Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is embarking on an ambitious project to boost internet connectivity in Nigeria. The initiative involves the establishment of ground stations across approximately 29,000 acres of land distributed among three Nigerian states. The project’s vast scope underscores Starlink’s dedication to broadening its…

MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company, has dismissed allegations that it owes ₦900 million in taxes to the Osun State government for the installation of fibre optic cables. The state government, represented by its consultant Global Transactions Nigeria Limited (GTNL), had accused MTN of laying over 270 kilometres of fibre…

Ecobank, a prominent independent banking group in Africa, operates across 35 nations and caters to over 32 million customers in various sectors, including consumer, commercial, and corporate banking. The bank is renowned for its annual Fintech Challenge, which is now in its seventh iteration. This competition is designed to identify…

Green SMEs often grapple with the difficulty of accessing sustainable finance, despite South Africa’s well-established financial sector that is structured to cater to the needs of mature businesses rather than nascent and early-stage SMEs. Compounding this issue is the steep cost of financing from non-banking financial institutions. The financial barriers…

C-CONNECT, a new virtual mobile network operator, has recently launched across South Africa, aiming to revolutionize the mobile service experience for the country’s discerning prepaid user base with an innovative rewards-based approach. As an emerging contender in the telecommunications arena, C-CONNECT stands out not only for its cost-effective solutions but…

Silverbacks Holdings, an investment firm based in Mauritius, has recently expanded its portfolio by purchasing a substantial minority share in NERGii, a South African company at the forefront of sports technology. The acquisition was recently publicly announced in Cape Town, signaling Silverbacks’ continued interest in the dynamic sports and technology…

Instagram is currently experimenting with a revamped layout for user profile grids, transitioning from the traditional square images to a new format that incorporates rectangular photographs. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, shared via an Instagram story that the platform is exploring a vertical grid layout for profiles. He pointed…

X, the online social networking service previously recognized as Twitter, has officially declared that it will cease its business activities within Brazil. Despite this cessation, individuals residing in Brazil will continue to have access to the platform’s services. This development unfolds amidst an ongoing legal confrontation involving Brazil’s Supreme Court…

After undergoing a significant rebranding initiative, Cell C is setting its sights on regaining its status as the third-largest telecommunications operator in South Africa, with aspirations to rival market leaders Vodacom and MTN. The company unveiled its new visual identity, including a revamped logo, during an event on 15 August…

Epic Games Inc. is set to unveil a new mobile gaming platform, marking a significant development after a prolonged legal dispute with tech behemoths Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google regarding their app store policies. Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, anticipates that the mobile iterations of their hit…

SpaceX has issued a second notification, escalating its warnings to users who are utilizing its Starlink Internet service outside of their registered countries for prolonged periods, with specific implications for users in South Africa. A number of South African users who have been taking advantage of the Starlink roaming feature…

Jumia ($JMIA) has successfully completed its secondary offering of 20 million ordinary shares, achieving its capital-raising goal just a few days after the initial announcement. TechCabal has reviewed a securities filing which reports that the total proceeds from this offering reached $99.6 million. The data implies an average selling price…

South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has initiated the process of formulating a national artificial intelligence (AI) policy by releasing a policy framework. This marks the initial phase in crafting comprehensive AI guidelines for the nation. The department has set a deadline for the conclusion of the formal…

Just a week after Mobius Motors, the Kenyan automaker with financial backing from Playfair Capital, announced its closure, the company has received a lifeline in the form of an acquisition proposal from an as-yet-unnamed buyer. Nicolas Guibert, a director at Mobius, issued a statement indicating that on August 14, the…

The South African Competition Commission has conditionally sanctioned the acquisition of Octotel, a local fibre network operator, by a consortium led by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM). The consortium also includes STOA, a French infrastructure and energy investor, and Thebe Investment Corporation, a South African investment firm. This approval is…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced its decision to allocate a $10 million junior equity investment from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to the KawiSafi II Fund. This strategic investment aims to bolster local enterprises that are actively involved in developing and scaling up projects with…

Canal+ is on the verge of significantly increasing its ownership in the Mauritian digital pay-TV provider MC Vision, with plans to boost its share from the current 37% to a commanding 75%, subject to the green light from regulatory bodies. This strategic move would elevate Canal+ to the status of…

AliExpress, the global e-commerce platform owned by the Alibaba Group from China, is poised to expand its operations into Ethiopia, as indicated by Dr. Abiyot Bayu, the Senior Advisor to Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology. An official statement regarding this development is anticipated to be released shortly. This move…

The Eastgate Shopping Centre is on track to claim the title of having the largest registered rooftop solar installation in Africa, with the project’s completion slated for the end of this year. This grand project involves the fitting of over 13,000 solar panels, which will span an impressive area of…

AfriLabs, the expansive network of technology innovation hubs across Africa, has achieved a significant breakthrough in its quest to drive innovation throughout the continent. The network has recently been inducted as a member of the International Telecommunication Union Development (ITU-D) Sector, marking a notable recognition of its efforts. This development…