UNESCO and Ghana Forge AI-Powered Future in Digital Innovation

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A courtesy call by UNESCO to the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), marks the beginning of a promising collaboration between Ghana and UNESCO.

The meeting aims to discuss how Ghana could re-enforce its effort in the AI and innovation space.

The main areas of discussion spun across digital education, digital health access, and digitizing the agribusiness space.

Hon. Sam Nartey George further admonished the support of UNESCO in innovating Ghana’s cultural space with AI-based technology to increase cultural activity and revenue.

The Minister further stressed plans to galvanize Ghana’s data into a central data system.

Source: Extensia

Mali: $72 million to improve access to telecom services by 2025

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In 2025, the Universal Access Fund Management Agency (AGEFAU) plans to allocate 43.35 billion CFA francs ($72.06 million) to improving people’s access to telecommunications services. The institution’s budget was revealed last week during the 9th ordinary session of its board of directors.

“For the year 2025, the Agency will pursue several essential projects, including the extension of telecommunications network coverage, the establishment of universal access centers, as well as health initiatives, such as telemedicine in maternal and neonatal health,” read a press release published on social networks on Thursday, March 13.

These initiatives can help bridge the digital divide in Mali. Indeed, data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) shows that by 2023, 30% of Mali’s estimated population of around 24 million had no 3G network coverage. For 4G, the coverage gap rises to 47% of the population. In contrast, 2G already covered 100% of the population by 2023. However, the internet penetration rate is estimated at 33.1%, compared to 67.3% for mobile telephony.

However, AGEFAU still faces several obstacles to achieving its goals. The agency cites, in particular, the delay in budget approval, the non-payment of contributions by some telecommunications operators, as well as the security and health challenges facing Mali. By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, only 51% of the set targets had been achieved.

“Precautionary measures were taken following the Auditor General’s report, which highlighted administrative and financial irregularities within the agency. Changes to the general management were made to strengthen governance and ensure more transparent and rigorous management,” the agency said.

Source: Extensia

Airtel Nigeria launches AI spam alert service

Airtel

Airtel Nigeria has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) spam detection tool for customers to combat the plague of spam messages.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, and Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, both commended the launch.

The service will begin in Nigeria, targeting Airtel users on smartphones and feature phones. According to the business, there is no app installation or activation required, and it is free for users.

Airtel said the AI spam alert service will be rolled out in all 13 additional Airtel Africa countries in the coming months, protecting millions of Airtel consumers.

“This innovative service keeps you safe and secure,” said the telco.

Source: Extensia

Helios Towers’ 2024 Signals a New Era of Growth

Helios Tower

Helios Towers has delivered a defining year in its financial journey, achieving two major milestones: ten consecutive years of Adjusted EBITDA growth and the company’s first-ever positive free cash flow. This marks a significant shift from expansion-driven financial strategies to a business model that is not just scaling, but self-sustaining.

What the Numbers Reveal

  • Tenancy Growth as a Profit Driver: The company recorded 2,481 new tenancies, bringing its total to 29,406. This translated into a 14% jump in Adjusted EBITDA and a 10% revenue increase to $792 million.
  • Efficiency at Scale: The tenancy ratio rose to 2.05x (from 1.91x), reinforcing the efficiency of Helios’ colocation model. This ratio is key—higher colocation rates mean greater revenue from existing assets, reducing capital intensity and improving return on invested capital (ROIC).
  • Positive Free Cash Flow – A Pivotal Moment: With $100 million in cash flow expansion, Helios recorded $18.7 million in free cash flow, a crucial turning point that signals financial self-sufficiency. This is a game-changer, paving the way for deleveraging and potential capital returns to shareholders in 2026.
  • Debt Refinancing & Improved Credit Profile: Net debt fell by 3% to $1.73 billion, and leverage reduced to 4.0x from 4.4x. Rating agencies took notice—S&P upgraded Helios to BB-, marking its second upgrade within a year.

