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Telna has entered into a strategic partnership with MTN Digital Infrastructure, the parent company of Bayobab, to support the rollout of travel eSIM services across several African markets

The collaboration combines Telna’s CONNECT platform with Bayobab’s IPX capabilities, giving operating companies the infrastructure and digital tools needed to introduce branded travel eSIM offerings through digital channels.

The partnership is intended to make the launch of new connectivity services more straightforward by bringing digital enablement and international connectivity together within a coordinated operating model. This approach is designed to help operating companies deploy services more efficiently while maintaining their individual brands and providing customers with a consistent experience across markets.

Under the arrangement, Telna’s CONNECT platform acts as the digital enablement layer for the travel eSIM services. Bayobab’s IPX services provide the international connectivity required to support eSIM activation and usage across participating markets.

The combined framework is designed to provide a scalable foundation for expansion into additional markets while supporting consistency in service delivery. The companies also see potential for the partnership to extend beyond travel eSIMs as digital connectivity requirements evolve.

The agreement addresses growing demand for cross-border connectivity by enabling operators to offer customers access to mobile services when travelling between markets.

“As demand for digital connectivity continues to grow across Africa, this partnership represents an important step in expanding access to innovative eSIM services. By combining Bayobab's connectivity capabilities with Telna's digital platform expertise, we are enabling operating companies to deliver seamless connectivity to customers across multiple markets,” shared Mohamed Bassit, chief communication platforms officer, Bayobab.

Gregory Gundelfinger, founder and CEO of Telna added, “Our collaboration with Bayobab extends its wholesale roaming business into the eSIM market, with Telna's managed eSIM travel offering making that move fast and straightforward. MNOs get a branded app webstore, marketing, and customer support, all ready to go, a simple wholesale path to sell eSIM access into travel apps and reach customers faster.”

Through the partnership, Telna and Bayobab aim to provide African operators with a scalable route to digital connectivity services, supporting both operators and customers as demand for flexible mobile connectivity grows across the continent.

Dimension Data Limited has completed the signing ceremony for a N4.05 billion corporate bond (approx. US$2.9mn), following the successful subscription of its Series 1 issuance

The transaction represents the first tranche of the company's N20 billion (US$14.7mn) bond programme.

The funding will be directed towards expanding Dimension Data's fibre infrastructure across Nigeria as businesses and technology-driven industries require greater access to reliable and high-capacity digital connectivity.

Olugbenga Olabiyi, managing director of Dimension Data Limited, said the bond investment underlines the company's long-term focus on contributing to the development of Nigeria's digital economy.

"Beyond delivering technology solutions, we work every day to strengthen Nigeria's digital economy. This milestone reflects the confidence of our partners and investors in our vision, and we look forward to translating these investments into infrastructure that supports businesses, innovation and national digital transformation."

Olabiyi expressed his appreciation to Dimension Data's customers, partners, Board members and advisers for supporting the transaction. The organisations acknowledged include Pathway Advisors Limited, Deloitte, STL, Fidelity Bank, FCMB and FSDH Capital.

Shatse Kakwagh, managing partner of Mbavaa Partners Limited and director of Dimension Data SPV Limited, described the bond issuance as the result of a two-year process centred on cooperation, strategic planning and investor confidence.

"Today's achievement validates the quality of work being done by the Dimension Data team and the market's confidence in the company's growth strategy. This funding is not the destination - it is the beginning of an even bigger journey."

Kakwagh also recognised the efforts of the company's board, advisers, transaction partners, FSDH Capital, Pathway Advisors and other stakeholders involved in bringing the issuance to completion.

Adekunle Alade, founder and CEO of Pathway Advisors Limited, which acted as Lead Issuing House and Book Runner, thanked Dimension Data for entrusting the firm with the transaction. He also acknowledged the high-net-worth investors who took part in the bond issuance, saying their participation highlighted confidence in Dimension Data's longer-term growth prospects at a time when investors have generally favoured shorter-term investment opportunities.

