Wirulink, a South African internet service provider (ISP), offers cheaper 100 Mbps fiber packages than some of its larger competitors, such as Afrihost and Axxess, according to a recent analysis. The review concluded that there was generally a difference of R100 to R200 between the cheapest and most expensive ISPs for a given fiber network operator (FNO).
Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced its plans to invest 30.4 billion South African rands (US$1.8 billion) in its cloud infrastructure in South Africa by 2029. The company has published a new economic impact study (EIS) that outlines the group's investment in its AWS Africa region since 2018.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana has announced plans to deactivate around 11.1 million active SIM cards by May 31 if they are not registered before the deadline. The affected SIM cards are those that have not started the registration process.
A new AMS-IX Lagos Internet Exchange, owned by Equinix, is being launched in the carrier-neutral MDXi data center. The partnership agreement stipulates that MDXi will act as AMS-IX's commercial partner and regional sales and marketing representative for AMS-IX Lagos, while AMS-IX will manage the exchange's technical and operational aspects.
The Internet Society Foundation (ISF) has launched a new round of its grant program, known as Strengthening Communities, Improving Lives and Livelihoods (SCILLS), which aims to promote economic growth and increase educational opportunities by enabling individuals and communities to use the Internet more knowledgeably and skillfully. Eligible organizations in Senegal can apply for grants of up to US$250,000 to fund projects lasting up to two years. The foundation is seeking proposals that leverage the increasing access to the internet in Senegal to provide educational opportunities and support economic inclusion for underserved and unserved communities.
Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, announced the appointment of a new managing director for Africa. Vertiv has promoted Wojtek Piorko with immediate effect from his previous position as South East Africa regional director. The role was previously held by Pierre Havenga, who will be leaving Vertiv at the end of June after 12 years as a strategic leader in the region.
Svenja Schulze, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, spoke out on the digital gender gap during the celebration of International Girls in ICT Day hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the Transform Africa Summit in Zimbabwe. Schulze called for governments to invest in policies that support women and girls.
Kenya will launch its first satellite from the United States on April 10, thanks to a partnership with the American company SpaceX. Taifa-1, the satellite "designed and developed by a team of Kenyan researchers," will be launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US, on board a SpaceX rocket.
The African School of Economics (ASE) has partnered with universities in Africa and Finland to launch Africa's first 5G Mokki Tech Space, which is a network of immersive digital learning and remote work environments that are connected via fifth-generation mobile communication technology. The modular tech spaces will help local communities access high-technology education, remote job creation and digital entrepreneurship.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is initiating its integrated Strategic Plan for the period 2023–2026. Over the next three years, CRAN will focus on improving service provision to customers and addressing the affordability of ICT services in the sector. The enhancement of the legal framework for electronic transactions, postal services, data protection and cybersecurity also feature prominently, while a new cybernetic incident response team will also be established.
