Industry News

MTN Group is concerned about the Middle Eastern, Ukrainian, and other conflicts, warning that if they continue, the growing geopolitical risks may have a negative impact on its operational environment and prospects, including the telco’s market outlook.

The caution was issued this week by MTN Group CEO, Ralph Mupita, as he announced the company’s financial and operational results for 2025.

Despite delivering solid free cash flow, higher returns, and a 45% increase in shareholder dividends, Mupita is concerned that geopolitical uncertainties would interrupt the telco’s momentum.

He said: “While current macro conditions are supportive of the business, we note the rapidly-evolving developments in global geopolitics. Notably, the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere create added uncertainty for global and local macro conditions, including potential impacts on indicators such as energy supply and prices, foreign exchange rate volatility and the trajectory of inflation in our markets. If sustained, the escalating geopolitical risks may adversely impact our operating environment and prospects, including our market guidance.”

Nonetheless, he said: “Operationally, we remain focused on maintaining the robust performances in MTN Nigeria, MTN Ghana and MTN Uganda; as well as the traction in various markets within our broader portfolio. We will also continue driving the initiatives to improve the performance in MTN SA, particularly in prepaid.”

The four named markets are the MTN Group’s crown jewels as they hold strategic value in the face of competition from rival telcos with a broad African presence, such as Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group.

Looking ahead, Mupita said: “In terms of ongoing key strategic initiatives, we prioritise completing the structural separation of the fintech businesses in Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria, as well as concluding MTN’s acquisition of IHS. 

“More broadly, we are excited to progress our strategic journey through execution of Ambition 2030. Our medium-term guidance and framework has been updated to better embody our capital allocation discipline and returns focus.”

Source : www. extensia.tech

Huawei, global technology leader, will fund nine Advanced Diploma students at TUT in 2026 with an investment of R1 million to support student development and strengthen industry ready skills.

This partnership will create significant opportunities for students at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

According to Prof Topside Mathonsi, Head of the Department of Information Technology, the funding will provide financial assistance to students and open doors to industry-aligned training opportunities in networking and cloud technologies. The initiative forms part of Huawei’s broader commitment to developing digital skills and preparing the next generation of ICT professionals.

The collaboration between TUT and Huawei has already produced promising results. From the 16 students funded in 2025 across the Faculty of ICT and the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, nine students from the IT Department have successfully secured employment contracts with Huawei. This achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the partnership in enhancing graduate employability and ensuring that students are equipped with skills that meet industry demands.

Huawei’s support for the department began in 2024, when the company first invested R1 million to support student development. Expanding its commitment, Huawei’s funding increased to R2 million in 2025, reflecting the company’s ongoing investment in digital skills development and the growth of future ICT professionals.

“The partnership between Huawei and the University dates even further back, to 2016, when the Huawei ICT Academy was established at TUT. Since its inception, the academy has trained more than 500 students in specialised areas such as networking, cloud computing and emerging technologies, particularly through the Huawei Datacom certification programme,” Prof Mathonsi said.

The training is delivered by certified Huawei instructors, Zamikhaya Mapundu and Prof Topside Mathonsi, both lecturers from the IT Department, ensuring that students acquire internationally recognised skills aligned with global industry standards.

Beyond financial support and training programmes, Huawei has also played a key role in strengthening the University’s teaching infrastructure. The company donated 10 routers and 10 switches, which are currently used in practical networking laboratories during Huawei ICT Academy training sessions. These resources allow students to gain hands-on experience with real industry equipment, improving their technical competencies and practical understanding of modern networking environments.

According to Prof Mathonsi, the collaboration between Huawei and the University provides ongoing benefits for students and the institution. It enhances access to industry-relevant skills, strengthens teaching and learning infrastructure and improves graduate employability while fostering stronger partnerships between academia and industry.

Importantly, initiatives such as these also help address the growing demand for highly skilled ICT professionals in South Africa’s digital economy, ensuring that graduates from the Faculty of ICT are well prepared to contribute to the country’s technological advancement.

