Telecom

By Amiya Johar | Source: Mobile Net Zero Report via GSMA

The GSMA is calling on mobile network operators to accelerate their decarbonisation efforts, warning that current progress falls short of the trajectory required to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

According to the mobile industry body’s latest Mobile Net Zero report, operators achieved an 8% reduction in operational emissions between 2019 and 2023, even as global mobile connections rose by 9% and data consumption quadrupled. The findings were released ahead of MWC Shanghai.

Despite this progress, the GSMA cautions that the pace of emissions reduction must increase to 7.5% annually through to 2030—more than twice the current rate. Preliminary 2024 data shows a 4.5% drop, indicating improvement but still below target.

Renewable energy uptake played a significant role in the sector’s emissions decline, with 37% of electricity sourced from renewables in 2023—up from just 13% in 2019. This shift reportedly prevented around 16 million tonnes of carbon emissions. Regional leaders include Europe, which cut operator emissions by 56% since 2019, followed by North America (44%) and Latin America (36%). For the first time, China recorded a 4% drop in operator emissions, spurred by a sharp increase in clean energy use.

Still, GSMA flags Scope 3 emissions—those generated across supply chains and manufacturing—as a key challenge, accounting for two-thirds of the sector’s carbon footprint. These value chain emissions remain a critical focus area for operators aligning with science-based targets.

Operators are increasingly turning to energy-efficient infrastructure, solar power, battery storage, and the phasing out of diesel-based and legacy networks. But GSMA stresses that stronger policy environments and expanded renewable energy access are essential to meet global sustainability ambitions.

Consumer trends also signal growing momentum for sustainability. Nearly 90% of surveyed users are open to refurbished devices, a market expected to reach $150 billion by 2027.

“This industry isn’t greenwashing or greenwishing—it’s green acting,” said Steven Moore, GSMA’s Head of Climate Action. “But to stay on track, we need faster progress, firmer policy support, and deeper collaboration across the ecosystem.”

By Amiya Johar | Source: Mobile Net Zero Report via GSMA

The Guinean Backbone Management Company (SOGEB) and Sierra Leone’s Leoncom have signed a cross-marketing agreement to jointly leverage their international fiber optic capacities. The deal, sealed in Conakry on June 12, aims to enhance digital interconnection between the two neighboring West African nations.

The agreement enables reciprocal access to each country’s national fiber networks through the Pamelap border exchange point. By sharing infrastructure and international capacity, the initiative seeks to deliver more stable, affordable, and competitive broadband connectivity for operators, enterprises, and public agencies.

This builds on an earlier interconnection pact signed in November 2024 and supports ECOWAS’s broader vision of regional digital integration. As of early 2025, internet penetration stands at 26.5% in Guinea and 20.7% in Sierra Leone, according to Datareportal.

The partnership is expected to boost network resilience, reduce service disruptions, and lower connectivity costs—fostering increased digital adoption and enabling advancements in e-government, education, and healthcare.

Source: Extensia.tech

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

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

Burkina Faso has set an ambitious target to achieve national broadband coverage by 2030, as part of its broader digital transformation agenda. The government’s strategy aims to expand access to telecom services and strengthen the country’s digital economy across sectors such as education, health, trade, agriculture, and public administration.

Unveiling the plan at the World Bank Group’s Private Sector Forum on May 27, Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, outlined a five-point strategy: promoting infrastructure sharing, eliminating coverage dead zones, reinforcing the national backbone, deploying fiber to homes, and increasing infrastructure investment.

While broadband is seen as a foundation for digital growth, Burkina Faso faces challenges. As of 2022, only 58% of the population had 3G access, and 39.4% had 4G, while 2G covered 92.6%. The UN’s 2024 telecom infrastructure index scored the country at 0.3640 out of 1, and the ITU ranked it 43rd out of 47 African nations in ICT development.

The government acknowledges that achieving meaningful connectivity also requires affordable devices, digital literacy, and accessible services.

