In The Spotlight
Telecom giants across Africa are broadening their content portfolios, with mobile gaming emerging as a promising focus in the entertainment sector
Currently, an estimated 230 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are active gamers, predominantly from South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Mobile phones lead the gaming scene, being far more accessible than costly consoles or PCs. As mobile devices and data plans become increasingly affordable, mobile gaming access continues to grow across the region.
Globally, mobile gaming generates about half of the gaming industry’s revenue, and in 2023, it accounted for over 55% of revenue for game publishers.
Leading regional players, including Vodacom and Telkom, are already launching products and initiatives to capture this growing market. They recognise the vast revenue and data consumption potential that mobile gaming offers.
From recent initiatives to long-term plans, Sub-Saharan telecom operators are embracing mobile gaming as they adapt to the unique dynamics of this expanding market.
Exploring the growth of Africa’s mobile gaming market
Globally, mobile gaming now accounts for half of the gaming industry’s total revenue. In 2023, game publishers saw over 55% of their earnings coming directly from the mobile segment, highlighting its dominance across the industry.
Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and Mastercard have unveiled a strategic alliance aimed at expanding mobile financial services throughout Sub-Saharan Africa
This significant collaboration is expected to grant millions of Orange Money users access to Mastercard’s global merchant network by 2025. The partnership will launch across seven countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Bridging financial access
With only 48% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa currently holding bank accounts, as noted in the African Digital Banking Transformation Report, this partnership is designed to bridge the financial access gap and empower underserved communities. Orange Money users will soon have the ability to acquire virtual or physical debit cards directly linked to their Orange Money wallets. These cards will enable seamless local and international payments, allowing transactions with local businesses and across any platform accepting Mastercard. Virtual cards can be requested via Max it—Orange’s Super App—while physical cards can be obtained from selected Orange Money Mastercard outlets.
Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group, Middle East and Africa, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “This collaboration is an opportunity to bring top notch innovation to our customers, allow to pay with the Mastercard card linked to their Orange Money wallet when they travel internationally, and give them access to online shopping all over the world, in a simple and secure way. By offering our users the ability to pay effortlessly with Mastercard virtual card, we open the door to a world of new possibilities and promote their financial independence.”
Amnah Ajmal, Executive vice-president of market development at Mastercard EEMEA, commented, “At Mastercard, we are committed to advancing financial inclusion by leveraging cutting-edge technology to create meaningful, scalable impact. Our collaboration with Orange Money represents a significant step in unlocking the full potential of digital financial services across Africa, enabling millions to participate in the global economy. This collaboration is a testament to our vision to building an inclusive digital ecosystem that leaves no one behind.”
Orange’s reach, which includes over 160 million customers and 37 million active Orange Money accounts in 17 African and Middle Eastern nations, has already played a vital role in enhancing financial inclusion. Through accessible, secure mobile services like transfers, payments, and other financial tools, Orange Money has provided affordable financial solutions to individuals previously excluded from the formal banking system.
This partnership also strengthens Mastercard’s position as a leading technology partner for African telecom providers. Mastercard’s expertise in secure payment gateways, local market knowledge, and SME-focused solutions fuels growth, innovation, and financial inclusion across the region. Additionally, this collaboration aligns with Orange’s commitment to delivering efficient, seamless payment solutions, advancing both financial inclusion and digital transformation across Africa.
Network International (Network), a prominent digital commerce enabler across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with global fintech leader Ant International
This partnership will focus on advancing digital payment solutions for MEA businesses, promoting financial inclusion and digital transformation in the region.
Through this collaboration, Network aims to leverage Alipay+ Wallet Tech solutions to enhance e-wallet services for its MEA customers. Alipay+ Wallet Tech offers a comprehensive suite for developing e-wallet applications and supporting super app functionalities, enabling e-wallet integration on a global scale.
Expanding payment options
Plans are also underway to expand the partnership across other MEA countries. Network will introduce Alipay+ payment options to online platforms in the region, allowing users to pay seamlessly both online and offline via QR codes and their preferred digital payment methods. Alipay+ already connects over 30 digital payment methods worldwide.
Additionally, Network will work with Ant International’s Antom platform to improve Antom’s card processing capabilities, expanding acceptance of UAE-issued international debit and credit cards, and enabling global merchants to offer more local payment options for enhanced consumer engagement.
Nandan Mer, CEO, Network International, said, “We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Ant International to expand their footprint in the Middle East and Africa and contribute to financial inclusion efforts within the region. This collaboration underscores our commitment to accelerating digital transformation, enabling the growth of businesses in the region”.
Peng Yang, CEO, Ant International, remarked, “We are delighted to join hands with Network International to serve regional and global merchants, including SMEs in UAE and the MEA region. By combining our innovative technologies and digitisation solutions with Network’s deep know-how of this region, we are providing more growth opportunities to the merchants, enabling them to thrive in the digital era.”