Dimension Data plans to deploy the proceeds towards further extending its fibre network to address rising connectivity requirements among financial institutions, fintech companies, enterprise clients and other technology-led businesses.

The continued adoption of cloud services, digital financial platforms and data-intensive applications is increasing the need for robust network infrastructure. Dimension Data expects its fibre expansion programme to provide a dependable connectivity foundation while supporting the broader growth and digital transformation of Nigeria's economy.

Amazon Leo has signed an agreement with Herotel to introduce satellite broadband services in South Africa through a new offering, evry, marking the first partnership of its kind for Amazon Leo on the African continent

Expected to launch commercially in 2027, evry will combine Amazon Leo's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network with Herotel's nationwide service infrastructure to extend high-speed internet to residential customers in areas where fibre and fixed wireless networks remain difficult or uneconomical to deploy.

The initiative targets South Africa's underserved rural communities, farms and small towns, where challenging terrain, long distances and low population density have limited the expansion of conventional broadband infrastructure.

Amazon Leo's satellites operate at an altitude of approximately 590 km, significantly closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites positioned more than 35,000 km away. This lower orbit enables reduced latency, supporting applications such as video conferencing, online learning, streaming and remote working. Customers will access the service using compact satellite antennas without requiring fibre or fixed wireless infrastructure at their premises.

Herotel, South Africa's largest fixed internet service provider, currently serves more than 350,000 active customers across over 550 towns through its fibre and fixed wireless networks. Its network of 120 local offices will provide installation, field support and customer service for the new satellite offering.

"Amazon Leo and Herotel share the same mission to empower all South Africans through access to high-speed internet. Herotel has spent years building connectivity across South Africa's farming towns, small businesses, and communities on the outskirts, and with Amazon Leo they can now reach even more people," said David Zapolsky, Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer. "This collaboration is about breaking down barriers and unlocking opportunity for millions of people who don't yet have reliable access for work, education, or the services they depend on."

"We have always believed that South Africans outside the major metros deserve reliable, affordable internet," said Van Zyl Botha, CEO of Herotel. "With evry, powered by Amazon Leo, we will reach the customers that even fiber and fixed wireless cannot serve. It no longer matters where you live."

The announcement builds on Amazon's expanding connectivity initiatives across Africa. In addition to the Herotel partnership, Amazon Leo is working with Vanu to extend cellular connectivity to rural communities, beginning in South Africa. These efforts aim to improve digital inclusion across southern Africa, where nearly a quarter of the population remains outside mobile network coverage. According to Access Partnership, wider adoption of non-geostationary satellite systems could generate up to US$16.9bn in annual economic benefits for the region.

Amazon Leo has deployed more than 390 satellites and expects to begin providing initial services across selected regions this year before progressively expanding coverage and network capacity.

Pan-African telecommunications provider Paratus has named Neill Nortje as the new Country Manager for Paratus Zambia, following the promotion of Marius van Vuuren to the role of Chief Operating Officer for the Paratus Group

Nortje has been part of Paratus Zambia for the past two years, initially establishing the company's consumer business before advancing to Operations Manager. During his time with the company, he has played a key role in strengthening operations and expanding services. His promotion provides leadership continuity as Paratus Zambia continues to build on its market presence and pursue its next phase of growth.

He brings broad telecommunications expertise gained across Africa, with experience covering wholesale voice and data services, enterprise connectivity, cloud solutions, data centre operations and network management.

Prior to joining Paratus, Nortje held senior leadership roles at Wingu Africa, Telecom Italia and NeoTel, where he developed extensive expertise in wholesale telecommunications, pan-African data centre infrastructure and regional connectivity.

