Read the Digital Magazine

UnoTelos, a pioneering telecommunications company in Nigeria, has revealed an exciting strategic partnership with Niral Networks, a leading provider of Private 5G and Edge AI computing solutions from India

This partnership represents a significant step towards addressing Africa’s connectivity challenges and accelerating digital transformation across the continent.

Can connectivity evolve?

The collaboration between UnoTelos and Niral Networks is built on a shared vision to overcome the persistent infrastructure limitations that have traditionally impeded technological growth in Africa. By combining UnoTelos’ in-depth knowledge of the African market with Niral Networks’ state-of-the-art NiralOS 5G Core and Edge AI technologies, the partnership seeks to deliver secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity solutions.

“This partnership is more than a technological alliance—it's about empowerment,” stated Jude Egbokwu, founder & CEO of UnoTelos. “We are not just solving connectivity problems; we’re creating opportunities for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global stage.”

Abhijit Chaudhary, founder & CEO of Niral Networks, added, “Our collaboration with UnoTelos represents a pivotal moment in the digital transformation journey across Africa. By integrating Niral Networks' advanced Private 5G and Edge AI technologies with UnoTelos' profound system integration capabilities and market insights, we are not just deploying telecom infrastructure—we are engineering ecosystems for innovation. This partnership is strategically designed to address the continent’s most critical connectivity challenges, enabling industries from mining to oil & gas to leapfrog technological barriers and compete on a global scale.”

The partnership between UnoTelos and Niral Networks will initially focus on pilot projects across key sectors such as mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, shipping, ports, aviation, airports, and logistics. NiralOS’s modular Private 5G and Edge design allows for the customisation of solutions to meet the unique needs of each industry, ensuring efficient and targeted deployments.

By adopting NiralOS Private 5G and Edge, UnoTelos is positioning itself as a leader in telecommunications, providing Nigerian enterprises with advanced connectivity solutions that were previously unavailable or unaffordable. Key benefits of this technology include secure private networks, low-latency communication, scalable edge computing, and tailored industry-specific solutions.

The partnership is expected to drive digital transformation across industries, with applications such as smart factory solutions, remote operations, and IoT systems that can enhance operational efficiency and global competitiveness. Looking forward, UnoTelos and Niral Networks plan to expand deployments, develop more advanced solutions, and support emerging sectors like telemedicine and autonomous systems.

The deputy minister of science, technology and innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, inaugurated a suborbital sounding rocket launch facility at the Denel Overberg Test Range in the Western Cape on 3 December 2024

This groundbreaking facility, funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and executed by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), marks a significant milestone for South Africa in the field of aerospace technology and innovation.

"The space infrastructure program funded by the DSTI and built by the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Aerospace Systems Research Institute is a demonstration of what the combined efforts, resources, and expertise of government, industry, and institutions of knowledge production can achieve, working together for one national goal. This facility here today is a beacon of this partnership," stated Gina.

Designed as a vital resource for next-generation aerospace projects, the facility will support advanced rocket system testing, critical research initiatives, and technological advancements in the aerospace sector.

"This gantry is a national asset that will be used to launch suborbital rockets built by ASRI but can also accommodate much larger solid-propellant vehicles of the type operated by space-faring nations, including other potential international clients on the continent and worldwide," noted Gina.

Unlike orbital launch vehicles, which are self-guided, suborbital rockets require precise aiming from a gantry tailored to specific flight trajectories, mission needs, and safety considerations.

The newly constructed launch gantry incorporates an advanced aiming and control system, allowing the boom to rotate a full 360 degrees horizontally and elevate to a vertical position. This ensures pinpoint accuracy in all directions and quick adjustments for conditions like wind shifts on launch days.

When vertical, the gantry stands as tall as a six-storey building but can be lowered horizontally during rocket loading and the installation of ground support systems for fueling and launching operations.

Mike Brooks, director of ASRI, stated, "The facility is designed to enable suborbital sounding rocket missions into the high atmosphere, and beyond into space. Many countries use sounding rockets to conduct research related to atmospheric physics, radiation, and magnetism in regions that are too high for balloons and too low for orbiting satellites.

"Sounding rockets help advance our understanding of the Earth and its atmosphere, but they are sizeable vehicles and need a purpose-built gantry from which to launch. The new facility makes it possible to launch ASRI's smaller Phoenix hybrid rockets that reach around 18 km and are used for training young engineers, but it can also accommodate much larger commercial sounding rockets that can achieve altitudes above 200 km, which is well into space," he explained.

