tech news
Networks Unlimited Africa Embraces the Power of Three with its Value Offering to Partners
Anton Jacobsz, Networks Unlimited CEO There is a mysterious alchemy about the number three. As the saying goes, ‘Good things come in threes’ – which is why Networks Unlimited Africa is embracing this ‘magic number’. “A triangle, with its three sides, is one of the most stable shapes that you will find, which is why it’s used in building bridges and other structures where supporting a lot of weight is required,” says Anton Jacobsz, CEO at this leading value-added distributor in the sub-Saharan Africa market. “In the world of colour, we find three primary colours that make up all the rest – red, yellow and blue. In sport, we invariably award medals to the top three competitors, while in photography and design, artists often work in the rule of thirds for perspective. And so here ...
Sony Introduces its New Truly Wireless Earbuds
Sony Electronics has launched the latest addition to its Truly Wireless product range – the new WF-XB700 EXTRA BASS earbuds. The new earbuds are said to be designed to provide the perfect, hassle-free music listening experience for people on the go. The earbud’s bluetooth technology removes the need for wired connections for ease of use while the Ergonomic Tri-hold structure creates a comfortable fit. Featuring Sony’s EXTRA BASS technology, the XB700 earbuds create precise, punchy rhythms that lift every track and maintain vocal clarity for a superbly rich, well-rounded listening experience. Music-lovers can enjoy up to 18 hours of their favourite tracks thanks to the handy charging case, while just 10 minutes of quick charging provides 60 minutes of music playback. The earbuds have an IPX...
Facebook’s Investing $57 Billion in Africa’s Economy
Facebook released findings from The Impact of Facebook’s Connectivity Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, a study conducted by Analysys Mason that highlights how Facebook investments in infrastructure and connectivity across the region will deliver over $57 Billion in Economic Benefits over the next five years (2020–2024). According to The Economist Intelligence Unit – Inclusive Internet Index 2020, over 800 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are unconnected to the Internet. Facebook’s infrastructure investments and connectivity initiatives include the following: Investing in Infrastructure that supports Internet connectivity Submarine cables – Will enable an increase in the supply of international bandwidth, reduction in costs for ISPs and resulted in a combination of more connectiv...
Has South Africa Run with 5G Before it could Walk?
A number of South African telecommunications companies have recently launched local 5G networks. “The decision to introduce 5G means the service provider has determined that there are enough people in one place who are able to pay for super-fast wireless internet. Yes, it is a great technology. It is fast. It is the cream of mobile terrestrial telecoms and it serves the elite few who can afford it,” says Victor Stephanopoli, COO of MzansiSat. When 2G was introduced to South Africa in 1992, 2G networks were the first to offer data services and SMS text messaging. 2G was followed by LTE, which became 3G and which offered faster data transfer and video calling, making it preferable for smartphones. In 2012, 4G was launched in SA, initially only covering small areas in Johannesburg. Stephanopo...
Openserve Supports Increased Internet Consumption Amidst Pandemic
South African-based infrastructure provider, Openserve has launched another data-led wholesale broadband proposition called Openserve Pure Connect. The genesis of this proposition lies in utilising the value of both copper and fibre infrastructure to connect more households to the internet. Seeing the value that the vast copper and fibre network plays in the greater connectivity ecosystem, Openserve CEO, Althon Beukes, says that “the wholesaling of the hybrid copper and fibre broadband access product compliments Openserve’s overall fixed broadband strategy which is focused on providing fast and consistent connectivity to as many people as possible”. The demand for affordable broadband connectivity has significantly grown as consumers adapt to the prolonged effects of COVID-19. The new norm...
Bitcoin could Rank as the 8th Largest Bank Globally, Research Says
If Bitcoin were a bank, it would rank as the eighth largest bank globally with a market cap of $169.01 billion, according to data gathered by Buy Shares. Bitcoin continues to lead the cryptocurrency sector towards mainstream adoption on a global scale by directly competing with traditional players like banks. The asset’s high cap correlates with its impressive 27.18% ROI on a Year-to-Date basis. Bitcoin beats traditional markets in ROI From the data, JP Morgan Chase’s cap of $433.5 billion, makes it the biggest bank in the world. Bitcoin would also rank lower than the Bank of America with a market cap of $306 billion. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_52f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_52f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } ICBC ranks third with a capitalization of $290.9 billion follo...
