Going by Q1 2020 figures, Nigerian telco, Glo might be winning the data war, far ahead of its closest competitors, Airtel and MTN. But what does the bigger picture look like for Nigeria’s Intern…
9mobile completes transition from ‘Etisalat Nigeria’ with appointment of its first CEO
Nigerian telecom company, 9mobile, formerly Etisalat, has appointed a new CEO, Alan Sinfield. This will be 9mobile’s first confirmed CEO since it began its torrid transition from Etisalat in 2017.…
The impending game-changing regulations for Nigerian logistics companies
Following the Okada ban, Nigeria’s logistics space witnessed some new entrants. In a chat with some of the industry’s biggest players, we discover that the largely unregulated sector is about to…
Hackers have access to data from Nigerian and Kenyan universities
The websites of top Nigerian and Kenyan universities have loopholes that allow anyone to gain access to the data of students and staff, but some of these universities don’t seem to care about th…
Africa’s young population and the drive for cryptocurrency
World markets and currencies have been rocked by the pandemic and recent trends suggest that a large portion of Africa’s youth is opting towards cryptocurrencies. We explore some intricacies behind th…
Why your data bundle finishes quickly and what you can do about it
If you’ve been using the Internet during the lockdown, you may be wondering why your data does not seem to last, especially on a smartphone and sometimes, your PC. We dive into the issues behind this …
If you live in these Nigerian states, calls and data are about to get cheaper
Five Nigerian states have drastically dropped or waived right of way charges for fibre connections. Nigerian telcos and ISPs discuss the implications for these states and Nigeria’s National Broadband …
Burundi shuts down social media amidst tense presidential elections
In keeping with recent actions by some African governments, the East African nation of Burundi has reportedly blocked access to WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Yahoo as election tensions rise.…
These African countries have various forms of Internet censorship
The Internet is regarded by the UN as a basic human right, but several Africans on the Internet are closely monitored and sometimes arrested. We take a look at African countries with various forms of …
With the pandemic, African governments have an excuse to censor the Internet
From Internet shutdowns to the monitoring of Internet activity and subsequent arrests for comments on social media, the fight against the pandemic in Africa seems to be making digital rights violation…
Facebook to build $1 billion undersea Internet cable for faster Internet in Africa
Global social media giant, Facebook in partnership with major telecom companies, is building a 37,000-kilometer undersea internet cable to bring faster connection to Africa, Europe, and the Middle Eas…
How Voyance wants to tackle the menace of fintech fraud in Nigeria
Voyance, a Nigerian data science company, has launched Sigma to help fintechs tackle the constant problem of fraud. We have a chat with its co-founder, Abdul, and a fintech founder to weigh the merits…
How the pandemic will disrupt banking and fintechs in Nigeria
The rise of fintech firms in recent years has disrupted Nigeria’s financial sector. However, the outbreak of the pandemic has highlighted a number of challenges that only the most innovative will surm…
Ugandan regulator to place commercial motorcycles under e-hailing companies
The Ugandan government is proposing strict regulations for regular bodaboda and taxi operators in the city, a move that will see them operate under the likes of SafeBoda, Uber, and Bolt. What effect c…
African startups are under threat, and governments need to save them
Current studies show that startups will fuel a post-pandemic economic upturn, but with recent lay-offs and a predicted drop in VC funding, African startups are set for an uphill battle and need the ba…
Q1 2020 report: For MTN Nigeria, voice revenue remains king over data
MTN Nigeria maintained its usual dominant position at the top of Nigeria’s telecom market in 2020, but here’s how global disruptions and domestic policies affected its major revenue streams in Q…
COVID-19 could reduce remittance costs to Sub-Saharan Africa
Though remittances in Africa have been on the increase, as a result of the pandemic, sub-Saharan Africa is set to lose $9 billion in remittances in 2020. But could other factors yield positive results…
Video conferencing battle intensifies, as Google offers free access to Google Meet
Starting from May 2020, Google’s premium video conferencing feature, Google Meet, will now be available for all users with a Google account. A move that turns up the heat on the likes of Zoom and Skyp…
The impact of COVID-19 and government policies on African startups
While the pandemic has affected several startups globally, the effects vary for different types of businesses. We take a look at startups that are most affected, and the impact of policies for African…
What you need to know as Jumia expands to South Africa
After exiting a few countries towards the end of last year, and with its fashion line temporarily suspending deliveries due to the lockdown, Jumia expands its e-commerce operations to keep operations …