ASRI envisions the facility as a driving force for South Africa's national priorities, including economic growth, job creation, and skills development. By fostering innovation in aerospace technology, the facility aims to attract investments, boost local industries, and open new markets. It also aims to create highly skilled jobs and offer training opportunities for future engineers and scientists. These initiatives aim to position South Africa as a global leader in space exploration and technological advancement.

"Having a local facility from which to launch such rockets will act as a catalyst to bring rockets to South Africa for scientific missions. Importantly, it will also catalyse the local aerospace industry to develop a South African sounding rocket, as well as the payloads, onboard sensors, and subsystems that go into these advanced machines. These activities will stimulate South Africa's aerospace industry, creating new economic opportunities for the local advanced manufacturing industry," Prof. Brooks remarked.

The facility’s capabilities were showcased with successful launches of the Phoenix-1D on 2 December 2024 and the Phoenix-1E on 4 December 2024.

PalmPay, a leading Africa-focused fintech behind Nigeria’s most popular mobile wallet, has teamed up with Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce powerhouse, in a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the digital payment landscape across the continent

This collaboration kicks off in Nigeria with integrated payment solutions and co-marketing initiatives.

The partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to fostering the adoption of digital payments and supporting Nigeria's transition to a cashless economy. With PalmPay now integrated as a payment option on Jumia, shoppers can use their PalmPay wallet at checkout, benefiting from a seamless and reliable transaction process.

“We are proud to partner with Jumia as we bring together the best of fintech and e-commerce to redefine the online shopping experience,” said Sofia Zab, chief marketing officer, PalmPay. “This strategic alliance aligns perfectly with our shared commitment to delivering a superior user experience and exceptional value to our customers.”

Sunil Natraj, CEO of Jumia Nigeria, added, “At Jumia, we are dedicated to creating value for our customers by ensuring a convenient, reliable, and secure shopping experience. This partnership with PalmPay strengthens our commitment to enhancing the digital payments within our platform. By integrating PalmPay, we are providing more options for customers to access affordable and quality goods with the convenience of cashless transactions.”

This partnership sets the stage for a long-term collaboration between two industry leaders, focused on driving innovation, improving consumer convenience, and promoting digital payment adoption across Africa.

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.

Cynoia, the African-built team workspace platform, has been recognised as the Best SaaS Startup at the prestigious AfricArena Grand Summit 2024, held in Cape Town

The event, now in its seventh year, is known as Africa's top tech ecosystem accelerator, drawing over 100 startups from 31 African nations.

At the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cynoia’s chief financial officer, Manar Labidi, accepted the award after competing with 45 other startups in a competition described by AfricArena founder Christophe Viarnaud as “the stage of Africa’s future.” This recognition strengthens Cynoia’s position as a key innovator in Africa’s SaaS sector.

2024 has proven transformative for Cynoia, which enables teams to collaborate more efficiently while slashing software costs by up to 80%. With a new leadership structure, growing international recognition, and continental expansion, the company is preparing to redefine the future of African teamwork with the upcoming launch of its AI engine, Hannibal.

In an important internal promotion, Nermine Slimane transitioned from Team Lead to Chief Technology Officer, bringing valuable expertise in Cynoia’s architecture to the executive team. This allowed co-founder Ayoub Rabeh to focus on his new role as Chief Product Officer, further strengthening the company's commitment to product development. Felipe Millan also joined as Chief Marketing Officer, completing the leadership team, which prioritizes diversity with women representing 47% of the company.

"We're building something special here," remarked Nassreddine Riahi, CEO of Cynoia. "Our team is stronger than ever, and we're reaching more businesses across Africa than we imagined possible when we started. We're not just creating another collaboration tool – we're building the workspace that African teams actually need."

November saw the release of Cynoia Version 2.0, featuring upgraded project management tools, chat, video calls, and file-sharing, all within a single bandwidth-efficient platform suitable for various budgets. The company has also expanded its footprint, establishing a legal entity in Senegal and growing its user base in Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Rwanda. "Being closer to our users helps us understand their real needs," explained Ayoub Rabeh, chief product officer. "Every market is unique, and we’re adapting our platform accordingly, especially for areas with limited internet connectivity."

Looking ahead to 2025, Cynoia is set to launch Hannibal, its AI engine tailored for African teams. "Hannibal will make advanced AI accessible to businesses across the continent, regardless of their size or location," concluded Nermine Slimane, chief technical officer. "We’re focusing on practical AI applications that make sense for how African teams actually work."