Nearly 30% of central banks delay CBDC plans, survey shows

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By Denis Omelchenko Edited by Dorian Batycka

Nearly a third of central banks have delayed CBDC rollouts, but 75% still plan to issue one, a survey finds.

A new survey from the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum and Giesecke+Devrient shows that 67% of central banks haven’t changed their stance on CBDCs, even as nearly 30% have pushed back their timelines. But some hesitation is growing as15% are now less inclined to issue one, up from 0% in 2022, Reuters notes.

The survey highlights a “clear hesitancy around the subject,” adding that “very few (central banks) have so far taken the decision to issue, despite a great deal of exploratory work.”

Privacy remains a big concern. Critics argue that CBDCs could let governments keep tabs on transactions. Pushback grew after President Donald Trump banned work on a digital dollar in January. Then on Feb. 11, Fed Chair Jerome Powell doubled down, confirming there won’t be a CBDC as long as he’s in charge. Yet, for those still pushing ahead, “preserving central bank monetary sovereignty” is a key motivation, the report reads.

“CBDCs hold significant potential for advancing the digital economy. By offering a public infrastructure, central banks can pave the way for innovative financial products and services, while reducing fragmentation in the financial system.”

G+D Currency Technology chief executive Wolfram Seidemann

Adoption, however, remains an issue. In places like Jamaica, Nigeria, and China, CBDCs have struggled to gain traction. The survey found that for 55% of emerging market central banks, low user adoption is the biggest concern.

Back in September 2024, the U.S.-based Atlantic Council think tank reported that 134 countries were looking into CBDCs in some way, up from just 35 in May 2020. More than 65 countries, including India, Australia, and Brazil, are in the later stages, whether developing, testing, or already rolling them out. Every G20 nation is now exploring a CBDC, and 19 are in advanced stages, according to the report.

Source: www.crypto.news

Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, EMIs Chamber Pledge Support to NIA in Advancing Ghana’s Digital Agenda

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The leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana have pledged their unwavering support to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to help it carry out its mandate of advancing Ghana’s digital transformation. This commitment was made during a high-level courtesy call on the NIA’s leadership in Accra on February 11, 2025.

The meeting, which brought together members of the two Chambers (led by Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey) and the management of the NIA (led by its new Acting Executive Secretary Mr. Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku), focused on strengthening collaboration with the NIA to foster seamless digital identity verification, enhance data protection, and drive down the cost of verification services for businesses and consumers alike.

Key Issues Discussed

One of the key issues discussed was the need for enhanced collaboration between the members of the two Chambers and the NIA. Ing. Dr. Ashigbey, pledged the support of the GCT and the EMIs Chamber to the NIA, in enriching and sanitising its database, a move aimed at enhancing data accuracy and combating fraud across sectors.

Concerns Over Verification Fees

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the cost of verification services. The NIA outlined a tiered fee structure designed to reduce costs for large-scale users such as telecom companies and EMIs. However, concerns were raised about the affordability of these services for fintech startups and small businesses. To address this, suggestions were made to review micro-pricing models before the revised legislation is laid before Parliament. The leadership of both chambers offered to assist the NIA in finding a balance that ensures cost-effectiveness without compromising data security.

Commitment to Data Security and Fraud Prevention

The NIA reaffirmed its commitment to data privacy and security, revealing ongoing collaborations with the Data Protection Commission.

Technical Collaboration and Next Steps

All parties agreed to maintain open channels for technical discussions and feedback to support the work of the NIA. Regular technical meetings will also be scheduled to ensure continuous system improvements and to address emerging challenges.

The meeting underscored the critical importance that the leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana, place on the role of the NIA in Ghana’s digital transformation and the importance of collaboration with stakeholders in the telecommunications and digital financial sectors.

MTN Ghana Foundation to organise annual ‘Save A Life’ blood donation campaign on Feb. 14

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The MTN Ghana Foundation is organizing its annual ‘Save a Life’ blood donation exercise on Friday, February 14, 2025.

The goal of this initiative is to collect 6,110 units of blood to help replenish the National Blood Service and the blood banks of major regional hospitals throughout the country.

The event will take place on Valentine’s Day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM across all 16 regions of Ghana.

Nana Kofi Asare, the Acting Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, commented on the 2025 “Save a Life” Blood Donation exercise.

He said, “The Foundation initiated this blood donation exercise because we are committed to supporting the healthcare delivery system in the country. We are happy to continue this initiative to help save lives.”.