Source : www.tut.ac.za

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM registration exercise will be the last, as the government rolls out a more robust, technology-driven system designed to enhance convenience and eliminate fraud.

He said the new process was fundamentally different from previous exercises, addressing longstanding concerns about inefficiencies, weak verification systems and public frustration.

“The fact that you have multi-agency collaboration on this is something that you didn’t see in previous times.

You have the NIA (National Identification Authority) being our single source of truth when it comes to IDs, the NCA (National Communications Authority), the ministry, Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies all working together

What you see today is the product of very hard and difficult conversations, and that gives me the confidence that if we execute this right, this will be the final SIM registration exercise,” Mr George explained.

The minister was speaking at a stakeholder engagement with the media in Accra yesterday.

He stressed that the new regime would rely heavily on communication and public education to ensure smooth implementation, designed to correct flaws in earlier registrations, particularly the absence of proper biometric verification.

“This registration is 75 per cent communication and 25 per cent technology,” he said, emphasising that lessons from the past, where people faced difficulties, had informed a more user-friendly and transparent approach.

Mr George also disclosed that the exercise would incorporate advanced biometric verification, including a “liveliness test”, that would capture facial features to authenticate users against the NIA database.

He explained that this would prevent the use of photocopied or fraudulently acquired Ghana Cards, which undermined the integrity of previous registrations.

The minister also ruled out the automatic migration of existing SIM data into the new system, despite a significant portion of previously registered numbers passing verification checks, explaining that such a move would only transfer existing flaws into the new system.

“You are not cleaning up. You are actually migrating the viruses.

You have infected files, and you are migrating them onto a new system.

You are basically replicating the problems of the old system.

And that’s part of the reason why we can’t do a wholesale migration. And that’s cured today by NIA’s solution that they are offering to us based on the collaboration we are having with them,” he said.

Comfort, advantages

On convenience, Mr George indicated that the process would allow for self-registration using smartphones, enabling users to complete the process from the comfort of their homes without the need to queue at service centres.

He added that an appointment system would also be introduced for those requiring in-person assistance, while mobile registration teams would be deployed nationwide.

The minister further revealed that Ghana Post offices and Community Information Centres would be leveraged to expand access, particularly in rural areas.

He also indicated that the rollout of the new SIM registration exercise would commence only after the completion of the legal framework, which was currently undergoing review and would be laid before Parliament.

He gave an assurance that extensive stakeholder consultations would continue to ensure a smooth and widely accepted implementation.

Mr George warned that individuals whose Ghana Cards were linked to fraudulent SIM registrations risked being blocked from accessing telecom services if found culpable more than once.

He said the government was determined to strengthen trust in digital services, reduce mobile money fraud and improve the overall integrity of the telecommunications ecosystem.

The Director-General of the NCA, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, said the new exercise aimed to create a more inclusive, efficient and secure SIM registration system intended to build a credible and trustworthy national SIM register.

He explained that the initiative would be supported by a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which would enable the blocking of stolen or illegal mobile devices across all networks.

Mr Fianko explained that the system would discourage phone theft and prevent unauthorised devices from operating on the country’s telecom networks.

He also emphasised the importance of protecting personal identity, cautioning the public against registering SIM cards on behalf of others.

“All we are doing is trying to strengthen confidence in the mobile ecosystem through the registration of numbers and linking them to the central identity register so that we can also protect the devices.

“We are still at the stakeholder stage, taking feedback, and technical engagements going on behind the scenes, and will eventually come out with more communication,” Mr Fianko added.

Source : www.graphic.com.gh

In celebration of International Women’s Month, Telecel Ghana hosted an inspiring and candid fireside conversation, featuring two of Ghana’s most accomplished industry leaders: software engineer and disability advocate Farida Bedwei and tax and regulatory leader for PwC West Africa Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, on the theme Give to Gain: Powering our Progress.

Hosted at the telco’s headquarters in Accra, the two speakers shared reflections on their personal journeys and encouraged women to step forward, own their space, and embrace opportunities that can drive the next stage of their career growth.

