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Mobile and Telecoms

SMS remains a force to be reckoned with, even 30 years after its launch

Despite the rise of advanced and hi-tech communication platforms in recent years, SMS usage for business communication is at an all-time high and the platform is expected to remain entrenched in this space for many years to come. 2022 marked the 30-year anniversary of the advent of SMS, which was initially launched as a person-to-person (P2P) communication platform in the early 1990s. At first, SMS messaging was limited to single mobile networks, but was opened to operate between different networks in the late 1990s. At this stage, businesses were already recognising the opportunities to use SMS as a communication medium, leading to it being increasingly commercialised. However, a huge transformation for SMS occurred with the launch of the first Apple iPhone in 2007, which was when instant...

Telkom to support sustainable development for MVNOs

Lunga Siyo, Telkom’s New CEO of Telkom Consumer Business. Leading South African mobile network provider Telkom is the latest operator to announce plans to enable mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) partnerships on its network. Telkom has leveraged its extensive network footprint across South Africa to offer MVNOs the opportunity to provide quality services over its network – thereby enhancing the much-needed competition in the telecoms space. Telkom believes partnering with MVNOs will enable them to deliver their propositions to selected target markets effectively. ” With a best-in-class network, we believe that such partnerships will help create jobs, create a path into the industry for smaller players, and ultimately contribute to the growth of our digital economy, “says Lunga S...

Apps to help you achieve your every goal

Image sourced from Pixabay Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives and have impacted the way we communicate, access information and complete tasks. We all know how busy life can get, especially as we start the new year. Thankfully, apps are easy to access and can be personalised to what our interests are. AppGallery provides you with an easy way to download many amazing apps across a variety of categories to help you reach your goals for 2023 and beyond. Manage your finances and business, efficiently Finance and business apps provide convenient and efficient ways to manage our personal and professional finances. With these apps, we can easily track our spending, create and manage budgets,and make informed financial decisions. Every South African bank has an app availabl...

5G pros and cons

Vishal Barapatre, Chief Technology Officer at In2IT Technologies Fast internet throughout South Africa is key to many benefits, including the ability to work remotely in remote areas, increased access to education and technology, and more. Increased bandwidth speeds are essential, as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) takes us into a more connected and digitised future. Fast Connectivity has become a basic need, and the adoption of 5G is critical given the faster bandwidth and lower latency it offers. However, there are complexities, pros and cons, and some concerns about health issues related to radio frequency radiation in this context. Here is an overview of the pros, cons and status of 5G in South Africa. Why do we need 5G? As we move forward, bandwidth is becoming of paramount imp...

MediaTek partners with Xiaomi to bring power, speed and efficiency with Xiaomi 12T

Xiaomi 12T powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra Xiaomi recently unveiled its Xiaomi 12T Series smartphones in South Africa, its most recent flagship models. Xiaomi 12T was part of this, catching the eye of many Xiaomi fans and tech enthusiasts. Here’s a closer look at what this device has to offer. Xiaomi 12T offers a silky smooth, lightning fast and efficient user experience, whether you’re capturing incredible photos and videos, watching movies or series, or scrolling through social media. This is due to the chipset that is powering it; MediaTek’s leading flagship chipset, MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra. This is not the first co-operation between the two parties. In recent years, Xiaomi has sourced more and more chips from MediaTek, with this partnership leading to many innovative sma...

Platform-based ecosystems are Africa’s new plane of competition

Image sourced from Goobjoob Education. Never has there been such a surge in mobile usage and application development to meet the demands and challenges of fast-paced consumers who increasingly rely on mobile devices to connect with brands According to Yaron Assabi, Founder & CEO of MVNE, part of the Digital Solutions Group, “Enterprises now focus on enabling consumers, employees, and ecosystem partners. Companies no longer just serve customers; they collaborate with them. They no longer just compete with rivals; they partner with them. They’re no longer limited by industry boundaries; they ignore them. In short: platform-based ecosystems are the new plane of competition.” In fact, it is becoming such a strong and competitive position that companies are now partnering across the ecosyst...

