Leveraging technological innovations with a focus on digitalization is essential for attaining increased effectiveness, efficiency, and competitive implementation of National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) in pursuit of the delivery of the Malabo Declaration on Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation. This came to the fore during a panel discussion on the last day of a…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe’s second-largest mobile network provider, NetOne says its reviewed combo of products and services now offers more value and convenience to customers with customised packages comprising Voice, Data, and SMS bundles. The mobile operator’s data bundles now allow users to stay connected for longer periods at affordable rates. Its innovative combo — powered…
By Bernard Marr The telecommunications or telecom industry is going through a period of dramatic transformation. As it looks to expand beyond its basic role as a provider of connectivity, telcos often find themselves facing competition from both the global tech giants and agile, disruptive startups. Many industry leaders I speak to believe that the…
By Anne Morris Italy’s competition and market authority launched an investigation into a local unit of South Korean vendor Samsung Electronics and two other companies over alleged misleading and aggressive commercial practices. In a statement, regulator AGCM explained it was looking into deals the companies offered customers seeking new mobile phones while selling their used…
Studies highlighted at the 24th International AIDS Conference provide insights on new and existing strategies to help end the HIV epidemic. New studies presented at AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference, hosted by IAS – the International AIDS Society – demonstrate promising advances in the global HIV response. Speaking at a virtual press conference, authors…
Address By The POTRAZ Director-General, Dr. G. K. Machengete The Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), hereby presents the key trends observed in the Postal and Telecommunication sectors during the first quarter of 2022 as follows: Trends in mobile, Internet/data, and fixed telephone subscriptions Active mobile subscriptions increased by…
Mobile network operators saw a decline in voice and internet traffic in the first quarter but revenue grew 10% to $28.8 billion from $26.17 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. According to the latest sector performance report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), mobile voice traffic declined by 2.3% to…
Over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic transformed ways of working, living, and relating to each other on a global level. The education sector had to adapt radically and rapidly driven by the need to digitalize education and training processes in order to remain competitive and provide high-quality education. The new reality is one…
By Mike Robuck Verizon Business secured a deal to build a private 5G network at one of the Virginia Port Authority’s container terminals to test the use of autonomous vehicles and potentially replace Wi-Fi at the 275-acre site. Verizon Business picked Ericsson to provide the radios and packet core for the Virginia International Terminals (VIT)…
From 20 July to 21 July, more than 40 University students worked together on two mobile applications that will support access to sexual reproductive health and rights information and services for tertiary education students in Zambia and Zimbabwe. UNESCO organized two simultaneous workshops that gathered more than a hundred participants in Lusaka, Zambia, and…
Purchases through Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) will grow by 78% to $159M in 2026 (from 2022); 75% of DCB spending comes from games and videos; the consumption of digital content accounts for 97% of the DCB market in South Africa. Download document: https://bit.ly/3zjJD9q South Africans will pay $89M for digital content and services this year through…
Liquid Cyber Security, a business of Cassava Technologies, yesterday launched the first of its matrix of Cyber Security Fusion Centres in Johannesburg, South Africa. With this Fusion Centre, Liquid aims to bolster the cyber security industry in the country by managing the growing threat of cyberattacks to governments and enterprises of all sizes. For the…
Leading security company Safeguard has introduced to the market a high-quality access control turnstile that can be operated electronically or manually to limit the number of people passing through an entry point. The turnstile is ideal for use at stadium or showground entry points, mines, industrial premises, and anywhere where the entry of large…
By Bernard Marr The metaverse – it’s the word of the moment – but beyond it being a huge money-making opportunity, there are lots of different ideas about what it actually is. The term web3 is closely linked to various ideas of what the metaverse will be and is used to describe what many are calling…
By Bernard Marr The famous golden arches are recognized worldwide not only as an icon of fast food, but also of technological transformation. McDonald’s – the world’s largest restaurant chain – has been an early pioneer of tech-driven innovation, from the drive-thru to self-service kiosks. Today it’s forging a path for fast food into the…
