Author: Kaluka wanjala

UK-based startup straitPay has emerged as the Fintech Startup of the Year at the London finals of the StartUp Awards 2023 held on June 8th. The event, which aims to recognize the achievements of entrepreneurs in various sectors of the economy, bestowed 30 different awards upon new businesses, including accolades such as Innovative StartUp of the Year and Technology Services StartUp of the Year. straitPay is a technology company that operates in partnership with licensed entities in different jurisdictions. Its mission is to facilitate financial prosperity and growth across all sectors of Africa’s economy. The company’s primary goal is to…

By Patrick Ndegwa, SEACOM Business Sales Lead for SEACOM East Africa In the 1990s, stories of 45 megabyte-per-second Internet connections were something to be in awe of. It’s safe to say that network bandwidth has come a long way since then. Today, the ability to transfer large amounts of data is a critical part of Africa’s digital transformation. According to consulting firm TeleGeography, Africa’s Internet bandwidth experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44% between 2018 and 2022. This puts the continent in first place when it comes to international growth estimates, with total bandwidth worldwide now standing at…

Safaricom Ethiopia has announced that its CEO, Anwar Soussa, will be leaving the company effective July 31, 2023, after serving for nearly two years. Soussa has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Safaricom Ethiopia since its inception. The reasons for his departure and his future plans are currently undisclosed. In response to this news, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa expressed his sincere appreciation for Anwar’s leadership and contributions to Safaricom Ethiopia. Throughout his tenure, Anwar has displayed unwavering dedication and passion, which have been instrumental in the company’s accomplishments thus far. The successor to Anwar will be…

Airtel Kenya has today announced plans to expand its network coverage in order to meet the growing demand for data services. Airtel has sketchy coverage in some areas in Kenya and hopefully this move will help address that. The expansion project includes the deployment of 349 new sites by the end of the year, with an additional 300 sites in the pipeline. This move shows Airtel’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and improving service quality for its customers. Presently, Airtel Kenya’s network infrastructure already covers 89% of the country, with over 3,200 sites spread across all 47 counties. The company aims…

Africa Data Centres (ADC) has announced its partnership with the London Internet Exchange (LINX) for the new East African interconnection hub, LINX Nairobi. LINX Nairobi is set to become the region’s first interconnected, multi-site Internet Exchange Point (IXP), offering redundancy and resilience for networks peering there. This strategic partnership between ADC and LINX aims to foster growth and opportunities in new markets across Africa while enhancing connectivity and bringing digital services to citizens. By becoming a full point of presence (PoP) for LINX Nairobi, ADC’s customers at the NBO1 facility in Nairobi will have direct access to the LINX Nairobi…

Ecobank Group has announced the opening of applications for the 6th edition of its renowned Ecobank Fintech Challenge. This annual event invites visionary fintech entrepreneurs from across Africa to showcase their innovative solutions and compete for a chance to partner with Ecobank and access its vast network of 35 African markets as well as its international operations in France. The winner of the challenge will also receive a generous cash prize of $50,000 (over Ksh 7 million). Ecobank’s Fintech Challenge has been instrumental in providing exceptional opportunities for fintech companies aligned with Ecobank’s strategic objectives. By partnering with Ecobank, these…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, has successfully deployed the Mauritius Telecom T3 subsea cable, establishing a vital link between Mauritius and South Africa. The cable has been installed at Liquid’s landing facility in Amanzimtoti, located south of Durban. This development is expected to significantly enhance the stability and redundancy of connectivity between the two countries, addressing the need for reliable and efficient communication channels. The T3 cable comprises four fibre pairs, boasting an impressive design capacity of 13.5 Tbps per fibre pair and a total capacity of 54 Tbps for the entire system. By leveraging Liquid’s extensive…

realme has announced the availability of the realme 10 in Kenya. Boasting a powerful MediaTek G99 chipset and a stunning 90Hz AMOLED display, this device aims to deliver uncompromised performance within its price range. The phone is available in Kenya starting from Ksh 32,199 excluding taxes according to Mildred Agoya PR and Marketing Manager realme Kenya. At this price, the realme 10 will be a direct competitor to the Camon 20 series and even the Infinix Note 30 series. Both these phones were launched in Kenya recently Realme 10 Specifications Here are some of the key specs of the realme…

I&M Bank Rwanda Plc has recently made significant executive appointments, with Mr. Benjamin Mutimura set to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from July 1st, 2023. This press release highlights the transition and acknowledges the contributions of the outgoing CEO, Mr. Robin Bairstow. The appointment of Mr. Mutimura reflects the bank’s commitment to driving growth and delivering innovative financial solutions to its customers. Mr. Benjamin Mutimura brings over 16 years of experience in the financial services sector to his new role as CEO of I&M Bank Rwanda. Having previously served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Bank of…

The Tecno Spark 10 was unveiled in Kenya earlier this year as the successor to the Spark 9 from last year. I did love the Spark 9 and was particularly impressed with its video recording capabilities at night. At its price, the Spark 9 was one of the best camera phones of 2022 and I expected its successor to be equally as good. I have been using the Tecno Spark 10 for a while now and have really enjoyed the experience. It does some tasks really well and struggles with others and in this review I will be sharing all…