Source: EcoFin Agency

The Ministry of Technology and Science, in partnership with the Zambia Information and Communications Authority (ZICTA), has commissioned a new communication tower in Kalunkumya village, Mpongwe District. The initiative aims to enhance network coverage and drive digital inclusion in rural Zambia.

According to the Ministry, the new infrastructure is expected to stimulate local economic activity, improve emergency communication, and support mobile banking and other e-payment services.

“We are not only connecting people, but also their aspirations, knowledge, and future opportunities,” said Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati. He emphasized that connectivity in Mpongwe—an important agricultural zone—will enable access to market information, digital extension services, and improve transparency in government programmes like the Farmer Input Support Programme and social cash transfers.

ZICTA Director General Collins Mbulo highlighted the tower as part of a broader strategy to bridge the digital divide. “We are investing in a sustainable ecosystem of digital inclusion—one that also addresses the need for devices, digital literacy, and online safety,” he noted, adding that ZICTA is working closely with the Ministry of Education to support initiatives such as the digital curriculum.

Source: Extensia.tech

Safaricom has announced a major upgrade to its flagship mobile money platform, M-PESA, backed by a $300 million (Ksh40 billion) investment. The project—dubbed M-PESA 2.0—aims to significantly improve system stability, expand transaction capacity, and enhance user experience across Africa.

Safaricom Group CEO Peter Ndengwa described the upgrade as “the next big leap” in M-PESA’s evolution, promising zero downtime for customers once fully implemented. He underscored the company’s commitment to safety and cybersecurity, highlighting ongoing efforts to stay ahead of fraudsters and cyber threats. “We’ve put strong guardrails in place, and ethical hackers are constantly testing our systems. We’re building resilience so customers can trust our services every day,” Ndengwa said.

The announcement comes as M-PESA celebrates its 18th anniversary. Since launching in 2007, the platform has grown into Africa’s most successful fintech solution, with over 70 million users in more than 170 countries. It supports over one million businesses and agents across key markets, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt.

M-PESA currently handles around 100 million transactions daily, with a processing capacity of 4,000 transactions per second. Its open API platform, Daraja, supports over 55,000 integrations and is home to more than 100,000 developers, fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem.

The M-PESA 2.0 upgrade is designed to scale the platform for future growth, support the rollout of new digital services, and ensure continued reliability in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Source: Extensia

Twenty-one instructors from Egypt’s National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) have earned international certification after completing a “Train the Trainers” program led by India’s Tejas Networks, a global leader in networking technologies.

The program, part of Egypt–India telecom cooperation and backed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, focused on advanced networking and fiber optics, aiming to develop highly skilled local technical talent.

Dr. Ahmed Khattab, NTI Director, announced that the initiative sets the stage for the launch of Egypt’s first Tejas Academy at NTI—joining a network of 12 international academies. The academy will train and certify engineers in networking and fiber optics and offer technical support to boost employment and expertise in the telecom sector.

NTI continues to serve as a national hub for ICT training, research, and consultancy, contributing to Egypt’s digital capacity-building strategy.

Source: Extensia

Vodafone Group, Ericsson, and A1 Group have successfully established an international standalone (SA) 5G roaming connection—marking a major milestone for seamless cross-border connectivity, especially for business users.

The achievement enabled an A1 Bulgaria customer to access SA 5G data while roaming on Vodafone Germany’s network, using standard devices and commercial 5G core network software based on 3GPP and GSMA standards.

Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core and security edge platforms supported the setup, which enables advanced services like network slicing, AR/VR multi-headset connections at major events, and consistent enterprise connectivity across borders.

Vodafone’s chief network officer, Alberto Ripepi, emphasized the benefits for large-scale events and industrial use cases, while A1’s Todor Tashev called it a “key technological milestone.” Ericsson’s Monica Zethzon noted the significance of the market, with its 5G Core tech now powering over 40 SA 5G networks globally.

The test also confirmed the feasibility of international SA 5G voice roaming.

Source: Mobile World Live