The Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has reported a surge in ransomware attacks by the Phobos ransomware group targeting critical cloud service providers in Nigeria.
Phobos attackers gain access through phishing emails and exploiting the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) weaknesses. At-risk entities include providers serving government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications, education, healthcare, and NGOs.
Zimbabwean financial firm BARD Santner Incorporated launched TX Money Transfer on July 10. The new platform is designed to enhance reliability and transparency in the remittance sector.
BARD aims to improve transparency regarding charges to avoid hidden costs and foster collaboration to eliminate process bottlenecks.
With the launch of TX Money Transfer, BARD Santner aims to set a new standard in Zimbabwe's remittance sector, ensuring better service for clients and strong business returns.
Many African countries face significant challenges in providing reliable internet access, especially in rural and remote areas. Satellite internet can offer high-speed connectivity where traditional infrastructure is lacking, helping to bridge the digital divide and bring more people online.
South Sudan's National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced approved tariffs for SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink. In a July 8 post on X, the NCA stated it collaborated with Starlink to offer affordable connectivity in South Sudan as Elon Musk's high-speed internet service prepares to launch.
This serves to inform the public about the approved tariffs & the forthcoming selection of local distributor(s) by Starlink.
— National Communication Authority - NCA (@NCA_SSD) July 8, 2024
It should be noted that the tariffs exclude applicable taxes and relevant statutory fees. #ConnectingSSD pic.twitter.com/zTWLFbsXo4
The NCA issued a provisional license for Starlink in June 2024, aiming to reduce internet costs and improve access, especially in rural areas.
The authority reports that Starlink will offer four pricing plans: USD 38.19 per month for the cheapest and USD 5,005.40 for the most expensive. The plans are Standard, Priority, Mobile, and Mobile Priority, with equipment costing USD 296.67 for the Standard Kit and USD 2,502.70 for the Flat High-Performance Kit. Prices exclude taxes and fees.
According to DataReportal's Digital 2024: South Sudan report, the country had 1.36 million internet users at the start of 2024, with an internet penetration rate of 12.1 percent. Additionally, there were 3.97 million active mobile connections, representing 35.5 percent of the population. With only 12.1 percent internet penetration, the introduction of Starlink could dramatically increase internet accessibility, especially in rural and underserved areas where traditional internet infrastructure is lacking.
Starlink is expanding in Africa, recently launching in Madagascar and obtaining licenses in Ghana, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, with services active in Sierra Leone. It operates in several other countries, including Benin, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia. With these developments, Starlink is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and supporting economic development in underserved regions.
Hikmatu Bilali
Fueling the continent's ongoing technological revolution, African nations are actively pursuing initiatives to bolster their digital security.
The Ghanaian Cyber Security Authority (CSA) issued licenses and accreditations to 51 entities operating in the digital security space on July 10th. This move aims to establish a regulatory framework for Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs), and Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs) authorized to offer digital security services in the country.
"Today’s ceremony is not just a culmination but a catalyst for continued collaboration and innovation in our cybersecurity ecosystem. The synergy among CSPs, CEs, and CPs will drive us towards adaptive resilience and continuous improvement," said Adelaide Benneh-Prempeh, a member of the CSA Board of Directors.
The licensing initiative comes amidst a rising tide of cyberattacks across Africa. The continent's rapid digital transformation has increased its vulnerability, making robust cybersecurity a priority for governments. Ghana has taken steps by establishing a national strategy through the "Ghana National Cyber Security Policy & Strategy" and implementing the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GH). This team plays a vital role in real-time threat monitoring and coordinating responses to major cybercrime incidents.
The country has also ratified the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. It has deposited the instruments of accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
In terms of cybersecurity preparedness, Ghana ranks third in Africa with a score of 86.69 out of 100, according to the 2021 "Global Cybersecurity Index" published by the International Telecommunication Union. This places the nation ahead of Nigeria (84.76) but behind Tanzania (90.58).
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The digital sector offers numerous job opportunities for young people. By acquiring the right skills, they can take advantage of these opportunities and integrate more easily into the job market.
Chinese technology giant Huawei announced plans to train an additional 4,000 individuals in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Mauritius by 2028. The commitment was unveiled on July 10th at the launch ceremony of DigiTalent 3.0, a program designed to address the nation's growing need for a skilled digital workforce.
"Mauritius has always been a pioneer in regional innovation. Our strategic investments in ICT infrastructure, combined with our commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy, have laid a solid foundation for our digital future. Continuous training and skill enhancement are essential. Huawei's talent ecosystem is a brilliant example of how we can work together to build a thriving ICT talent pool in our country," said Deepak Balgobin, the Mauritian Minister of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation.
This initiative aligns with Huawei's global strategy of cultivating digital talent in various countries. The approach emphasizes building ecosystems for educators and students, offering digital skills training to industry partners, and collaborating with governments on digital transformation initiatives.
In Mauritius, Huawei's contributions have resulted in the training of over 35 instructors and the development of courses in Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Datacom, and Cloud Computing. Over 350 students and professionals have earned Huawei's HCIA certification in recent years. The company has also established partnerships with seven local universities.
