News (1786)
Senegalese authorities have restricted mobile internet access, echoing a move made in 2023 during demonstrations in support of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
Senegalese authorities suspended mobile internet access nationwide from Sunday evening, citing concerns about "hateful and subversive messages" circulating online ahead of planned protests against the postponement of the presidential election.
The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy announced the temporary suspension in a statement late Sunday, saying it aimed to "prevent public order disturbances." The move follows Saturday's announcement by the outgoing president of a delay in the election, sparking calls for demonstrations.
This is not the first time internet access has been restricted in Senegal during politically sensitive periods. In 2023, mobile data was cut for nearly five days following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Critics have condemned both instances as violations of freedom of expression. The suspension has resulted in a significant financial loss for the Senegalese economy, according to the specialist British platform Top10VPN which put the loss at XOF34.9 billion (nearly $58 million).
The restriction has also impacted various players in the informal sector, including VTC drivers, online vendors, and delivery drivers, for whom mobile Internet is integral to their activities. As of September 2023, the country had 18,595,000 mobile Internet subscribers, per data from telecom regulator ARTP.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Cryptocurrency adoption is growing across Africa, driven by factors such as financial inclusion and diverse uses. However, regulatory ambiguities and security concerns cloud the optimism surrounding the technology.
U.S. financial technology company Visa announced a partnership with Web3 infrastructure provider Transak to offer cryptocurrency withdrawals in fiat currencies to Transak users in 30 African countries, according to a January 30th post on Transak's X account.
The service will utilize Visa Direct, a real-time money transfer solution, allowing users to convert over 40 cryptocurrencies into local fiat for spending at millions of Visa-accepting merchants.
"By enabling real-time card withdrawals through Visa Direct, Transak is delivering a faster, simpler, and more connected experience for its users — making it easier to convert crypto balances into fiat, which can be spent at the more than 130M merchant locations where Visa is accepted," said Yanilsa Gonzalez-Ore, head of Visa Direct and global ecosystem readiness for North America at Visa, in a statement.
Africa has emerged as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption, with transactions in sub-Saharan Africa reaching $117.1 billion between July 2022 and June 2023, according to Chainalysis data. Nigeria leads the continent with $56.7 billion in transactions during the same period and ranks second globally in the Chainalysis Cryptocurrency Adoption Index.
"We believe this partnership is an inflection point for Web3 as a whole. Now, millions across the globe have a straightforward way to cash out their digital asset holdings to their local currency in real-time and intuitively," said Sami Start, co-founder of Transak.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Morocco, in its pursuit of a digital transition program, recognizes the critical need for a digitally skilled workforce. The country has strategically partnered with experienced partners to address this challenge.
Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform on Tuesday announced a program contract with Maroc Numeric Cluster (MNC), a public-private entity, to enhance digital innovation. The contract was signed by Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, and Mehdi Kettani, President of MNC.
The program aims to bolster digital innovation by nurturing talent and aiding startups and SMEs. “This contract reflects the desire of both parties to strengthen the digital innovation ecosystem through several lines of action, including training and integration of talent, content production, dissemination of the culture of innovation, collaboration, and digital entrepreneurship, and support for the emergence of digital innovation projects in various economic sectors,” the Ministry stated.
Under this contract, MNC will undertake a pivotal role in training youth in ICT skills to ease their professional integration. The pilot phase targets 1,000 beneficiaries, with 734 already graduated and an anticipated integration rate of 72%.
The partnership will also promote startups via events, training, and collaboration with incubators, accelerators, professional associations, and partnerships. Regular monitoring, analysis, and studies will be conducted to identify trends and invigorate the sector.
These initiatives are part of Morocco’s new digital strategy, “Maroc Digital 2030”, succeeding the previous strategy that aimed to position Morocco as a leading digital and technology hub in Africa by 2025. The new strategy underscores the importance of talented, creative youth.
Samira Njoya
As 2023 concluded, numerous specialized companies and platforms are evaluating the capital invested in diverse ecosystems. This data holds crucial significance for the growth of the digital economy, particularly in the African tech ecosystem.
African fintech startups raised $852 million in 2023, a 56% decline from the record $1.9 billion secured in 2022, according to the 2023 edition of Partech Africa's Africa Tech Venture Capital report, published in January 2024. The number of deals also dropped by 48%, falling from 217 in 2022 to 113 last year.
Despite the decrease, fintech remains the most attractive sector for investors in Africa, accounting for 37% of all equity financing on the continent in 2023 and 24% of all deals. This is attributed to the sector's strong track record and continued relevance in addressing under-banking and promoting financial inclusion. Of the eight unicorns on the continent, seven operate in the sector, with only Jumia being in the e-commerce sector.