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has embarked on aggressive customer engagement programmes countrywide. The objective is to engage, update and conduct awareness programmes to address pertinent issues affecting stakeholders, especially in rural areas. On Saturday, ZETDC was at Gokwe Centre and the Commercial Director Engineer Ralph Katsande spoke to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting…
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced its execution of a project preparation facility financing head of terms with UTM Offshore Limited (UTM), under which the Bank will part-finance activities designed to progress a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FNLG) project in Nigeria to bankability. This deal marks Afreximbank’s ongoing support in leading UTM’s fundraising efforts to…
MTN Cameroon announced the adoption of a new data analytics and AI platform to drive its digital transformation plans. The new solution unifies and correlates mobile operator and subscriber data into a single 360-degree view and enables real-time decisioning with LigaData’s Data Fabric and Flare products. MTN Cameroon becomes the thirteenth MTN Operating Company to implement the…
By Bernard Marr This month I was lucky enough to be invited once again by IBM to visit The Championships, Wimbledon. While there, I had the chance to see first-hand how technology is being used to engage fans and audiences worldwide. IBM has been The Championships’ official Information Technology supplier for 33 years, all the…
Staff Reporter South African businessman Dr. Mandla Lamba is on the path to possibly become the second richest man in Africa after Aliko Dangote, following plans by his electric vehicles (EVs) company Agilitee Africa to issue a US$20 billion Initial Public Offering on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Interestingly, the IPO is set to create massive…
Meta is using the modelling techniques and learnings from the project to improve and extend translations on Facebook, Instagram, and Wikipedia Yesterday, Meta (www.Facebook.com) announced that it has built and open-sourced ‘No Language Left Behind’ NLLB-200 (https://bit.ly/3yJo7KS), a single AI model that is the first to translate across 200 different languages, including 55 African languages…
By Mike Robuck US President Joe Biden named late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest bestowal for civilians which recognises their contributions to the nation, world peace and more. Jobs is one of 17 people set to be awarded the medal on 7 July, almost…
By Kevin Samaita South Africa-based businessman and Agilitee chief executive Dr. Mandla Lamba is angling to transform the global electric vehicles industry after announcing a US$20 billion Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The US $20 billion IPO will see the company selling US$ 2 billion (10 percent) of the stake. In…
The growing customers of leading state-owned mobile telephony company NetOne have hailed the telecommunication giant for its recent system upgrade that has led to an enhanced user experience. Roseline Chisveto, the NetOne Head of Marketing and Public Relations attributed the success to a number of deliberate measures taken by the mobile telephony company that gives…
Canon Central and North Africa Participated in Digicloud Africa Forum 2022 in Conjunction with its Partner Systhen, to Bring Forward its Stellar Range of Products & Solutions Aimed at Accelerating Digital Transformation In alignment with the company’s core pillars of innovation and diversification, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) joined hands with Systhen to further augment digitalization services such…
By Kavit Majithia Meta Platforms reportedly reduced its 2022 target for hiring engineers by 30 per cent, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) braced the company for what he claimed was likely to be one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. Reuters reported Zuckerberg made the comments in an employee Q&A session, stating Meta Platforms…
By Bernard Marr Smart factory is a term for industrial facilities that combine cutting-edge tech trends like artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), digital twins, ultra-fast 5G, and robotics. By building these transformative technologies into all areas of their operations, they are able to lower costs, reduce waste and super-charge their manufacturing operations. Today,…
Econet Wireless on Friday officially launched its 5G network in Victoria Falls as the listed telecommunications company expands its rollout of the super-fast data network to other cities and towns across Zimbabwe. “We are making good on our commitment to take this super-fast technology to other parts of the country as we deploy the…
The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ)’s annual Hackathon is part of the country’s ICT Innovation Drive whose major objective is to increase ICT research and development as well as its uptake by innovators and research institutions in Zimbabwe, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere has said. The Minister made…
Hon Daniel Garwe, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities has called on stakeholders to promote the financing of smart cities and rural development. He made the remarks yesterday at the Financing Smart Cities and Rural Connect Conference on 30 June 2022 held at the Harare International Conference Centre in the capital city. The…
