The country was initially scheduled to launch its satellite into orbit in 2021. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the launch was postponed to 2023. So, it wants to make up for this delay in the coming months. 

Senegal's space control center is set to be inaugurated by the end of June 2023, as announced by Professor Gayane Fay, the coordinator of the Senegalese space program at the Ministry of Higher Education. The announcement was made during a visit to the construction site in Diamniadio last Thursday, attended by a delegation from Montpellier University's Space Center and the Senegalese telecom regulator ARTP. The coordinator mentioned that ARTP and Montpellier University's Space Center would handle matters related to frequencies and other relevant topics.

In addition to providing infrastructure for satellite manufacturing and satellite services, the Diamniadio space control center will also serve as a training facility for professionals and conduct research. The center is a result of a memorandum of understanding signed, in January 2019, by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the French National space center, and aerospace company Ariane Group. The memorandum encompasses the construction of the control center, the development of the Senegalese nanosatellite (initially planned for launch in 2021), and training for the satellite manufacturing team, which consists of eight engineers and five technicians.

Once launched, the satellite will establish connections with every station it passes over, collecting data recorded by those stations and transmitting them directly to the Diamniadio space control center. This data will contribute to the prevention and effective response to various challenges such as bushfires, floods, and soil erosion, while also supporting agricultural development.

Successfully deploying the satellite will position Senegal among the select group of African countries that possess around 40 satellites.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 15 mai 2023 17:02 Written by

The visit aims to seek the expertise of Germany, which ranks among the most technologically advanced countries. 

Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, was in Germany from Tuesday, May 9 to Friday, May 12, to seek international partnerships to build capacities and accelerate digital transformation in Egypt. According to a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of ICT, the government official met with German officials, including Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as tech executives.

Among the tech executives he met were Ammar Alkassar, a board member and executive in residence at GovTech Campus Deutschland, which promotes cooperation between the private and public IT sectors. Amr Talaat also met with Johannes Bruder, the head of products at Delivery Hero, a German multinational online food ordering and delivery company based in Berlin, operating in over 70 countries. The two parties discussed the company's expansion to Egypt.

Additionally, the ICT Minister met with Dennis Walter, the EEMEA Vice President of Ottobock, a company specializing in prosthetics and orthopedic technology. They discussed collaboration in research and development (R&D) and assistive technologies. Another meeting was held with Steffen Kuhn, the managing partner of Detecon International's Digital Engineering Center (DEC), to discuss Industry 4.0 cooperation opportunities.

In March 2023, Egypt and Germany decided to enhance their IT cooperation. Germany, already well advanced in the sector, ranks among the most technologically advanced countries. In the Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL Index) published in October 2022, it ranked 3rd, just behind Israel and Denmark. The country plans to support Egypt in major projects, including the Supporting e-Government and Innovation in the Public Administration (InnoPA) project implemented in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). It also plans to establish a laboratory for the creation of government applications in Egypt shortly.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 15 mai 2023 14:05 Written by

The dematerialization of public services and the construction of digital infrastructure are key components of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital transformation strategy.  The proposals aim to support the implementation of those goals. 

South African IT company Guma recently expressed its interest in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital industry.  Last Thursday (May 4), Digital Minister Désiré-Cashmir Kolongele granted an audience to the company’s executive director, Maphum Nxumalo.

After the audience, Maphum Nxumalo explained that the discussions focused on digitalization, specifically on digital transformation processes. "We exchanged on the digital governance of the Congolese ecosystem, on how to make public information easily accessible to the population," he added.

The audience is granted in a context where the Democratic Republic of Congo is working to further develop its digital sector to greatly transform its economy by 2025.  

Since 2019, through the National Digital Plan (PNN), the executive is working to modernize infrastructure, extend telecom coverage, boost access to digital tools,  and secure digital content channels, among other things. To successfully implement that strategy, the country opened its doors to foreign investors specializing in digital technology.

