Industry News

The Brand Finance award comes after MTN Group was inducted into the inaugural Brand Africa Hall of Fame in January.

For the 13th year in a row, MTN has been named South Africa’s most valuable brand by Brand Finance, which assigned the Group a brand value of R50.9 billion in 2026.

“We appreciate this accolade, which encourages us to keep delivering on our purpose of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

– Ralph Mupita, President and CEO, MTN Group

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita, added that it came soon after the launch of MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which has a renewed focus on providing the leading customer experience across markets.

MTN serves more than 300 million customers at its mobile operations in 16 countries.

“It also reminds us of the many partners on whom we rely in our work to extend digital and financial inclusion so that no-one is left behind. I would like to thank all of them, and our other stakeholders for their continued support.”

– Ralph Mupita, President and CEO, MTN Group

The Brand Finance award comes after MTN Group was inducted into the inaugural Brand Africa Hall of Fame in January. That honour acknowledged brands that have demonstrated sustained excellence and influence on the continent over the past decade.

Source : www.extensia.tech.com

Ghana will officially unveil its National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy on April 24, 2026, with President John Dramani Mahama set to preside over the launch, following Cabinet approval of the decade-long blueprint designed to reshape the country’s digital economy.

The announcement was made by Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George at a National Stakeholder Engagement on Ghana’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (AI-RAM) Report held on March 31, 2026, at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra, convened by the Ministry in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with funding from the European Union.

The strategy covers the period 2023 to 2033 and was developed with support from Smart Africa, German development agency GIZ FAIR Forward, and The Future Society. It is built around eight pillars covering AI education, youth employment, digital infrastructure, data governance, ecosystem development, sectoral AI adoption, applied research, and public sector deployment, with seven priority sectors identified including healthcare, agriculture, financial services, and energy.

George described the upcoming launch as a turning point. “This marks a decisive step in Ghana’s path towards a responsible, innovative and globally competitive artificial intelligence ecosystem,” he said.

The minister identified four priority implementation areas: strengthening data governance systems, investing in AI research and computing infrastructure, expanding AI education and digital skills, and embedding ethical safeguards in deployment.

Ghana’s mobile penetration currently exceeds 110 percent, with over 38 million mobile subscriptions nationwide, a foundation the minister cited as central to scaling AI-driven services across the country.

A dedicated Responsible AI Office will oversee implementation, ensuring the strategy aligns with ethical standards and national development goals, and will coordinate cross-sector efforts, monitor progress, and manage stakeholder engagement throughout the ten-year programme.

George was unambiguous that government alone cannot drive the transformation. “We need researchers, startups, private sector investment, and civil society,” he said, urging all stakeholders to contribute concrete ideas to guide the strategy’s rollout.

The Minister also linked Ghana’s AI ambitions to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, headquartered in Accra, arguing that AI will be central to driving digital trade and inclusive growth across the continent, and set an ambitious benchmark of scaling solutions from 20,000 people locally to 20 million across Africa.

Ghana currently ranks 72nd globally and 6th in Africa in the Global AI Index 2025, behind Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa, and Tunisia, with the ranking reflecting balanced development across talent, research, infrastructure, and a growing startup ecosystem.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

The project marks the first implementation of mmWave extended range technology in the UAE, representing a milestone in the countries’ 5G evolution.

du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) have successfully completed a proof of concept (PoC) deploying 5G Standalone (SA) using millimeter wave (mmWave) extended range technology in residential areas across the UAE.

The trial leveraged Ericsson’s latest mmWave radio solution, AIR 5343, alongside advanced software features to achieve gigabit speeds across coverage areas, extended capacity for high-demand applications, boosted coverage in residential neighbourhoods, and faster rollout of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services. It will enable more households to access du’s high-performance FWA services across residential areas throughout the UAE.

“du continues to bring the latest and most innovative connectivity solutions to our customers. Leveraging mmWave extended range with Ericsson, we are enhancing our Fixed Wireless Access services and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a 5G leader. This proof of concept helps us explore how advanced 5G technologies can improve service delivery, create new customer offerings, and strengthen our role in shaping the UAE’s digital infrastructure.”

– Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer, du

The project marks the first implementation of mmWave extended range technology in the UAE, representing a milestone in the countries’ 5G evolution. The successful PoC builds upon the long-standing partnership between Ericsson and du, with Ericsson serving as a key technology partner in du’s Radio Access Network infrastructure.

“This PoC with du represents a significant advancement for 5G Standalone deployment in the UAE. Together, we are demonstrating how mmWave extended range technology can transform Fixed Wireless Access while showcasing the benefits of enhanced spectrum utilization for both operators and end users. This reflects our ongoing commitment to exploring practical deployments that address real market demand.”