Huawei Launches HMS Core 5.0 for Developers
Sourced from Getty Images. Huawei has officially launched Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Core 5.0 for global developers on the official developer website. HMS Core 5.0 introduces services in seven main areas including App Services, Graphics, Media, AI, Smart Device, Security, and System for developers to make the most of Huawei’s “chip-device-cloud” capabilities. HMS Core, integrated with Huawei’s chip-device-cloud capabilities, provides core mobile services for developers. When HMS Core 4.0 was launched back on 15 January 2020, it not only improved existing HMS Core services such as the Push Kit and In-App Purchases, but also introduced new services including the Map Kit, Machine Learning (ML) Kit, Scan Kit, WisePlay DRM, and more. With HMS Core 5.0, more than 20 additional capabilities – s...
Telkom to Transition Customers from Copper-based Internet to Fibre
Image sourced from My Broadband Telkom has announced that it is transitioning its South African customers from copper-based internet to new-generation fibre technology in all fibre-ready regions. The telecommunications provider says that it is currently hard at work upgrading its customers from copper ADSL internet to fibre-based internet. This migration applies to all customers residing in fibre-ready regions around the country where the current DSL infrastructure overlaps with the FTTH footprint. Telkom notes that fibre promises a significant improvement in users’ connectivity experience and assures customers that they will receive the support that they need to undergo the upgrade with minimal stress and disruption. “With technology advancing so rapidly, we want to help keep our customer...
The Key to Reshaping the Oil and Gas Industry — Huawei’s New ICT
The oil and gas industry is embracing digital transformation. As a traditional pillar of the energy sector, the oil and gas industry has always had an important part to play in the energy field. However, these are challenging times. On one hand, the industry is subject to increasingly complex mining conditions and, with that, higher mining costs. On the other, it is faced with tumbling global oil prices that bring new challenges to all players in the field. In such circumstances, how can Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, cloud, and 5G technologies be used to increase efficiency while reducing costs? This is now the key concern of all oil companies. In sum, it is beyond doubt that the implementation of digital transformation has become a key factor determining the success of oil compa...
Elon Musk Says People Will Eventually Consume Music Through Brain Chip
Headphones may soon be a thing of the past if Elon Musk has his way. The tech bro and Kanye loyalist believes his latest product, a brain chip implant, will be able to stream music directly into our brains. Neuralink, a startup recently co-founded by Musk, has been developing “computer-brain interfaces” with the intention of “helping humans keep pace with advanced artificial intelligence.” As TechCrunch further explains, the idea is to “implant gossamer-thin wires” — supposedly thinner than human hair — into a person’s brain. These would be connected to an external computer machine, but the aim is to one day make the connection between these two completely wireless. Musk first announced Neuralink last year, including details on “successful” experiments on mice and apes. He plans to reveal ...
Vodacom and Alipay Partner to Create a New Super-App
Vodacom and Alipay have partnered to create a super app that’ll allow South African consumers to manage their entire lives and business through their smartphone – which includes playing music, paying for morning coffees, listening to podcasts, sending money to family, paying utility bills, shopping online and ordering new stock for their businesses. According to the companies, the app will not only offer a stellar digital customer experience but will also bring to life a market place of goods and services tailored to the South African customer needs. This will be underpinned by a progressive digital payments ecosystem designed to serve both the banked and unbanked parts of the population. Customers and merchants will all find each other on one affordable platform, operated by Vodacom ...
Bolt Introduces New ‘Low-Cost’ Service in South Africa
Ride-hailing platform Bolt has launched a new low-cost category called Bolt Go – which is aiming to be the cheapest ride-hailing service in South Africa, with fares approximately 20% less than regular Bolt rides. The addition of the new low-cost category hopes to significantly lower the barriers to entry into the South African ride-hailing industry by empowering owners and drivers of hatchback cars to access the Bolt platform and earn an income. “Smaller hatchback cars are less expensive to purchase, have lower maintenance costs, and are more fuel-efficient to operate than Bolt’s regular larger sedan cars,” says Gareth Taylor, country manager for Bolt South Africa. “These lower operational costs also enable Bolt Go fares to be significantly more affordable.” The new more affordable service...