Guma, which has over 30 years of experience in the field, wants to be one of such investors and provide its expertise in several areas including the dematerialization of administrative processes.

Samira Njoya

Posted On vendredi, 12 mai 2023 15:57 Written by

Over the past five years, Kenya has made significant progress in the ICT field.  The country is now a digital hub attracting several multinationals. It still wants to consolidate that position.  

On Wednesday, May 10, Kenya signed a partnership agreement with Venom Foundation, a foundation specializing in crypto development and licensed by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial center and free zone located on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Under the agreement, a state-of-the-art hub dedicated to the creation of new blockchain and Web3 applications in Africa will be established in Nairobi.

"The Kenya Blockchain Hub will provide essential tools and resources to support African nations in building a robust foundation for digital transformation. By implementing blockchain-based solutions, we aim to promote transparency, efficiency, and trust throughout the continent. [...] The benefits of this partnership will extend both nationally and globally, improving lives and unlocking potential," the Venom Foundation tweeted.

Blockchain is a storage technology that keeps track of a set of transactions in a decentralized, secure, and transparent manner. It offers high standards of transparency and security, as it operates without a central control body. It can be used in various sectors, including finance. This partnership demonstrates the growing interest that blockchain and related technologies are gaining in Kenya. Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance reports that about 8.5% of Kenya's population (4.25 million people) own digital currencies. This growing craze is currently driving the government's desire to introduce a 3% tax on digital assets in the next fiscal year.

Although there is no national strategy on blockchain and related services yet, the market is growing and changing. The Kenyan government, aware that it cannot curb people's adoption of new technologies because it still lacks the right regulatory framework, has taken security measures by developing a Sandbox through which new technologies, software, and other services can be tested in a safe environment before being made available for consumption.

Before the public initiative with Venom Foundation, an almost similar private initiative had already taken shape in October 2022. That month, the Swiss-based nonprofit NEAR Foundation announced the launch of the Regional Blockchain Hub in Kenya in partnership with Sankore, a NEAR Foundation guild based in Kenya. The Kenya Regional Hub's mission is to accelerate blockchain innovation, education, and talent development across Africa.

Samira Njoya

Posted On vendredi, 12 mai 2023 10:25 Written by

At a time when protecting sensitive data and enhancing cybersecurity are seen as a challenge shared by African countries, experts are increasingly advocating for public and private actors to pool efforts to sanitize the cyberspace. 

On the sidelines of the Cyber Africa Forum (April 24 -25, 2023) in Abidjan, Youssef Mazouz, Secretary General of the African Cybersecurity Center, agreed to be interviewed by Ecofin Agency and We Are Tech on the vision of his center and its solution to common cybersecurity challenges in Africa. 

We Are Tech: Hello Dr. Mazouz, as the Secretary General of the African Cybersecurity Center, what do you think is the current need for cybersecurity professionals in Africa?

Youssef Mazouz: Hello, I am Dr. Youssef Mazouz, as you mentioned. I work a lot in cybersecurity through an NGO that brings together cybersecurity professionals, security and information system managers. Africa has been undergoing a digital transformation in recent years and there is an obligation to support this digital transformation by controlling risks and cybersecurity. The threats are there and African organizations are now taking the protection of their data and their IT infrastructure seriously. So, cybersecurity is becoming a critical field that should follow the development and changes in the digital world.

The CAF, which brings us together around this theme, focuses on this crucial subject. Unfortunately, most of the top managers of African organizations are not yet aware of the importance of cybersecurity. For them, it is a cost item, so events like this are essential to show that cybersecurity is an area that must be taken seriously because if we do not take into consideration the protection of data, we can face huge losses. We have examples of companies that have lost millions while others have had their businesses shut down for some time due to a cyber attack.

WAT: Do you feel that the continent currently has the human capital to protect its institutions against cyber attacks?

