Southern Africa
Absa Confirms Client Data Breach
Image sourced from Wikiwand Absa bank has confirmed a data breach which exposed the personal information of a number of clients. The FSP has also pinned the leak on one of its employees who “acted unlawfully”. “Absa advises that an employee has unlawfully made selected customer data available to a small number of external parties,” says Absa to MyBroadband. “The leaked data relates to a small portion of Absa South Africa’s customer base to date, although investigations continue.” In an email to clients, the banks says “we regret to notify you that Absa has identified an isolated internal data leak whereby personal information of a limited number of Absa customers was shared with parties external to the bank”. “Unfortunately, some of your personal information formed part of this data w...
TMCEL Joins Forces with Ericsson to Expand its Network in Mozambique
Mahomed Rafique Jusob Mahomed, Chairman of the Board at TMCEL and Todd Ashton, Vice President and Head of Ericsson South and East Africa TMCEL has partnered with Ericsson in a five-year deal which aims to expand and modernize its network and digital services ecosystem in Mozambique. This collaboration will see the telco adopt Ericsson’s Business Support Systems (BSS) and Mobile Money software innovations, features and services. As a result of the agreement, TMCEL can deliver an improved customer experience to its mobile subscribers. The BSS solution will facilitate TMCEL’s shift to customer-centric business operations and digital engagement. Additionally, Ericsson’s Dynamic Activation (EDA) will address all of TMCEL’s service activation needs with a single, flexible platform. The deal also...
MTN Introduces eSIM Support for Apple and Samsung Devices
Sourced from TheTechieGuy (https://thetechieguy.com/) MTN has introduced its newly improved eSIM solution – capable of supporting a number of Apple and Samsung devices. “The digital journey of MTN customers takes another leap forward with the addition of embedded SIM (eSIM) connections on selected smartphones this month and the inclusion of eSIM connections for selected Apple smartwatches from 15 December 2020,” reads a statement from MTN. According to MyBroadband, this product is a “market-first in South Africa, as it allows people to store multiple profiles on a single device, effectively having two or more numbers, and switch between them at ease”. Here is a list of all compatible devices: iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE 2 iPad 7 iPa...
South African’s are Shopping More Online Thanks to COVID-19, Research Says
South African’s are spending 68% more online now than they were prior to the pandemic, according to a study by Mastercard. Essential items have seen highest surge online with the majority (81%) of SA consumers saying they purchased data, and over half saying they bought clothing (56%) and groceries (54%) online since the pandemic started. According to the research, the times we are living in have also made consumers more generous with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they have donated more to charity than pre-lockdown. Consumers are supporting their favourite local small businesses, with 63% of respondents saying that they are making a conscious effort to shop online at these stores. With fewer opportunities to browse in the stores or on the high-street, social media has emerged as the main p...
Apple iPhone 12 Launch Date ‘Leaked’
Apple fans in South Africa could expect the new iPhone 12 range to launch on 18 December. This is according to Cellucity, after it posted a cryptic tweet with the date and a series of ‘apple’ emojis. 18th December… 🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎 — Cellucity (@Cellucity) November 26, 2020 This smartphone range includes the iPhone 12 5G, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Most notably, the iPhone 12 series marks the first time Apple devices will support 5G connectivity. Apple iPhone 12 At first glance, the iPhone 12 looks remarkably similar to the iPhone 4 and 5 thanks to its flat, sharp edges. The device, which sits at 6.1 inches, comes with a “Ceramic Shield” glass cover and sports two rear cameras (both support night mode). The iPhone 12 is expected to...
Liquid Telecom Expands Connectivity in Botswana
Liquid Telecom has revealed that it is activating 82 km of fibre in a cross-border network into Botswana. This expansion connects the Lobatse Border to Gaborone with intent to create efficient mobility and connectivity in Botswana. “At Liquid Telecom, we have a proven track record of investing in and deploying technology designed to grow, strengthen and build Africa’s digital future. This expansion into Botswana is yet another proof point that shows our deep commitment to this practice,” says Odirile Tamajobe, MD of Liquid Telecom Botswana. “We know that fibre is key to providing Africa with high-speed, affordable digital connectivity and have plans to create even more valuable connections throughout the continent.” Prior to this fibre implementation, Liquid Telecom Botswana did not h...