Paratus Group, a leading pan-African telecom company, has finalised its East-West Africa fiber route, delivering a fast and resilient connection from anywhere in southern Africa to anywhere globally
This first-of-its-kind coast-to-coast terrestrial route, developed using Paratus’ fiber infrastructure, provides a vital alternative link. Growing demand for this route has accelerated, driven by frequent and disruptive network outages.
Paratus Group CEO, Schalk Erasmus, explained, “This sea-change in imperatives has arisen due to breakages in certain subsea cable systems. Operators need a more reliable route and, with our new East-West route, by connecting to the Equiano subsea cable, we can assure customers a fast and robust alternative. Our East-West fiber route isn’t just a line on a map — it’s Africa’s digital lifeline.”
Stretching from Maputo on Africa’s east coast, through Johannesburg and across Botswana and Namibia, the advanced terrestrial network reaches the Cable Landing Station in Swakopmund, Namibia, where Paratus is the Equiano Subsea Cable landing partner. This strategically designed route enhances Paratus’ regional infrastructure, providing exceptional reliability and low-latency connectivity across Southern Africa.
Paratus Group chief commercial officer, Martin Cox, highlights the network's unique blend of regional expertise and global access: “As a steadfast partner with pan-African expertise, we offer unequalled wholesale capacity solutions for network operators. Because we understand the unique connectivity needs of the various regions, we have tailored our solutions to specific requirements, and we offer carriers and operators not only a diverse East-West route but also onward transmission to Europe.
“Recent undersea cable cuts have shown the importance of robust alternatives and why we’ve built redundancy into every kilometre, ensuring Southern Africa stays connected, no matter what. This isn’t just about backup—it’s about uninterrupted operations and seamless communications. With Paratus, you’re partnering with innovators who are weaving resilience into Africa’s digital landscape.”
The GSMA, a global organisation connecting the mobile ecosystem, has released its 'State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024 report', revealing that 43% of the global population still do not use mobile internet
Despite consistent annual growth in users, progress has slowed. In 2023, 160 million people started using mobile internet, bringing the total number of users to 4.6 billion, a figure similar to the previous year. However, this marks a slowdown from the 2015-2021 period, when more than 200 million new users were added each year.
According to the report, 350mn people, or 4% of the global population, live in remote areas without access to mobile internet, while 3.1bn people (39%) live within coverage but do not use the service, creating a substantial "usage gap." This gap remains the biggest challenge in expanding internet access.
The GSMA report, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), estimates that getting the unconnected population online could add US$3.5 trillion to the global economy between 2023 and 2030, with most of the benefits impacting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, closing this gap will require an estimated US$418bn in infrastructure investment to achieve universal mobile internet access.
Africa: Least connected region
Only 27% of the region’s population uses mobile internet, leaving a 13% coverage gap and a massive 60% usage gap, indicating that many live within mobile internet coverage areas but do not use the service.
A key obstacle is affordability. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), entry-level internet-enabled devices cost around 18% of average monthly income, but in Sub-Saharan Africa, this figure skyrockets to 99% for the poorest 20% of the population. This makes mobile internet devices out of reach for a significant portion of the population.
The usage gap is also fueled by low digital literacy and lack of relevant local content. The report estimates that closing the usage gap in Africa could contribute an estimated US$3.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with 90% of that impact benefiting LMICs. However, bridging this gap requires significant investment in infrastructure—around us$418bn is needed to achieve universal mobile internet access.
In addition, nearly two-thirds of mobile internet users in Sub-Saharan Africa still rely on 3G smartphones or feature phones, limiting their ability to fully engage with digital services. The region’s infrastructure must evolve to offer affordable 4G and 5G connectivity, alongside efforts to improve digital skills.
John Giusti, chief regulatory officer at the GSMA, said, “Despite continued progress in expanding the reach of network infrastructure and in increasing mobile internet adoption, significant digital divides remain."
“Although most users access mobile internet daily, their activities are often limited to just one or two activities, even though many express a desire to do more. This highlights persistent barriers to enabling meaningful connectivity, preventing users from getting online and getting the full benefits of the mobile internet."
Intelsat announced today that the anomaly reported on October 19 has resulted in the complete loss of its Intelsat 33e satellite, affecting customers across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region
Intelsat is coordinating with Boeing, the satellite’s manufacturer, and government agencies to analyse data and observations. A Failure Review Board has been convened to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident.
Since the anomaly, Intelsat has maintained active communication with affected customers and partners. Migration and service restoration plans are already underway using the Intelsat fleet and third-party satellites to minimise disruption.
Details of the anomaly and loss
The Intelsat 33e satellite experienced a critical anomaly on October 19, resulting in a power failure and the subsequent disruption of service. Despite efforts to resolve the issue, current assessments indicate that the satellite is not recoverable. The satellite, launched in August 2016 and operational since January 2017, was positioned at 60 degrees East.
Intelsat continues to evaluate its fleet capacity and is working with third-party providers to restore services for affected customers.
