Telecoms
From telco data wars, to 5G, Techpoint Africa brings you the latest update on connectivity, telecom companies, Internet service providers, Internet infrastructure among others.
Top stories
MTN Group has appointed Selorm Adadevoh as its new CCO to replace Jens Schulte-Bockumn. Stephen Blewett will take over as CEO of MTN Ghana, while Schulte-Bockum will continue as a non-executive director.
Airtel Africa has launched Nxtra, a data centre, a year after opening a Tier 3 data centre in Lekki, Lagos. The new facility is expected to go live in mid-2025 and deliver 34 megawatts of total power, making it the first Nxtra facility in Lagos, Nigeria.
Following an increase in mobile subscribers, South African telecom operator Telkom requested that ICASA, the communications regulator, reschedule the spectrum auction to 2025.
MTN Nigeria is in talks to acquire 9Mobile’s only spectrum. Sources say the deal will be equivalent to a total takeover of 9Mobile by MTN, bringing its total mobile subscriber count to 89.6 million, 76% of Nigeria’s adult population.
MTN South Africa has paid the country’s telecoms regulator R1.9 billion to settle outstanding spectrum fees. It has also significantly improved the network experience for its 36.8 million subscribers.
The year 2023 is perhaps MTN and Airtel Nigeria’s worst financial year in the past 4 years. Currency devaluation and high inflation rates are some of the problems facing both telcos.
Driven by investments in its network coverage and growing smartphone penetration, MTN’s data revenue could soon replace voice as a major revenue source.
Vodafone has announced plans to use Amazon’s imminent satellite service and Starlink’s rival, Project Kuiper, to provide 4G and 5G connectivity to remote areas in Europe and Africa.
Airtel Uganda to raise $216 million by selling 8 billion ordinary shares to fund its expansion plans
Airtel Uganda intends to raise USh 800 billion ($216 million) by selling 8 billion ordinary shares, or 20% of its equity, on the Main Investment Market Segment to finance its growth plans.
Safaricom Ethiopia has ceased operations in Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-largest region. The government declared a state of emergency in the area following a war between the military and the Fano militia.
Over the next three years, Airtel Kenya plans to invest more than $150 million (KSh21.5 billion) to expand its network coverage.
Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH) and Maziv have reacted to the South African Competition Commission’s recommendation to block Vodacom from acquiring a strategic stake in Maziv.
Safaricom Ethiopia will receive $257.4 million (KSh36.8 billion) in funding from the World Bank’s investment arms to increase mobile connectivity in the country.
Six months after SpaceX announced plans to launch Starlink in Kenya, the satellite Internet service is now available. Also, the company has partnered with Karibu Connect to supply Starlink to rural Kenya.
Safaricom is partnering with AST SpaceMobile to launch a satellite Internet service to compete with Starlink in Kenya. AST enables smartphones to connect to a space-based broadband network.
The unified USSD codes for network providers have come into effect today. Here are all the codes, the services they can be used for, and why the NCC wants a harmonised short code system.
Discover how global satellite provider, Eutelsat, is partnering with local startups like Tizeti to offer affordable satellite internet, in areas that actually need it. The best thing? It’s not alone.
First, a satellite launch. Then a national fibre network. Now the Angolan government is building two massive data centres in its national cloud project. What should we expect?
Telecel Group will be deepening its West African presence with the Vodafone Ghana acquisition, and it could be a significant moment for Ghana’s telecom space. Here’s why.
Nigeria’s ICT Minister and its President stated that Nigeria hit 100% broadband penetration following Starlink’s launch. But this article shows why that’s grossly misleading to anyone.