Unpacking Huawei’s Black Friday Deals
With Black Friday around the corner, Huawei has revealed its specials and sales. The tech giant says that it 2020 has been a tough year on South African consumers – this is why they are offering Black Friday deals beyond just Black Friday weekend. Some of the deals on, which are available up until 30 November, include: HUAWEI P30 lite – R4,999 – a saving of R500 HUAWEI Y8s – R4,299 – a saving of R400 HUAWEI Y7p – R3,499 – a saving of R400 HUAWEI P40 Pro+ – R19,999 – a saving of R9,000 HUAWEI WATCH GT – R1,799 – a saving of R1,900 HUAWEI MediaPad T5 – R2,999 – a saving of R1,300 The HUAWEI Matepad T8 is also available for just R2,499 – a saving of R500 – from Takealot, Incredible Connection, Woolworths and PEP stores until 31 December. On Wednesday 25...
KaiOS Partners with Cash Crusaders to Launch the DIXON XK1 in South Africa
Cash Crusaders and KaiOS Technologies have launched the DIXON XK1. Priced at R450, this smart feature phone comes with a dual SIM slot which enables users to both maximize coverage and choose the pre and post paid plans that best fit their budget and needs. The DIXON XK1 is said to be targeted at three separate groups: 1. First-time or relatively new internet users who are looking for a safe space and a trusted reference to access vital information, including access to the world’s most popular apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and other relevant, local content. 2. The 5 million South Africans who want to use the mobile internet, but are priced out of the smartphone market. 3. People who are looking for a back-up device to switch between operators to g...
Ukheshe to Acquire Digital Payments Platform, Oltio
Ukheshe has entered into an agreement to acquire Oltio, a digital payments platform that supports Masterpass – Mastercard’s QR payment service in South Africa with more than 300,000 merchants and billers. The use of QR codes in South Africa provides merchants of all sizes – from large retailers chains to individual shop owners and street vendors – a fast, secure and inexpensive way to accept payments. This deal is expected to strengthen Ukheshe’s partnership with Mastercard – combining its ability to solve local market pain points with Mastercard’s global scale, technology and payment expertise. Ukheshe will continue to provide the same support to the banks and other service providers that currently offer Masterpass, ensuring business continuity with no impact to consumer...
vivo Launches the Y1S Smartphone in South Africa
vivo mobile has partnered with MTN South Africa to exclusively launch the Y1S smartphone. The device is priced at R199/month over a 24month contract – making it “one of the most accessible smartphones currently in the SA market”. Launched globally in August 2020, the Y1S is expected to offer South Africans a “cost-efficient high-spec phone” that sports a 4,030mAh battery and innovative smart power management system. The Y1S has a 6.22-inch IPS HD+ display with 720 x 1520 pixels resolution. Plus, there’s a 19:9 aspect ratio and a dewdrop notch overhead housing a selfie sensor, which works in conjunction with the 5MP front-facing camera with f/1.8 aperture. There’s also a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and f/2.2 aperture. According to Hawa Hyath-Saloojee, Mar...
DStv Unveils New Concept Store in South Africa
DStv has opened a Customer Experience Centre – the first-of-its-kind concept store for the video entertainment platform. Located in the Mall of the North, the centre occupies 669 square metres over two floors and is expected to bring together the best “digital and physical shopping experience”. Customers can access a variety of services including purchasing decoders, testing devices, activating services, paying for subscriptions, and accessing self-service functionalities. The store is fitted with themed spaces including a sales booth, solution bar, content lounge, entertainment pods to give customers the full experience of DStv’s latest products and services. “We aim to be closer to our customers through this Customer Experience Centre in Polokwane. It remains important ...
MTN Introduces Black Friday Data Deals
MTN South Africa has officially lined up its Black Friday deals which run from 20 November until 9 December 2020. “We understand that what people need now, perhaps more than ever before, are true money-saving bargains that could offer some relief, and a better way to stay connected to family, friends and work,” says Jacqui O’Sullivan, Executive for Corporate Affairs at MTN SA. “While lockdown restrictions have become a bit more relaxed over the past couple of months, we still felt that it would be best to extend the shopping period to reduce the number of shoppers in stores at a given time. This is, of course, over and above continuing to ensure that all other appropriate safety measures are in place in-store to protect customers and staff during this busier-than-usual shopping perio...
