technology news
4 Fresh Venture Capital Trends Shaping New African Investments
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_d6c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_d6c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } With the second half of 2021 approaches and COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the globe, albeit at varying rates, Ian Lessem, Managing Partner at HAVAIC, investors in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses, considers the trends making an impact on the African Venture Capital landscape. Homegrown Solutions With the world having adjusted to new ways of shopping, learning, and doing business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the appetite for solutions that solve real, tangible problems are without a doubt the best opportunities for growth. Solutions that offer people and organisations better ways of living and working with less friction will reign supreme. In the Afr...
“Ready for Third Wave” Claim SA Oxygen Suppliers
Sourced from Times Live. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_6ee.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_6ee.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } A few weeks after the third wave of COVID-19 infections was confirmed in South Africa, the number of daily infections has again begun to steadily rise. During earlier waves last year many public and private hospitals experienced severe shortages in their oxygen supplies. Now, amongst increasing concerns that oxygen will again begin to run dry, oxygen suppliers have confirmed that they have learnt their lessons during the second wave and have helped increase capacity to meet the demand in the coming weeks or months as the third wave crests upon the country. The Third Wave is Here /* custom css */ .tdi_3_110.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_110.td-a-...
South Africa’s COVID-19 Variant Renamed to Avoid Discrimination
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_517.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_517.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The several mutated variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, otherwise known as COVID-19, will now be known according to letters of the Greek alphabet in order to avoid “stigmatization and discrimination”, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This new system will apply to the variants seen to be of most concern – the most severe of the four currently in circulation on Earth – and the second-level mutates of interest being tracked. Maria van Kerkhove, WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, suggests that the new names will not replace the scientific names of the variants, but instead will be “aimed to help in public discussion.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_c11.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: l...
Massive Undersea Mudslide Caused Internet Problems Across Africa
Image sourced from Medium. A recent study conducted by Professor Peter J. Talling and a team from the Departments of Earth Sciences and Geography, from the University of Durham in the UK, co-led by Angola Cables and supported by the Vodafone Group, British Telecom, NERC Environmental and others, has delivered important findings presenting valuable insights for the routing and protection of future subsea cables. In January 2020, the South Atlantic 3/West Africa (SAT-3/Wasc) cable, linking Africa to Portugal and Spain was hit by a breakdown in Gabon, whilst the West Africa Cable System (Wacs) that connects South Africa to the United Kingdom saw an outage off the coast of the DRC Congo. In March, the WACS cable experienced a further break affecting international bandwidth. Whilst many I...
Why Immutable Architecture is Key to Protecting Backup Data
Ransomware and other malware are a constant threat, and data backup is critical to safeguard a business’ most important asset. However, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting and encrypting backup data copies as well, a strategy that leaves organisations unable to recover unless they pay the ransom. Keeping an immutable copy of backup data is a best practice for data protection and is the solution in the event of a successful two-pronged ransomware attack. What is an immutable architecture? For data to be immutable means that it is unable to be changed over a period of time. With an immutable architecture, when retention policies are set for data backup and recovery, data will be secured, locked and unchangeable for that retention period. This in turn means that it cannot be encrypted b...
Huawei’s New Band 6 Smartwatch is Launching in SA – Here’s the Details
Image sourced from Huawei. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_411.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_411.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Huawei’s Band 6 smartwatch is coming to South Africa, according to the Chinese telecom retail megacorp. This new iteration of the company’s Band series of smartwatches comes will an all-new set of improvements and features. Boasting a sleek, rounded Apple Watch-like design, the Band 6 seems to be Huawei’s next very competitive answer to the already uber-competitive smartwatch market. New Features /* custom css */ .tdi_3_126.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_126.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Band 6 has an increased display area from previous generations of devices. Its 1.47-inch AMOLED FullView Screen is touted as having a 148% larger...
