Tech (633)
Over the past few years, African governments have multiplied initiatives to combat insecurity. The integration of digital technology is likely to bolster those initiatives.
On Wednesday, November 1, the Ugandan government launched its Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), known as digital license plates. The system aims to integrate digital tracking chips into all car license plates registered in the country.
"The Intelligent Transport Monitoring System, which will work in conjunction with a network of cameras and sensors, is designed to monitor traffic flow, identify and track vehicles, and detect incidents in real-time. This collective effort aims to make our roads safer for everyone," said Minister of Security Jim Muhwezi.
The said project is the result of a 10-year agreement signed in 2021, between the country's government and Russian company Global Security JSC. Under the agreement, the Russian company will provide a system that involves fitting Global Position Tracking (GPS) chips in vehicles at the owners’ expense.
The project is being piloted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Ministry of Security. The first phase aims to equip all government vehicles with these chips. The second phase, scheduled to start on February 1, 2024, will cover all other vehicles and motorcycles.
Through this project, the government aims to considerably reduce insecurity in the country. To this end, integrated plates with a security chip will be synchronized at the time of registration, with a security device capable of indicating the vehicle's location in real time. The project will also create various employment opportunities, with ongoing training initiatives in Uganda.
Samira Njoya
In contrast to Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya currently lack a national AI strategy. Nonetheless, the three countries were invited to an international meeting aimed at a framework to oversee this transformative technology.
On Wednesday, November 1, at the AI Safety Summit in London, England, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda signed the Bletchley Declaration, a global convention on AI-related risks. The aim is to collectively understand and manage the risks of this technology and to ensure that it is developed and deployed safely and responsibly.
"We must acknowledge that our world is experiencing significant transformation driven by the increased application of digital technologies. [...] AI at its very core offers our generation a historical opportunity to create ubiquitous access to insights and intelligence for global development. However, we must remain conscious of the need to ensure the safe ethical, and inclusive development of this phenomenon," said Bosun Tijani, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Since the advent of ChatGPT, an AI-based conversational agent developed by Californian technology firm OpenAI, solutions using this technology have proliferated around the world. Firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have also positioned themselves in this segment, and have stepped up their investments. They have signed several partnerships with AI companies to accelerate the development of their in-house technology or invest in promising solutions. However, authorities at various levels are growing concerned about the dimension of AI technology.
Last week, the United Nations decided to set up an advisory committee on AI. "AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity.[...] AI could scale up and amplify the work of Governments, civil society, and the United Nations across the board. [...] But all this depends on AI technologies being harnessed responsibly and made accessible to all — including the developing countries that need them most,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who attended the second day of the AI Safety Summit in London, yesterday.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China are among the signatories of the Bletchley Declaration.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The 2Africa cable, spanning 45,000 kilometers, is poised to connect 33 countries across three continents, enhancing connectivity for more than three billion individuals.
The 2Africa subsea cable from the eponymous consortium led by the American company Meta has landed off the coast of Dakar in Senegal. Its installation began on Tuesday, October 31, with the arrival of a cable ship from Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), a Nokia subsidiary entrusted with the construction of the cable. ASN will carry out the installation works in collaboration with Sonatel, the telecommunications firm overseeing the construction of 2Africa's landing station in Senegal.
"We are in the digital age. Therefore, we anticipate a more than double surge in 4G traffic in the next five years, alongside the emergence of 5G, which will further catalyze an exponential spike in usage. Therefore, it is imperative to equip Senegal adequately to meet the escalating demands from our customers," said Sékou Dramé, CEO of Sonatel.
The introduction of the 2Africa cable reinforces Senegal's domestic broadband infrastructure. Presently, the nation is linked to four international fiber optic submarine cables, namely SAT-3 (South Atlantic 3), ACE (Africa Coast to Europe), ATLANTIS-2, and SHARE (Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express). Nonetheless, recurrent outages across these networks are causing disruptions to internet services across the country and in neighboring regions.
In early August, cuts to the ACE, WACS, and SAT-3 cables resulted in internet outages and slowed connectivity, for weeks, in several African countries, including Senegal.
