tech news
UK Bans Huawei 5G Technology
Sourced from Getty Images. The UK government has decided to ban local mobile network providers from buying or using new Huawei 5G equipment. According to the BBC, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden this ban would delay the UK’s 5G rollout by a year. “This has not been an easy decision, but it is the right one for the UK telecoms networks, for our national security and our economy, both now and indeed in the long run,” he added. This decision comes after the UK’s national intelligence agency (GCHQ) flagged new security fears over the Chinese technology company. A report from the GCHQ is said to rule that new US sanctions on Huawei have had a ‘serve’ impact and will force the company to use untrusted technology that could make the risk impossible to control. UK to Phase Out ...
Nearly 70% of Ghanaian SMBs are Optimistic Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
To lay bare the scale of challenges small businesses are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand their ongoing challenges and areas for further support, Facebook published the Global State of Small Business Report. Compiled in partnership with the World Bank and the OECD, it surveyed over 30,000 small business owners and employees from around the world in over 50 countries. In Ghana, the survey reveals that despite the challenges, SMBs are very optimistic about the future of their businesses. Over 69% of operational SMBs on Facebook feel optimistic about the future of their business, with 68% of male-led SMBs currently operational or engaging in revenue lead activities. However, among operational Ghanaian small businesses (SMBs) on Facebook, 42% expect cash flow to be a chal...
IBM Appoints First Female Regional Head for Africa
Image sourced with Learn Bonds IBM has appointed Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh to Regional Head for North, East and West Africa – making her the first women to hold the position. According to technext, “Kyerematen-Jimoh served as the Chief of Staff to the Senior VP of Global Markets and Sales in IBM’s corporate headquarters in New York, prior to this appointment. She was also the first female Country Director in Africa, leading the company’s operations in Ghana”. “Angela takes up this position with a wealth of experience from 20 years of extensive working in the financial services and technology industries in Africa and Europe. She has worked in various top positions in banking including UBS Investment Bank, ABM AMRO in London and GTBank Ghana.” Kyerematen-Jimoh says “I’m humbled to be taki...
How to Sell Technology Solutions to the C-Suite
Technology is transforming industries on a global scale — with the COVID-19 pandemic proving just how critical a solid IT strategy really is for business sustainability. C-level executives who weren’t prepared for digital transformation have been left playing catch up, which means there has never been a better time to sell IT solutions to them. And while it may seem easier than ever to reach decision-makers, the truth is that many of them employ seasoned gatekeepers and are inundated with technical sales calls. This means gaining access to the C-Suite has become an extremely difficult task for sales executives. So when it comes to selling to CEO’s, CIO’s or CTO’s — the rules have changed; and to be a successful Sales VP, Sales Manager or Sales Executive, you have to adapt your approa...
SoundCloud Is Now Offering Algorithmic Audio Mastering for $5 a Song
SoundCloud has partnered with Dolby to offer algorithmic audio mastering. “Mastering on Soundcloud” provides a variety of “mastering profiles,” and seeks to bridge the gap between amateurs and professional-quality masters for a fraction of the price. When done by a skilled human, the final master can cost anywhere between $50 and $200 a song. On SoundCloud, that service is available for $4.99. If it works — and that’s not guaranteed — it could do what Instagram filters did to photography, and radically reshape the market. Of course, many “groundbreaking” products are ultimately worse versions of what’s currently available, and that may be the case here. But SoundCloud and Dolby are big players, and what they say they can do is tantalizingly cheap. In a new blog post, SoundCloud revealed th...
T-Systems: Leading the Race to Healthcare Digital Transformation for SAP in South Africa
With a footprint in more than 20 countries, 37,500 employees, and external revenue of 6.8 billion euros (2019), T-Systems International (TSI) part of ICT giant Deutsche Telekom, is one of the world’s leading vendor-independent providers of digital services headquartered in Germany (Europe). T-Systems South Africa (TSSA) has a proud 23-year history in South Africa having first invested in the country in 1997. As a Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor, our competitive advantage is through delivering world-class services and standards while adapting to the unique needs, priorities and expectations of our clients and partners in South Africa. Since 2010, T-Systems South Africa has deployed innovative end-to-end solutions that manage every aspect of healthcare business whilst meeting local and inte...
