Huawei Technologies has launched its latest OpenLab in Egypt as part of its effort to engage with partners and help to build an “ICT ecosystem” in Northern Africa “in response to industry digital transformation.”

The aim of Huawei’s OpenLab strategy is to attract customers and partners that are ready to collaborate in the development of new applications, services and technology. The new facility, based in Cairo, is the eighth OpenLab in total and the second in Africa, following the opening of a facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this year. (See Joburg In Line to Host OpenLab.)

Huawei held a ceremony to launch the Cairo OpenLab during the Cairo ICT 2017 conference.

The other six are located in Suzhou (near Shanghai), Munich, Mexico City, Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok. According to Huawei, the OpenLabs have become “centers for joint innovation, development, verification, and expertise for customers and partners, including collaborative development with more than 400 solution partners.”

The Cairo OpenLab is situated in the city’s Smart Village and has been operating as a research and development (R&D) facility for the past year. It is currently 400 square meters in size and is set to expand to more than 1,000 square meters during the next two years.

It is focused on developments related to public safety, smart grid, smart city, smart government and smart education, and operates through four functional centers: partner development center; solution joint innovation center; talent training and certification center; and industry experience center.

“We established the OpenLab in Cairo so that we can make full use of the advantages of Egypt and serve all of Northern Africa,” said Ni Zheng, president of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, Northern Africa Region. The advantages of Egypt’s capital are that “the ICT industry market in Cairo is relatively mature and its marketing capabilities influence surrounding countries,” and that “Egypt recognizes the significance of industrial digital transformation, and the local industry chain ecosystem supports this transition for a number of industry enterprises,” said Zheng, who added that the education system in Egypt is “relatively well developed.”

Huawei held a ceremony to launch the Cairo OpenLab during the recent Cairo ICT 2017 conference.

Source: www.connectingafrica.com

Takoradi, Oct. 19, GNA – The MTN Ghana says it is taking steps to transition to eco-friendly and sustainable energy systems to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve net zero by 2040.

Madam Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Service and Sustainability Officer at MTN, said the company gave priority to the sustainability of the environment in which it operated, thus, working towards reducing its carbon emissions as part of its climate actions.

She said this, in Takoradi, during a media and stakeholder forum, organised for Editors in the Western Region by MTN Ghana.

The forum was to brief participants on the corporate services of the Company,

successes and challenges as well as seek feedback on how to better improve their services and products.

Madam Wiafe stated that MTN’s sustainability framework was anchored on four pillars namely: “Doing for planet”, “Doing for society”, governance, and socio-economic development.

“So when it comes to the reduction of our carbon footprint, we are looking at our data centres. We are converting our energy sources to solar, and in cases where we are not able to immediately transition to solar, we are replacing them with more energy efficient equipment,” she said.

She continued: “In our offices as well, we

are converting to energy-efficient appliances to reduce our carbon footprint. Our ambition at MTN is to achieve net zero by 2040 and that is what we are working towards.”

On the social side of the Company’s sustainability strategies, Madam Wiafe noted that MTN Ghana aimed to have 50

per cent of its workforce being women as means of promoting diversity and inclusion.

The trends of Gov Data Source Bank

On some of their achievements over the years, she said the firm through the MTN Ghana Foundation had invested some GHC106.5 million into 166 social projects that had impacted about 4.5 million lives directly and indirectly.

The projects are 90 education, 55 health, 15 economic empowerment interventions, and six community support initiatives, she said.

She said customer experience was important to MTN, and gave the assurance that they would continue to invest in the best technological infrastructure to enhance services to customers.

Mr Teddy Hayford-Acquah, South West Technical Manager of MTN Ghana, noted that one of the company’s major challenge was fibre cut which intermittently disrupted services connectivity.

He mentioned that the issue was mainly due to activities of road contractors, private developers, and small-scale miners

among others which cost the company millions of cedis to fix.

He said: “Within this year, we have repaired about 40 kilometres of fibre due to cuts from road construction and other activities in the Western Region. When fibre is taken out, you can see the pressure that comes into the system.”

Mr Hayford-Acquah, therefore, appealed to journalists to advocate against destroying fibre cables, saying, the country’s digitalisation agenda could only thrive when fibre optic cables were protected from damages.

