Author: Jessica Adiele

Zambia has taken a significant step in modernizing public service delivery with the official launch of an online passport application and payment system on ZamPortal. The new digital platform allows citizens to apply for passports and other travel documents remotely, reducing long-standing inefficiencies associated with the manual application process. The…

Nigeria has taken another step forward in strengthening its national digital identity infrastructure following the delivery of 350 NIMC-certified Android devices from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The devices, designed specifically for National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment, were officially handed over to the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) at its…

Airtel Uganda has significantly expanded its 5G network footprint, extending coverage to 365 active sites across major towns and regional centres, in a move that strengthens the country’s digital infrastructure and prepares the network for increased data demand during the festive season. The expanded rollout now covers key urban and…

LemFi has introduced Global Accounts, a new financial solution that allows Nigerians to receive, hold, and transact in USD and GBP directly through the LemFi app. The product targets Africa’s growing freelance and digital economy, enabling professionals to access global payments without intermediaries or delays. The solution provides true international…

Pick n Pay is accelerating its digital transformation under the leadership of Kerry Janse van Rensburg, the retailer’s newly appointed head of digital operations. The strategy is aimed at positioning Pick n Pay as a digitally-led, agile retailer capable of delivering seamless and personalized experiences to customers across all touchpoints,…

Mastercard has announced a new partnership with TerraPay, a global money movement and payment infrastructure company, to expand the capabilities of digital wallets across international markets. The collaboration will enable mobile money wallets, fintech apps, and banks integrated with TerraPay to make NFC-based payments at more than 150 million Mastercard…

São Tomé and Príncipe has officially become the latest African nation to adopt Starlink, SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet service, marking a significant step forward in the island state’s pursuit of universal digital connectivity. With this rollout, the country joins 25 others across the continent where Starlink is already commercially available.…

Vodacom has unveiled the Value News Network (VNN), a new social-driven content platform designed to help customers easily discover the company’s latest value offerings, digital services, and promotional deals. The platform will publish weekly content across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, presenting Vodacom’s products in a more interactive, educational, and accessible…

Spotify is testing a new way for listeners to take greater control of its recommendation engine with the launch of AI-powered “Prompted Playlists.” The experimental feature, now available to Premium subscribers in New Zealand, allows users to generate hyper-personalized playlists using detailed text prompts — marking Spotify’s most flexible personalization…

The Walt Disney Company has signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI, enabling users to generate AI-powered videos featuring Disney’s most beloved characters on the Sora platform. The agreement comes alongside a $1 billion equity investment by Disney in OpenAI. Launched in September, Sora allows users to create short videos from…

Norway-based browser company Opera has officially launched its AI-powered browser, Neon, following months of testing. Unlike its free AI-enabled browsers, Neon requires a subscription of $19.90 per month, marking a premium entry into the growing AI-first browser market. First unveiled in May 2025 and offered to select users in early…

Google is piloting AI-generated article summaries on select publications’ Google News pages, aiming to provide users with more context before clicking through to full articles. The test includes major global publications such as The Guardian, Der Spiegel, El País, Folha, Infobae, Kompas, The Times of India, The Washington Examiner, and…

MTN South Africa has confirmed it will increase consumer contract prices starting 1 February 2025, citing rising operational costs and broader macroeconomic pressures. The changes will result in an average monthly bill increase of 4.4%, with subscription fees rising by approximately 8.3% and out-of-bundle voice rates increasing by 7%. The…

Google is preparing to launch its first AI-powered smart glasses in 2026, signaling a major push into wearable AI technology. The company revealed plans in a recent blog post, emphasizing that these devices are designed to blend seamlessly into daily life while providing intelligent, context-aware assistance. The glasses are expected…

Meta has acquired Limitless, the AI wearable startup known for its recording and transcription pendant, in a move that deepens the company’s commitment to building next-generation, AI-powered personal devices. The acquisition underscores Meta’s pivot from a metaverse-centric strategy toward a broader ambition: delivering “personal superintelligence” through on-body hardware. Financial terms…

Hollywood’s biggest takeover saga in a decade has taken a dramatic turn. Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, has launched a hostile $108.4 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), just days after Netflix announced an agreement to buy major WBD assets for $82.7 billion. The move not only…

MTN Nigeria and Huawei have completed the commercial deployment of RuralCow, an all-in-one, rapid-deployment mobile base station designed to extend network coverage to some of Nigeria’s most remote and underserved communities. The development marks a significant boost to the country’s digital inclusion agenda as operators increasingly invest in infrastructure that…

Netflix has emerged as the top bidder to acquire the film and streaming businesses of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) in a blockbuster $72 billion (£54 billion) deal, positioning the streaming giant to reshape the global entertainment landscape. The acquisition, which surpasses competing bids from Comcast and Paramount Skydance, highlights Netflix’s…

Visa and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a strategic partnership to enable AI agents to transact autonomously and securely on behalf of users. By combining Visa’s global payment infrastructure with AWS’s advanced AI and cloud capabilities, the partnership aims to simplify commerce, accelerate innovation, and deliver seamless experiences for…

Verve has reached a significant milestone, announcing that over 100 million Verve cards are now in circulation across Africa. The achievement, shared on December 3, reflects the brand’s growing footprint in the continent’s digital payments ecosystem and highlights the increasing adoption of cashless transactions across multiple markets. Verve emphasized that…