Facebook Selects 12 Africans to Join its Community Accelerator Programme
Facebook has announced that 12 African community leaders have been selected to join the Community Accelerator, a six-month programme that aims to equip communities with the training, mentorship and funding they need to grow. As part of the global Facebook Community Leadership initiative launched in 2018, the Community Accelerator programme invests in leaders who are building communities around the world; including bringing people together, offering encouragement, and driving change. Awarding up to $3 million, selected community leaders will receive up to $30,000 in funding. In the first three months of the programme, these leaders will learn from experts and coaches, whilst developing customized curriculums focused on growing their own communities. The following three months will then be f...
Mastercard Foundation Partners with USIU-Africa to Expand Higher Education Access in Africa
Sourced from PYMNTS USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to enable 1,000 high-performing students to receive a quality education and leadership development over the next 10 years under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme. The partnership provides scholarships for high potential students facing financial, gender, displacement or disability constraints. At least 70 per cent of the young people who benefit from the partnership will be young women, while 25 per cent will be displaced or refugee youth and at least 10 per cent will be young people living with disabilities. With this USD 63.2 million partnership, USIU-Africa joins the foundation’s expanding global network of partners committed to developing a generation of African leaders who will use their knowledge ...
Cell C Introduces New 30-Day Data-Bundles
Image sourced from Town Press Cell C has dropped the price for its 30-Day data bundles and has introduced new bundles too. This new range of options from as low as R5 for 15MB to R95 for 1GB in anytime data plus 1GB nite data. The South African telecom provider also notes that customers stand to gain an extra 1GB of anytime data when they purchase the R95 bundle from the Cell C App resulting in a total of 3GB worth of data. The new pricing structure can be seen below: PRICE DATA NITE DATA R10 40MB R15 80MB R35 150MB R49 325MB R80 800MB R95 1GB 1GB “At this time it is more vital than ever that South Africans are able to stay connected with one another,” says Cell C’s COO, Simo Mkhize. “As a consumer-centric organisation, Cell C has always had the needs of its customers at the forefront of o...
Massive Rise in Cybersecurity Awareness Across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa
Sourced from IDG Connect Nearly two thirds (66%) of remote workers in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa say they are more conscious of their organisation’s cybersecurity policies since the lockdown began – according to a new study from Trend Micro. However, it might be too early for businesses to breathe a sigh of relief, as the results also found that lockdown does not necessarily apply to employee cybersecurity habits, as risky behaviours persist. The study – which questioned over 13,000 remote workers across 27 countries, including 508 respondents from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa on their attitudes towards corporate cybersecurity and IT policies – indicates that there has never been a better time for companies to take advantage of heightened employee cybersecurity awareness to crack d...
vivo V19 Smartphone Officially Available in Kenya
vivo has announced that its V19 smartphone would be officially available in Kenya – after initially launching the device in June and then pushing back the release. The V19 – vivo’s first-ever Dual Punch Hole Camera phone – will retail for Kshs 40,999 and come in either Gleam Black or Sleek Silver. “Having the device available in the market will now have Kenyans access our products at their convenience, which is in line with our vision of providing every Kenyan with affordable yet sophisticated devices with a great experience,” says CEO of vivo Kenya, Arthur Xian. The vivo V19 comes with an Ultra O Screen design with an in-display fingerprint sensor under the AMOLED screen of the phone. It sports a dual front camera which comprises of a 32MP main camera and an 8MP super wide-angle while the...
Vuma Expands ‘Free Fibre to Schools’ Programme in South Africa
Vuma has officially launched its Fibre to Schools programme in Limpopo, South Africa. As part of the initiative, primary and high schools located along Vuma’s existing fibre deployment route in Polokwane are provided with a free 1Gbps fibre line. Laerskool Pietersburg-Oos in Bendor has already benefited from the initiative, along with Adsum Academy, which received its fibre installations and connection with Capricom. Vuma says that it plans to connect more schools in the coming months. The launch follows the recent arrival of Vuma fibre-to-the-home services in Polokwane, with fibre connections already active in Bendor, Welgelegen, Fauna Park, Flora Park, Sterpark and Annadale with more areas to be added soon. “Fast fibre Internet is the key to ensuring uninterrupted, efficient e-learning e...