GNA

Fibre cuts on Kasoa-Winneba road expansion affecting our network

The MTN Ghana Technical Manager for South West, Mr. Teddy Hayford Acquah has announced that the redesigning and expansion of the Kasoa-Winneba Highway is impacting negatively on MTN Fibre, as the Company has experienced several fibre cuts in the area.

The situation according to him, has resulted in network challenges, affecting especially MTN clients in Kasoa.

According to him, 80% of Kasoa MTN network problems have to do with the fibre cuts due to the Kasoa-Winneba heavy road expansion”.

“Our fibre infrastructure along the Kasoa-Winneba corridor has been encroached on and we are actually recording in total of about 62 kilometres of fibre damage. As a result, we have spent more than about 5million cedis already”, Mr Hayford Acquah revealed

He stated that MTN company continues to fight the menace of fibre cuts and as such, employs more engineers on the ground.

At the 2024 media and stakeholders forum held in Cape Coast, Mr. Hayford Acquah also pointed out another emerging concern that caused Fibre cuts which included private property developers, galamsey activities and vandalism which had always ended up impacting the fibre infrastructure.

“These are areas by law acquired permit to lay our cables and our infrastructure but unfortunately sometimes these developers do not actually consider these rights of ways that we have acquired and expect them to protect our infrastructure but they go in there and damage our infrastructure” he fumed.

He, therefore, appealed to the general public to use their various platforms to assist MTN and ” to protect this national asset because a lot of people now depend on the fibre infrastructure”.

The MTN Ghana Technical Manager for South West, Mr. Teddy Hayford Acquah has announced that the redesigning and expansion of the Kasoa-Winneba Highway is impacting negatively on MTN Fibre, as the Company has experienced several fibre cuts in the area.

The situation according to him, has resulted in network challenges, affecting especially MTN clients in Kasoa.

According to him, 80% of Kasoa MTN network problems have to do with the fibre cuts due to the Kasoa-Winneba heavy road expansion”.

“Our fibre infrastructure along the Kasoa-Winneba corridor has been encroached on and we are actually recording in total of about 62 kilometres of fibre damage. As a result, we have spent more than about 5million cedis already”, Mr Hayford Acquah revealed

He stated that MTN company continues to fight the menace of fibre cuts and as such, employs more engineers on the ground.

At the 2024 media and stakeholders forum held in Cape Coast, Mr. Hayford Acquah also pointed out another emerging concern that caused Fibre cuts which included private property developers, galamsey activities and vandalism which had always ended up impacting the fibre infrastructure.

“These are areas by law acquired permit to lay our cables and our infrastructure but unfortunately sometimes these developers do not actually consider these rights of ways that we have acquired and expect them to protect our infrastructure but they go in there and damage our infrastructure” he fumed.

He, therefore, appealed to the general public to use their various platforms to assist MTN and ” to protect this national asset because a lot of people now depend on the fibre infrastructure”.

The media and stakeholders forum brought together journalists, stakeholders, and MTN officials.

It was to map out the future of digital transformation, particularly how MTN envisions itself over the next five years.

On her part, MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Adwoa Wiafe said MTN was in the process of addressing the issue of the communities that could not access the  MTN network as soon as possible.

She said MTN Mobile Money fraud was affecting their customers and the company was very concerned, citing that, “MTN is working with all stakeholders to ensure that the company is able to deal with the issues that arise out of the MoMo fraud”.

Madam Wiafe said last year the company paid about 5.9 billion Ghana cedis on taxes and “continues to do so to be able to support and contribute to  Ghana’s development”.

Source: MyNewsGh.com

Telecel Ghana has hosted its inaugural Women 100 Power Connect, a gathering of accomplished and influential women across the country, to climax its Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Month celebration.

The telecommunications giant organised the exclusive evening event to serve as a platform for igniting insights, inspiration, connection and collaboration among the women present from various backgrounds – business executives, entrepreneurs, media practitioners, artists, activists and influencers.

Held under the theme ‘Imperfect Courage’ in Accra, the interactive event featured resilient and inspiring life stories from speakers, engaging poetry and comedy performances and ample opportunities for networking.

Opening the event, Chief Executive of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai shared her challenges in the first year as the first Ghanaian woman to lead Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (GTCL) and the strategies she embraced to help the telco stay afloat despite opposition from sceptics.

“I decided to be bold, brave and resolute; irrespective of naysayers. The worst you can do is to self-doubt. It’s in difficult moments that you must summon the imperfect courage by believing in yourself and having confidence in your abilities, even when you feel you are not ready. You just have to keep going,” Ing. Obo-Nai said.