The connection to a new cable will improve connectivity, offering better business opportunities, enhancing investment competitiveness, and stimulating growth by accelerating progress in several sectors, notably education and health. Senegal has 19.2 million Internet subscribers, representing a 108.31% penetration rate, according to the latest statistics from the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (ARTP).
Samira Njoya
Digital Realty aims to position itself as one of the most important data providers on the African continent. To achieve this, management is making strategic decisions.
Medallion Data Centres, a Nigerian data center provider, has been renamed Digital Realty, after its parent company. The name was officialized at a ceremony held in Lagos on Friday, October 27.
"We have made a strategic decision to align with Digital Reality and we are proud to be part of one of America’s largest Public Companies. For over a decade, we have been at the forefront of the Nigerian digital economy through the provisioning of carrier-neutral data center services in both Lagos and Abuja," said Ikechukwu Nnamani (photo, center), founder of Medallion Data Centres.
The Nigerian data center provider entered Digital Realty’s portfolio in 2021. At the time, the American firm, which owns over 300 facilities in more than 50 cities worldwide, decided to finance the Nigerian firm’s expansion on the continent with a $500 million package. Before this name change, Medallion Data Centres inaugurated a new data center in the city of Lagos on October 24 to expand its capacities.
"We are going to take advantage of the huge opportunity to both meet growing customer demand for connectivity in Africa and improve the internet infrastructure that serves over one billion people who don’t yet have proper access to the benefits of the Internet," said Mike Hollands (photo, right), Digital Realty's Vice President for Market Development.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In 2019, Raxio committed to building ten to twelve data centers in Africa. The company is growing rapidly and continues its expansion on the continent.
Raxio Data Centres, a Tier 3 data center provider focused on the African continent, announced on Wednesday, October 25, that it has secured $46 million in acuity funding from its existing shareholders Meridiam and Roha. The funds will be used to continue its expansion in African markets.
"This funding will help Raxio expand and consolidate its position as the provider with the widest geographic footprint of data centers in Africa at a time where demand for high-quality digital infrastructure in Africa continues to grow from both international and local businesses," said Brooks Washington, partner at Roha.
Various public and private players are injecting significant funds into the development of technological infrastructures on the continent. According to the International Telecommunication Union, Africa is home to less than 2% of the world's data centers, and the industry's global giants see this as an opportunity and are investing in several countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.
Earlier in the year, Raxio secured a $170 million loan from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Proparco, the private sector financing arm of French development agency AFD, to accelerate its growth in Africa. The company is present in Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Tanzania.
Robert Mullins, President and CEO of Raxio Data Centres, explains that "this capital injection will allow Raxio to continue to expand its presence across the continent and to deliver the resilient mission-critical environments" Radio clients demand.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Leading global companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle, have shown their commitment to investing in the establishment of data centers across Africa. Simultaneously, local businesses are also actively positioning themselves within the market.
On Tuesday, October 24, Medallion Data Centres, a Nigerian data center operator, launched a new data center in Lagos. Named LOS2 Data Centre, it replaces LOS1, which has reached its maximum capacity but can now accommodate more data. LOS2 has a computing capacity of one megawatt (MW).
"The new Tier 111 Data Centre will help us to extend the current peering and connectivity process we had in LOS1, our first data center facility in Lagos that has reached its full rack capacity. We decided to build a second Data Center facility to accommodate more customers’ data," says Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Medallion Data Centres.
Data center providers in Africa are increasing their investments in the sector due to growing demand on the continent. Digital Realty, the parent company of Medallion Data Centres, is part of this dynamic and aims to become a major player in the sector in Africa since acquiring Medallion in 2021. The firm has pledged to invest $500 million over ten years to accelerate the continent's digital economy.
"It is exciting now that we can build and expand on the LOS1 Data Centre facility and ready for our customers to continue to grow and expand their business and to also help make the internet infrastructure in Nigeria stronger and better," said Mike Collins, Vice President of Market Development at Digital Realty Group.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Africa continues to be the region where health issues hold paramount importance. However, with the progress of technology, the continent may witness a shift in the right direction if the right policies are implemented.