YM: You mentioned a key element, which is the human element. Truly, there are some technology components. There are many data and infrastructure protection as well as cybersecurity solutions. However, if there is no human talent to make the solutions work or back them up, the technologies won’t offer optimal protection.   It is, therefore, necessary to support Africa by setting up continuous training, building skills, and opening cybersecurity research centers and universities.  Moreover, we have an agreement with a university in Morocco to start cybersecurity research and build skills capable of following this evolution in the field of data protection and infrastructure protection.

WAT: What do you think are the main challenges to skill-building in African countries? 

YM: The first challenge is how to keep our talents. Africa has skills but the problem is the exodus. They leave because there is a strong demand for digital skills elsewhere.  We see engineers emigrating to Canada or Europe to work there. So we must keep a space capable of absorbing our talents in Africa.  We must set favorable conditions for them to work and provide incentives to stay on their continent and in their country. I know that most of these skills want to stay in their countries, but they find out that they are not offered optimal working conditions. That is why they leave. We thus need to retain them. 

WAT: So, you are suggesting public investment in the sector should be improved? 

YM: Of course. Governments need to invest in research and training. They need to realize that information systems are value-creation tools, not cost items as they think.  They can create value with a safe and efficient digital transformation.

WAT: What are your recommendations for the improvement of the supply of skilled professionals on the continent? 

YM: I think the first thing is to have a synergy between countries by pooling skills and exchanging expertise. There are experts everywhere on the continent, so we must capitalize on them. This is why we have created the African Center for Cybersecurity, which brings together cybersecurity professionals. The center’s first goal is to build synergy between cybersecurity professionals in Africa. Last year, we launched an initiative to create an African cybersecurity alliance that brings together professionals from 12 countries for now. The information systems security manager (ISSM) or cybersecurity engineer cannot live in isolation, because new threats come up daily. There won’t be effective protection if cybersecurity professionals fail to share information on those threats. That's why we need to build this synergy and create an exchange network to develop expertise and develop threat information sharing.   

WAT: How does the African Cybersecurity Center work with governments and businesses to strengthen the security of information systems in Africa?

YM: The center is an NGO and as such it has a lot of leeway as a civil society organization because it does not report to states. That is why we have insisted on this civil society model to have a wider scope of work. We work in collaboration with States and governments by organizing seminars, awareness days, etc... We also work with the private sector through exchanges and training with their CISOs. To share expertise with cybersecurity professionals, we also organize thematic days.  

WAT: What steps should African governments take to strengthen cybersecurity regulations and protect citizens against cyber attacks?

YM: The first thing is to work under the umbrella of the African Union (AU). We know that the AU established a Cybersecurity convention in 2014 in Malabo, but as of 2022, only 13 out of 55 countries had ratified that convention. This shows that countries have not yet reached the maturity to create this cybersecurity momentum on the continent.

In Europe, they have the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation, ed.), which is a law imposed not only on European countries but also on African countries and other continents. So if you want to work with Europe, you have to respect the measures mentioned in the GDPR. Why can't we create a regulatory framework under the aegis of the AU which would be an equivalent of the RGPD to keep and ensure the digital sovereignty of the African continent, that is to say, to protect the African data, of Africa and for Africa. So when we work with providers from Europe, they will have to comply with this legislation.

WAT: Have there been any recent developments in cyber security in Africa?

YM: Africa is undergoing fast digital transformation but, cybersecurity measures are slow to follow. This is due, on the one hand, to the difficulty of establishing a cybersecurity culture, because as I mentioned, decision-makers are not yet really aware of cybersecurity. So, to accelerate this cybersecurity process, we first need to work on raising awareness, involving the media, and talking about cybersecurity as a very important area. We also need to start investing money in the sector, through the creation of data centers for Africa and why not exchange with African countries to create a data center for Africa to protect sensitive African data without having to host them with a foreign provider over which we have no control. So we must invest in African infrastructure for Africa.

