Vodacom makes South Africa’s first 5G voice call

Mingala ba,

Victoria from Techpoint here,

Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

Vodacom makes SA’s first 5G voice call
The rise, pivot, and struggles of OurPass
Japa on credit? This Nigerian app says yes

Vodacom makes SA’s first 5G voice call

Vodacom just made a big move in South Africa’s telecom space. It pulled off the country’s first-ever native voice call over a 5G network. The tech is called VoNR (Voice over New Radio), and it means crystal-clear voice calls made entirely over 5G, not dropping down to older networks like 4G or LTE. It’s a step closer to fully unleashing the potential of 5G, beyond just super-fast data.

While the call happened on a test network (so, not yet on the public network), it’s a big signal that Vodacom is gearing up to roll this out more broadly. No date has been set for when everyday users will get access, but the tone of Vodacom’s announcement suggests it’s not far off.

What makes VoNR such a big deal? Normally, even with a 5G phone, your calls still rely on older network tech. VoNR skips all that, using 5G’s low-latency and high-speed capabilities for voice. The result? Faster call setup, clearer audio, and less background noise. Think video-call quality, but with your regular voice calls.

Beverly Ngwenya, Vodacom SA’s Tech Director, said it’s part of the company’s mission to “connect for a better future,” and that it proves their tech is evolving fast. It also helps that newer phones from Apple, Samsung, and other big players are already VoNR-ready, so many users won’t need new devices.

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Technically, this wasn’t an easy feat. Vodacom used a cloud-based, “single packet core” setup that blends voice and data services on one platform. Basically, smarter infrastructure that boosts performance without extra strain on the network.

The bigger picture? This puts Vodacom ahead in the race to modernise voice calls in Africa’s growing 5G scene. It’s not just about calls sounding better; it’s about preparing networks for the AI-driven, always-connected future. Expect other telcos to start moving fast too.

The rise, pivot, and struggles of OurPass

When OurPass raised its pre-seed funding in 2021, it boldly declared its ambition to become the “Fast for Africa.” But here’s the twist: the US-based Fast, the very company it modelled itself after, shut down less than a year later. And not long after, OurPass quietly ditched its one-click checkout product too.

Launched in 2020 as ParkCrowdy, an eCommerce platform with a one-click checkout feature, OurPass had big dreams. But sources say that feature never quite lived up to the hype. One insider told Techpoint Africa, “One-click checkout was only one-click checkout on paper.” Despite claiming to have processed $500,000 by the time of its funding announcement, traction was reportedly weak.

With that playbook not working, the company pivoted to business banking in 2022. By April 2023, the new direction was official. OurPass wanted to offer SMEs everything from bank accounts and POS terminals to inventory management and payroll. A pilot with Spar supermarkets showed some potential, though the startup never ended up handling all of Spar’s operations.

A partnership with Flutterwave powered much of OurPass’ backend, including virtual account numbers and POS terminals, even though the devices were branded as OurPass’. But things got messy. Sources say the relationship soured after breaches on OurPass’ end, although the startup reportedly kept using some of the privileges from that partnership long after it ended.

OurPass denies any wrongdoing, pointing to a Flutterwave case study featuring them as proof of an ongoing relationship. Flutterwave, for its part, declined to comment. Meanwhile, OurPass has expanded into personal banking, now competing with Kuda, OPay, PalmPay, and Moniepoint, a tough crowd to stand out in.

So, what really happened behind the scenes? Want to dig into the leadership shakeups, toxic work culture, delayed salaries, and layoffs that plagued the startup? Read Chimgozirim’s full story on Techpoint Africa.

Japa on credit? This Nigerian app says yes

For most Nigerians looking to japa, money is the biggest wall standing between them and a new life abroad. Everyone knows someone who’s got the visa, admission, and even the courage, but not the funds. With flight tickets, tuition, and proof of funds running into tens of millions, a UK study trip can easily cost over ₦40 million ($26,000+). Not many can afford that upfront.

That’s the gap Tielle Travel wants to fill. It’s a loan app, but with a twist — it’s built specifically for Nigerians who want to leave. Whether you’re flying out for school, business, or relocation, the app offers travel loans and travel savings plans to help you get there without selling your father’s land or your only car.

Solomon Sanusi, the founder, has been in the travel game for years. He says the idea for Tielle came after a woman showed up at his office with everything sorted — visa, admission, documents — but she couldn’t afford the tickets for herself and her three kids. “That’s when it hit me,” he tells Techpoint Africa. “People are missing out on opportunities just because they can’t raise travel funds quickly.”

Tielle Travel sits under the Social Media Center Marketing umbrella and is now quietly gaining traction among would-be migrants. From paying for tuition and admission processing to booking tickets, it’s positioning itself as the go-to platform for those serious about travelling, but low on cash.

Want to find out how the company works? Find out in Sarah’s latest for Techpoint Africa.

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