Industry News

Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson has recorded around 29 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 4,228 crore on constant currency basis during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, according to financial data released by the company.

The company had posted revenue of around Rs 3,272 crore in the same quarter a year ago calculated based on average foreign exchange rate during the corresponding quarter.

 Ericsson India, the second largest market of the Swedish firm, contributed 8 per cent to the consolidated revenue of the firm in the March quarter and 7 per cent in the year-ago period.

Global net sales of Ericsson grew 6 per cent organically to 49.3 billion Swedish Krona (SEK) while the reported growth declined 10 per cent year-on-year due to the impact of forex, the company said in the financial results released on Friday.

“Our Q1 results demonstrate continued resilience in a dynamic environment, with organic sales growth of 6 per cent,” Ericsson President and CEO Borje Ekholm said.

Ericsson attributed growth in sales market across Europe, Middle East, and Africa driven by network modernisations as well as 5G launches and rollouts.

India was one of the key growth drivers for the company during the reported quarter.

“Sales in market areas South East Asia, Oceania, and India increased primarily due to higher deliveries in India. Sales in market area North East Asia also increased, reflecting the timing of project deliverables predominantly in Japan,” the company said.

The company, too, is facing the challenge of rising cost of semiconductors due to demand in artificial intelligence besides uncertainties in the market due to geopolitical conditions.

“Our multi-year investments in building a resilient, diversified, supply chain have enabled us to deliver consistently for customers amidst geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties. We are facing increasing input costs, especially in semiconductors, caused in part by AI demand. Our ambition is to offset these challenges, by working closely with customers and suppliers, and through product substitution and efficiency actions,” Ekholm said.

He projected that sales in the radio access network (RAN or mobile network) market are expected to remain flat, but expressed optimism about mission-critical projects and the enterprise segment, which are anticipated to grow at a faster pace than the overall mobile networks market.

Source : www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has supported the Ministry of Sports and Recreation with laptops and projectors to enhance its digital operations ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

A statement issued in Accra said the support formed part of GIFEC’s commitment to promoting digital transformation across public institutions.

It said GIFEC donated the high-speed laptops and projectors to improve office efficiency and strengthen the Ministry’s operational capacity.

The statement said the intervention would also support the establishment of a Digital Centre to help streamline internal processes and enhance communication.

Mr Tanko Rashid-Computer, Administrator of GIFEC, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting the Ministry’s digitalisation agenda.

He said technology played a critical role in effective planning and coordination, particularly as the country prepared for major international sporting events such as the World Cup.

Madam Betty Krosbi Mensah, Senior Technical Advisor to Mr Kofi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation, who received the items on behalf of the Ministry, expressed appreciation for the support.

She said the donation would significantly improve the Ministry’s efficiency and readiness ahead of the tournament.

Also present at the presentation ceremony were Ms Francisca Adjei, Director of Corporate Affairs at GIFEC, and Ms Zulaiya Yakubu, Head of Training at the Fund.

The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between GIFEC and the Ministry as Ghana prepares for the World Cup.

MTN Ghana has swept three Ookla Speedtest Awards at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, claiming the titles of Fastest Mobile Network in Ghana, Best Fixed Network in Ghana, and Best Fixed Network in Western Africa.

The awards, presented earlier this year, are determined entirely by independent data drawn from millions of real consumer speed tests conducted through Ookla’s Speedtest platform, widely regarded as the global benchmark for real-world internet performance. MTN Ghana recorded a Speedtest Connectivity Score of 67.16, outperforming operators across multiple West African markets including those in Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, placing the company among a select group of network operators worldwide to meet Ookla’s performance benchmarks.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephen Blewett said the triple recognition reflects the sustained investment the company has committed to building reliable connectivity across Ghana. “These recognitions from Ookla reflect the significant investments we continue to make in our network to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity for our customers,” he said. “At MTN Ghana, we believe that a strong, dependable network is fundamental to expanding digital access, driving economic growth and supporting Africa’s progress.”

