The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, has indicated through a memorandum, its intention to initiate the second phase of the IMT spectrum licencing process. The Authority also wants to make radio frequency spectrum available to prospective licensees to provide mobile broadband wireless access services in the low and mid radio frequency bands. ICASA is soliciting views from interested stakeholders regarding the IMT radio frequency spectrum bands to be considered by the Authority during the second phase of the IMT licencing process. The regulator is of the view that the second ..read more

Cybersecurity specialist for digital infrastructure Exclusive Networks Africa, an arm of a global entity, has announced its continued expansion drive in Africa with the launch of an office in Lagos, Nigeria. This adds to South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius where the company has a presence. Africa is seen as a growth market by the company and it is widely recognised as an important investment destination. Anton Jacobsz, Managing Director of Exclusive Networks Africa, clarifies that: “Having previously operated in a number of countries across Africa with the support of representatives there, as we ..read more

Following a successful inaugural launch in 2021, YouthX is back for its second edition as Nedbank continues its drive to empower the youth by providing them with access to resources, mentorship and inspiration to unlock their potential. According to Stats SA, the unemployment rate in South Africa was 63,9% for those aged 15–24 and 42,1% for those aged 25–34 in the first quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate among young graduates (aged 15–24 years) declined from 40,3% to 32,6%, while it increased by 6,9 percentage points to 22,4% for those aged 25–34 years in the same period. “We have see ..read more

Telkom Business has announced the launch of Telkom Lend, to enable small businesses to apply online for funding of up to R5 million and get a response within 24 hours. The company said, an end-to-end digital process means no paperwork, no long queues and no waiting for an answer from a financial institution. “Business funding from Telkom Lend will ensure that small businesses are able to scale and grow with fast funding without the need to put up any collateral,” said Sibusiso Ngwenya, Managing Executive, Telkom Financial Services. “This also means that businesses take control of their payment ..read more

Global spending on Internet of Things (IoT) technology is expected to top $1.1 trillion by 2023. Despite the complexities associated with managing the environment, it is well worth the risk. In fact, 23% of European IoT adopters cite improving their security posture as the main reason for adopting IoT. However, it is something even non-technology-focused businesses can benefit from. Whether you are a food delivery services provider or a clothing retailer, IoT can unlock significant growth opportunities.  In an increasingly mobile-first, digitally driven global economy, IoT platforms are b ..read more

More than 25 countries have launched digital nomad visa programmes to streamline the process of moving abroad for work. The main requirement is proof of employment outside of the destination country. Offering both traditional and remote career opportunities, the teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) industry provides the perfect match for locals who would rather see the world than the inside of an office cubicle. “Digital nomad visas give travellers the option of staying in a country for longer periods of time than the usual tourist visas. It’s also easier to secure than a regular work ..read more

MTN Group has announced the appointment of Willington Ngwepe to the new post of Chief of Staff in the office of the Group President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 October 2022. According to a statement, Ngwepe joins from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), where he has spent the last five years as CEO. Prior to that, he was ICASA’s Chief Operating Officer. Commenting on the appointment, MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said, “Willington brings with him extensive leadership, technology and regulatory experience that will be invaluable as we e ..read more

With 60% of the African population residing in rural areas, there is an enormous opportunity to connect people in rural communities and villages. In Morocco, a third of the population lives in rural areas, and there is still a need to connect more communities to move the country onto the cutting edge of digital technology and in support of the National Broadband Plan, which aims to provide the entire population with fixed or mobile broadband by the end of 2022. Reducing the cost of rural connectivity When it comes to rural connectivity, one of the biggest obstacles is the associated cost. At ..read more

The number of backdoor computer malware detected in Q2 2022 in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria increased significantly, hitting new records in comparison to the previous quarter, says cyber security company Kaspersky. A backdoor is one of the most dangerous types of malware. Backdoors provide cybercriminals with remote administration of a victim’s machine. Unlike legitimate remote administration utilities, backdoors install, launch and run invisibly, without the consent or knowledge of the user. Once installed, backdoors can be instructed to send, receive, execute and delete files, harvest con ..read more

Supersonic, an MTN South Africa Internet service provider has announced it now covers over 3.4 million households across the country since it launched Airfibre in March 2021. The company covered over 10759 homes in the first month after launching and the rate of growth rapidly increased to reach 3.1 million homes in one year before continuing the upward trajectory to 3.4 million in May 2022. MTN Supersonic Managing Director Megan Nicholas said, “We are continuing to see impressive growth as demand for Airfibre as an alternative to traditional fibre continues. Our aim is to continue delivering ..read more