Rektron and Afritel to Acquire 60% Stake in Ghana’s AT Telecom

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Source: Innovation-Village.com

Rektron Group Incorporated, a global energy and infrastructure giant, is set to make a strategic entry into Ghana’s telecom market by acquiring a 60% stake in AT Ghana Limited (formerly AirtelTigo), in partnership with local telecom firm Afritel Ghana Limited.

This acquisition follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Ghana on May 21, 2025. Currently, AT Ghana is wholly owned by the government. The proposed deal aims to inject fresh capital, global infrastructure expertise, and operational best practices into the operator, whose market share has sharply declined—from 25.82% in 2018 to 7.89% by the end of 2024, according to the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Rektron’s pivot into telecoms reflects a broader strategy to enhance digital infrastructure across Africa. For Nana Richmond Aggrey, founder of Afritel and co-founder of Scancom Ghana (now MTN Ghana), the deal signifies a return to a sector he helped pioneer.

“This partnership marks a major milestone in our mission to advance telecommunication services in Ghana,” said Aggrey. “We will expand AT Ghana’s reach, improve network reliability, and reduce the cost of mobile data—empowering more Ghanaians to participate in the digital economy.”

AT Ghana currently offers voice, data, mobile financial services, and enterprise solutions to over 2.3 million customers. Rektron and Afritel intend to build on this base to extend services to underserved areas, modernize operations, and enhance competitiveness.

Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communications and Digital Technology, endorsed the initiative, highlighting its alignment with Ghana’s digital economy agenda—especially goals around access, innovation, and job creation.

However, the acquisition is contingent on regulatory approvals, due diligence, and finalization of financial terms. Notably, AT Ghana’s GHS 3.5 billion debt (approx. $342 million as of March 2024) remains a hurdle.

Despite this, Rektron CEO Atanas Kolarov affirmed the company’s long-term commitment:

“This move underscores our vision to drive connectivity, innovation, and inclusive growth across Africa.”

If completed, the deal could reshape Ghana’s telecom landscape, restore competition, and bring affordable, high-speed digital services to millions.

Credit: Innovation-Village.com

Skilled Workers Are the Backbone of Ghana’s Economy—MTN CEO

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The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has urged a national shift toward valuing technical and vocational education over traditional academic routes. Speaking at the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC) in Accra during MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative, he emphasized that Ghana’s development depends on producing more skilled tradespeople and artisans.

“Technical vocation—I will say this categorically—is where the future lies. The world doesn’t need more CEOs. It needs people who can do things with their hands,” said Mr. Blewett.

He criticized the country’s overemphasis on academic qualifications while practical skills remain scarce. Applauding institutions like OIC, he described them as foundational to national growth, offering training in trades like fashion design, electricals, and welding.

This year’s Y’ello Care campaign, themed “Connecting at the Root: Connecting Communities Through the Use of Digital Tools,” aims to bridge traditional trades with digital innovation. Blewett suggested developing a mobile app for artisans—to manage bookings, showcase services, and gain customer trust via reviews.

“Imagine an app that helps you find trusted electricians or tailors in your area. That’s how we bridge technology with hands-on skills,” he said.

He also shared a personal story to challenge the stigma surrounding technical work, stating his admiration for skilled professionals and their vital role in society.

OIC Principal Mawuli Sogbey revealed that MTN is currently supporting the sewing of 283 school uniforms for underprivileged children, handled by the OIC’s fashion department. He praised the initiative as a real-world demonstration of how vocational training can uplift communities.

Sogbey also called on society to stop viewing TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) as a second-rate option, emphasizing its blend of academic and hands-on learning and its capacity to create both entrepreneurs and skilled employees.

MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care continues to span all 16 regions, focusing on digital skills, community development, and inclusive education.

Credit: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo / NewsGhana.com.gh

Ericsson Secures Multi-Year Deal to Manage Bharti Airtel’s Pan-India Network Operations

Ericsson

Bharti Airtel entered a multi‑year Network Operations Center (NOC) managed services agreement with Ericsson.