These combined efforts are expected to propel Mauritius towards achieving the objectives outlined in its "Digital Mauritius 2030" strategy. This national plan entails significant investments in infrastructure, digital skills training, and the transition to digital administration, all aimed at propelling the nation's digital sector. According to official figures, this sector thrived in 2022, experiencing a 6.5% growth rate and remaining the only sector unaffected by the global health crisis.
Samira Njoya
Since its launch in 2015, Groupe Vivendi Africa has been expanding its footprint across the continent. Now present in seven African countries, the company continues to grow its reach and influence in the region.
Groupe Vivendi Africa (GVA), a provider of high-speed fiber optic internet, officially launched its CanalBox FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) network in Uganda on July 10th. This marks GVA's eighth African market after entering Gabon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kampala becomes the 13th city on the continent to benefit from these services.
"With investments of 50 billion UGX so far, GVA has managed to lay fiber cables across Kampala, with an infrastructure currently capable of connecting a total area covering 140,000 homes in Kampala, with a target to grow our network to cover an area to be able to connect up to 500,000 in 4 years," said Julius Kayoboke, General Manager of GVA Uganda.
The arrival of CanalBox is expected to intensify competition in Uganda's internet market, currently dominated by telecom operators. This increased competition should lead to improved service quality and lower costs for consumers, coinciding with Uganda's accelerated digital transformation and growing demand for high-speed connectivity. According to the latest data from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the country boasts 27.7 million internet users, representing a 61% penetration rate.
"The internet has transformed societies in unprecedented ways, shaping the way we live, work, and interact with one another through communication, information dissemination, business transactions, education, and improved service delivery," remarked Thomas Tayebwa, Vice President of the Ugandan Parliament, who attended the launch ceremony.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Driven by a passion for crafting technological solutions, especially in the financial sector, he tackles challenges within his community. He's a seasoned entrepreneur, having founded and invested in several African companies.
Paul Kwesi Damalie is a Ghanain serial entrepreneur and investor. In 2023, he founded Damalie Innovation Holdings Group (DIH Group), an investment company dedicated to improving the lives of one billion people by investing in key sectors and creating exponential value.
DIH Group focuses on areas such as health technologies, the sports value chain, family entertainment and games, urban infrastructure, urban development, integrated commerce and finance, and climate resilience.
As an angel investor, Damalie supports the startup DrDoGood, founded in 2023, which aims to revolutionize access to and delivery of primary healthcare through a web and mobile application that facilitates interactions between patients and healthcare providers.
In 2013, Damalie co-founded Wordstreem, a social audio streaming app for Christian ministries to engage their communities, serving as its CEO during the first year. In 2016, he co-founded Loystar, a digital loyalty and commerce platform that enables merchants to sell and retain customers, serving as the Director of Business Development and Operations for a year.
Also in 2016, Damalie co-founded Inclusive Financial Technologies, a company developing digital infrastructure for Africa to make financial data globally accessible, serving as CEO for two years. In 2018, he founded Appruve, a startup that facilitates identity verification for individuals and businesses across Africa, where he was CEO until 2023.
Damalie graduated from Radford University College in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in finance and strategic management. To gain experience, he worked for several companies, including serving as the country head of Next Money in Ghana in 2015, joining the advisory board of the Financial Inclusion Forum Africa in 2018, and becoming an angel investor for Moneex, a fintech startup that helps freelancers, businesses, and diasporas in Africa, in 2023.
Melchior Koba
The Nigerian government is accelerating its plans to make telecom services accessible throughout the country. This initiative involves collaboration with private sector companies and international partners to deploy a network of fiber optic cable, stretching 95,000 kilometers nationwide.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) plans to lower the percentage of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from the current 61% to 20% by 2027 . The target was announced by Aminu Maida, the executive vice-chairman of the regulatory body, during the 6th edition of the Policy Implementation Assistance Forum held in Lagos on Wednesday, July 10.
"We will create a supportive environment for innovation, ensure robust infrastructure, unlock investment in critical sectors and stimulate economic growth," stated Maida .
This initiative is part of the Nigerian government's broader efforts to provide widespread access to telecommunications services. The plan includes deploying 95,000 km of fiber optic cable across the country in partnership with the World Bank and the European Union. Additionally, the government is exploring satellite solutions to achieve nationwide coverage through the national operator (NIGCOMSAT) or private operators like Starlink .
As of March 31, Nigeria had 219.3 million mobile phone subscribers and 163.8 million internet subscribers, according to official statistics. However, these figures may be inflated due to the prevalence of Nigerians owning multiple SIM cards, which are counted individually. In 2022, the NCC estimated that nearly 35 million Nigerians lacked access to telecom services.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Focused on improving business operations, he offers a technology management platform that empowers companies to enhance their performance through efficient management tools.
Saad Kemmou (photo) is a Moroccan entrepreneur with a bachelor's degree in international business, entrepreneurship, and marketing obtained in 2008 from Drexel University's LeBow College of Business in the United States. He is the founder and CEO of Hsabati, a startup that provides management services to businesses.