The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs. Elsie Addo Awadzi, who was the special guest of honour, shared her story of the difficult transition from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to serve as a Deputy Governor of BoG because she believed that the call of national duty was stronger. As the second female central bank governor in Ghana’s history, she said the experience gained over two decades in international finance was of immense help to Ghana’s fiscal stability.

“Despite the banking sector crisis and pandemic, I had to work through it to restore confidence and ensure our banks were liquid and well-financed,” Mrs. Awadzi said. “I let courage lead even in circumstances that look imperfect. More women must take up public positions because too many generational decisions are being taken that do not have women at the table.”

Two additional business leaders who shared their stories on imperfect courage were Valerie Larbi, a sustainable transport entrepreneur who is co-founder and CEO of Wahu Mobilty; and Mrs. Esther Aidoo Dwamena, CEO of Witties Ghana, a sanitation and hygiene business.

In closing the Women 100 Power Connect, Director of Enterprise Business and Wholesale at Telecel Ghana, Tawa Bolarin, reminded the audience of the Telecel Women in Business initiative – a comprehensive suite of tailored resources that address the unique needs of women-led SMEs, including free website development, access to grants and loans, health and life insurance package and e-commerce support, among others.

Source: B&FT Online

A total of 150 business owners are set to benefit from this year’s MTN Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Support Programme.

The programme seeks to lend financial and business development support to micro and small businesses led by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women, and the youth.

Speaking at the launch of the second edition of the MTN Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Support Programme in Cape Coast, chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Mrs Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, announced that MTN Ghana would commit GHS 2 million to the initiative, with up to GHS 20,000 allocated per business based on need.

In addition to financial assistance, the programme will focus on capacity building and digital marketing to help participants strengthen their businesses.

“Last year, we committed GHS 1 million; this year, we are doubling that to GHS 2 million. The support goes beyond cash—it involves training, streamlining businesses, and formalizing their operations, allowing them to grow, employ more people, and make a lasting impact,” she added.

She acknowledged the challenges SMEs face in accessing capital, training, and opportunities for growth.

She explained that the programme aims to help beneficiaries leverage digital platforms to expand their businesses and market their products online. “The support will enable beneficiaries to adopt new business practices, scale their businesses, and access formal finance if necessary,” Mrs Wiafe added.

This year’s initiative is a collaboration between the MTN Ghana Foundation and Innohub Foundation, which will initially roll out in the Central Region before expanding to other regions across the country.

Nelson Amo, Executive Director of Innohub Foundation, outlined Innohub’s role in the programme, which includes identifying businesses, screening and training beneficiaries, and managing the disbursement of funds.

He expressed hope that the programme would help participants grow their businesses, increase their customer base, and utilize digital marketing platforms like MTN’s mobile markets.

“We expect these businesses to grow, increase revenues, and maintain financial discipline, which will help them sustain long-term growth. Many of them are in the food sector, contributing to food security in the country,” Mr Amo emphasized.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to MTN for the support provided through the programme.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

On October 9, 2024, a two-member team from the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Ms. Maame Yaa Owusu-Amoah, Digital Ecosystem Specialist and Mr. Sangyoung Jung, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist for the Inclusive Digital Economies Portfolio in Ghana, made a courtesy call to Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana. The meeting focused on two primary issues: bridging the skills gap between university and business, and giving financial assistance to MSMEs.

The first agenda item focused on assisting students in developing the skills required for the labor market. The UNCDF team stressed the need of aligning school courses with industrial requirements. This will guarantee that students are better equipped for work by closing the present skill gap between academic degrees and real-world industrial requirements. Dr. Ashigbey and the UNCDF discussed possibilities to work on creating programs that provide students with the skills needed for the telecommunications and broader tech industries.

The second topic of the discussion was to help MSMEs. The delegation acknowledged the difficulties that many small firms and start-ups experience in obtaining loans due to high interest rates, especially those from mobile money systems. The UNCDF team recommended collaborating with the chamber to provide personalized financial products and services for MSMEs. These approaches would assist firms in obtaining loans and fostering development, increasing their financial resilience.

The discussion concluded with a pledge from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications to engage its members to support these efforts, paving the way for future collaboration with UNCDF.

