In a significant move toward enhancing digital access and driving technological innovation, the Nigerian government has approved two transformative initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide, expanding rural mobile connectivity, and positioning the country as a leader in artificial intelligence.
General News
Angola and France Secure €225 Million for Satellite and Infrastructure Projects
Finance Minister Vera Daves de Sousa has signed major financing agreements to drive Angola's technological advancements and infrastructure development.
West African Nations Sign Roaming Agreement to Cut Telecom Costs
Liberia, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at reducing telecommunications costs and enhancing roaming services across the three countries.
Telecom Tariff Hike: Tijani Highlights Economic and Employment Impact
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, clarified the proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs, emphasizing that any hike should be contained within a range of 30% to 60%.
Zambia and Kenya Boost Africa’s Internet Resilience Progress
A recent analysis reveals significant progress in Africa’s internet resilience. The Pulse Internet Resilience Index shows an overall score of 34%, a one-percentage increase from 2022 to 2023, improving access to essential services like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities across the continent.
Telco Consumer Protection Fortified by NCC-FCCPC MoU
Designed to enhance consumer protection and promote fair competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster greater collaboration between the two regulatory bodies.
Kenya’s Western Region Expands Fiber Optic Network
The National Fiber Optic Cable Backbone Infrastructure project is significantly enhancing digital connectivity across Kenya’s western region. To date, 278 institutions have been connected, with plans to link an additional 377 sites by 2025.
New Fiber Optic Backbone to Connect 12 Million in Nigeria
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to conduct a feasibility study that aims to expand internet access to 12 million Nigerians.
Togo’s Regulator Slashes Wholesale Telecom Prices by 60%
The Regulatory Authority has established wholesale price ceilings for the 2025 financial year, based on cost audits of Togocom and MOOV Africa Togo. This includes a significant 60% reduction in the monthly rental ceiling for dark optical fiber, now set at 30 CFA francs per linear meter, down from 75 CFA francs.
South Africa Launches Transformative AI Institute
In an ironic mind-over-matter fashion, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has officially launched the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute, marking a significant milestone in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research on the African continent.