technology news
Vodacom Partners with Nokia on 5G Network
Vodacom has join forces with Nokia to enable ultra-fast 5G services for South Africans. Nokia is said to be deploying its 5G radio, core and fixed network solutions across Vodacom’s network. The telco is using Nokia’s 2G, 3G, 4G and fibre access networks, as well as 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) and mobile broadband services. Vodacom will also use Nokia’s FastMile 5G gateway to offer FWA broadband services in areas not currently served by a fibre network. The solution is expected to be easy for subscribers to install, delivering fibre-like speeds to homes while using Wi-Fi to connect devices within the home. “We are committed to providing the most innovative products and highest quality service to our subscribers. 5G technology allows us to deliver ultra-fast mobile networks and support e...
7 Cybersecurity Precautions South Africans Should Take
Cybercriminals aren’t easy to detect and present a real risk to their victims. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to be aware of the threats they pose and take every precaution you can to keep yourself safe. According to Giuseppe Virgillito, FNB Head of Digital Banking, the remote living and working requirements of lockdown have meant that most people are communicating digitally – and criminals often use this to their advantage to gain people’s trust in order to steal sensitive information, money or both. “Fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to get to your information,” explains Virgillito, “and if customers or businesses let down their guard as a result of physical distancing and the need to transact or operate digitally, that unfortunately presents fraudsters with anot...
LG Reveals Wing 5G Smartphone Launch Date
LG has announced that its Wing smartphone will be available in South Africa from 1 November 2020. This is exciting news for tech fans and content creators that are intrigued by its second swivel screen and camera specs. Designed to take ‘flight’ Described as ‘the most transformative smartphone ever’, the LG WING allows users to seamlessly switch between either Basic Mode or Swivel Mode, which reveals a hidden second screen. This screen unlocks an entirely new and truly different experience for users. Simply swivel the entire front of the phone 90˚ to reveal the 3.9″ second screen that doubles as a grip when the main screen is in landscape mode. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_d00.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_d00.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The swivel screen also makes the WI...
INTERVIEW: Unlocking True Leadership Potential in Tech
The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the true leadership potential of women across the world. A case in point is the strategic appointment of Gudani Mukatuni as the WesBank Motor Chief Information Officer (CIO). Her appointment in February 2020 acknowledges and is testament to her vast knowledge in the industry in defining and executing IT transformation and digital strategies. IT News Africa’s Jenna Delport chatted to Mukatuni about her appointment and her role as a leading woman in tech. Here’s what transpired: Has your recent appointment as the WesBank Motor CIO allowed you to drive digital transformation throughout the organisation? If so, How? /* custom css */ .tdi_3_c80.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_c80.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Yes – the organisation is a...
Nokia Introduces the 8.3 5G Smartphone to Kenya
HMD Global, the home of Nokia, has announced the availability of its 8.3 5G smartphones in Kenya. The Nokia 8.3 5G has been designed to support multiple and evolving 5G network deployments, with support for both standalone and non-standalone 5G combinations – which operators are rolling out around the globe. Being the first smartphone to use the Qualcomm 5G RF Front end module solution, as part of its Qualcomm Modular Platform, the Nokia 8.3 5G condenses more than 40 different RF components into a single module, making it not only a global device but also a “future-proof smartphone” which is ready for the next step in 5G. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_4f8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_4f8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The device comes with a powerful PureView quad camera with...
Lenovo Unveils the Legion Slim 7
Lenovo has unveiled its latest 15-inch gaming laptop – the Legion Slim 7 – said to be the world’s lightest 15-inch gaming laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX. The device is powered by the next-level AMD Ryzen 4000 H-Series Mobile Processors, paired with powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and Max-Q Design GPU for real-time ray tracing. Available in Slate Grey hue with up to AMD Ryzen 9 4900H Mobile Processor, the sleek design is decked to impress gamers with a more secure, integrated power button with fingerprint reader and the incredibly immersive sound of Dolby Atmos Speaker System with Sound Radar by Dolby. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_d78.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_d78.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Engineered for all-day productivity with Windows 10 Pro and increased gaming c...