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Reuben Opata also welcomed the recognition, saying the company remains focused on delivering consistent, high-quality network experiences across the country.

The awards reflect a period of deliberate network modernisation at MTN Ghana, encompassing capacity upgrades across radio and transport infrastructure. The company’s investment trajectory is set to accelerate further following a commitment by MTN Group Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita, who during a recent visit to Ghana announced plans to invest US$1.1 billion in the country over the next three years, targeting stronger infrastructure and broader service delivery.

MTN Ghana is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange under Scancom PLC and holds the position of market leader in Ghana’s mobile telecommunications industry.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

Ericsson noted that its ongoing investments in supply chain resilience and diversified operations continue to support stable delivery and long-term growth, even as it navigates rising input costs and evolving market conditions.

Ericsson has released its first quarter 2026 financial results, highlighting resilient performance, steady organic growth, and continued strategic execution despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.

The company recorded organic sales growth of 6%, driven primarily by its Networks segment, as customer demand expanded across multiple regions. During the quarter, Ericsson also strengthened its technology leadership with the announcement of AI-native radios at Mobile World Congress. Additionally, a share buyback program of up to SEK 15 billion has been approved, with implementation expected to begin on April 23, 2026.

Reported sales for the quarter stood at SEK 49.3 billion, down from SEK 55.0 billion in the same period last year. Despite this decline, organic growth remained positive across all business segments. Adjusted gross income fell to SEK 23.7 billion, reflecting currency headwinds, while reported gross income reached SEK 23.3 billion.

Profitability remained relatively stable, with an adjusted gross margin of 48.1%, slightly down from 48.5% last year. The Cloud Software and Services segment posted improved margins, while Networks saw a slight decline. Adjusted EBITA came in at SEK 5.6 billion, with a margin of 11.3%, impacted mainly by currency effects. Reported EBITA dropped to SEK 1.8 billion due to restructuring charges.

Net income for the quarter was SEK 0.9 billion, compared to SEK 4.2 billion a year earlier, reflecting both restructuring costs and currency pressures. Diluted earnings per share stood at SEK 0.27. Meanwhile, free cash flow before M&A more than doubled to SEK 5.9 billion, driven by stronger operating cash flow.

“Our Q1 results demonstrate continued resilience in a dynamic environment, with organic sales growth of 6%. Our healthy gross margins and strong cash flow reflect the progress we have made in recent years, reducing reliance on geographic mix and strengthening our foundations globally. Our multi-year investments in building a resilient, diversified, supply chain have enabled us to deliver consistently for customers amidst geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties. We are facing increasing input costs, especially in semiconductors, caused in part by AI demand. Our ambition is to offset these challenges, by working closely with customers and suppliers, and through product substitution and efficiency actions. Looking ahead, while we continue to expect a flattish RAN market, our focused strategy, leading portfolio, and strengthened positions in mission critical and Enterprise give us confidence in our ability to grow faster than the mobile networks market and drive long-term success.”

– Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson

Ericsson noted that its ongoing investments in supply chain resilience and diversified operations continue to support stable delivery and long-term growth, even as it navigates rising input costs and evolving market conditions.

Source : www.techafricanews.com

Ghana’s leading telecommunications company, MTN Ghana, has hosted its 2026 Media Stakeholders Forum at the Accra City Hotel in Accra, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and partnership as it marks three decades of operations.

The high-level event drew a strong turnout of journalists, regulators, and representatives from MTN’s institutional partner companies.

 It served as a platform for MTN’s leadership to provide updates on the company’s operational performance, strategic priorities, and social impact, while giving the media an opportunity to interrogate key issues affecting the telecom sector.

MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, led a strong delegation of senior management to the forum. He was joined by Chief Sustainability Officer Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe; CEO of MobileMoney Fintech LTD, Shaibu Haruna; Chief Digital Officer Ibrahim Misto; Chief Financial Officer Antoinette Kwofie; Head of Network Operations Magnus Cofie; and Chief Enterprise Officer Angella Mensah-Poku.