"Fintech plays a critical role in addressing infrastructural challenges in Africa. Beyond just being payment applications, these solutions are essential in enabling a wide range of ventures," the report said. "By establishing both local and cross-border solutions, and fostering key connections between individuals, businesses, and financial institutions, Fintech’s role remains integral to the ecosystem."
Despite the overall funding slowdown, the healthtech and agritech sectors saw growth in 2023. Healthtech funding rose 17% to $212 million, while agritech investments jumped 67% to $144 million compared to 2022.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
After numerous declarations, global tech giants are gradually deploying their investments in Africa. This time Google is investing in the development of top-tier infrastructure.
U.S. technology giant Google on Wednesday announced the opening of its first data center in Africa, located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The facility, part of Google's $1 billion investment to boost Africa's digital transformation, is designed to support businesses on the continent with cloud computing resources needed to "evolve, innovate and compete in the global marketplace," according to a company press release.
"This marks our 40th cloud region globally, connecting Johannesburg to our secure global network," the release said, adding the center would offer Google Cloud services to businesses across Africa.
Google estimates Africa's internet economy could reach $180 billion by 2025, representing 5.2% of the continent's GDP. However, Google faces competition in the growing African cloud market. Rivals like Oracle, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft already have a presence, while local players like Africa Data Centres are also vying for market share.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In line with his ambition to establish Kenya as a digital hub in Africa, the Kenyan President traveled to Silicon Valley last November. He engaged in discussions with several U.S. technology leaders, encouraging them to invest in his country.
US technology giant Oracle is set to construct its second African data center in Nairobi, Kenya. The announcement was made on January 31, during a meeting held by President William Ruto with a delegation from Oracle, led by Scott Twaddle, the Senior Vice President in charge of products and industries at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
The initiative aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Kenya's government, public institutions, businesses, and startups. "We are delighted to see Oracle planning such an important investment in Kenya. [...] I am excited to see major technology companies like Oracle investing in Kenya and bringing state of the art technologies like AI and cloud applications that will benefit Kenyan citizens, especially in creation of jobs," Ruto said.
Data centers, the physical powerhouses behind the digital world, are experiencing a surge in growth across Africa. These facilities, which store, manage, and distribute essential data, offer the computing muscle needed for online services, applications, websites, and more. This growing demand stems from the continent's rapid digital transformation, with businesses and governments increasingly relying on cloud-based solutions.
While Africa currently houses less than 2%- According to the International Telecommunications Union– of the world's data centers, major players like Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and Huawei are taking notice, investing heavily in building new facilities across the continent. This expansion is driven by the need to address the existing gap in cloud infrastructure and capitalize on the region's immense potential for digital growth.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With the ongoing digital transformation push across Africa, connectivity investments are surging continentwide. The aim is to close the digital gap and cater to all societal levels.
Algeria’s Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Karim Bibi Triki, announced on Monday, a substantial rise in the country’s international bandwidth capacity to 9.8 Tbit/s. This marks a significant increase from 7.8 Tbit/s in 2022, 2.8 Tbit/s in 2021, and 1.5 Tbit/s at the start of 2020.
According to the Ministry, the enhancement aims to provide increased flexibility, emphasizing the strategic role of international bandwidth in ensuring and maintaining Internet services.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to augment Algeria’s international bandwidth capacity, coinciding with the deployment of a telecommunications infrastructure modernization and development program. The primary objective is to anticipate the escalating Internet demand and ensure ultra-high-speed access.
As per the “Digital 2023” report by international consultancy Datareportal, the median mobile Internet connection speed in Algeria via cellular networks reached 13.40 Mbps, marking an over 17% increase in the 12 months leading up to the start of 2023. Fixed-line Internet speeds reached 11.01 Mbps, rising by 1.23 Mbps compared to 2022.
The bandwidth expansion to 9.8 Tbit/s will facilitate the adoption of new technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging services. It will also bolster network resilience, catering to the growing demand for services that require rapid data transmission, including video streaming, online gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.
Samira Njoya
Senegal is fully committed to digitizing its entire healthcare system. In a bid to achieve its goals, the government is multiplying its initiatives in collaboration with all the stakeholders in the sector.
Senegal's state-owned digital infrastructure company, Sénégal Numérique SA (Senum SA), and the Ministry of Health and Social Action signed an agreement on Tuesday to speed up the digitization of the country's healthcare system.
According to Cheikh Bakhoum (photo, left), CEO of Senum SA, the agreement encompasses various activities, including the domestic hosting of health data, which was previously stored abroad. The data will now be housed within Senegal, specifically in national resource centers.