Rawbank, a frontrunner in banking innovation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has unveiled a strategic partnership with OADC – Texaf Kinshasa, the country’s inaugural Tier-III certified, carrier-neutral data centre
This collaboration aligns with Rawbank’s vision to boost its digital banking services and advance financial inclusion through investments in cutting-edge infrastructure.
As the DRC experiences significant economic growth, Rawbank has cemented its role as a digital transformation leader, introducing solutions that address evolving market needs and contribute to the expansion of the digital economy. By colocating at OADC – Texaf Kinshasa, Rawbank secures a scalable, secure, and reliable environment for its digital assets, enhancing offerings such as its mobile money service, illicoCash, and expanding access to underserved populations. This partnership will empower Rawbank to deliver accessible, innovative banking solutions across the nation.
“We are excited to welcome Rawbank to our OADC – Texaf Kinshasa data centre,” said Mohammed Bouhelal, managing director of OADC – Texaf Kinshasa. “This collaboration highlights the critical role our facility plays in driving digital transformation in key sectors, including banking. Rawbank’s decision underscores our value in terms of connectivity, resilience and scalability.”
Rawbank's initiatives for financial inclusion have gained global recognition, supported by key collaborations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), which provide crucial resources for sustainable growth.
“This partnership with OADC – Texaf Kinshasa marks a major step in our journey to modernise banking services in the DRC,” said Mustafa Rawji, general manager of Rawbank. “By leveraging world-class digital infrastructure, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing secure, accessible, and efficient banking solutions for all Congolese. We look forward to the new opportunities this collaboration will unlock for our customers and the broader community.”
Huawei, a global leader in ICT infrastructure and smart devices, has announced its commitment to assisting Tower Companies (TowerCos) in Africa in diversifying their energy sources and adopting sustainable energy practices for powering telecom infrastructure
This initiative aims to help TowerCos reduce their carbon emissions, improve operational efficiency, and explore new business opportunities.
During his speech, "Lighting Up the Road to Multiple Business Future for TowerCos," delivered at the TowerXchange Meetup Africa 2024 in Nairobi, Li Shaolong, president of site power facility domain at Huawei Digital Power, noted that Africa is accelerating the development of ICT infrastructure. TowerCos, as key players in this process, are facing new challenges and opportunities.
“As mobile connectivity demand rises, TowerCos are under increasing pressure to ensure energy reliability and sustainability, especially in areas with limited grid access. Tower sites, often in remote locations, depend heavily on diesel generators, which are costly, environmentally harmful, and vulnerable to fuel supply issues. Huawei’s energy solutions address these challenges by incorporating renewable energy technologies like solar power and advanced energy storage systems,” Li explained.
He emphasised Huawei's long-term commitment to helping Africa's TowerCos transition to greener energy solutions, leveraging the integration of digital and power electronics technologies. Huawei Site Power Facility aims to provide TowerCos with comprehensive energy infrastructure and intelligent operations and maintenance (O&M) solutions.
A path to diversification
In addition to energy sustainability, Huawei is supporting TowerCos in their efforts to diversify by helping them explore new business models and revenue streams.
“This will drive TowerCos to become energy producers through innovative solutions and business models, leading to diversified business development, revenue growth, and sustained success in energy operations,” Li said.
He highlighted that with Huawei's eMIMO smart power solution, TowerCos can centrally manage multiple energy inputs—such as grid power, photovoltaics (PV), and energy storage—and multiple outputs ranging from 12V to 220V devices through a single platform.
“In this way, revenue-generating services like environmental protection and emergency response can be developed alongside communications services,” he said.
Li further stated that Huawei Site Power Facility Domain's main goals are to support network evolution, increase tenancy ratios, help TowerCos reduce energy costs while achieving green development, improve power availability, and reduce site O&M costs.
“Huawei will continue collaborating with TowerCos to innovate and advance energy infrastructure towards a 'green, simple, and intelligent' future, accelerating the growth of African carrier networks and contributing to a digital Africa,” Li added.
Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is intensifying its efforts against cyber-crimes by enabling residents to report offenses around the clock
This will be facilitated through a 24-hour Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk, designed to receive and swiftly respond to information on cyber-crimes from the public. The desk will be accessible via both local and international phone numbers.
"Cyber-crime is not a crime against individuals and businesses. It is an assault on our collective integrity, economic stability, and the future of our youth," stated Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. "It is therefore crucial that we address these challenges head-on and explore not only the harmful consequences of cyber-crimes but also the sustainable alternatives that can redirect our youths towards productive and positive endeavours."
With over 60% of Nigeria’s population being young people, Tinubu highlighted that youth involvement in cyber-crime poses a significant threat to the nation's economic stability. The perpetrators of these crimes, often referred to locally as 'Yahoo Boys,' are primarily tertiary graduates struggling to secure formal employment.
The Nigeria Communications Commission reports that cyber-criminal activities cost the country an estimated US$500mn annually. This initiative by the EFCC aims to curb cyber-crime, safeguarding Nigeria’s economic stability and promoting positive and sustainable paths for the youth.