Author: Brand Spot

The roar of the crowd filling your living room and visuals so clear you can almost smell the grass. That’s what you need when watching the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. It’s not just for bar experiences; you can have it at home. Picture this, you and your friends, eyes locked on the screen as a striker weaves through defenders. Then a hard tackle, too close to call. But it isn’t met by a rowdy roar from all around you. It’s just your buddies yelling with passion. There’s no risk of a beer bottle being flung at your head, or…

East Africa is quietly becoming one of the most important digital infrastructure regions on the continent. Governments and the private sector are investing heavily in connectivity, cloud services, fintech, e-commerce and digital public services — and all of it runs on one critical foundation: data centres. From Nairobi to Kampala, Dar es Salaam to Addis Ababa, demand is surging for resilient, scalable and locally hosted infrastructure. Across Africa, the data centre market is projected to grow from about $1.94 billion in 2025 to nearly $3.85 billion by 2030, driven by enterprises, cloud providers and governments accelerating digital transformation. But as…

OPPO Kenya has officially unveiled the Reno15 Series. This brings three new smartphones to the local market: the Reno15 Pro 5G, Reno15 5G, and Reno15 F 5G.  At the heart of the Reno15 Series is a strong focus on imaging and AI-powered creativity. The standout feature is a new 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera with a 100-degree field of view. This allows users to fit more people and background into selfies and vlogs without awkward angles or selfie sticks. For portrait lovers, the Reno15 Pro 5G and Reno15 5G introduce a 50MP Telephoto Portrait Camera using a periscope lens close to…

Online betting has grown rapidly in Kenya over the past few years, becoming one of the most popular forms of digital entertainment. With increased smartphone usage, better internet access, and a strong sports culture, especially around football, Kenyan players are now more selective about the platforms they use. Today, choosing the right betting site in Kenya is no longer just about odds—it’s about trust, convenience, and overall user experience. Kenyan bettors are looking for platforms that understand their needs. Fast registration, local payment methods, responsive customer support, and fair gameplay have become key decision-making factors. As competition increases, only betting…

Paymentology has announced the appointment of Kesheni Moodley as Regional Director for Africa, further strengthening its regional leadership as demand for modern, cloud-first issuing infrastructure accelerates across African markets. Paymentology has a long-standing presence in Africa, working closely with banks, fintechs and mobile money providers across the region to deliver differentiated payment propositions and customer experiences through next-generation card technology. Building on this foundation, Kesheni brings more than 20 years’ experience across the ICT, payments and enterprise technology sectors, spanning client relationship development, commercial leadership, business development and operational transformation. In her new role, she will focus on expanding Paymentology’s programme…

By Ramon Villarreal, global architect and payments lead, Financial Services, Red Hat Looking back on the payments industry in 2025, the year was defined by the long-anticipated completion of SWIFT’s global migration to the ISO 20022 messaging standard, as well as the “summer of digital currencies” – where discussions around stablecoins and other digital currencies came into focus and took centre stage at Sibos. Looking ahead to 2026, we can expect steps forward in several key areas, notably in the global stitching of instant payments and the maturation of digital currencies and AI, converging to redefine what is possible in…

The landscape of digital entertainment in East Africa has undergone a rapid transformation, moving from physical betting shops to the immediate convenience of handheld devices. This evolution has significantly altered how users interact with virtual gaming platforms, particularly those offering simulated sports and fast-paced betting options. Digital interfaces, such as those found at yellowbet.ke, have adapted to this shift by prioritizing mobile-first experiences that cater to the specific needs of the local market. As connectivity improves, the sector surrounding casino games kenya has expanded, driven by a demand for instant results and the reliability of digital infrastructure. The Technology Behind…

Osama Bari, CTO at D24 Fintech, shares his views on how blockchain technology will evolve in 2026 The blockchain market is on track to continue its growth this year, with estimates from McKinsey putting it on track to reach $2 trillion by 2030. “2025 was the year we saw blockchain finally become enterprise infrastructure,” says Osama Bari, Chief Technology Officer at D24 Fintech. “But blockchain isn’t single-purpose; there are various ways in which the technology can continue to drive change in the year ahead.”  Below, Bari outlines the five trends set to dominate the discussion in 2026. Bari: “In 2026, we’re entering the…

The evolution of SME banking has for a long time been tied around technology, but many business owners are left to figure it out on their own. Rather than adapting to evolving business needs and market dynamics, SMEs often find themselves A/B testing various tech products without first diagnosing the underlying issues they need to solve. This trial-and-error approach not only wastes your time as a businessperson and resources but also leaves you frustrated with tools that fail to address your core challenges. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Let us…

Network International (Network) has signed a strategic processing agreement with Saudi Sudanese Bank, one of Sudan’s prominent financial institutions. The partnership marks an important milestone in Network International’s expansion in the country, reinforcing its commitment to driving modern, secure, and inclusive payment infrastructure across the region. Under the agreement, Network International will provide Saudi Sudanese Bank with a full suite of end-to-end digital payment processing services, including Mastercard Sponsorship, prepaid issuing, and a range of value-added services designed to support the bank’s digital ambitions. Saudi Sudanese Bank has created a strong foundation for cross-border economic activity. Building on this progress,…