Beyond the Numbers: The Strategic Impact

Helios Towers’ success is not just about revenue and profit growth—it is about optimizing operational efficiency while expanding network reach. The company now covers 151 million people, up from 144 million in 2023, and has exceeded its 2026 target for rural sites two years ahead of schedule.

The strong 99.99% power uptime further underlines Helios’ focus on reliability, a key metric for mobile operators in emerging markets where infrastructure challenges remain a bottleneck.

Looking ahead, Helios’ 2.2x tenancy ratio target by 2026 is critical. Achieving this will unlock even greater margin expansion, strengthen free cash flow, and ensure sustainable, long-term growth. The company’s commitment to digital transformation, AI-powered network planning, and energy efficiency will further bolster its competitive edge.

What This Means for Africa’s Telecom Landscape

Helios Towers’ trajectory highlights the evolving telecom infrastructure model in Africa. The shift from single-operator sites to shared infrastructure is not just about cost savings—it is about accelerating connectivity in a sustainable way. As mobile penetration deepens and data demand surges, Helios is positioning itself as a linchpin in Africa’s digital transformation.

With its 2024 results setting a solid financial foundation, Helios Towers is no longer just expanding—it is now poised to optimize and monetize its infrastructure at an unprecedented scale.

Source: TechAfrica News

AirPods upgrade to include live translation

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Apple is reportedly gearing up to introduce a real-time translation feature for AirPods as part of an iOS 19 software update set to launch later this year.

According to Bloomberg, the feature will enable the device to translate live conversations by capturing speech through the iPhone and playing the translation back to the user through the AirPods. At the same time, a translated response from the user can played aloud via the iPhone’s speakers for the other person.

Apple already offers a Translate app on iPhones, launched in 2020. Integrating live translation into the AirPods would place Apple in competition with Google’s Pixel Bud wearables, which have offered similar capabilities since 2017.

Bloomberg noted that Apple is also working on new AirPods hardware, with the development of third-generation AirPods Pro underway. The company is also experimenting with a model of earbuds featuring built-in cameras, designed to offer AI-powered awareness of the users’ surroundings.

The tech giant reportedly plans to enhance other translation capabilities in its iOS 19 update beyond the planned AirPods feature. The AirPods update is part of a wider software refresh, which apparently includes its most significant redesign of the iOS to date, alongside a revamped macOS.

Apple has previously expanded AirPods’ capabilities through software updates, allowing users to access new features with their existing wearables. Last year, the company rolled out health enhancements for the second-generation AirPods Pro, including hearing aid functionality and at-home hearing tests.

Source: Mobile World Live

Insurance Cover For Mobile Money Agents To Be Launched

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MTN MoMo has partnered with Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance Ghana LTD and aYo intermediaries Ghana Limited to launch a comprehensive Life Insurance cover for all MTN MoMo agents across the country.

 The Life insurance is an annual renewable package that comes at no extra cost to MoMo agents. It includes coverage for permanent and total disability, temporary to total disability, critical illness, accidental medical reimbursement, hospitalization and death benefits. Agents will receive support when they are diagnosed with a critical illness (e.g. stroke, cancer, coma, major burns, major organ transplant, heart attack, kidney failure etc.). In addition, there are daily hospital cash benefits to help with medical bills if they are hospitalized.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Sales and Distribution Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Samuel Addo, highlighted the vital role mobile money agents play in expanding financial access in communities. He emphasized that the partnership aligns with MobileMoney LTD’s commitment to supporting agents’ welfare, complementing existing initiatives such as the provision of kiosks, laptops, motorbikes, CCTV cameras and vehicles to enhance their work.

“At MobileMoney LTD, we take agent safety and well-being seriously. We have partnered with Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance Ghana LTD and aYo Ghana Intermediaries Ghana Limited to provide enhanced coverage. This partnership reinforces our commitment to protect and empower our mobile money agents,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the recent violence and insecurity mobile money Agents face in their line of work with the increased spate of attacks from armed robbers.  Mr. Addo gave the assurance that MobileMoney LTD was taking the matter very seriously and exploring ways of safeguarding the agents. “Beyond providing the insurance cover, we will also continue to work with relevant stakeholders to improve security for mobile money agents and ensure a holistic approach to our intervention”, Mr. Addo concluded.