The Mobile World Congress Kigali 2023, held from October 17 to 19, enabled guests and participants to discover the latest mobile telecommunications technologies and discuss the future of mobile in Africa. It was also an opportunity to set up initiatives such as the African Digital Health Network (ADHN), launched on the sidelines of the congress.
The new network will serve as an umbrella organization and a marketplace connecting digital health buyers and sellers.
"We hope to build a network that will bring all innovations and unite digital health stakeholders across the continent. We are going to form a kind of marketplace where buyers and sellers in digital health meet. And we hope to build a technology platform to help do all that," said Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Senior Technology Advisor at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the project's designers, the network will be a not-for-profit organization, but there are plans to “onboard investments and governments” to ensure its implementation, which will be primarily focused on improving the digital health market. At the launch, 150 members from 43 countries signed up at individual and institutional levels.
The launch of the African Digital Health Network comes at a time when the development of e-health is high on the agenda of African governments. In Senegal, for example, the executive secured nearly $50 million from the World Bank in June to digitize its healthcare system.
In Kenya, by 2030, the widespread adoption of selected digital tools could reduce healthcare spending by between $400 million and $2.5 billion, according to consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Hence, establishing a network is imperative to consolidate the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, ensuring a promising future for healthcare in Africa through the integration of new technologies.
According to Brian O'Connor, Chairman of the global community ECHAlliance, the network will also highlight Africa's digital healthcare innovations and offer access to global partners through a centralized platform.
Samira Njoya
The Saudi technology firm wants to expand across Africa, particularly in the Arab region. To achieve this, it is teaming up with strategic partners.
Last week, Saudi-based digital services and solutions provider Elm signed a memorandum of understanding with CyShield, an Egyptian AI and cybersecurity company.
The MoU, signed at Gitex Global in Dubai, is aimed primarily at promoting the Saudi firm's expansion in Africa, starting with Egypt.
The two parties will need to establish a framework for bilateral cooperation based on common interests, to achieve their respective objectives. According to Majid Al Arifi, official spokesperson and director of marketing at Elm, in addition to expanding its footprint through various partnerships with companies operating in the technology sector, this agreement will enable the company to explore and evaluate opportunities in regional and international markets and to collaborate on the creation of new joint digital ventures.
At Gitex Africa in Marrakech (Morocco) last May and June, Elm signed a partnership with Senegal Numerique, the agency in charge of the management of Senegal’s digital infrastructure, to foster digital inclusion in the country.
With over 30 million users and 700,000 corporate customers, Elm aims to provide its Egyptian partner with the tools it needs to strengthen its position as a major player in Egypt’s digital transformation landscape.
According to Al Arifi, strengthening Elm's regional partnerships is a key pillar of efforts to ensure a technological infrastructure that supports digital transformation in the Arab region and on the African continent. It also enables companies to deliver services via digital platforms, guaranteeing maximum efficiency and reliability.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In recent years, Gitex Global has established itself as one of the leading events in the global technology ecosystem where players meet and seal partnerships.
Last October 19, Morocco’s Directorate General for Information Systems Security (DGSSI) and United Arab Emirates's Cybersecurity Council signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation between the two countries.
In the framework of that MoU – signed on the sidelines of Gitex Global in Dubai, the two entities will set up a joint committee to plan and oversee the implementation of various activities aimed at responding to cyber-attacks, which are constantly on the rise due to the acceleration of digital transformation. The committee will hold annual meetings as required, alternating between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
In recent years, Morocco has multiplied investments and partnerships to secure its cyberspace, government information systems, and public institutions, among other targets. In May 2022, an agreement was signed with Deloitte Morocco Cyber Center to promote scientific and technological research in cybersecurity. At Gitex Africa, held in Marrakech from May 31 to June 2, authorities signed a memorandum of understanding with the French company Mazars. Under that MoU, the French company will invest $7.5 million for the creation of an excellence center specializing in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
According to the International Telecommunication Union's Global Cybersecurity Index 2020, Morocco is one of the African champions in the sector, along with South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt. It ranks 50th internationally. It has already ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (in 2015) and also created a legal framework and specialized institutions to improve its cyberattack preparedness.