PnP Mobile Introduces Paperless RICA Process for South Africans
Pick n Pay’s Mobile Virtual Network (MVN) will now allow subscribers to RICA their SIM cards through a completely paperless process. “Pick n Pay and our partners, TymeBank, are making it possible for our PnP Mobile customers to enjoy a completely simplified mobile SIM card purchase and registration process. They will no longer need a physical copy of their residential address or identity document to complete registration,” says John Bradshaw, Retail Executive at Pick n Pay. The paperless RICA process is completed by using a TymeBank kiosk, available at 500 Pick n Pay stores across the country. Registration is completed in five simple steps: 1. purchase a SIM card 2. scan or type in SIM barcode 3. enter ID number and an alternative cellphone number 4. select a residential address in the sys...
Why Unlocking Data is Setting CIOs Up for Success
Whilst companies used to build one to three-year transformation plans, today technological advancements and customer expectations are changing much faster. Everything companies do have to be driven by flexibility, agility and customer-centricity. Connecting with and serving customers, building the right data architecture, and embedding an open data culture throughout the organisation are all part of digital transformation. It also entails training its workforce to effectively and transparently share and leverage data. In many cases, it is not technology that is holding companies back. Rather, this is caused by the ways in which companies have set up their systems to handle data. According to MuleSoft’s 2020 Connectivity Benchmark Report, 85% of organisations admit that integration challeng...
Intel Introduces 2 New Core Processors
Sourced from Unsplash. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_101.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_101.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Intel has introduced two new additions to its lineup of 11th Gen Intel Core processors. These new processors, combined with Intel’s co-engineering work with independent software vendors (ISVs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), are expected to continue Intel’s leadership in mobile computing. “We’ve taken the world’s best processor for thin-and-light Windows laptops and made the experience even better with the addition of our two new 11th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics,” says Chris Walker, VP of Mobility Client Platforms at Intel. “In addition, we know real-world performance and connectivity are vital to our partners and the ...
Top 10 Cybersecurity Misperceptions
Between more sophisticated cybercriminals and immense pressure to ensure governance on compliance, 2021 is already shaping up to be a minefield. And as such, cybersecurity has risen to the top of most organisations’ agendas. With this in mind, research from Sophos shows the top 10 cybersecurity misperceptions: Misperception 1: We are not a target; we are too small and/or have no assets of value to an adversary. Many cyberattack victims assume they are too small, in a sector of no interest or lacking the kind of lucrative assets that would attract an adversary. The truth is, it doesn’t matter: if you have the processing power and a digital presence, you are a target. Misperception 2: We don’t need advanced security technologies installed everywhere. Some IT teams still believe ...
MTN Group Eyes Second Ethiopian Operating Licence
MTN Group CEO, Ralph Mupita has revealed that the telco would consider bidding for the second Ethiopian operating licence after initially losing to Safaricom. “We took an approach that the opportunity, as strategic as it was, needed to meet our capital allocation framework and the hurdles that we saw given the licence conditions. We were particularly focused on the lack of mobile money in the licencing regime, and there were some issues around how the telco constructs would be accommodated within Ethiopia. We certainly priced for those things and near-term risks that we saw, and we felt that the financial bid there was appropriate.” He says that although it was disappointing that they did not win the initial bid, they may take another shot at it. “There are views that the Ethiopian authori...
ProLabs Explains Why 5G Mobile Networks are ‘Fibre Networks in Disguise’
Service providers are investing in 5G as it will deliver speeds approaching 10 gigabits per second. That is 600 times faster than standard 4G speeds, and more than 10 times faster than some residential fibre offerings. This is according to ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking infrastructure. The company notes that fibre optics have replaced copper for almost all links in the 5G networks used in delivering the required speed from the mobile antenna to consumers’ phones. Thus, “5G networks are really fibre optic networks with a short wireless connection at the end.” ProLabs is distributed in sub-Saharan Africa by value-added distributor, Networks Unlimited Africa. Craig Copeland, Networking and Storage Director at Networks Unlimited Africa, explains, “The fifth generation of mobile...
