Brief (434)
Moroccan telecom operators Itissalat Al-Maghrib, Medi Telecom, and Wana Corporate have joined hands to establish a national Internet Exchange Point (IXP) to revolutionize the country's internet landscape.
The IXP, unveiled through a memorandum of understanding signed at the national telecom regulator ANRT’s headquarters in Rabat, will serve as a central hub for routing and exchanging domestic internet traffic.
The U.S. Department of State's TechWomen program has opened applications for its 2024 edition, offering career development opportunities for emerging female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from 11 African countries.
Qualified applicants must demonstrate at least two years of professional experience, hold at least one higher education degree, and possess proficient English language skills. The program targets Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
Seychelles is set to unveil its digital driving license next year, as revealed by the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) during a recent press briefing. Officials from the SLA disclosed that the initial phase of the digital driving license initiative is currently in progress through the utilization of the SeyID digital identity platform. Motorists are now able to complete their registration online and conveniently acquire their driving licenses directly on their smartphones.
Last Tuesday, U.S tech multinational Mastercard launched its "Tap on phone", "QR Pay by link" and "Payment link" contactless payment solutions in Nigeria.
"As we navigate the evolving landscape of payments in Nigeria, Mastercard is proud to launch its contactless payment solutions. We understand the importance of seamless, secure, and cost-effective digital payment solutions, particularly for small businesses and consumers," said Kari Tukur, Vice President of Customer Solutions for East and West Africa at Mastercard.
Egyptian health technology startup Chefaa announced, Tuesday, December 19, the successful completion of a $5.25 million funding round. The raised funds are earmarked for various purposes, including the advancement of its technology, broadening its range of offerings, and supporting its growth in Saudi Arabia—a market the startup recently entered.
US-based satellite broadband provider Starlink announced its rollout in Eswatini on Monday, December 18th, via a post on social media platform X. Accessing the services in Eswatini requires a one-time hardware purchase of 12,000 Rand (~$648) and a monthly subscription fee of 950 Rand, plus a 120 Rand regulatory fee. Shipping and handling costs 450 Rand. This rollout marks the eighth African country to welcome Starlink's high-speed internet services this year.
Ghana will launch a mobile-accessible version of its national ID card next year, announced Moses K. Baiden, CEO of Margins ID Group, the company spearheading the project. The app-based digital card will be equipped with a secure barcode and QR code for seamless verification across various services, including financial transactions.
The Smart Africa alliance, a policy initiative for the promotion of digital in Africa, announced on Wednesday, December 13 the signing of a three-year memorandum of understanding with the EoT Foundation.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Digital Sovereignty Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, aims to support African decision-makers on their digital transformation journey through capacity-building, forums, training, events, and networking between Africa and Europe.
Following a phone call on Tuesday, December 12, between Benin's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, and his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, Morocco has announced that Benin is now eligible for its e-visa program. The decision will become effective on January 1, 2024
Nigerian fintech startup Bujeti has completed a $2 million financing round in a deal led by Californian accelerator Y Combinator, Techcrunch reported on Thursday, December 7. The funds will be used to, among other things, introduce credit lines for small and medium-sized businesses, initiate corporate cards, and enhance its expense management platform.
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Kenyan e-mobility startup BasiGo has announced the completion of a $5 million financing round. The funds, raised in the form of debt from British International Investment (BII), a British development finance institution, will be used to expand the assembly of electric buses in Kenya.
Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange platform Bitmama has acquired neobank Payday to expand the services of its platform Changera. According to information reported by TechCabal, Bitmama, valued at $30 million, has reportedly offered Payday's investors $1 million in equity and will take over the neobank's customer deposits and debts.
Egyptian proptech startup Partment has expanded into Greece, Disrupt Africa announced yesterday.
"This expansion aligns with our global vision of enhancing people’s well-being through sustainable second home access, making real estate investments affordable and accessible to all," said Nadim Nagui, Partment co-founder and CEO.
Team collaboration startup Cynoia announced last week the successful completion of a €850,000 financing round. The funds will finance the company's expansion in West Africa, mainly in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.