Together, they addressed questions ranging from network expansion and digital inclusion to mobile money security and sustainability.

Held under the theme “MTN Ghana @30: Connecting Ghana, Shaping the Digital Future”, the forum spotlighted the company’s journey since its entry into the Ghanaian market 30 years ago. Discussions touched on MTN’s role in expanding connectivity across rural and underserved communities, its investment in 4G and 5G infrastructure, and the growing influence of MobileMoney in driving financial inclusion.

Beyond performance metrics, management also outlined MTN’s future direction, with emphasis on deepening digital innovation, supporting Ghana’s fintech ecosystem, and aligning with national goals on digital transformation.

Stakeholders commended the company’s openness while urging continued investment in service quality, cybersecurity, and affordable data.

The annual forum has become a key fixture on MTN’s calendar, strengthening dialogue between the telecom giant and the media fraternity while reinforcing accountability to customers and the wider public.

 As MTN Ghana celebrates its 30th anniversary, the company reiterated its vision of not just connecting people but actively shaping Ghana’s digital future.

Source : www.myjoyonline.com

MTN Ghana has announced enhanced compliance measures across its mobile money agent network, reinforcing its commitment to customer protection and service integrity.

The company’s mobile money subsidiary introduced the initiative to strengthen oversight, reduce fraud risks, and ensure continued confidence in its widely used MoMo platform. According to a statement cited by the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, April 16, the effort includes routine audits and monitoring of agent activities, with some accounts temporarily restricted as part of standard review processes.

MTN Ghana emphasized a fair and structured approach to enforcement. Minor infractions are addressed with guidance and warnings, while more serious breaches may lead to suspensions or removal. The company also noted that it is engaging directly with affected agents, reviewing cases individually and restoring access where appropriate.

Supporting a rapidly growing ecosystem

The initiative comes at a time of strong growth in mobile money usage across the country. Mobile financial services continue to expand access to financial tools, especially for individuals and communities underserved by traditional banking.

Data from the Bank of Ghana highlights this momentum, with mobile money transactions reaching 3,010 billion Ghanaian cedis in 2024, reflecting a significant year-on-year increase. Active accounts also continue to rise, underscoring the platform’s importance in everyday financial activity.

Strengthening the agent network

Agents remain central to the success of mobile money services, providing convenient access for deposits, withdrawals, and account services. MTN Ghana’s latest measures are designed to support agents in maintaining high standards while improving system transparency and accountability.

By enhancing monitoring and reinforcing best practices—particularly in areas like customer verification and transaction handling—the company aims to create a safer environment for both users and agents. These efforts also help address industry-wide challenges, ensuring that the benefits of mobile money continue to reach millions reliably.

Overall, the move reflects MTN Ghana’s proactive approach to sustaining trust, improving service quality, and supporting the long-term growth of Ghana’s digital financial ecosystem.

Source : www.ecofinagency.com

Youth unemployment is at an all-time high in South Africa, with it sitting at 62.4 percent most recently.

A dearth of adequate digital skills has long been highlighted as a reason for this, and to the private sector’s credit, several organisations have stepped up in recent years to assist in training and upskilling to ensure relevant market-ready skills are entering the market.

One of those organisations is Huawei South Africa, which has for many years partnered with a number of government departments on digital skills training and industry-readiness programmes.

In fact, it took this week to highlight what strides it has made in this regard. To that end, Huawei says it has engaged an estimated 37 000 participants over the past two years through its aforementioned initiatives.

“This work is closely aligned with South Africa’s digital development priorities, as outlined in the South Africa Digital Infrastructure Investment Study 2025 by the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the National Planning Commission, which sets out the investment and policy conditions needed to support inclusive digital transformation through 2035,” Huawei explained in a release to Hypertext.

“Huawei’s operations and investments in South Africa are aligned with national priorities, which is why digital skills and talent development have become such an important area of focus for us. We are working with government, academia and the wider innovation ecosystem to help build the capability the country needs for inclusive and sustained digital growth,” added Christina Naidoo, chief operating officer of Huawei South Africa.