MTN, most compliant on Nigerian Exchange

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has been named the Most Compliant Listed Company at the Nigerian Exchange Limited Made of Africa Awards held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on 6 December 2022. The award recognises the listed company with the highest levels of compliance with the Rules of The Exchange and other applicable laws and regulations. Accepting the award, Chief Financial Officer, MTN Nigeria, Modupe Kadri said: “Since MTN Nigeria’s listing on the NGX in 2019, we have been very deliberate in the way we have approached our compliance with the rules and regulations of The Exchange, which are designed to ensure that the market operates credibly and transparently; two principles we believe are essential to the functioning of a world-class exchange. We hope that by continuing ...

South Africa: Telkom launches 5G Internet Data Plans

Lunga Siyo, Telkom’s New CEO of Telkom Consumer Business. South African Telco giant, Telkom, has launched 5G Internet Data plans as a 5G Wireless Broadband service offering.  The plans are available in selected Telkom 5G Broadband Network Coverage areas. 5G is the latest generation of high-speed wireless broadband technology offering faster download and upload speeds for users. This seamless and super-fast Internet connection means consumers can enjoy enhanced gaming, music, video-streaming, and app downloads. “On the 27th October 2022, we officially launched our 5G network at the DP World Wanderers stadium.  While it might appear that we haven’t been aggressive in our 5G rollout, we have quietly been gearing up to offer the most 5G-ready network in South Africa” stated Lun...

OADC extends Africa’s open digital infrastructure with data centres in Nigeria and South Africa

OADC CEO Dr Ayotunde Coker Africa’s digital transformation is being accelerated by transformational, pan-African, carrier-neutral data centre operator Open Access Data Centres (OADC), whose flagship data centre in Lekki, Lagos is now operational. The company’s rapid data centre rollout continues, with three new core facilities in South Africa and expansion of the existing OADC Durban facility. Together with OADC’s unique core-to-edge deployment in South Africa, this is enabling telcos, ISPs, cloud operators, the wholesale community and major enterprises to benefit from greater choice, a truly client focussed service experience and an extended African cloud ecosystem. West Africa’s largest data centre campus is operational The first phase of OADC’s flagship facility, OADC Lagos, is now oper...

Multifactor Authentication Helps Secure Online Systems

Image sourced from Iberdrola.com. The approach of the New Year is the ideal time to start investigating Multifactor Authentication (MFA), a layered approach to electronic security that requires two or more credentials to verify identity. SA’s Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) says the one-time password (OTP) that underpins many MFA systems ensures there’s an extra security layer preventing unauthorised logins. However, most modern phones and laptops now have built-in security keys and use biometrics to implement MFA. These options are more effective than OTP-based solutions alone. Few realise that when you use fingerprint or facial recognition to unlock your smartphone, you’re using two factor authentication. These biometric systems can also be integrated into any corporate we...

2Africa Lands in Ras Ghareb, Egypt

As part of the 2Africa consortium, Meta and Telecom Egypt announce the first landing of the 2Africa subsea cable in Egypt at Ras Ghareb in the Red Sea, with another landing expected in Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea at a later date. The Ras Ghareb landing is one of several taking place in the coming months as the cable will be extended to a total of 46 locations across Africa, Europe, and Asia by the completion of the project in 2024. Building on previous investments, Meta and Telecom Egypt’s contribution to 2Africa enables more people who rely on the internet to have an improved experience while promoting a more affordable internet for all. Announced in May 2020, the 2Africa subsea cable system together with its Pearls extension, are designed to deliver seamless international connecti...

MTN Renews Intelsat Contract to Expand Broadband Access in South Sudan

Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), has been chosen by MTN, a multinational telecommunication group offering cellular network access and business solutions, to further the company’s leadership while meeting the demand for broadband in remote areas of South Sudan. Through its strategic agreement with Intelsat, MTN is improving its network capacity and providing enhanced connectivity to enterprises in South Sudan, as well as expanding mobile broadband coverage to communities in rural areas of the country. MTN is utilizing Intelsat’s expertise and advanced connectivity infrastructure to diversify its offerings, enhance application performance, strengthen network resiliency and ...