Under this three-year collaboration, Senum SA will aid in the execution of all digital projects within the sector, host data in the national data center, and enhance connectivity for healthcare facilities, among other tasks. The company will also augment the hosting capacity and bandwidth for digital health records, including the shared patient file (Dpp), telemedicine, the hospital information system, the geographic health system, the digitization of medicines, community health processes, and electronic health governance.
The partnership aligns with the 2023-2027 healthcare system digitization program (PDSS), a government-led initiative. The program, which has received significant financial backing from the World Bank to the tune of $50 million, coincides with the country’s efforts to construct data centers dedicated to storing and hosting national data. The most recent addition to this infrastructure is a Tier 3 data center, established in Diamniadio.
Samira Njoya
Nigeria, like many other countries, faces persistent challenges when it comes to electronic fraud, particularly bank card fraud. To counter this threat to the economy, initiatives are currently being rolled out across the country.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in partnership with the Nigerian Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) and the Association of Mobile Money and Banking Agents of Nigeria (AMMBAN), is set to introduce a new feature aimed at improving the detection of potentially fraudulent transactions. This initiative, a response to the country’s increasing fraud incidents, will necessitate specific Know Your Customer (KYC) details for validating certain transactions.
Fasasi Sarafadeen Atanda, AMMBAN’s Chairman, stated that the technological development of this feature is nearing completion, with its activation slated for the first quarter of this year. Point-of-service terminals nationwide will prominently display this new feature, enabling the identification, reporting, and cancellation of suspicious transactions.
This measure is a reaction to a significant surge in fraud, as evidenced by data from the Financial Institutions Training Center (FITC). In the second quarter of 2023, Nigerian deposit banks reported fraud-related losses of 9.75 billion naira ($10.8 million), marking a 276% increase from the same period in 2022, when losses totaled 5.79 billion naira.
The ultimate objective of this innovation is to foster a more secure, transparent, and regulated financial ecosystem in Nigeria. By bolstering consumer trust in electronic financial services, it aims to stimulate healthy and robust sector growth.
Samira Njoya
Senegal's ongoing drive to digitize administrative services marks a significant milestone as GUDE embarks on its digital transformation journey. This crucial segment of the Senegalese economy, previously undergoing initial digitization efforts, has now entered a key phase that promises to streamline procedures and enhance efficiency.
Starting February 1, Senegal's authorities will expand the Single Dematerialized Collection Desk (GUDE) to all participants in the port sector. The move aims to enhance the Port of Dakar (PAD)'s efficiency, increase the port platform's revenue, and simplify procedures for economic operators.
Makhtar Lakh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, stated that the new system for dematerializing collection procedures would save operators time and resources, reduce state and consumer costs, and improve operation predictability.
The GUDE, a collaboration between the PAD, the General Directorate of Customs, and the Community of Port Actors, will extend to other services such as transit, export, and transfers to customs clearance areas outside the PAD over the next three months.
The GUDE's launch is part of Senegal's public sector's ongoing digital transformation. Despite the digital transition's progress, many services are still catching up with the country's public administrations' technological revolution.
Earlier this month, the General Directorate of Public Accounting and the Treasury (DGCPT) introduced an online payment service for road fines. Last November, Senegal Numérique, the national company responsible for managing the State's digital infrastructures, partnered with Blaise Diagne International Airport to digitize all airports in the country.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
More...
In Africa's evolving digital landscape, the ability of regulators to respond to the needs of investors can help support the development of the sector. Developing effective collaborative tools is becoming a necessity.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has introduced the Tanzanite Portal system, revolutionizing communication services across the nation. This innovative platform aims to simplify operations and promote transparency among service providers.
Dr. Jabiri Bakari, TCRA's Director General, in a statement released on January 28, lauded the Tanzanite Portal for its role in streamlining registration and enhancing regulatory oversight. With a user-friendly interface, the portal facilitates licensing across diverse sectors, including Telecommunication, Internet, Postal, and Broadcasting, while streamlining fee payment.
Key features like a centralized application window and electronic device certification underscore TCRA's commitment to improving customer experience and operational efficiency. Stakeholders can now submit license applications remotely, marking a departure from traditional procedures.
The portal's transparent framework enables swift responses to inquiries and feedback, promoting accountability within the regulatory ecosystem. Its streamlined electronic device approval process, complemented by a verification USSD code, ensures greater control over unauthorized service providers.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed TCRA's initiative, citing its potential to expedite processes and provide clarity in the communication sector. The launch of the Tanzanite Portal reflects TCRA's ongoing efforts to foster innovation and transparency, aligning with its mission of advancing Tanzania's communication infrastructure.