We must also back this process with quality training and ensure optimal working conditions for cybersecurity staff.  Finally, we must establish the laws and regulations necessary to accompany these developments.   

WAT: How is the African Cybersecurity Center adapting to the evolutions in the African cybersecurity sector? 

YM: Of course, we have African experts that we are proud of. We do not rely on foreign experts. And these experts work on support, and the implementation of awareness guides distributed to companies and members. We also create vulnerability bulletins by discussing with our local members who are CISOs.  This means that if a threat or a risk is detected by one of our members or collaborators, we integrate it into a monthly vulnerability bulletin that we distribute. So there are several practices that we implement in the center to try to create a movement or a synergy in the field.

Interview by Moutiou Adjibi Nourou and Muriel Edjo

Posted On jeudi, 11 mai 2023 15:57 Written by

Despite significant investment by the government in mobile telecommunications services, a significant portion of Nigeria's population still lacks access to them. Parliament is seeking answers regarding the reasons behind this delay.

The Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 9, launched an inquiry to determine why the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has failed to promote the widespread availability and use of mobile telecommunication services throughout the country, especially in rural areas.

The investigation also seeks to question the use of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), which was established by the federal government to facilitate the achievement of the universal service objectives in rural, unserved, and underserved areas.

 “It is therefore critical to note that it is not only people residing in urban areas that have the right to telecommunications, consideration should be extended to rural dwellers. [...] The NCC as the regulator needs to ensure proactiveness in ensuring qualitative and efficient services are offered by the telecommunication operators,” said Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of Parliament, at the first public hearing organized by the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives.

According to NCC figures, Nigeria had 227.1 million mobile subscribers as of February 2023.  While this figure represents a penetration rate of around 110 percent, the actual numbers are lower because some subscribers have multiple SIM cards. The NCC estimates that about 27 million Nigerians do not have access to mobile telecommunications services.

So, for three days, NCC officials will be questioned about the 1,014 contracts funded through the USPF, including a digital library project that cost over NGN2 billion ($4.3 million).

Samira Njoya

Posted On jeudi, 11 mai 2023 10:34 Written by

Tunisia announced the arrival of 5G technology in 2020, and investments have since been made to prepare for its deployment. The introduction of this advanced technology is anticipated to enhance trade and services in the country.

Tunisia is poised to proceed to the commercial launch of the 5G in 2024. The roadmap for its implementation is being developed and will be announced in the coming weeks. This was revealed by Nizar Ben Neji (photo), the Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies, on Monday, May 8 at the ICT Summit 2023 organized by Huawei Tunisia.

"Pilot tests have been conducted with telecommunications operators. The technology will be gradually deployed dependent on the needs of various users, including businesses and administrations, "said Nizar Ben Neji.

Over the past three years, telecommunications operators have invested heavily in upgrading their networks to prepare for the deployment of ultra-high-speed internet technology. In November 2022, incumbent operator Tunisia Telecom confirmed its ability to offer 5G after a public test conducted on the sidelines of the 18th International Summit of the Francophonie. Ooredoo Tunisia and Orange Tunisia have also conducted successful tests.

The commercial rollout of the 5G is an essential part of Tunisia’s strategy to digitize its economy to promote digital inclusion. According to Nizar Ben Neji, 5G will ensure a significant increase in speed, ultra-fast connectivity, reduced latency, and increased capacity, paving the way for new opportunities and applications especially those related to the Internet of Things and connected objects in general.

In its report "5G in Africa: Realising the potential," the GSM Association (GSMA) reveals that 5G mobile networks are expected to contribute $26 billion to the African economy across the value chain by 2030.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 10 mai 2023 13:23 Written by

Côte d'Ivoire plans to achieve full digital transformation by 2030.  For that purpose, the country needs advanced technical and technological talents. Hence its interest in various partners that are already showing their interest in the market. 

A delegation of 220 French companies specializing in digital infrastructure will be in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from May 11 to 12. According to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, which released the information on Monday, May 8, the companies will take part in the “Rencontres Internationales des infrastructures numériques” (International conference digital infrastructure).