For Farida, a trailblazer in Ghana’s technology ecosystem, progress for women in Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) will only accelerate when women become more visible and intentional about their ambitions.

“We need to be out there and show our skills; otherwise, no one will recognise us. Stop being shy and talk about your achievements. No one will come to your corner to look for you if they don’t know what you can do,” she said.

Ayesha concurred, explaining that visibility is an essential leadership skill in today’s professional world.

“I post on LinkedIn three times a week. Otherwise, how will anybody know about my work if I don’t share it? You must constantly put yourself out there, and it can be in the form of writing, networking or engaging consistently with people.”

Despite growing global conversations about women in technology, Farida said the industry still struggles with retaining women in technical careers.

“We talk about women in STEAM and coding, and we train them, but many do not pursue it as a career. We need continuity. There are opportunities everywhere, from AI to quantum technologies, but the question is: are women really interested in taking them?”

Ayesha spoke movingly about the defining moment that reshaped her life and career, the death of her late husband and having to raise their one-year-old child alone.

“If you make the decision that you want to reinvent yourself, that’s half the work done. It’s about being intentional and sometimes doing the work that no one wants to do. You must consciously put your hand up and say you are available,” Ayesha said.

Beyond personal leadership, the conversation also addressed the structural barriers that continue to shape technology and finance.

Farida warned that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, risk deepening inequality if women and persons with special needs are absent from the design process. She urged organisations to ask critical questions when building digital platforms to minimise exclusion.

“Learning models train Al engines. If the diversity of the people training those systems is low, the results will be biased. Simple things like making apps and websites accessible to people living with disabilities can go a long way. When we design systems and programmes, we need to recognise that people have different needs,” Farida said.

The conversation also explored practical strategies for women navigating careers, from negotiating salaries to managing family expectations. Ayesha encouraged young professionals to do more research and prepare rigorously for opportunities, as that would build their confidence and competence in negotiating their value and salaries better.

Ayesha also emphasised the importance of building personal confidence, financial independence and boundaries.

“Farida and I were raised to believe there is nothing we cannot do. When you grow up with that mindset, half the battle is already done,” she said.

“Additionally, building your financial independence as a woman is everything. Save, invest and manage your income wisely.”

For Farida, real progress will only come when women occupy the rooms where decisions are made.

“How many women sit on boards? How many lead agencies? We need women in strategic positions who will make an impact. Beyond believing in your abilities, position yourself more visibly and be ready to occupy higher positions.”

In her closing remarks, Telecel Ghana’s CEO, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, reflected on the power of the stories shared by the two speakers and how they embody the spirit of the global theme, Give to Gain.

“Here are two women who faced very different challenges, but despite that, they stepped up, invested in themselves and gave their talents to society. These are women who have baked the pie, and today we are taking slices from it. ‘Thank you for sharing your stories and insights with us,’ Ing. Obo-Nai said.

Source: Ghanaweb.com

• Plink traffic is growing faster than downlink in modern 5G uses, creating critical performance challenges for high-traffic regions and advanced applications.
• Discover how Ericsson Radio 4890 with 4T8R delivers measurable uplink improvements and lays the foundation for high performing networks.

Meeting uplink demands in modern 5G networks

As uplink traffic in 5G networks expands at an unprecedented pace, driven by use cases such as XR applications, drone operations, and IoT, network operators are faced with solving critical performance bottlenecks that can jeopardize user experience and efficiency. This post delves into Ericsson’s industry-leading Radio 4890 with 4T8R technology — an advanced solution proven to enhance uplink throughput and spectral efficiency while maintaining network stability. Ericsson’s leadership in designing scalable and intelligent networks ensures operators can meet today’s high demands and seamlessly prepare for the evolution toward 6G.

The rising tide of uplink traffic

Mobile data usage is skyrocketing across urban and industrial environments, profoundly altering the landscape for network operators. Increased reliance on uplink-heavy applications, such as live streaming and autonomous systems, has caused uplink traffic growth to exceed that of downlink. For instance, uplink traffic has grown by 102% during the last five Super Bowls, far surpassing the 47% growth in overall traffic. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) users alone generate 10–100+GB of uplink data monthly, illustrating the significant challenge for mobile network operators.

