to alleviate stress and improve mental well-being through fun and supportive video games, these apps are always in demand. A call has been made once again to developers around the world to put their skills to the test on a global stage with the launch of the 2021 Huawei HMS App…

Prosus, one of the largest technology investors in the world, announced today it has acquired a majority stake in GoodHabitz, a provider of online training for businesses. EdTech is a huge focus for Prosus, which invests in companies that help to democratize access to quality education around the world. Prosus entered the EdTech market in 2016 with investments in Brainly, Codecademy and Udemy, and has continued to expand its investments in the sector since then, with the portfolio now also including BYJU’s, Eruditus, Skillsoft, SoloLearn and now Stack Overflow. Now Prosus has bought a majority stake in GoodHabitz for approximately €212 million (R3.5 billion). GoodHabitz was founded…

In a move delivering clear benefits to Internet users in East Africa, Asteroid is setting up an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Africa Data Centres’ Nairobi facility. IXPs are great catalysts for improved local interconnection. An IXP enables networks to peer (the direct connection and exchange of traffic), which results in reducing costs and latency, and providing a better quality of service to Internet end-users. According to Dan Kwach, Managing Director of Africa Data Centres East Africa, welcoming Asteroid IXP in Nairobi will enhance the connections between big tech giants, international content providers and local Kenyan and African networks and…

Andries Delport, the current CTO of the company Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH), will take over as CEO of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA). The former Vodacom Group executive will assume his new role from 1 October 2021. Delport will replace Thinus Mulder, who will formally step down as CEO of DFA on 30 September 2021. DFA is a subsidiary of ICT-focused investment-holding company CIVH. CIVH group CEO and DFA chairman, Raymond Ndlovu, thanked Thinus for his immense contribution in overseeing DFA and the CIVH group’s growth during his tenure over the last thirteen years, first as the founding CFO at DFA…

Vodacom Financial Services announces its latest lending product, VodaLend | Business Cash Advance, which provides finance to smaller unregistered businesses in need of quick access to short-term cash advances. Offering finance between R3000 and R350 000 to customers using VodaPay point of sale (POS) devices, Business Cash Advance complements VodaLend’s range of lending products aimed at the SMME sector. Vodacom Financial and Digital Services, Chief Officer Mariam Cassim, says that Business Cash Advance will further underpin the financial security of partner SMMEs. “It often happens that a small business has intra-month cash flow challenges. While the business is liquid over…

Sanlam Private Equity, African Rainbow Capital and a minority shareholder have sold a 25.8% stake in MetroFibre Networx to a consortium of existing shareholders. The consortium includes African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), one of Africa’s largest infrastructure-focused private equity fund managers, along with a consortium comprising South African Housing & Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF), through its Digital Infrastructure Consortium platform and STOA, a foreign investment vehicle-based in France. This transaction follows the R1.5 billion equity funding round concluded in December 2020 by AIIM, SAHIF and STOA in order to support MetroFibre’s R3 billion capital expansion plan over the next three years.…

Israeli precision agriculture hardware-software solution company SupPlant is planning to accelerate its penetration into the South African market after raising $10 million (R137 million).  The raise brings SupPlants’s total funding to more than $19 million (R260 million). The round comes amidst global warming impacting South African farmers who are dealing daily with the unpredicted climate that is changing rapidly causing tropical storms, cold spells, heat waves and constant lack of irrigation water. SupPlant is helping farmers cope with climate change by making its technology that changes the basic concepts of irrigation more available in the South African market. “The funds…

Dark Fibre Africa, South Africa’s provider of open-access fibre infrastructure, has secured grant funding from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The funding will be used to do a feasibility study to support Dark Fibre Africa efforts to expand reliable and affordable internet access and digital services to underserved populations living outside of South Africa’s major urban centres. “USTDA’s feasibility study will help shape how we extend internet access and digital infrastructure to the less-connected,” said Vino Govender, Chief Strategy, M&A and Innovation Officer at Dark Fibre Africa. “We are taking a holistic approach. By aggregating demand for digital…

MultiChoice, Africa’s biggest pay-TV operator, has acquired an additional 20% stake in BetKing, a pan-African sports betting group, for an undisclosed amount. Last October, MultiChoice bought a 20% stake in Blue Lake Ventures, a pan-African sports betting and entertainment business trading as BetKing. The pay-TV operator said through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mwendo Holdings B.V., is increasing its holding in BetKing to a non-controlling stake of 49%. MultiChoice said this deal is in line with its strategy to expand its entertainment ecosystem and develop meaningful drivers of future value. BetKing is a leading digital and sports entertainment platform focused on the…