Founded in 2018, Hsabati is a modular and customizable management platform for businesses. Its great flexibility allows users to select and configure the features they need for optimized daily management.
Hsabati offers a CRM (customer relationship management) module that enhances performance at every stage of the sales process, from lead management to customer retention. Additionally, the platform optimizes inventory management, purchasing/sales, production, and finances, and includes a dedicated project management module.
Saad Kemmou is also the vice president of the Moroccan Fintech Federation. Prior to Hsabati, he founded Flood Gate Labs in 2012, a startup incubator and studio focusing on new technologies, mobile telephony, and advertising. He served as CEO until 2020.
He has also gained extensive experience working for various companies in Morocco and the United States. In 2009, he was an account manager at Market Resource Partners, a company specializing in the strategic development and tactical execution of integrated marketing programs for software and technology service firms. From 2011 to 2012, he was project and client relations manager at Media Mobility in Morocco, a startup facilitating the creation, distribution, and monetization of mobile applications across all platforms and screens.
Melchior Koba
Nigeria-based NeuRaL AI has introduced REACTOR, an AI platform designed to help businesses integrate Generative AI into their operations.
NeuRaL AI is a company that offers Artificial Intelligence solutions to businesses, from setup to maintenance and training.
More...
Visa has opened applications for the third cohort of its Accelerator Program in Africa. This initiative aims to support innovative startups by providing resources and guidance for scaling their solutions.
The Program offers mentorship, access to Visa’s network, and partnership opportunities to pilot solutions. It aims to help startups scale their operations and impact across Africa.
Applications close on August 11.
From an economics background, he opted to pursue a career in the transport and logistics sector. Currently, he leads a cutting-edge tech company that facilitates connections between carriers, e-commerce businesses, other companies, and individual customers.
Issam Darui, a Moroccan entrepreneur with a background in management and economics from Mohammed Premier University in Oujda, is the founder and CEO of Colis.ma, a tech startup specializing in international transport.
Founded in 2022, Colis.ma offers a web platform and mobile app that allows individuals, e-commerce merchants, and businesses to manage their international shipments. The startup collaborates with various international carriers, helping to optimize their logistics and resources.
For e-commerce merchants and businesses, Colis.ma enables users to compare rates and find the best offers in the express transport market. Additionally, the platform provides a detailed tracking service, informing users of each step in their parcel's journey, from initial drop-off to final delivery. "Colis.ma is constantly evolving to offer services perfectly tailored to the expectations of both businesses and individuals," explains Issam Darui.
Besides Colis.ma, Issam Darui is the founder and CEO of Lagare.ma, a logistics startup founded in 2014. Lagare.ma offers a web platform and mobile app where users can search, compare, and purchase intercity bus tickets online. The platform supports 25 currencies and is available in 10 languages.
In 2021, Issam Darui also founded Instaweb.ma, a web agency specializing in the creation of websites and mobile applications. That same year, in May, he co-founded Ordera.ma, an online grocery store, where he served as CEO until December 2021.
In 2017, Issam Darui was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of Africa's 30 most promising young entrepreneurs and was named an outstanding young African entrepreneur at the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship.
Melchior Koba
Internet usage increased to approximately 67% of the global population in 2023, up from 54% in 2019, according to the Broadband Commission. Universal connectivity is not yet a reality, but various organizations are implementing solutions to achieve this goal.
The GSM Association (GSMA) announced the launch of a coalition on Wednesday, July 10, to facilitate access to Internet-enabled mobile phones. Named the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, its goal is to enable the world's poorest populations, approximately 3 billion people, to maximize their potential in the global digital economy.
The new coalition comprises leading global mobile operators, suppliers, players in the mobile phone ecosystem, international organizations, and financial institutions such as the World Bank Group and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
"Mobile has helped billions of people worldwide to play an active role in our increasingly digital world, but the cost of entry can still be too high for many on low incomes. [...] By building creative solutions to bring mobile internet into the hands of those who need it the most, we believe we can make real strides towards closing the Usage Gap and help millions more maximise their potential by getting online," said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA.
According to the GSMA, about 3 billion people, or 38% of the global population, live in areas covered by the Internet but do not use it for various reasons. The lack of digital skills and relevant content, online security issues, Internet access, and affordability of Internet-enabled mobile phones are among the reasons behind the Internet usage gap.
Furthermore, the International Telecommunication Union explains the delay in fixed broadband in Africa by the population's preference for mobile phones, which are seen as more flexible and less expensive. Indeed, the cost of 2 gigabits on the continent was 4.5% of the gross national income per capita per month in 2023, far from the 14.8% cost of fixed broadband, according to the report "The State of Broadband 2024: Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity" published in June 2024 by the Broadband Commission, a special body of the ITU.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Innovate Africa has launched with an initial $2.5 million to support early-stage startups tackling Africa’s challenges.
The fund aims to back up to 20 startups in its first year, focusing on solving complex problems such as insecurity, unemployment, and poverty through purpose-driven technology.