During the two-day conference, participants will showcase their expertise in various areas including telecommunications networks, cloud infrastructure, and data management. They will also hunt for business opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire, where the government is currently engaged in a broad digital transformation project.  

"The International Conference on Digital Infrastructure is an international event aimed at fostering exchanges, partnerships, and business opportunities in the field of digital infrastructure. This event will bring together experts, public and private sector actors, as well as investors interested in the development of digital infrastructure in Côte d'Ivoire," informed a release from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.

In October 2022, Digital Minister Amadou Coulibaly (photo), revealed the country's need for more than CFAF 2,000 billion ($3 billion) in investments for the implementation of the 96 projects covered by its 2021-2025 digital development strategy. Many of the projects aim to improve the access, quality, and security of digital services. 

The projects offer significant business opportunities for the participating tech companies. The Ivorian government expects the conference will be an opportunity to attract strategic partnerships to support the realization of its digital projects, the most urgent of which are the construction of the National Data Center and the completion of the national fiber optic network.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 10 mai 2023 10:31 Written by

Over the past few years, mobile money has become an increasingly important financial tool for a growing segment of the African population. As the service becomes more diversified, it continues to gain maturity and conquer new markets across the continent

In 2022, Africa was the fastest-growing mobile money market in the world. In its "State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023", the GSM Association (GSMA) reveals that the continent recorded 166 active services (out of 315 worldwide) and 781 million active accounts (48.81% of the world's 1.6 billion registered users), up by 17% compared to 2021.

The continent also accounted for 44.9 billion (+21%) financial transactions estimated at $836.5 billion (+22%). The amount represents 66.39% of the $1.26 trillion mobile money transactions recorded worldwide in 2022. 

East Africa remained the most dynamic sub-region on the continent with 390 million active accounts, 28 billion transactions, and $491.8 billion in transaction value. North Africa, due to its small size, recorded the lowest performance with 18 million active accounts, 97 million transactions, and  $4.7 billion in transaction value.

Infographic: Mobile Money Market in Africa (2022)

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 Source: GSMA

According to the GSMA, despite this positive performance, there are lingering challenges that threaten financial inclusion. “Some countries have introduced taxes on mobile money transactions and fees that do not align with their financial inclusion objectives. Fraud also remains an industrywide issue, which many regulators are aiming to overcome through improved consumer awareness and capacity building,” the report indicates. 

Posted On mardi, 09 mai 2023 13:44 Written by

Competition is intensifying in Africa's rapidly growing data center market. Both local and foreign companies are increasing their investments in infrastructure to meet the rising demand for cloud services across the continent. 

An agreement was signed on Monday, May 8, to secure land for the construction of a large-scale data center in Egypt. Khazna Data Centers, a company specializing in data center construction and operations based in Abu Dhabi, has partnered with the Egyptian ICT company, Benya Group, to carry out the project. The agreement was signed by Ahmed Mekky, CEO of Benya Group, Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, and Amr Aboualam, chairman of Maadi Technology Park.

Under the agreement, Khazna Data Centers and Benya Group will build a $250 million data center at Maadi Technology Park in Cairo. The center will have a capacity of 25 megawatts (MW) that is expected to double to 50 MW as expansion plans are implemented. The goal is to meet the region's underserved data markets. Construction works are expected to begin later this year and be completed within three years.  

The new agreement marks Khazna’s entrance into the Egyptian market. The company plans to expand into three other MENA markets, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Morocco.

According to Ahmed Mekky, Khazna's expansion in Egypt "will contribute to attracting more investments for business sectors involving intensive operations, supporting cloud computing and content system operators” and “encourage major commercial companies to join these giant digital clusters that rely on the latest cloud computing applications, digital technology, and big data."

Samira Njoya

Posted On mardi, 09 mai 2023 12:17 Written by
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