General News

Botswana has made significant progress in its space ambitions with the successful completion of the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) phase of its first satellite, BotSat-1. The satellite is being developed through a collaboration between the engineering team at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and Bulgarian satellite manufacturer EnduroSat. BIUST engineers were welcomed at EnduroSat's space center to oversee this crucial phase, which involved rigorous testing and final inspections to ensure all technical and operational requirements were met.

The Zimbabwean government has introduced strict penalties for telecom operators failing to meet quality standards, aiming to address ongoing issues with poor service affecting consumers nationwide.

Nigeria is making a major stride in digital connectivity by adopting the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 applications. Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), announced this during a recent Stakeholders' Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced the Device Management System (NCC-DMS), a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) aimed at regulating mobile devices on Nigeria’s networks.

Ghana has achieved Tier 1 status in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), marking it as a leader in cybersecurity. The GCI’s five-tier system ranks countries from Tier 5 (Building) to Tier 1 (Role Modelling), with Tier 1 being the highest. With a score of 99.27%, Ghana ranks second in Africa, after Mauritius, and is one of five African nations to reach Tier 1. This status underscores Ghana’s advanced cybersecurity measures and its role as a benchmark for others.

The government of Mauritius has introduced a new scheme providing free mobile internet to citizens aged 18 to 25, aiming to equip the younger generation for the digital future.

Kenya's ICT Authority has launched a US$2.4 billion initiative to tackle digital inequality, modernize business processes, and enhance the nation's digital infrastructure. This follows the announcement of another regional effort—the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP).

The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) have renewed their agreement to regularly monitor electromagnetic radiation (EMR) levels from cell towers, ensuring they remain within globally acceptable limits, as outlined in the protocol signed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Ministry of Health and Population, and the Ministry of Environment.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART) of Cameroon has issued a public alert about the deteriorating quality of mobile communication services from major operators such as MTN Cameroon, ORANGE Cameroon, and CAMTEL across their 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.

Burkina Faso plans to extend mobile and internet services to 1,000 remote areas over the next three years. These 'white zones' currently lack telephony and internet access.