– Petra Schirren, President, Ericsson Gulf

The trial utilized macro deployment architecture to deliver high-capacity, high-performance FWA services, demonstrating the viability of mmWave technology for residential broadband applications in the UAE market. The collaboration supports the UAE’s Vision 2031 by accelerating digital transformation and establishing the foundation for next-generation connectivity services across the nation.

Source : www. techafricanews.com

Huawei and Jazz, Veon Group’s telco subsidiary in Pakistan, announced on Friday that they have deployed solar power systems across 1,000 base station sites nationwide, with a total installed capacity of 13 MW.

The project leverages Huawei’s integrated green site solutions, combining solar power, battery storage, and intelligent energy management to optimize performance across diverse operating conditions.

Huawei senior VP Steven Yi said the solution enables Jazz to transition traditional sites into more efficient, low-carbon infrastructure while improving overall energy availability.

Yi also said the solar-powered sites are expected to generate approximately 11 GWh of clean energy annually, reducing carbon emissions by around 15,000 tons per year.

Apart from the environmental benefits, the project also boosts Jazz’s network reliability, particularly in energy-constrained and underserved areas, enabling more consistent connectivity for customers, said JazzWorld CEO Aamir Ibrahim.

“Expanding solar across our network allows us to reduce our environmental footprint while improving service reliability for our customers,” he said in a statement.

Ibrahim added that Jazz will continue to expand its use of renewable energy across its network as part of its broader commitment to sustainable operations, which also aligns with Veon’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Source : www. developingtelecoms.com

MTN Group has marked a major milestone in its fintech strategy with the successful completion of the structural separation of its mobile money business in Ghana, a move aimed at unlocking growth and aligning with local regulatory requirements.

The transaction, executed through its subsidiary Scancom PLC, became effective on 31 March 2026 following the fulfilment of all conditions and receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals.

The separation was carried out via a statutory merger between MobileMoney LTD, which previously housed the mobile money operations, and MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MMFL), a newly established entity that will now operate the business.

This restructuring forms part of Ghana’s compliance framework under the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019, which requires the localisation of mobile financial services. It also aligns with MTN’s broader ambition to expand its fintech footprint across Africa.

Importantly, the transaction does not alter the core structure of MTN Ghana’s telecommunications business. The company confirmed that its stated capital and shareholding structure remain unchanged, while it continues to operate its core voice, data, and enterprise services.

Under the new structure, MMFL is jointly owned by MTN Dutch Holdings B.V.—a subsidiary of MTN Group—and the MTN Ghana Fintech Trust. The trust has been established to benefit non-MTN Group shareholders, ensuring continued participation in the value created by the mobile money business.

The separation is widely viewed as a strategic step toward accelerating the growth of MTN’s fintech platform, which has become an increasingly important pillar of the group’s operations. By creating a dedicated entity for mobile money services, MTN aims to enhance operational focus, improve regulatory alignment, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and investment.

MTN said the milestone reflects its commitment to scaling its fintech business more rapidly while maintaining compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks in key markets.

Ghana remains one of MTN’s most significant markets for mobile money, with strong adoption driven by increasing demand for digital financial services. The structural separation is expected to further strengthen the platform’s ability to deliver services such as payments, remittances, and financial inclusion solutions.

For investors, the move provides greater clarity around the group’s fintech operations and reinforces MTN’s long-term strategy of creating distinct value streams within its business. Despite the restructuring, there has been no issuance of new shares, underscoring that the transaction is primarily organisational rather than dilutive.

The completion of the separation also signals MTN’s responsiveness to regulatory developments across the continent, as governments increasingly seek to formalise and localise digital financial ecosystems.

As competition intensifies in Africa’s fintech space, MTN’s ability to ring-fence and scale its mobile money operations could prove critical in maintaining its leadership position. The Ghana transaction may also serve as a blueprint for similar restructuring initiatives in other markets where regulatory pressures and growth opportunities intersect.

With the separation now finalised, MTN is expected to focus on driving innovation, expanding services, and enhancing value creation within its fintech division, positioning it as a key growth engine for the group in the years ahead.

Source : iol.co.za

Huawei reported broadly stable financial performance for 2025, striking a note of resilience at a time when much of the global technology sector has been grappling with volatility and shifting investment cycles.

The Chinese vendor posted annual revenue of CNY880.9 billion (US$128 billion), up 2.2% year-on-year. Net profit reached CNY68 billion (US$9.9 billion), rising from CNY62.6 billion a year earlier and broadly in line with its own forecasts.