Explaining the benefits under the insurance cover, the Chief Commercial Officer of MoMo from MTN, Abdul-Razak Ali, reiterated that the insurance comes at no cost to agents and gave the assurance that MobileMoney LTD has paid the premium for all agents.

Chief Executive Officer of aYo Ghana, Francis Gota, underscored the importance of insurance in mitigating risks, and stated that, “life is unpredictable and mobile money agents work long hours, often facing daily risks. This insurance scheme provides financial support in case of unforeseen circumstances, offering peace of mind to agents and their loved ones.”

Echoing this commitment, CEO of Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance Ghana Ltd, Tawiah Ben Ahmed, assured agents of his company’s dedication to honoring valid claims promptly. “As the life insurer in this partnership, we are committed to providing seamless insurance services and ensuring that claims are paid promptly to support our agents when needed.”

MobileMoney LTD remains committed to supporting its over 300,000 mobile money agents nationwide to thrive and operate in a safe environment. The company initiated the Agents Insurance Scheme in 2020.

Source: Business News

GSMA Confirms End-to-End Encryption for RCS, Enabling Secure Cross-Platform Messaging

GSMA

The GSM Association (GSMA) has formally announced support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for securing messages sent via the Rich Communications Services (RCS) protocol, bringing much-needed security protections to cross-platform messages shared between Android and iOS platforms.

To that end, the new GSMA specifications for RCS include E2EE based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol via what’s called the RCS Universal Profile 3.0.

“The new specifications define how to apply MLS within the context of RCS,” Tom Van Pelt, technical director of GSMA, said. “These procedures ensure that messages and other content such as files remain confidential and secure as they travel between clients.”

This also means that RCS will be the first “large-scale messaging service” to have support for interoperable E2EE between different client implementations from different providers in the near future.

It’s worth noting that Google’s own implementation of RCS, used in the Messages app for Android, secures conversations using the Signal protocol to address the lack of built-in E2EE protections. That said, the encryption safeguards are currently limited to messages exchanged via the app, and not those exchanged with the iOS Messages users or users of other RCS clients on Android.

The development comes nearly six months after the GSMA said it was working towards implementing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to secure messages sent between the Android and iOS ecosystems. The move followed Apple’s decision to roll out support for RCS in its own Messages app with iOS 18.

In July 2023, Google revealed that it intends to add support for MLS to its Messages service and open-source implementation of the specification.

“RCS continues to support a range of interoperable messaging functions between iOS and Android users, such as group messaging, the ability to share high-resolution media, and see read receipts and typing indicators,” Van Pelt said.

When reached for comment, Google said, “We’ve always been committed to providing a secure messaging experience, and Google Messages users have had end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messaging for years. We’re excited to have this updated specification from GSMA and work as quickly as possible with the mobile ecosystem to implement and extend this important user protection to cross-platform RCS messaging.”

Source: The Hacker News

Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, EMIs Chamber of Ghana congratulate appointed Chairpersons

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he Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana have congratulated the newly appointed Chairpersons and members of the Information and Communications Committee and the Finance Committee of Parliament.

Mr Bandim Abed-Nego Azumah is the appointed Chairperson of the Information and Communications Committee of Parliament and Mr Isaac Adongo, the appointed Chairperson of the Finance Committee of Parliament.

This was indicated in a press release signed by Mr Louis Bobbie Osei, Regulatory and Research Manager, of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua.

He said as Ghana accelerates its digital transformation, the work of these two committees becomes increasingly urgent and their decisions will be critical in shaping policies that directly impact the Telecommunications and Digital Finance industries.

The two Chambers urge both committees to prioritize strategic policies and legislative support in these industries to accelerate Ghana’s economic growth and development.