Some of the initiatives that have resulted in that impressive number of 37 000 include, its annual Women in Tech initiative, which is handled in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), as well as the Department of Employment and Labour and the Department of Small Business Development. Women in Tech 2025 has trained more than 300 women in South Africa since 2021.

Another important initiative is DigiSchool, which targets primary school learners, and reached 6 200 participants in 2025. Added to this is 4IR training and the Huawei ICT Academy, which reached a combined 7 082 participants, as it aimed to open pathways into areas such as AI, networking, and cloud computing.

Sticking with the Huawei ICT Academy, it has been established in 47 TVET Colleges, 25 universities and universities of technology, seven private colleges, and two training organisations to date. This has seen a substantial number of learners in the tertiary education space given the chance to pursue opportunities in the local technology space.

“Through Huawei’s LEAP (Leadership, Employability, Advancement, and Possibility) Programme, designed to bridge the digital skills gap in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing comprehensive training and resources, the company has reached over 18,000 participants in South Africa in 2025 alone, while also training customer engineers, partners and subcontractors to strengthen technical capability in the market,” the company highlighted.

This year, one of Huawei’s newest initiatives is Code4Mzanzi, which was announced in February. It is a, “Huawei Cloud developers competition run with the Department of Small Business Development and academic partners including UCT, UJ, UP and Wits. The competition drew 353 teams and 1,041 participants, bringing students, startups and young developers into a live environment where they could build, test and refine solutions using Huawei Cloud tools, mentorship and product support.”

There is always more to do when the country’s youth unemployment rate is as high as it is, but Huawei South Africa is certainly doing what it can when it comes to skills development, and over the past two years, has quickly grown a sizeable ICT talent ecosystem.

“When students and young developers are challenged to solve real problems, they sharpen technical skills, build confidence and learn to innovate under pressure. That is how digital talent grows stronger, and how countries create the kind of capability needed to compete, build and lead in the global digital economy,” concluded Naidoo.

Source : www.htxt.co.za

Ghana’s national cybersecurity response team logged more than 3,500 digital incidents in the first quarter of 2026, authorities revealed Thursday, as the country deepened a formal cooperation programme with Italy to confront an accelerating wave of online threats.

Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George disclosed the figures at a stakeholder workshop in Accra hosted by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) alongside Italy’s Cyber 4.0 Cybersecurity Competence Center. The incidents between January and March included malware attacks, ransomware attempts and intrusions targeting Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) across key sectors.

“Between January and March 2026 alone, the National Computer Emergency Response Team has recorded 3,500 incidents, with increasing reports of malware activity, ransomware attempts and attacks targeting Critical Information Infrastructure,” George said.

Authorities have responded with coordinated enforcement operations since January, resulting in multiple arrests tied to online fraud and identity theft networks. The crackdown builds on wider action that has produced hundreds of cybercrime-related arrests since 2025.

The Accra workshop, which also drew Italy’s Ambassador to Ghana Laura Ranalli and Cyber 4.0 Director Matteo Lucchetti, centred on three pillars: raising awareness of Ghana’s National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS), strengthening operational capabilities, and expanding international cooperation. Participants are expected to produce a report of measurable steps to guide ongoing collaboration between the two countries.

The Italy-Ghana programme, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinated by Cyber 4.0, was formally announced in December 2025. It aims to support Ghana in implementing its national cybersecurity strategy, train local professionals, and promote the country’s role in global cyber diplomacy forums.

George said the government is embedding cybersecurity across flagship digital initiatives, including the One Million Coders Programme, which incorporates secure software development, and the Girls in ICT Programme. Regulatory reforms are also progressing, covering certification of cybersecurity service providers and the mapping of critical infrastructure across 13 economic sectors.

“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. It requires collaboration across governments, industry, academia, and international partners,” he said.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George (MP), has initiated steps to onboard global tech firm Code Raccoon into the Government’s flagship digital skills and training programme, following a courtesy call by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Jorn Halsinger.