Let’s note that according to the "Cybersecurity in Africa-Call to Action" report published in June 2023 by the firm Kearney, African countries are not investing enough as mature markets do. In terms of strategy, governance, operational entities, and cross-sector cooperation, the firm concludes that the continent's ability to resist, adapt, and recover from cyberattacks is weak.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In Africa, the ongoing digital transformation has accelerated over the past few years. This affects every sector and player, including SMEs, which play key roles in the African economy.
The Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Estonian Development Council (EstDev) recently signed an agreement launching “Entrepreneurship Minds”, a partnership aimed at developing the digital capabilities and skills of Namibian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), local media outlets reveal.
The new program, implemented in collaboration with Estonia’s Tallinn University of Technology, also aims to provide financial support and high-quality training for SMEs. The aim is to empower and unlock Namibia's untapped business potential, with an emphasis on technology and e-commerce.
According to Dino Ballotti, Executive Director of the MSME Business Development Investment Committee at NIPDB, the program comes at a particular time in the cooperation between Namibia and Estonia. EstDev's "African Regional Strategy 2020-2030 positions Namibia as a key collaborator for Estonia. Moreover, Estonia's investment in pioneering a digital transformation and fostering entrepreneurship resonates with Namibia's strategic vision, especially when considered alongside the European Union's green hydrogen initiative," he said.
The program was launched after a visit, to Estonia, by the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board last May. It is part of the actions taken by Estonia, since 2013, to support the digitization of Namibia’s public sector. To date, Estonia has supported a dozen digital projects, to the tune of around €750,000.
Ultimately, the program will foster startup ecosystems, finance innovative local solutions to development challenges, and strengthen the economy. According to the Namibian Statistics Agency, SMEs contribute around 12% to the country's GDP and employ over 200,000 people.
For Nelli Timm, EstDev's Regional Advisor for Africa, this new project will play a central role in strengthening Namibia's SME sector through the development of digital capabilities and skills. "This ambitious partnership between Namibia and Estonia promises to not only unlock business potential but also to foster digital innovation and economic growth in the region," she said.
Samira Njoya
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Botswana wants to capitalize on the opportunities offered by broadband connectivity to develop a range of sectors. Projects are being implemented to achieve this over the next few years.
On Wednesday, October 18 in Maun, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi officially launched the "Village Connectivity" project, which aims to accelerate digital connectivity in hundreds of localities across the country.
Commenting on the merits of the project, Mokgweetsi Masisi said it would support the digital transformation of the Botswana economy and help achieve the country’s national, regional, and global development objectives.
The Village Connectivity project aligns with the National Broadband Strategy (NBS) launched in 2018 by the Botswana government as part of its digital transformation ambitions. It is a flagship project of SmartBots, an initiative launched in 2022 by the government and aimed at accelerating digital connectivity by developing ICT infrastructure in more than 500 villages across Botswana.
The first phase of Village Connectivity, which is nearing completion, connects 1,138 public facilities in 144 villages across all districts of Botswana. It covers around 1.6 million people and offers free Internet access at hotspots with an average of 120,924 daily users.
Ultimately, the project, financed by the Universal Access and Services Fund (UASF), will bridge the digital divide by enabling citizens in the most remote areas to participate actively in the development of the digital economy. It will also provide numerous employment opportunities and enable young people to compete on a global scale.
Samira Njoya
Since the launch of this program, Orange has rewarded 47 projects and helped 90 entrepreneurs access support from its experts and partners.
The international winners of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East (POESAM) were announced on October 18, on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress Africa Kigali, October 17-19. They are Cameroonian startups Adinkra Jeunesse and Services for the aged, the Egyptian Egrobots, the Jordanian Smart WTI, and the Tunisian Bionic Soul.
According to Orange, the winners were chosen from among 1,300 entries from 17 countries. The winning projects at this 13th edition of Poesam International are mainly in the fields of education, health, e-commerce, agriculture, and the environment.
For the international grand prize, first place went to Adinkra Jeunesse (Cameroon), which specializes in publishing children’s digital books with characters that tell Africa’s story. It received €25,000 in funding.
Second place went to Egrobots (Egypt), whose digital solutions (robots + analyses generated by artificial intelligence) help farmers optimize their business. The startup was awarded €15,000 in funding.