“We encourage everyone who shares this vision to use this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration as an opportunity to demonstrate their love by donating a unit of blood.”

Donors are encouraged to visit MTN Ghana’s website and social media channels for details of the locations where we will be carrying out this exercise throughout Ghana.

The MTN “Save a Life Campaign” is an annual blood donation initiative held on Valentine’s Day, organized by the MTN Ghana Foundation.

It provides MTN staff and the general public with the opportunity to donate blood to help replenish the National Blood Bank and regional hospitals.

This initiative began in 2011 in response to appeals from the National Blood Service for voluntary contributions to address critically low blood supplies.

Over the years, the exercise has successfully raised over 29,000 units of blood.

Source: Myjoyonline

Telecoms chamber ready to engage on SIM card re-registration

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications says it is ready to engage the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation on how the intended re-registration of SIM cards in the country will be carried out after the first two attempts failed to meet the required expectations.

Generally, mandatory SIM registration is a policy adopted by several governments around the world as part of efforts to mitigate security concerns, address crime, and enable the application of digital services. 

SIM registration also allows the service providers to know the identity of the owner of a SIM card and that of a person making a call or sending a message.

As a condition for the purchase or activation of a SIM card, the user will be required to provide personal data, such as a residential address, as well as a valid identification document (ID), a point of contention that has some members of the public rightfully questioning the safety and security of their privacy.

In view of the broader benefits, the chamber says it is also ready to make proposals during the engagements to ensure that the exercise cuts across the entire ecosystem to include banks and other financial and non-financial institutions to ensure greater efficiency at the end of the exercise.

“We want all those players in the ecosystem who use the Ghana Card to also be able to detect fraud when it arises so that in the end, that objective of detecting fraud does not only rest on the telcos but all players.

That, we believe, is a sure way to create more value for the SIM registration and bring improved meaning to it.” The Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, told the Graphic Business in an interview.

He was reacting to a comment passed by Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, during his vetting in Parliament a couple of weeks ago.

His premise was to implement a new SIM card registration process to address what he described as issues encountered during the previous exercise.

Previous attempts

Should the exercise be carried out, it will be the third time such an exercise is being conducted in the country.

Under the Atta-Mills administration with Haruna Iddrisu as the Minister of Communications, the first of such exercises was undertaken.

About three years ago, in 2022, the previous government conducted a SIM card re-registration, which required cardholders to visit various Mobile Network Operators (MNOs’) offices to link their SIM cards with their Ghana Cards. Failure to comply led to SIM card blockages or the withdrawal of essential services.

Justifying his intentions, Mr. George criticized the previous government’s approach, particularly the long queues and inefficiencies faced by Ghanaians during the registration process.

He assured the committee that, under his leadership, the new SIM registration exercise would be more efficient and streamlined, leveraging technology to cross-reference data with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. 

This approach would eliminate the need for long queues and simplify the process for Ghanaians.

Unlike the previous exercise where SIM card holders were taken through a harrowing experience of having to queue to register, the sector minister is of the strong conviction that, with the new SIM re-registration exercise, nobody is going to queue. 

Mr. George was confident that the MNOs hold a certain set of dates, adding that there will be heavy reliance on technology to cross-reference that against the National Identification Authority (NIA’s) database and all biometric databases, and only instances where there is a disparity would require one to visit an MNO shop.

Mixed reaction

The proposed exercise has been received with mixed reactions from a section of the public.

While some perceive the exercise as needless and a waste of time, others believe the re-registration will smoothen the rough edges to make it more useful.

One industry expert who wants to remain anonymous said the new approach, albeit without details, is a welcome development which must be carried out because it will be 
stress-free.

He maintained that in the first previous exercise, it was improper to subject Ghanaians to long hours in a queue, taking away productive man hours and affecting an ailing economy.

He expressed the hope that this time around the exercise will be conducted without any queues because technology will be fully leveraged to make it effective. 

Way forward

Some experts advise that there is the need for the government to involve all players in the entire ecosystem (telcos, financial, and non-financial institutions) to ensure that, in the end, the country will have the best of results.

According to them, there are case studies all over the world that Ghana can study and use as leverage to ensure that there will be no need to go back to redo what already exists to subject subscribers to another round of discomfort.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Ethiopia eyes third telecom operator by late 2025

Ethiopia’s telecommunications market is poised for further expansion with the anticipated arrival of a third telecom operator by late 2025 or early 2026, according to the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). While the ECA is temporarily pausing the issuance of new licenses in mid-2023, this decision aims to create a more favorable investment environment before welcoming additional global players.

