Blue Tech Wave’s Post

To speed up the expansion of digital public infrastructure in Africa, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai Obo-Nai, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, has issued a strong plea for greater multilateral partnerships and collaboration amongst the continent’s governments, businesses, and investors. She made the call during the Mobile Technology for Development (MT4D) session at the just-ended 3i Africa Summit in Accra, where she spoke on the topic; “Digital Infrastructure and Innovation: Accelerating Africa’s Development.” Reports on mobile internet connectivity in Africa indicate that 15% of Sub-Saharan Africans lack mobile internet access, while 59% have coverage but are not well connected. https://lnkd.in/dZeFz-fv

Public WiFi initiatives can significantly drive socio-economic development, enhance quality of life, and foster digital inclusion across Africa. These initiatives expand internet access, stimulate local economies, provide educational resources, improve the dissemination of health information, promote social inclusion, facilitate access to e-government services, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.Various public WiFi projects in Africa have been implemented by the private sector, non-profits, governments, or a combination of these entities, and operate at municipal, town, or state levels. However, many questions remain. Which approaches to public WiFi are most likely to succeed? What is the real impact on vulnerable populations? Is everyone benefiting equally? Are there potential harms introduced alongside the benefits? This report aims to stimulate further interest and research into free and public WiFi initiatives. Conducting this research under the guidance of Steve Song and in partnership with Jon brewer was a valuable learning experience. You can find the full report on the APC website: https://bit.ly/3yEuh1A.

A deal for change

Open access networks are transforming the telecom landscape, offering a promising path to bridge the digital divide and foster competition across the African continent. These networks allow multiple service providers to utilize shared infrastructure, potentially accelerating broadband deployment and improving consumer choice. Key benefits for Africa include: ⚙️ Increased efficiency through shared infrastructure 🚀 Enhanced competition and innovation 💰 Improved return on investment for network builders 🛜 Greater transparency in network operations Open access is particularly critical for publicly funded national broadband networks and in areas with economic bottlenecks preventing competitive supply. In Africa, where internet penetration is only around 54%, implementing open access strategies could significantly boost connectivity and drive economic growth. However, challenges remain. Long-term exclusivity agreements can contradict open access principles, while attracting diverse retail service providers can be difficult. To succeed, the industry must: • Discourage long-term exclusivity deals • Create supportive ecosystems for new entrants • Balance investment incentives with open access requirements Companies like Link Africa™ are already making strides in this direction, providing open-access subsea and terrestrial network infrastructures to accelerate Africa's digital transformation. So it was an absolute pleasure to host Imran Abbas, the CEO at #AliTalksTech on the sidelines of NOVACOM AFRICA 1-to-1 TELCO SUMMITS in Cape Town. Be sure to look out for the full episode in the coming day. What are your thoughts? #Telecom #OpenAccess #DigitalInclusion #AfricanTech KICTANet, Barrack Otieno, Mwendwa Kivuva

++Game-Changer for Rural Nigeria: NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LIMITED (NIGCOMSAT) and Infratel Africa Launch Major Connectivity Initiative++ In a significant move to enhance rural telephony and connectivity across Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has entered into a strategic agreement with Infratel Africa, a prominent telecom leader in the region. This partnership is poised to revolutionize internet connectivity in underserved areas, ensuring reliable and robust communication channels. Jane Egerton-Idehen, the CEO of NIGCOMSAT, expressed her excitement during the signing ceremony. She emphasized that the collaboration with Infratel Africa is a significant step towards positioning NIGCOMSAT as a key player in the telecommunications industry. “This partnership aligns with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy’s mission to improve rural connectivity and reduce the digital divide,” she remarked. The landmark agreement, signed yesterday, aims to transition 100 telecommunication sites to the NigComSat-1R Ka-band hub platform. This migration is expected to deliver superior internet services, providing seamless and dependable communication solutions to rural communities that have long been marginalized in the digital landscape. #techafricanews #africa #satellite #connectivity #nigeria

Safaricom PLC, Kenya's leading telecommunications service provider, has announced the successful restoration of full network capacity following an internet connectivity outage experienced across the country since Sunday. The telco confirmed on Thursday that full internet capacity and stability have been resumed after users experienced slow speeds due to multiple cuts on the undersea cable. “We have achieved this by acquiring additional capacity from our undersea cable providers. We sincerely thank our engineers for working around the clock to keep the country connected through optimization and quickly onboarding additional capacity from the undersea cables,” said the company in a statement. Safaricom further stated that it is closely monitoring its network and collaborating with undersea cable suppliers for a faster resolution on repair works to ensure service stability. The firm's proactive measures aim to minimize disruptions and maintain reliable services. The Communication Authority of Kenya had earlier urged service providers to explore alternative routes for their traffic. David Mugonyi, the Authority’s Director-General, commended the efforts of network service providers in swiftly restoring internet services and keeping the country connected. “We note and appreciate efforts made by mobile network operators and internet service providers to restore internet services and keep the country connected through the acquisition of additional capacity in other undersea fiber cables,” Mugonyi stated. However, he acknowledged that the backlog generated by the internet outage might take longer to clear, impacting not only Kenya but also neighboring East African countries including Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. #Safaricom #Telecommunications #InternetOutage #NetworkRestoration #UnderseaCable #KenyaConnectivity #EastAfrica #CommunicationAuthority #ServiceStability #DigitalInfrastructure #EngineeringEfforts #InternetServices

Burundi and Zambia have taken a significant step towards enhancing their digital connectivity by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to link the two countries with an underwater fibre optic cable. The agreement was inked during the Digital Government Africa Summit, which took place in Lusaka, Zambia. A private company, yet to be named, has been commissioned to carry out the installation of the fibre optic cable along the bed of Lake Tanganyika. This will connect Zambia’s Northern Province directly with the southern Makamba Province of Burundi. With 350 kilometres of the cable already in place, Zambia is poised to become an important regional hub for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), promising to boost communication speeds, reliability, and accessibility within the area. Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati, emphasized the strategic importance of this development, noting that it will not only enhance digital communication between Zambia and Burundi but also facilitate Burundi’s data transmission through Zambia, linking it with other nations in Southern and Eastern Africa. Click the link in our stories to read more: https://lnkd.in/dUrcUucF #innovationvillage #burundi #zambia #mou #partnership #fibreoptic #africabusiness #africa #technology #technews #techpreneur #government #regulations #digitaltransformation #connectivity

Closing #Africadigitaldivide: The Economic power of internet expansion - #DigitalAfrica #Africadevelopment by Fabio Scala, Cav OSI Broadening digital connectivity in Africa and it's digital transformation hinges on one crucial element: internet access.

Telecom Namibia seals deal to modernise network - Caj News Africa: Telecom Namibia seals deal to modernise network  Caj News Africa

++ ZICTA Releases 2023 ICT Market Report: Global and Local Insights ++ The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) released its 2023 Annual Market Report, shedding light on both global and local developments in the ICT sector. Global Trends: The report highlighted significant global developments, including a 27 percent growth in mobile-broadband subscriptions over five years, surpassing the growth rate of mobile-cellular subscriptions by fourfold. #techafricanews #africa #zambia #regulation #ict #global #local #insight #mobile #broadband #development