Unfortunately, traditional RAN architectures primarily optimized for downlink performance cannot meet these demands effectively. Solutions like deploying additional spectrum or expanding sites involve prohibitive costs and logistical challenges. Highly scalable and efficient technologies are required to bridge the gap and pave the way for seamless connectivity in modern use environments.

4T8R technology as a breakthrough

Ericsson’s Radio 4890 introduces a practical solution for improving uplink performance in mid-band 5G networks through its 4T8R configuration—four transmit and eight receive chains.

The additional receive chains improve uplink signal reception and diversity gain. This allows the base station to better capture and decode weaker signals from user equipment, particularly in challenging radio conditions or at the cell edge. As a result, uplink signal quality improves, enabling higher throughput and better spectral efficiency.

Field measurements indicate that 4T8R configurations can deliver uplink throughput improvements ranging from 24% to 116%, along with spectral efficiency gains of up to 37% in optimized deployments. For operators, this translates into the ability to support significantly more uplink-heavy applications within the same spectrum footprint while maintaining stable network performance.

Compared to alternatives such as deploying additional massive MIMO radios or adding new spectrum layers, compact 4T8R radios provide a cost-efficient approach to strengthening uplink performance. This ensures operators can deliver reliable, efficient network performance while addressing customer requirements for higher upload capabilities

Real-world results of Ericsson Radio 4890

Real-world testing demonstrates the capabilities of the Ericsson Radio 4890 with 4T8R in addressing uplink demands across diverse mid-band deployment scenarios. In recent 5G trials conducted with global operators, uplink throughput increased by as much as 116%, while spectral efficiency gains of 37% enabled significantly more data transmission per Hz without impacting network accessibility or performance metrics such as downlink key performance indicators.

These advancements are especially beneficial in high-traffic urban areas, smart factories, and industrial environments where stable and reliable connections are critical to operational efficiency. Compatible with varied mid-band deployments, the Radio 4890’s passive cooling technology and compact design allow operators to scale capacity cost-effectively while minimizing size and energy consumption requirements. Practical deployment recommendations, including prioritizing enterprise zones and activating 8RX through available software functionalities, make it easier for operators to achieve measurable results.

Redefining uplink performance for a connected future

The Ericsson Radio 4890 with 4T8R represents a transformative approach to solving uplink performance challenges in 5G mid-band networks. By leveraging field-proven uplink throughput and efficiency gains, the solution empowers network operators to reliably meet the growing demands of high-traffic zones and uplink-intensive applications.

For mobile network operators, this advancement translates to greater uplink reliability, improved user experience, and scalable solutions that address both enterprise and consumer needs. The field-tested stability of 4T8R technology ensures robust deployment capabilities with minimal trade-offs.

As the industry progresses towards 6G, technologies like Ericsson Radio 4890 lay the foundation for intelligent, adaptable, and high-performing networks that connect societies sustainably. Together with ecosystem collaboration, operators can reshape the uplink performance frontier, delivering the connectivity needed to drive innovation and growth worldwide.

Source : www.ericsson.com

More than 1,500 students from secondary and tertiary institutions have benefited from the 20th edition of the Success Africa Summit, which focused on digital responsibility, financial literacy and youth empowerment in today’s technology-driven world. 

The summit, organised by Success Africa under the theme “Beyond Vision: Dare, Act & Achieve,” brought together industry leaders and young people to explore practical ways students could navigate opportunities and risks in the digital economy. 

Representatives of MTN Ghana used the platform to caution students about the growing threat of mobile money fraud and educate them on safe digital practices. 

Mr. David Nana Addai, MTN’s Mobile Money Manager for Northern Ghana, said although mobile financial services continued to expand, many fraud cases resulted from manipulation rather than sophisticated hacking. 