Balcha Reba, Director General of the ECA, explained that this temporary suspension will allow for a reassessment of the current market situation and the implementation of necessary reforms to attract and ensure long-term investment. “Since there are new conditions that require investment, work is being done to see if it is appropriate and to make further improvements if necessary,” Balcha stated. The ECA is carefully evaluating market volatility, the existing regulatory framework, and broader policy factors to attract reputable and qualified operators.

The addition of a third telecom operator is expected to bring several benefits to Ethiopia, including increased competition, improved quality and availability of telecom services, spurred innovation, enhanced network coverage, and reduced costs for consumers.

Ethiopia’s telecom sector has undergone significant changes since 2018, when the government recognized its vital role in the country’s development and embarked on a path towards free markets and privatization. For decades, state-owned Ethio Telecom held a monopoly, limiting competition and innovation. A key milestone in this transformation was the licensing of Kenyan telecommunications giant Safaricom in 2021, marking the arrival of the first private telecom operator in Ethiopia.

Safaricom has experienced substantial growth, reaching an estimated 42 percent population coverage, demonstrating the potential for rapid expansion in the newly liberalized market. This success has informed the government’s decision to introduce a third operator and its current focus on creating favorable investment conditions.

However, previous attempts to issue a second license have been met with challenges, including a lack of satisfactory bids and concerns about political instability. In November 2023, the government reportedly confirmed it had cancelled the process of issuing a third telecoms license due to a lack of interest.

Despite past setbacks, the ECA’s current strategic approach aims to maximize the benefits for Ethiopian citizens by ensuring a strong and competitive telecom ecosystem before welcoming a third operator[6]. In October 2024, Brook Taye, CEO of Ethiopia Investment Holdings, stated that Ethiopia still plans to welcome a third mobile operator due to increased demand for B2B and B2C broadband services. He also revealed plans for Ethio Telecom to list on Ethiopia’s new stock market.

Source: extensia.tech

Nokia Moon landing aims to shake-up space tech

As Nokia gears up to put a 4G network on the Moon potentially in late February, the feat will mark a milestone for both telecoms and space exploration while representing a high-tech leap towards shaping future lunar connectivity.

Earlier this month, the Finnish vendor and its partners aerospace company Intuitive Machines and Lunar Outpost revealed the successful integration of Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS) into the IM-2 mission lander, dubbed Athena, paving the way for deployment.

The project has been years in the making; the vendor partnered with Vodafone Group back in 2018 to deploy a lunar cellular network, but the initiative did not proceed and the operator has since backed out of the venture.

Then, in late 2020, Nokia pivoted to working with NASA, striking a $14.1 million agreement with the space agency under its Tipping Point initiative to develop commercial space technologies.

Now, with the LSCS and Athena poised for a strenuous journey to the lunar south pole from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Thierry Klein, president of Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research, spoke to Mobile World Live (MWL) about how the project plugs a significant need for advanced communication capabilities in space exploration.

Pizza box
As space missions grow more complex, so do communication needs, and Klein highlighted technology’s ability to “connect payloads, rovers, scientific equipment and astronauts”.

In order to support long-term human activities on the lunar surface, Klein continued: “We need high-definition video, real-time sharing of information, telemetry data from the rovers and robotic assets, low latency communication to control these robotic assets, and biometric information from astronauts. So, we believe that there is no mission that can go to space without advanced communication capabilities.”

Nokia’s main ambition, says Klein, is to “push the boundaries of technology” by utilising the capability of everyday technologies to support space missions.

Also speaking to MWL about the vendor’s plans, Ian Fogg, director of network innovation at CCS Insight, explained LTE/4G is a mature, well-tested technology with proven reliability and more robust network management compared to 5G, making it a sound choice for a Moon deployment.

Maturity is indeed particularly useful in demanding extraterrestrial conditions. Klein explained Nokia’s lunar mobile network was optimised to withstand extreme environments, from shock and vibrations at launch and landing to extreme lunar temperatures.

Furthermore, the LSCS is designed to be compact and durable, with size, weight, and power optimisation being critical factors. “It’s a massively integrated, compact network – about the size of a small pizza box – and has all cellular network functionalities integrated,” Klein stated.