Red Hat’s Sub-Saharan Track Event Goes Virtual
Red Hat is preparing for the 2020 edition of its annual Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Regional Forum. Dubbed “the open-source event of the year”, the forum is moving to a region-specific virtual experience. The event will take place on 3 November 2020 from 10:30 to 16:00, and promises inspiring presentations, technical sessions, and live demos – all set to take place from 12:00. After the general sessions, breakout sessions have been scheduled, so open source enthusiasts can learn more from regional customers and local Red Hatters. The Sub-Saharan Africa track will discuss codeless integration, digital transformation, Ansible, virtualisation, Linux®, and more. Red Hat, strives to develop software that pushes the boundaries of technological ability. Our Sub-Saharan Africa tra...
MTN Appoints Group Chief Risk Officer
Ferdi Moolman, MTN Group Chief Risk Officer MTN Group announced the appointment of Ferdi Moolman to Group Chief Risk Officer, a new Executive Committee (exco) position – effective from 1 March 2021. Moolman joined MTN in 2002 and has held several senior positions within the group in Nigeria and in Iran. He has spent the past five years as the CEO of MTN Nigeria and, as its CFO prior to that. During that time, the company says that significant progress has been made in stabilising the business and setting it on a sustainable growth path. That’s why the management of enterprise-wide risk is integral to MTN’s growth strategy. Moolman will bring extensive operational and financial experience to the role given his deep knowledge of the MTN Group, its markets and the telecoms sector. He will rem...
MTN Nigeria Appoints New CEO
MTN Group has appointed Karl Toriola, current VP for MTN Group’s West and Central Africa (WECA) region, as the new CEO of MTN Nigeria – effective 1 March 2021. Toriola will take over as MTN Nigeria CEO from Ferdi Moolman, who has served MTN Nigeria with distinction in this role for the past five years. Moolman will return to South Africa, where he will assume the new role of Group Chief Risk Officer. Toriola has a BSc Hons in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and an MSc in Communication Systems. In his five years as VP of MTN’s WECA region, he has overseen the steady progress of the operating companies in the region, notably the turnaround of MTN Ivory Coast and MTN Cameroon over the past two years. In addition, the WECA markets have made significant commercial and strategic strides, i...
Google could be Testing Dark Mode for Chrome OS
Image sourced from Android Police Google is testing dark mode for Chrome OS, according to AndroidCentral. If the feature is released, Chrome OS users would be able to join the ranks of Windows and macOS users. “Dark mode has been in high demand for any OS over the past few years for its benefits on eye strain and general readability,” reads a report from Android Central. “[And] although the feature isn’t fully ready and definitely has some bugs to squash, it already works on the Chrome browser and a bunch of different system web apps. The dark theme already seems to be a pretty comprehensive feature so far as it not only applies to the app backgrounds but seems to apply to other UI elements as well.” There’s no word yet on when (or if) Google will unveil this feature. /* custom css */...
How Post-Lockdown Shopping Figures Represent Changing Retail Landscape
The impact of COVID-19 on both consumers and retailers is becoming evident. Retailers are under pressure to reimagine and transform their businesses, build-out eCommerce solutions and expand their online offerings. Consumers, having already navigated a difficult year, and still uncertain about what the future holds, are likely to spend more conservatively over the next quarter. New data from Mobicred’s Consumer Spend index reveals some interesting trends as South Africans settle into post-lockdown shopping. While the previous quarter’s figures showed a higher level of eCommerce adoption, this spike was to be expected amid Coronavirus infection fears and consequent limitations on physical shopping during lockdown. Despite adoption rates levelling off, the data shows an increase of 9% i...
NCC Approves MTN and 9mobile’s Roaming Service Trial in Nigeria
Sourced from the Guardian Nigeria. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted MTN and 9mobile permission to trial a national roaming service. According to The Vanguard, this roaming service will allow a mobile subscriber “to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside the coverage of a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other networks”. “The approval requires 9mobile and MTN to configure and test their networks towards simulation for customer experience [and it] covers a few local governments, designated as the National Roaming geographic area, in Ondo State.” Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Umar Danbatta says that “the primary objective of the National Roaming Servi...