This partnership is part of Airtel’s broader strategy to improve network reliability, performance, and operational efficiency. For Ericsson, it represents a significant managed-services contract enhancing its footprint in India’s rapidly expanding telecom market.

Why this matters:

  • For Airtel, outsourcing network operations allows it to concentrate on customer services and next-generation innovations (like network slicing and private network rollout) while leveraging Ericsson’s global expertise.
  • For Ericsson, this deepens its role in India’s telecom ecosystem, extending its influence beyond equipment supply into comprehensive network management—an opportunity for recurring revenue and strengthened strategic positioning.

Context & history:

  • Airtel and Ericsson have been long-standing partners—Airtel previously signed a multi-billion dollar deal for 4G/5G equipment deployment in December 2024.
  • These agreements reinforce Ericsson’s leadership in India’s telecom infrastructure, competing alongside Nokia and Samsung, especially as demand for sophisticated services continues to grow in 2025 and beyond.

Overall, the new managed-services contract highlights Airtel’s ambition to upgrade and future-proof its network while allowing Ericsson to expand its role from hardware vendor to full-stack network operations partner.

Source: The Economic Times

MTN Zambia Donates 500 Smartphones to Bridge Rural Digital Divide

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MTN Zambia has donated 500 smartphones to residents of Kalabo District as part of its 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative, themed “Connecting at the Roots.” The program aims to promote digital inclusion in rural communities.

The donation, supported by OXFAM, Global Affairs Canada, and local NGOs, aligns with the Zambian government’s rural development goals.

Western Province Minister Kapelwa Mbangweta praised the initiative for empowering farmers, women, and youth affected by climate shocks.

MTN’s Pamela Pio noted the effort goes beyond connectivity—it’s about unlocking access to education, health, and economic opportunities.

This year marks both the 18th anniversary of the Y’ello Care campaign and MTN Zambia’s 20th anniversary.

Source: Extensia.tech

Huawei Unveils Hybrid AI Model to Challenge Global LLM Rivals

Huawei

Huawei’s AI research team has introduced a new large language model (LLM) using a hybrid technique called Mixture of Grouped Experts (MoGE), designed to enhance training efficiency on its in-house Ascend NPUs.

MoGE builds on the Mixture of Experts (MoE) method used by DeepSeek but addresses key limitations by improving expert load balancing and enabling faster, more efficient parallel execution.

Huawei’s Pangu Pro MoE, featuring 72 billion parameters, reportedly outperforms open-source rivals like GLM-Z1-32B and Qwen3-32B.

The move reflects Huawei’s push to accelerate AI development despite ongoing U.S. sanctions that restrict access to advanced chips and design tools. Nvidia’s CEO recently noted that China’s chip performance is rapidly closing the gap with the U.S.

Source: Mobile World Live

Airtel Zambia Backs SME Growth Through Strategic Partnership

Airtel

Airtel Zambia PLC has teamed up with Impact Capital Africa Zambia and Airtel Money Mobile Commerce to drive small business development and strengthen Zambia’s digital economy.

The initiative promotes financial inclusion by expanding digital payment solutions through Airtel Money’s open APIs, which support USSD, QR codes, and online payments.

Airtel Money Director, Andrew Chuma, underscored the growing demand for digital payments and called on partners to collaborate in advancing innovation and economic growth.

The partnership was announced during a conference that brought together leaders from various sectors to share strategies for SME-driven financial sector development.

Source: Extensia.tech

Burkina Faso to Roll Out 800 New Telecom Sites in 2025

Rural Telephony

Burkina Faso plans to deploy 800 new telecom sites in 2025 to improve network coverage and eliminate underserved “white zones.” The initiative, led by the Ministry of Digital Transition and regulator ARCEP, is part of efforts to enhance service quality in collaboration with operators Orange Burkina, Telecel Faso, and ONATEL S.A.