He noted that criminals often used social engineering tactics, such as impersonating relatives in distress or sending deceptive links, to trick users into revealing personal information. 

Mr. Addai advised students to protect their mobile wallets by safeguarding their PIN codes, verifying suspicious requests and conducting transactions only through the official MoMo application. 

He also highlighted the growth of Mobile Money in Ghana, saying the service had evolved into a broader financial platform offering savings and investment options such as Yellow Save. 

Mrs. Dzudzorfe Hadzor, Coordinator for Data Devices and Home at MTN Ghana, explained that high data consumption was often caused by smartphone settings and application behaviour rather than network challenges. 

She said many social media applications automatically downloaded high-definition photos and videos in the background, which could quickly exhaust data bundles. 

Mrs. Hadzor advised students to manage data usage by disabling automatic media downloads, taking advantage of midnight data bundles for large downloads and selecting data packages that matched their academic or social media needs. 

Mr. Albert Prempeh Kusi, Chief Executive Officer of Success Africa, urged participants to combine digital knowledge with disciplined financial habits. 

He encouraged students to cultivate a savings culture and continuously develop skills that would position them for long-term economic independence. 

The summit also featured interactive discussions and the distribution of branded souvenirs to participants to encourage active engagement throughout the programme. 

Source : www.msn.com

Ghana is preparing a new Data Protection Bill to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, automated decision-making, deepfakes and cross-border data transfers under formal legal oversight for the first time, with Parliament’s Select Committee on Communications urging the government to move the legislation to the floor of the House without delay.

Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George announced the bill on March 2 at the 2026 Data Protection Conference in Accra, saying the proposed legislation was designed to modernise Ghana’s data protection regime in response to increasingly complex global data ecosystems and the growing deployment of AI across health, finance, telecommunications and the public sector. He said the objective was to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, clarify international data transfer rules and enhance citizens’ rights, ensuring that Ghana’s legal framework remained relevant as technology evolved.

The Minister also disclosed that a separate Emerging Technologies Bill was being developed to provide structured oversight for AI systems, advanced analytics, digital assets and new digital platforms, stressing that the legislation aimed not to stifle innovation but to guide it responsibly. A Data Harmonisation initiative is additionally underway to reduce regulatory fragmentation across financial services, telecommunications and the public sector.

Days after the conference, Data Protection Commission (DPC) Executive Director Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo told media in Parliament that the new bill would specifically address data harvesting by multinationals, the absence of local data infrastructure, and the regulatory gaps created by machine learning and deepfake technologies. Abednego Bandim Azumah, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu and Chairman of Parliament’s ICT Select Committee, called the legislation urgent, saying: “We need laws to cover AI, cyber threats, and data misuse by multinationals, and the power to enforce penalties for violations.”

The DPC’s 2026 Data Protection Week launched in January already signalled the shift from education to enforcement. Dr. Kavaarpuo warned at the January 26 launch that organisations that had not registered with the Commission under Section 27 of the Data Protection Act (DPA) must do so without delay, and that Section 56 of the Act prescribes fines and imprisonment for non-compliance. The annual Data Protection Week has been expanded into a month-long national programme to accelerate public awareness ahead of stricter enforcement.

The case for urgency was illustrated at the conference by Dr. Kavaarpuo through the account of a Ghanaian teacher whose mobile loan default led to a lender accessing her contact list and circulating her personal information publicly. “Data protection is not merely a technical issue but one of power, responsibility and consequence,” he said, describing the incident as representative of how personal information shared under financial pressure can be weaponised.

Ghana’s data governance debate has intensified in parallel with a planned nationwide SIM card re-registration exercise, for which policy think tank IMANI Africa has demanded seven minimum legal safeguards before citizens are asked to submit biometric data again, citing failures in the 2022 registration to securely authenticate the biometrics of  30 million participants against National Identification Authority records.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

A strong performance in key markets, notably Ghana and Nigeria, has helped boost MTN Group’s annual earnings in a year that the group surpassed the 300-million subscriber milestone.

Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) before one-off items grew by 36.8% in constant currency to R98.5bn in the year ended in December, reflecting an expansion in margin by 5.4 percentage points to 44.5%. On a reported basis, EBITDA was up 64%.

Group revenue rose to R226.7bn from R188bn a year ago. Service revenue was 22.9% higher at R218.5bn on a reported basis and up 22.7% in constant currency, with data revenue up 37.7% on a reported basis and fintech revenue up 30%.

The group reported a profit after tax of R27.4bn after a loss of R10.9bn a year ago. Adjusted headline earnings per share was up 67% at 1,359c and a final dividend of 500c per share was declared, up 45%

Total customers grew 5.6% to 307.2 million, after MTN connected 16.3 million net new customers to its networks, with active data customers rising 9.4% to 172.6 million and mobile money (MoMo) monthly active customers up 10% to 69.5 million.

The group reported a 14.9% increase in fintech transaction volumes to 23.3 billion, with a transaction value of $500.3bn, up 37.6%.

“In the final year of our Ambition 2025 strategy, MTN Group is proud to have exceeded the 300-million-customer milestone, in alignment with our priority to deepen digital and financial inclusion in the markets we serve,” said CEO Ralph Mupita.

“We remain committed to leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

He added that operationally, MTN delivered strong growth in earnings, free cash flow and improved returns. The performance was underpinned by improved macroeconomic conditions in key markets and driven by strong operational execution and disciplined capital allocation.

The group deployed capex of R38.5bn during the year to enhance the capacity, coverage and quality, including accelerated investment to support stronger growth in MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana.

Operationally, MTN intends to remain focused on maintaining the robust performances in MTN Nigeria, MTN Ghana and MTN Uganda and the traction in various markets within its broader portfolio

“We will also continue driving the initiatives to improve the performance in MTN South Africa, particularly in prepaid.”

It said while current macro conditions are supportive of the business, it notes the rapidly evolving developments in global geopolitics. 

“Notably, the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere create added uncertainty for global and local macro conditions, including potential impacts on indicators such as energy supply and prices, foreign exchange rate volatility and the trajectory of inflation in our markets. If sustained, the escalating geopolitical risks may adversely impact our operating environment and prospects, including our market guidance,” it said.

Source : www.businessday.co.za

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has engaged Huawei Technologies to discuss strategies aimed at strengthening rural telephony services across Ghana during the 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain.

The GIFEC delegation was led by Mr Tanko Rashid Computer, the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, while the Huawei delegation was headed by Li Junfeng, Vice President of Huawei and Chief Executive Officer of the company’s Global Public Sector Business Unit. The meeting focused on exploring innovative technological solutions to support the expansion and improvement of GIFEC’s Rural Telephony Project.

The project is a key initiative designed to extend telecommunications infrastructure and digital connectivity to underserved and unserved communities across Ghana.

During the engagement, the Huawei team presented a range of advanced rural telephony solutions. They included the latest version of the Rural Telephony Project masts designed to enhance connectivity in remote area by providing reliable network infrastructure capable of supporting improved voice and data services.

The Huawei team further demonstrated how the upgraded systems could help strengthen network quality and expand coverage in rural communities. The presentation provided the GIFEC delegation with insights into the technological capabilities of the new infrastructure and how it could significantly improve connectivity in areas that currently experience limited or no acces to telecommunications services.

Mr Rashid-Computer said the discussions formed part of GIFEC’s broader efforts to expand rural connectivity and strengthen telecommunications services nationwide. He noted that improving the Rural Telephony Project remained a key priority for the Fund as it worked to ensure that citizens in underserved and remote communities benefited from reliable digital communication services.

The GIFEC Boss said enhanced infrastructure and improved network solutions would support the rollout of 3G and 4G services in those communities, enabling greater access to digital opportunities, information services and socioeconomic development.

The engagement at the Mobile World Congress highlights GIFEC’s continued commitment to building strategic partnerships with global technology providers to accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.

By leveraging innovative telecommunications infrastructure, GIFEC aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to information and communication technology services across the country.

Source: gna.org.gh