The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry for Zimbabwe, Hon. Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu yesterday in Lisbon, Portugal during the UN Ocean Conference called on the formation of strategic partnerships to significantly contribute to the development of the blue economy. He said this during a side event on “Fostering international and regional cooperation in…
The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry for Zimbabwe, Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu has called on the international community to deliberate on ways to address the multiple challenges facing oceans, seas, and marine resources, in order to reinvigorate global efforts to rescue our Oceans, in this Decade of Action for Sustainable Development. He…
In its quest to ensure mobile financial services remain a key enabler for financial inclusion worldwide, leading mobile telephony services provider NetOne continues to innovate to make its OneMoney platform effective to transacting Zimbabweans. Speaking to Spiked Online Media, Roseline Chisveto, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations of Netone said the company continues to…
By Bernard Marr It’s predicted that 97 million jobs involving artificial intelligence (AI) will be created between 2022 and 2025. AI has the potential to transform every industry; however, businesses are still struggling to find employees with the skills necessary to create, train and work alongside intelligent machines. As companies have become aware of…
Tweaking a pair of genes in rice could significantly improve the crop’s heat stress tolerance and increase yield under higher temperatures, according to a new study by Chinese scientists. The discovery could help secure food supply, with crops vulnerable to rising temperatures and extreme weather events under climate change, the researchers said, in a paper published on…
By Kavit Majithia Belgium’s 5G spectrum auction raised a total of €1.2 billion from five bidders, almost €500 million more than expected, as Proximus emerged as the biggest spender. The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) stated it had closed the main phase of the auction, which began on 1 June, with all…
Day of the African Child: Eliminating harmful practices affecting children – Progress on policy and practice since 2013 “If you educate a girl, you educate the whole nation” – African Proverb The Girls in STEM Trust, with the support of Old Mutual Zimbabwe, have been shaping a financially-secure mindset in young women from higher institutions…
By Bernard Marr Telecoms companies are facing something of a crisis right now. They may provide the essential backbone for digital services that businesses and consumers rely on. However, their business model has come under attack by both tech enterprises and disruptive startups, all offering new and, in many cases, cheaper ways for us to…
Pitch competition awards cash prizes to youth technology innovators in Africa’s agriculture and food sectors African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), Heifer International, and Generation Africa today announced the launch of Pitch AgriHack 2022, marking the second year the organizations have come together to provide cash grants that accelerate entrepreneurial growth and job creation in Africa’s…
By Own Correspondent Design and construction company Khato Civils says the time has come for African firms to champion an Africa-led infrastructure revolution on the continent. Khato Civils chairman Simbi Phiri says it is for this reason the company is on an expansion drive to the SADC region and Africa. “To improve…
The Ministery of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development yesterday launched the Presidential Rural Development Programme in pursuit of accelerating the attainment of Vision 2030. In his keynote address, during the launch in Mashonaland West Province, Dr. Anxious Masuka, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development said the programme was the…
Eight2Five Innovation Hub, the business incubator powered by Old Mutual Zimbabwe today launches a Start-Up entry to market Event for its 4 startup partners. The Hub Incubation Programme is an intensive and inclusive process that offers early-stage startups and entrepreneurs support. Startups with high growth potential had the opportunity to enrol in the business…
Zimbabwe today commissioned the Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring and Revenue Assurance System (TTMS) to augment the smooth sail of the critical role played by the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). In his keynote address, while commissioning the TTMS, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, said the system is…
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is running an Innovation Challenge for youths under the age of 30. The competitions will be held at the provincial and national levels. They will take the following format: Provincial Challenge • A Call for project submissions will be placed on print and electronic platforms. • Projects can be submitted…
The mobile markets in Africa are for the most part prepaid, with the traditional means of distribution being the sale of scratch cards. It is no secret that this distribution channel has brought its own fair share of challenges and the country has not been spared from this. At the forefront of these challenges are…