The system was also engineered to operate autonomously aboard the uncrewed IM-2 mission. “We built the software reliability framework to make sure the network is self-functioning. Even if you think of future crewed missions with astronauts, you don’t want them to be network technicians,” he remarked.

Closer to home
As Nokia shoots for the Moon in vying to establish a first lunar LTE network, the stakes are high for the vendor to prove its technology’s reliability in a challenging environment given the high costs and risks associated with space operations.

While Fogg judged Nokia’s role in this project to be relatively low risk considering failures are often tied to rockets or other systems unrelated to connectivity, the deployment could still carry significant strategic value in the form of “marketing benefits”. By demonstrating its technological capabilities, Nokia can use the project as a “halo case study for their terrestrial private network business” to prove it can withstand challenging deployments on Earth, he explained.

Indeed, Klein also highlighted that on Earth, high-risk industries like mining, defence, oil rigs, and remote infrastructure could benefit from the company’s LSCS network. The technology’s autonomous capabilities and compact, energy-efficient design could potentially streamline enterprise operations and boost public safety in high-risk earthbound applications. “If we can solve these challenges for space, the solutions will be beneficial for terrestrial networks as well,” Klein added.

Mission Mars?
NASA intends to use these lunar advancements in its Artemis programme, which seeks to establish sustainable lunar operations by the end of the decade as a precursor to Mars exploration. The same network used on the Moon “could be applicable to Mars”, Klein explained.

While latency issues between Earth and Mars would require adaptations to the network architecture, “a lot of lessons learned on lunar deployments will be applicable to Martian deployment”, Klein affirmed. He envisions a future where astronauts and payloads connect to permanent lunar networks, much like roaming services on Earth. “Ultimately, you could imagine that there might be a lunar service provider,” he added.

As more private companies and nations plan lunar missions, including Amazon’s Blue Origin and Musk’s SpaceX, Nokia could position itself as a preferred provider of communication infrastructure in space. Considering this ambition, Fogg underscored that if multiple networks are deployed on the Moon, “there will need to be coordination of wireless spectrum usage just as there is on earth”. Nokia’s early involvement in lunar connectivity could shape its future influence in this new regulatory landscape.

One thing is for certain. As the IM-2 lander prepares for launch, Nokia’s lunar mission offers a glimpse into the converging future of telecoms and space exploration and a potential catalyst for terrestrial innovations.

Source: Mobile World Live

Singapore Regulator, Banking Association to Set up New Payments Entity

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By Reuters

Singapore’s financial regulator and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) said on Wednesday they will set up a new entity to consolidate the administration and governance of national payment schemes and further grow them.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and ABS said in a joint statement that the entity will also collaborate with MAS to develop Singapore’s national payments strategy and ensure a safe, efficient and innovative payments infrastructure.

“Consolidating the administrative and governance responsibilities of all national payment schemes under a single entity will strengthen the governance of these schemes and contribute towards greater payments resilience and innovation,” Chia Der Jiun, MAS’ managing director, said in the statement.

The MAS is Singapore’s central bank and integrated financial regulator.

Financial hub Singapore’s current national payment schemes, including Interbank GIRO System and PayNow, are administered and governed by Singapore Clearing House Association, ABS, MAS and Infocomm Media Development Authority, the statement showed.

These payment schemes are widely used by consumers and businesses for domestic and cross-border payments.

MAS and ABS said the new entity will be governed by senior representatives from the central bank and the financial services industry.

There will be no changes to the operations and scheme rules of the national payment schemes, and further details on the entity’s name, governance structure and board composition will be announced later this year, they added.

(Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Telecel certified as a 2025 top employer

Telecel Ghana has been recognised as a Top Employer in Ghana for the 7th consecutive year, a major achievement that demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating a world-class workplace and promoting excellence in its Human Resource (HR) policies and practices. The recognition also comes almost a year since the telecommunications giant completed its rebranding to Telecel.

“We are delighted to be recognised as a Top Employer in Ghana. This award validates the hard work and dedication of our team, and it reflects our ongoing commitment to encouraging an inclusive, innovative, and supportive work environment. We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that Telecel Ghana is not only a leader in digital connectivity but also a leader in talent development and employee wellbeing,” said Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, chief executive of Telecel Ghana.

Being certified as a Top Employer reflects Telecel Ghana’s dedication to building a better world of work through exceptional people strategies, inclusive practices, and innovative talent development. The Top Employers Institute evaluates organisations through a rigorous HR Best Practices Survey, covering key areas such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Wellbeing, among others.