R&D remained a central pillar of Huawei’s strategy. The company ploughed CNY192.3 billion (US$28 billion) – equivalent to 21.8% of revenue – back into R&D during the year, taking total investment over the past decade to more than CNY1.38 trillion (US$200 billion).

Rotating chairwoman Sabrina Meng described overall performance as “steady”, crediting customers, partners and employees for supporting the company through a challenging period.

Across its business lines, Huawei painted a mixed but broadly stable picture. Its core connectivity division navigated the ebb and flow of operator investment cycles, while the computing unit benefited from rising demand linked to AI workloads. The consumer business, long under pressure, showed signs of recovery as the company pushed forward with its HarmonyOS ecosystem. HarmonyOS 5 and HarmonyOS 6 were deployed on 26 million devices over the past year, supported by an ecosystem of more than 10 million developers.

Elsewhere, Huawei Cloud focused on strengthening core capabilities, digital power prioritised quality, and its automotive unit continued to scale rapidly as interest in intelligent vehicle technologies grows.

Looking ahead, Huawei signalled it will double down on its long-term strategy, with continued heavy investment in areas such as connectivity, cloud, AI and intelligent driving. The company is also seeking to build out ecosystems around its Ascend and Kunpeng chips and HarmonyOS platform, with an emphasis on collaboration.

“We are moving toward a future that is full of uncertainty, so we have to remain true to our strategy and maintain strategic focus. We will translate strategy to execution, keep cultivating the developer ecosystem, and pursue high-quality development,” said Meng.

Source : www.developingtelecoms.com

From a small kitchen workshop in 1876 to a global telecoms leader in 2026, Ericsson’s 150-year journey highlights a continuous evolution driven by communication innovation and industrial transformation.

While April 1 is widely associated with jokes and pranks globally, Ericsson has chosen the date for a very different kind of celebration in 2026, marking its 150th anniversary since being founded in 1876.

The company traces its origins to April 1, 1876, when founder Lars Magnus Ericsson opened a small telegraph repair workshop, L.M. Ericsson & Co., in a kitchen located in a Stockholm courtyard in Sweden. At the time, he was 30 years old and worked alongside Carl Johan Anderson and an errand boy, Gabriel Bildsten. The workshop’s first recorded customer was the Stockholm Fire Department, which paid just 2 Swedish kronor for instrument repairs.

The founding period coincided with a major global breakthrough in communications technology, as Alexander Graham Bell had recently secured the first patent for the telephone. This parallel development quickly influenced Ericsson’s early work, as the company transitioned from repairing instruments to designing and producing telephone equipment, laying the groundwork for its rapid growth.

Over the following decades, Ericsson expanded significantly, helping to make Sweden one of the most telephone-dense countries in the world by the end of the 19th century. The company’s growth also created hundreds of jobs and led to multiple relocations as demand increased for its increasingly popular and affordable communication devices.

Throughout the 20th century, Ericsson became known for both its consumer innovations and its role in shaping global telecommunications standards. It played a major role in the development of mobile systems in the 1980s and later helped define modern mobile network standards, transitioning from telegraphy and telephony into programmable digital networks.

Today, Ericsson is also involved in modern mission-critical communications infrastructure, including its work with Sweden’s Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) systems under the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), continuing its long-standing focus on secure and reliable connectivity

From a small kitchen workshop in 1876 to a global telecoms leader in 2026, Ericsson’s 150-year journey highlights a continuous evolution driven by communication innovation and industrial transformation.

Source :  www.techafricanews.com

This call was made during MTN’s Women @ Y’ello (W@Y) event held to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026. The event also celebrated the leadership journey of 14-year-old Oreoluwa Alayande, winner of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee, who took on the symbolic role of MTN CEO for a day.

Speaking on the event theme, “Give to Gain: Advancing Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,” MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Karl Toriola, emphasised that organisations must move beyond symbolic gestures to provide tangible support for women’s advancement. “If we are advancing the women’s cause, we must make sacrifices for it,” he said, stressing that companies should intentionally prioritise women in leadership development and recruitment. According to him, MTN is working deliberately to achieve gender balance across all leadership levels.

Delivering her keynote address, Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin, Independent Non-Executive Director at MTN Nigeria, highlighted that impactful mentorship does not always stem from formal relationships. Drawing from her own career experiences, she noted that many of her most valuable lessons came from observing senior women who inspired her through their actions, not structured programmes. She encouraged young women to embrace “learning from afar” by listening, watching, and applying insights from those who have travelled the path ahead. She further urged experienced women to share their stories at every opportunity. “A lot of things are often caught and not taught. By supporting someone or simply being around them, you can learn so much,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, underscored that empowering women opens broader opportunities across society. She stressed the need for sustained corporate initiatives that support women at every stage of their careers and across all industries.