Mr Osei, said the Telecommunications and Digital Finance sectors are not just industries but enablers of economic prosperity, financial inclusion, and national development.

Telecommunications powers Ghana’s digital economy, connecting businesses, communities, and government services, and digital Finance is revolutionizing transactions, expanding financial access, and driving innovation in commerce and entrepreneurship, he noted.

He said, “for Ghana to fully realize its economic and digital potential, these sectors must be supported through progressive policies, investment-friendly regulations, and infrastructure development.”

He recommended that, the Information and Communications and Finance Committees must ensure a policy environment that encourages investment and innovation in telecommunications and digital finance.

He said the committees must support regulatory frameworks that drive financial inclusion, improve digital security, and expand broadband access.

The committees must work with industry stakeholders to eliminate barriers to infrastructure development and technological advancement.

Other recommendations were that the committees must lead policy and laws to protect telecommunication infrastructure, and champion policies that reduce the cost of doing business in these industries to promote affordability and accessibility for all Ghanaians.

Mr Osei, said the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana are committed to working closely with both committees.

This collaboration will ensure that the right policies, regulations, and industry collaborations are in place to drive sustainable growth, job creation, and a digitally inclusive Ghana, and the committees can be reassured of our unwavering support and commitment, he stated.

He emphasised that the two Chambers look forward to engaging with the leadership and members of both committees in the near future to discuss strategic partnerships and actionable solutions that will position Ghana as a leader in telecommunications, digital payments, and technological advancement.

Source: GNA

Ethiopia continues efforts to strengthen startup ecosystem

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government plans to create a digital platform to facilitate the emergence of startups and make them more competitive internationally. Announced on Tuesday, March 11, the initiative is part of the government’s efforts in recent months to strengthen the national startup ecosystem.

In January 2024, the government signed an agreement with the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), a technology entity based in Port Louis, Mauritius. More recently, in January 2025, the government signed a €4.5 million (USD 4.6 million) funding agreement to foster the emergence of startups and accelerate the adoption of digital services.

This ambition of the authorities is aligned with the national digital transformation strategy “Digital Ethiopia 2025.” Through this roadmap, the Ethiopian government intends to harness digital opportunities across all sectors to transform the country into a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy. According to the GSMA, digital technology could contribute up to 1.3 trillion Ethiopian birr (approximately USD 10.1 billion) to the national GDP by 2028.

However, the GSMA emphasises that the government must improve access to capital and the business environment. Despite notable strengths such as a large population, a large market, and a skilled workforce, challenges remain. A 2023 study indicates that 25% of agri-tech and health-tech startups rate the business environment as very favourable, while nearly 30% rate it as average and 20% describe it as unfavourable. In a global comparison, Addis Ababa’s ecosystem ranks 328th out of 1,000 cities, according to StartupBlink’s “Startup Ecosystem Report 2024.”

The development of the startup ecosystem will also depend on internet access in the country. This technology is essential for both businesses and the populations targeted by digital services. In 2023, the GSMA estimated that 100 million people in Ethiopia would lack access to mobile internet, out of a total population estimated at 128.7 million by the World Bank.

Source: Extensia

Nigeria to Build 7,000 Telecom Towers to Bridge Connectivity Gap

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The Nigerian government has announced plans to build 7,000 telecom towers across rural areas to improve connectivity. Speaking at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, confirmed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the initiative as part of a broader effort to close the digital divide.

The government also plans to strengthen subsea cable systems and continue the deployment of 90,000 km of fiber-optic cables. Tijani emphasized the importance of providing quality telecom services, particularly to underserved areas, aligning with the administration’s focus on digital inclusion and economic growth.

The summit, organized by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, ITU, and ICPC, brought together global delegates who pledged to boosting subsea cable resilience through international cooperation and investment. Minister Tijani reaffirmed Nigeria’s central role in shaping global efforts to protect digital infrastructure and enhance resilience.

Source: Extensia