Of the 800 sites:

  • 250 will be delivered under the PACTDIGITAL initiative
  • 500 will be funded by the Universal Service and Access Fund (FASU)
  • 50 additional sites will be added as coverage gaps are identified, also backed by FASU

The tender process is underway, supporting the government’s goal of achieving nationwide connectivity by 2027.

Source: Extensia.tech

Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications Announces Exit of CEO Ken Ashigbey

Kenneth Ashigbey

Source: GraphicOnline

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Digital Chamber of Ghana (DCG) have officially announced the departure of Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey as Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber. His tenure came to an end on May 31, 2025, after nearly eight years of dedicated service.

In a joint press release, both Chambers acknowledged Dr. Ashigbey’s instrumental role in advancing the telecom and digital sectors in Ghana and expressed deep appreciation for his leadership and commitment.

“As he steps into his next chapter, the two Chambers wish Dr. Ashigbey continued success and fulfillment. We want to reassure you that we remain steadfast in our commitment to building on the strong foundation he has laid—strengthening advocacy, deepening stakeholder collaboration, and pushing for innovations that grow the industries and lift Ghanaians across all sectors.”

Dr. Ashigbey, a trained engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), previously served as Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Ltd. before joining the Chamber in 2017. Beyond telecom advocacy, he is also known for his media work and currently serves as co-chairperson of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, an initiative aimed at combating illegal mining in Ghana.

Credit: GraphicOnline

Africa’s Cross-Border Payments Projected to Reach $1 Trillion by 2035

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Africa’s cross-border payments market is projected to grow from $329 billion to $1 trillion by 2035, according to a new report by venture capital firm Oui Capital. The growth—driven by increased digital adoption, mobile money use, and intra-African trade—is fueled by a 12% compound annual growth rate.

Despite this momentum, the report flags major inefficiencies such as legacy payment infrastructure, double currency conversions, and fragmented regulations, which result in high remittance costs averaging 7–8%, the highest globally.

Mobile money now plays a critical role, accounting for 30% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s remittance flows. In 2022, the continent handled 66% of global mobile money transaction value, reflecting a major shift from informal to formal financial channels.

Oui Capital identifies over $10 billion in opportunities tied to infrastructure upgrades, including interoperable APIs, decentralised FX liquidity, and regional systems like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). PAPSS is helping reduce dependency on USD/EUR clearing, which adds about $5 billion annually to transaction costs.

Cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins are also gaining traction, lowering remittance fees by up to 60% in well-regulated markets. Meanwhile, fintech APIs have pushed fees down to 1.5–3%.

However, limited regulatory readiness remains a barrier—only 55% of African countries support full electronic KYC, constraining the scalability of fintech innovations.

The report urges founders to look beyond simple transfers by integrating services like lending and insurance, concluding, “Africa’s payments race is now a scale game. Those that solve for liquidity, compliance, and cost will define the continent’s digital trade backbone over the next decade.”

Source: Extensia.tech

Safaricom Commits $500M to Build AI Infrastructure in East Africa

Safaricom

Safaricom has announced a $500 million investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across East Africa over the next three years. The telco aims to accelerate the region’s digital transformation by enabling advanced digital services and driving innovation in key sectors.

Speaking at the Connected Africa Summit in Diani, Kenya, Cynthia Kropac, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, said Africa must move from being a passive consumer to a creator of AI technologies. “Africa has an opportunity to define its own AI destiny… AI will redefine Africa’s future, driving solutions for African challenges like multilingual education, climate-smart agriculture, and mobile health diagnostics,” she noted.

The investment will fund the development of data centres, edge computing capabilities, and digital skills programmes. Safaricom has already trained 5,000 employees in AI fundamentals and is pushing for harmonized data and digital laws across the continent to build a scalable AI ecosystem.

Kropac reaffirmed Safaricom’s commitment to “delivering seamless, intelligent, and inclusive digital experiences,” adding that the company remains focused on enabling socio-economic growth through strategic investments and partnerships.

Source: Extensia.tech