Finally, third place went to Smart WTI, a Jordanian startup offering advanced water management solutions using IoT/AI technology. Its ambition is to help businesses and communities manage their consumption efficiently, reduce waste, and improve water quality.
The International Women's Prize –awarded to a startup whose women-led project helps improve living conditions by providing specific solutions to social or environmental problems– was won by Bionic Soul (Tunisia). The startup manufactures and markets smart, custom-made, affordable bionic prostheses for amputees. It was awarded €20,000 in funding.
Finally, a "Coup de Coeur" prize was also awarded. Services for Aged, a startup based in Cameroon, was the lucky recipient. Its health, hygiene, and assistance service for elderly people at home in rural areas won over the jury.
Like the five winners of the international prize, the national winners of POESAM, in the 17 Orange Middle East and Africa markets, will benefit from support within Orange Digital Centers, with the prospect of developing their business beyond the borders of their respective countries, through the network of Orange Digital Centers set up in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
As digital transformation gathers pace, Amazon continues to strengthen its presence across Africa. After Egypt, the multinational is offering its services in South Africa, through dedicated local websites.
U.S. retail giant Amazon announced on Tuesday, October 17, the launch of Amazon.co.za, its platform dedicated to the South African market, for 2024.
According to Amazon, the new service will offer South African sellers the opportunity to reach customers across the country, and rapidly grow and develop their businesses while leveraging the innovation capabilities provided by Amazon.
"We look forward to launching Amazon.co.za in South Africa, providing local sellers, brand owners, and entrepreneurs—small and large—the opportunity to grow their business with Amazon, and deliver great value and a convenient shopping experience for customers across South Africa," said Robert Koen, general manager of the Sub-Saharan Africa region for Amazon.
In recent years, the e-commerce market in South Africa has been dominated by local players such as Takealot, developed by Naspers, a South African conglomerate. The launch of Amazon.co.za is expected to intensify competition and encourage an increase in online shopping after the pandemic gave e-commerce the opportunity to gain a foothold.
The announcement of this new service comes a year after the company opened an office in South Africa. With Amazon.co.za, South Africa will become the 21st country to have a dedicated Amazon domain. It will also be the 2nd African country, after Egypt, where the American e-commerce giant is setting up a dedicated local website.
In South Africa, Amazon will offer a range of valuable tools, programs, and services “including hundreds of thousands of hours of free educational content to support sellers at every stage of their journey, including articles, videos, webinars, and case studies," we learn.
Samira Njoya
To achieve digital inclusion and transformation, Africa needs everyone's help. Companies are taking concerted action to overcome the national and regional challenges that are still hampering that digital ambition.
On Tuesday, October 17, Orange Middle East and Africa and Smart Africa Alliance, a political initiative for the promotion of the digital sector in Africa, signed a partnership aimed at supporting digitization on the African continent.
The agreement, which covers collaboration between the two parties, was initialed by Lacina Koné (photo, left), Managing Director of Smart Africa Alliance, and Jérôme Hénique (photo, left), CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa. It was signed on the sidelines of the second edition of Mobile World Congress Africa 2023 being held in Kigali, Rwanda.
As part of the cooperation, the two companies will work together to encourage the creation of innovative digital solutions, respond to local challenges, and contribute to sustainable development in Africa.
According to Jérôme Hénique, the partnership will contribute to "Smart Africa and Orange's shared objective of developing the digital skills of Africa's youth, particularly women, while supporting innovative entrepreneurship."
For three years, the two organizations will collaborate on activities such as training young people and women to support their employability in new digital professions through their digital skills development programs, notably the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) and the Orange Digital Center (ODC) network, which is present in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and 8 European countries.
They will also work together to strengthen innovative entrepreneurship by reinforcing incubation, acceleration, and financing capacities for entrepreneurs in priority sectors such as the environment, e-agriculture, e-health, e-commerce, etc.
For Lacina Koné, the new partnership will enable African citizens, especially young people, to be equipped for the jobs of the future. The aim is to actively contribute to the continent's digital transformation. "Joining forces with Orange will accelerate our collective efforts in this regard," he said.
Samira Njoya