The Tanzanite Portal launch follows TCRA's commitment to openness, with routine press briefings serving as a platform for disseminating sector updates and performance reports. As Tanzania's communication landscape evolves, the Tanzanite Portal stands poised to reshape industry dynamics, offering stakeholders a streamlined pathway to enhanced services and regulatory compliance.
Hikmatu Bilali
Kenya is aiming to become a leading technology hub in Africa, ramping up investment in the sector and forging strategic partnerships to fast-track its ambitions.
Kenyan President William Ruto (photo, right) announced on Saturday, January 27, during the inauguration of the Mukiria Technical Training Institute’s teaching block and engineering workshop in Central Imenti, that China has been chosen to equip the country’s digital hubs. The initiative aims to provide Kenyan youth with digital skills.
Ruto emphasized the importance of investing in technical colleges and ICT hubs to ensure that the youth acquire the necessary competencies to monetize their knowledge and skills, thereby contributing to the country’s economic development.
"Our investment in technical colleges and ICT hubs guarantees our youth the acquisition of competencies to help them monetize their knowledge and skills so that they can contribute meaningfully to our economic development," he said.
The Kenyan government has prioritized digital technology in its development policy, taking steps to enable its population, particularly the youth, to keep up with the global technological revolution. The establishment of various digital hubs is a part of this initiative, and the government has increased the education budget to support this project.
“Technical training is a crucial element of the Kenyan government’s strategy to equip our human capital, especially the youth, with skills that can significantly contribute to the country’s development,” Ruto explained.
Kenya, along with Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, boasts one of the most advanced technological ecosystems in Africa. As of early 2023, Kenya had 17.86 million Internet users, representing an Internet penetration rate of 32.7%, according to DataReportal.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Liberia's incoming president, Joseph Boakai, will prioritize youth when building on outgoing leader George Weah's digital technology initiatives to power economic growth, officials said. Weah, a former soccer star, launched projects during his term to leverage technology and promote entrepreneurship. The incoming president intends to take these efforts further, with a focus on empowering young Liberians through tech-driven opportunities.
Liberia’s newly inaugurated President, Joseph Boakai (photo), pledged to enhance the digital skills of over 10,000 young Liberians during his first address to the nation on Monday, January 29, at the Capitol Building. “In our quest to expand the economy, we will leverage Information Communication Technology (ICT) in creating jobs, especially for our youth. To achieve this, my Administration will train up to 10,000 young people in various digital skills in the first half of 2024. The Liberian middle-class goal must be a reality in the next 6 years,” Boakai declared.
This ambitious initiative aims to prepare young people for the digital age by bridging the country’s existing technology gap and ensuring that Liberians are competitive in the global marketplace. This project continues the digital initiatives of former President George Weah, which included the establishment of a national digital transformation project in partnership with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the construction of a national fiber optic network with Kenyan company CSquared, and the digitization of public services and modernization of the Post Office.
It’s worth noting that Liberia significantly lags in the digital field in Africa. According to the latest statistics from DataReportal, as of the start of 2023, the country had 1.80 million Internet users, a penetration rate of 33.6% for a population of 5.36 million. Additionally, the number of social media users was 642,100 in January, representing 12.0% of the total population. In terms of mobile connectivity, Liberia recorded a total of 4.20 million active cellular mobile connections at the start of 2023, equivalent to 78.4% of the total population.
Samira Njoya
Plagued by high youth unemployment, Kenya is turning to innovative technology solutions to equip its young workforce and bridge the skills gap. The challenge remains daunting, however, reflecting the complexities of the Kenyan labor market.
Kenya launched the National Skills Inventory (NSI) on Monday, January 29, in a government-led initiative to combat youth unemployment and connect young people with relevant jobs, both locally and internationally.
Backed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the NSI aims to create a comprehensive digital database of skills available across the country. This data will be used to match unemployed young people with job opportunities that align with their qualifications and market needs.
"The digital skills database will support the government's skills migration agenda that is geared to ensure that surplus labor is henceforth exported to enhance the inflow of diaspora remittances," said Shadrack Mwadime, Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
The NSI launch follows the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee dedicated to its development and ongoing management. This committee aims to establish a comprehensive framework for capturing and utilizing individual skill sets, contributing to the national target of reducing unemployment, which the International Labour Organization put at 4.9% in 2022.
Bilateral agreements signed with several European and Middle Eastern countries over recent years pave the way for smoother job placement and migration for skilled Kenyans. The ambitious goal is to export at least one million workers annually over the next five years.
By providing youth with a platform to showcase their skills and access international opportunities, the NSI is a significant step towards tackling Kenya's unemployment challenge. The initiative's potential to boost remittances and stimulate the national economy further strengthens its importance.
Samira Njoya