Source: Chamber News Desk

Somalian operators Hormuud Telecom, Golis Telecom, and the GSMA have moved to deepen their collaboration with NGOs by developing a strategy to fully harness mobile technology for humanitarian efforts.

A workshop was held in partnership on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October) to demonstrate how leveraging mobile and digital technologies, such as early warning systems, can be life-changing for vulnerable and remote communities.

For instance, Hormuud and regional operator Golis pioneered the use of ringtones for critical alerts in Somalia, delivering life-saving instructions.

Mobile technology has played a key role in transforming Africa, with mobile money highlighted as a crucial tool for livelihoods and humanitarian aid in Somalia. The World Bank estimates that over three-quarters (76%) of Somalians use mobile money daily. Hormuud Telecom operates the EVC Plus mobile money platform, while Golis has developed Sahal. Humanitarian organisations have tapped into these platforms to deliver financial aid.

Hormuud Telecom CEO Ahmed Yusef stated: “For the past two decades, telecom providers have been the backbone of Somalia’s economy. Mobile money has helped young people become entrepreneurs, enabled families to purchase essentials, and allowed farmers to bring their goods to market.

“As Somalia faces challenges like climate change and rising food insecurity, we believe that by working closely with our humanitarian and development partners, mobile connectivity can play an even greater role in uplifting communities and driving sustainable development.”

Golis Telecom Mobile Money Director Khalif Hassan Isse added: “The telecommunications industry is the non-state sector with the largest contribution to Somalia’s economy and development. Our efforts to understand client needs and invest in cutting-edge technology have brought us to where we are today.”

Source: Developing Telecoms

Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s state-owned telecoms company, announced on Monday, October 14, a strategic partnership with Meta, the parent company of social network Facebook. The move comes after discussions between Frehiwot Tamru (pictured, right), CEO of Ethio Telecom, and Vikas Menon (pictured, left), director of business development and partnerships for the Middle East and Africa at Meta, along with other company executives.

“  This partnership is a critical step towards improving the digital experience for our customers. By working with Meta, we are driving greater accessibility and inclusion in Ethiopia’s digital landscape  ,” said Tamru.

Under the agreement, Ethio Telecom will offer free and temporary access to Meta’s services, including Facebook, even without a credit balance. Users will also be able to access essential content on health, education and employment opportunities for free, providing them with access to crucial information. The initiative aims to boost data usage and improve connectivity across the country.

This initiative is part of Ethio Telecom’s strategy to strengthen digital inclusion in Ethiopia. Together, the two companies intend to leverage Meta’s platforms to promote digital literacy, support the local ecosystem through content creation and cultural preservation initiatives, while improving cybersecurity and user data protection.

Once fully deployed, this strategic collaboration is expected to play a key role in improving the accessibility and inclusiveness of digital services, as well as promoting digital literacy. According to Data Reportal statistics, Facebook had 7.05 million users in Ethiopia as of early 2024, highlighting the growing importance of social media in the country.

Source: Agency EcoFin

Mukuru, a fintech company, has unveiled a new mobile wallet in Malawi called the Mukuru Wallet.

This move, according to the business, is in response to the growing demand for a digital store of value among cash-dependent citizens who have come to rely on Mukuru.

The Mukuru Wallet is intended to meet the growing demand for a simple, safe, and efficient solution to manage finances and make money transfers, according to the company.

It further stated that the wallet allows clients to easily receive and send payments both locally and globally, as well as store, save, and earn interest on funds.

This Mukuru Wallet was created exclusively for the Malawian market, with two pockets called “Nyanja” and “Moyo”.

Nyanja is used for domestic money transfers and cash ins, whilst Moyo is used to accept foreign money transfers.

According to the company, clients will benefit from no fees while cashing out from the Moyo pocket.

This comes as mobile wallets gain popularity across the continent and prove to be an important financial tool for underserved and unbanked groups, providing a safe and effective way to access financial services.

According to Mukuru, the wallet in Malawi provides an alternative way for both rural and urban residents to access official financial services.

Mike Cook, head of wallet and card at Mukuru, said: “By providing a safe, secure digital means of storing this money, while enabling them to pay bills directly from the wallet, Malawians will not only benefit from the reduced risk of not having to withdraw large sums of cash, but they can also actively partake into the modern, digital financial economy.”

Pride Chiwaya, Mukuru’s Malawi country manager, sees the wallet as providing innovative, safe, and efficient payments solution.

Source: IT Web