In her remarks, Esther Akinnukawe, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Human Resources Officer, reminded participants that empowerment must be seen as a continuous journey rather than a one-off activity.

Source : www.vanguardngr.com

The National Communications Authority (NCA) Ghana has convened its final national preparatory meeting ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), as the country seeks to sharpen its position on global spectrumgovernance.

The three-day meeting in Accra brings together industry players, regulators and government agencies to review earlier proposals and consolidate national positions before regional engagements with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Telecommunication Union.

Director General Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko said the consultations form part of a broader effort to deepen stakeholder participation and align national priorities with global regulatory frameworks.

‘‘Your presence here today is a strong testament to the shared commitment of our stakeholders across the communications ecosystem to shape Ghana’s strategic voice in global spectrum governance. As we are all aware, the radio frequency spectrum is very important in today’s digital interconnected world. It underpins virtually every facet of our modern life from mobile communications [and] broadband connectivity to broadcasting, satellite services, aviation, maritime operation and scientific research.’’

He added that the finite nature of spectrum resources makes coordinated global management essential, a process led through the World Radiocommunication Conference under the International Telecommunication Union.

The meeting follows an initial preparatory session held in April 2025 and is expected to shape the country’s contributions at upcoming regional discussions, which will feed into the global conference scheduled for 2027.

Deputy Director of Engineering Naa Amorkor Asihene said the process is critical to ensuring efficient spectrum use and global harmonization.

She noted that the Conference played a critical role in ensuring the efficient use of spectrum resources while also promoting global harmonisation, economies of scale, and equipment interoperability.

Deputy Director of Engineering Naa Amorkor Asihene 

Fianko urged participants to align technical expertise with long-term policy priorities as deliberations continue.

‘‘As we prepare as a country for WRC-27, it is important that we put together coherent positions on the various agenda items. Your deliberations over the coming days are of critical importance. They must be informed by both technical expertise and strategic foresight. Your insights will therefore play a pivotal role in refining Ghana’s positions across the various agenda items,’’ he stated.

Participants include representatives from the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, mobile network operators, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Maritime Authority, among others.

Held every three to four years, the World Radiocommunication Conference is organized by the ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau and serves as the primary global forum for revising the rules governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Souece : www. cedirates.com

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has called on stakeholders to invest more in artificial intelligence (AI) for accelerated development of the country.

“The government cannot build the country’s AI future alone. We need the ingenuity of researchers, creativity of startups, investment from the private sector, and wisdom from civil society and international partners. Collective action will determine our progress,” he said.

The minister was speaking at a national validation workshop on UNESCO’s Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (AI RAM) in Accra yesterday.

The AI RAM is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate a country’s capacity in governance, infrastructure, data and skills for AI development. It seeks to identify gaps and guide policy actions.  

Participants would review findings, confirm priorities and build consensus for implementation.

Mobile penetration

Mr George said mobile penetration in the country exceeded 110 per cent, with over 38 million subscriptions, and a growing ICT sector contributing significantly to the economy.

He said the nation’s AI strategy, which would officially be launched on April 24, 2026, would drive AI adoption in agriculture, health care and finance to help farmers improve productivity, support medical diagnostics and expand financial inclusion.

“Throughout history, successful nations have prepared early, they have invested boldly, and they have governed wisely.

“Now it is Ghana’s moment to lead once again by building a dynamic, responsible, and inclusive AI ecosystem that drives economic growth and national prosperity.

Together, we can build a digital Ghana that works for every single citizen,” the minister said. 

Significance

The UNESCO Representative to Ghana and Director of UNESCO Accra Office, Edmond Moukala N’Gouemo, described AI as a present-day force, shaping societal systems and governance.

He emphasised the need for strong institutions, inclusive policies and human-centred approaches to manage its impact.

While stressing the importance of bridging digital gaps, building skills and ensuring transparency, Mr N’Gouemo called for accountability and collaboration across sectors to achieve sustainable and inclusive AI-driven development.

“AI is not a generic tool to be imported. It must be homegrown, reflecting the local context while adhering to global ethical standards,” he said. 

Safeguard

The Executive Director of Data Protection Commission (DPC), Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, also said that AI was reshaping how societies determined truth.

He said strong data protection frameworks, accountability systems and institutional capacity were essential to safeguard rights, while allowing innovation to advance responsibly.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Dr Osman Tahidu Damba, said the country was playing an active role in shaping ethical AI adoption within global frameworks.

Source : www.graphic.com.gh