During the meeting, the Minister noted the need to have technical engagements between Code Raccoon and the Ministry’s implementation team to explore the integration of the company’s learning Ambylon platform into the Government’s central digital training portal.

This, he said, forms part of efforts to expand access to industry-relevant digital skills, particularly in artificial intelligence, coding, and entrepreneurship.

‎Samuel Nartey George emphasised that the Government is prioritising a seamless, user-friendly learning experience, where all courses are accessible through a single national platform.

‎ He explained that ongoing integrations with global partners, including Google and Coursera, were being structured to allow users to access external learning environments without leaving the Government’s portal.

‎“We are building a unified system where learners can access thousands of courses through one interface. Once a user selects a course, the system seamlessly connects them to the provider’s platform through API integration,” the Minister stated.

‎The Minister disclosed that the Government has already begun rolling out the initiative, with nearly 10,000 digital devices distributed to learning centres across the country. He added that a national registration portal is expected to go live shortly, enabling students to enrol and begin courses.

‎He further noted that the programme is being implemented through strategic partnerships, with private sector collaborators supporting content delivery and funding components of the initiative. This, he said, allows Government to scale the programme efficiently despite financial constraints.

‎For his part, the CEO of Code Raccoon, Mr Jorn Halsinger expressed Code Raccoon’s readiness to support Ghana’s digital transformation agenda by providing access to a wide range of courses through the Ambylon platform which currently has 5,744 courses covering coding, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurial skills and other topics.

He indicated that the platform is designed not only to prepare learners for employment but also to equip them to become job creators.

‎The CEO of Code Raccoon Ltd indicated that the proposed collaboration would enable Code Raccoon’s virtual learning environment to be integrated into the Government’s platform via API, allowing automatic user onboarding and access to its course library.

‎The engagement underscores Government’s broader strategy to leverage global partnerships in delivering large-scale digital skills training and positioning Ghana’s workforce for emerging opportunities in the global digital economy.

Source : www.myjoyonline.com

PARLIAMENT – MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda have urged the government to slash the excise duty on mobile money withdrawals from 0.5 percent to 0.25 percent and introduce a cap of Shs5,000 per transaction.
The telecom giants made the appeal on Wednesday when their officials appeared before Parliament’s Finance Committee to submit views on tax bills funding the 2026/27 national budget.

MTN’s General Manager for Corporate Services, Dennis Kakonge, told lawmakers the current levy unfairly burdens ordinary Ugandans. “When you send money for Parish Development Model, Emyooga, women down there will suffer the tax burden, they are your taxpayers,” Kakonge said. He explained that a Shs500,000 withdrawal attracts Shs2,500 in excise duty on the full  amount withdrawn, plus 15 percent on the service fee. “This creates tax burden. Uganda taxes mobile money transactions more heavily than markets with larger digital economies and higher income. There is a need to address this challenge”, he added.

Airtel Uganda Managing Director Soumendra Sahu joined the delegation in pushing for the reduction, arguing it would boost transaction volumes and ultimately increase government revenue. The operators projected that a 0.25 percent rate could generate up to Shs80 billion annually in the short term.

The mobile money withdrawal tax was first introduced in July 2018 through the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act as a 1 percent levy on all transactions. Following public outcry and a sharp drop in usage, it was revised in November 2018 to 0.5 percent on withdrawals only.

The plea comes as Parliament debates several other tax proposals in the 2026/27 budget process. These include a 30 percent environmental levy on imported second-hand clothes, new excise duty of Shs500 per litre or kilogram on cooking oil and fat, Shs1,000 per 50kg on cement and related materials, higher duties on paints and imported spirits, and withholding taxes on land sales in urban areas and non-business assets.
Committee members expressed mixed reactions, balancing revenue needs against financial inclusion. The Finance Ministry has previously rejected similar reduction proposals for the coming fiscal year.

Source : www.chimpreports.com