David Plink, CEO of Top Employers Institute, said: “This year, the Top Employers Certification Programme highlights the dedication of Top Employers as they continue to set the standard by consistently delivering world-class HR strategies and practices. We are proud to celebrate these people-first leaders and teams as Top Employers for 2025.”

Over the past year, the telco has focused on improving its internal culture, focusing on employee development, diversity, and inclusion. “Our aim is to build a workplace that nurtures talent, promotes continuous learning, and empowers our employees to contribute to both their personal growth and the company’s mission of connecting Ghana and Africa. This recognition reaffirms that we’re on the right path,” said Hussein Rifai, Head of Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Telecel Group.

With over 2,400 organisations certified across 125 countries and regions, the Top Employers programme has become the global standard for recognising excellence in people practices. This year, Top Employers Institute certified companies that positively impact the lives of over 13 million employees globally, with Telecel Ghana standing as a proud member of this esteemed group.

Source: THEBFTONLINE.COM

Cisco launches solutions to enable telcos to monetise AI services

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(These solutions cumulatively offer telcos the tools to evolve their networks, develop new service offerings, and monetise the delivery of assured services, according to the company.)

US-headquartered telecom gear maker Cisco on Tuesday launched a framework for telecom operators to kickstart the monetisation of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven services.

“Service providers are set to play a critical role in defining how, where, and when data from artificial intelligence (AI) applications moves across networks,” Cisco said, adding that its solutions can enable telcos to handle the increase in data volume and variety, and monetise the services supporting Al traffic.

“The Al revolution is a massive potential tailwind for service providers,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. “Al, and especially the advent of Al agents, will mean an incredible influx of new digital workers who will be working together and communicating constantly. Cisco’s Agile Services Networking is the blueprint for service providers as they look to capitalise on the opportunities of Al by meeting the demand for high-bandwidth, secure, and energy-efficient connectivity.”

Cisco’s ‘Agile Services Networking’ framework comprises the Cisco Silicon One systems and platforms, Cisco coherent pluggable optics, and network automation and assurance features that are “designed to remove complexity with simplified networking that converges network layers and services”, the vendor said.

These solutions cumulatively offer telcos the tools to evolve their networks, develop new service offerings, and monetise the delivery of assured services, according to the company.

The first of Cisco’s Silicon One-powered 8000 series has become available, while additional models are targeted to ship in the spring and summer of 2025. The first of Cisco’s new coherent pluggable optics is also targeted to begin shipping in the spring of 2025, while the network automation and assurance features are available now.

Source: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes

EC bets big on AI with €200B investment plan

The European Commission (EC) pledged to raise €200 billion for investment in AI across the region, a move announced at the AI Action Summit in Paris.

The programme, dubbed InvestAI, is set to combine public and private investments to boost AI research, infrastructure and deployment across the European Union (EU). The plan also includes a €20 billion European fund to support the development of large-scale AI gigafactories across the region to support advanced AI model training.

Initial financing for InvestAI will be sourced from existing EU programmes for digital initiatives, including the Digital Europe Programme and InvestEU. Additionally, EU member states can allocate funds from designated cohesion budgets to support the initiative. Meanwhile, the AI gigafactories will be funded through a combination of grants and equity.

EC president Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the initiative, stating it will “enable all our scientists and companies – not just the biggest – to develop the most advanced very large models needed to make Europe an AI continent”.

The announcement came shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron revealed a €109 billion investment plan to support AI development in the country at the Paris summit. Macron described the investment as “the equivalent for France of what the US has announced with Stargate”, referring to the President Donald Trump-backed $500 billion AI joint venture involving OpenAI.

Pushback against AI safety
Alongside the investment announcement, the EU also promoted an international declaration on AI safety at the summit, backed by around 60 countries including China, India and Germany. The non-binding agreement calls for AI to be “ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy”.

However, the US and UK declined to sign the agreement, citing concerns about its potential impact on innovation and national security. Financial Times reported the US argued that excessive regulation could hamper AI innovation and took particular issue with the communique’s multilateral language. Vice President JD Vance described the regulations as “overly precautionary” and stated the Trump administration will “ensure that the most powerful AI systems are built in the US”.

Meanwhile, UK representatives reportedly stated the declaration “didn’t provide enough practical clarity on global governance, nor sufficiently address harder questions around national security”.

Source: Mobile World Live