"Paratus has always stood out to me as a wonderful company with strong brand reputation in Zambia," says Nortje. "Not only is it a company that gets things done – and done right – but it has also built an outstanding reputation in Zambia, supported by an exceptional team and a strong customer-first culture. Marius leaves behind a fantastic foundation and I relish the challenge of building on the company’s success as we continue to grow and strengthen our market position."

Looking ahead, Nortje believes Zambia's digital economy is well positioned for continued expansion, supported by a stable economic environment, increased investment and rising demand for dependable digital infrastructure and connectivity services. He says the company's immediate priorities include expanding network capacity within Zambia and across neighbouring markets, strengthening its enterprise portfolio and reinforcing the country's position as a regional connectivity hub while continuing to deliver the high levels of reliability and customer service associated with the Paratus brand.

"Our immediate priorities are to continue expanding network capacity into Zambia and beyond, strengthening our enterprise offering and further developing Zambia's role as a regional connectivity hub. We also want to continue enhancing the customer experience by delivering the reliability, resilience and service excellence for which Paratus is credited."

Enterprise solutions will remain central to the company's strategy as more organisations migrate to cloud platforms and adapt to evolving data localisation requirements. Nortje says Paratus Zambia is well placed to meet these needs through its advanced infrastructure, locally hosted cloud services, Tier III data centre in Lusaka and the group's high-quality African network.

He also believes there is considerable scope to strengthen Zambia's digital landscape by improving local internet peering and encouraging closer cooperation among network operators.

"Too much internet traffic still travels outside Zambia before returning to local users. By improving local connectivity and keeping more content closer to the users here in Zambia, we can deliver a faster, more resilient and more affordable internet service for businesses and communities alike."

Beyond business growth, Nortje is committed to ensuring technology delivers wider social benefits. He points to initiatives such as providing Starlink connectivity to a previously unconnected rural school in Zambia as examples of how internet access can improve educational opportunities and support community development.

"Connectivity has the power to change lives," he says. "Whether it's enabling businesses to compete globally or giving children access to educational resources they never had before, technology creates opportunities that have a lasting and positive impact."

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive Officer of Paratus Group, Schalk Erasmus says: "Neill combines deep industry expertise with an excellent understanding of the Zambian market and our business. Having already played an important role in Paratus Zambia's recent success, we are confident he will lead the company to yet more growth and new horizons."

TowerCo of Africa (TOA) Uganda hosted MTN Uganda at its Abira site in Arua District on 14 May 2026 as part of MTN Uganda’s FreeYOFire activities in the West Nile region

The engagement marked the official launch of MTN Uganda’s network on infrastructure operated by TOA, highlighting the role of TowerCos in supporting connectivity expansion and digital inclusion.

Connectivity has become an important foundation for modern economies, enabling access to essential services, information, and economic opportunities. In Uganda, this is particularly evident in the West Nile region, where digital adoption is increasing through mobile money, online education, public e-services, digital commerce, and instant communication.

Located in north-western Uganda, the West Nile region is strategically positioned between the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The region serves as an important centre for trade flows, human mobility, and cross-border economic activity, with Arua acting as a growing regional hub.

The increasing use of digital services has created greater demand for reliable telecommunications networks. However, challenges remain in expanding network coverage and improving service quality, particularly between urban and rural areas. Telecommunications infrastructure therefore plays an important role in supporting digital access and reducing connectivity gaps.

MTN Uganda’s FreeYOFire initiative focuses on connecting technology with community needs by promoting awareness, encouraging digital service adoption, and highlighting the opportunities created by digitalisation. The Abira event brought together operators, partners, and communities to demonstrate the role of connectivity in everyday life.

The Abira site represents a key infrastructure point in MTN Uganda’s network expansion strategy in the region. The activation of MTN’s network on TOA’s infrastructure supports the delivery of mobile services by providing the necessary foundation for signal coverage, communication continuity, and increasing network capacity.

TowerCo of Africa plays an important role in the telecommunications ecosystem through the provision and management of passive infrastructure, including telecom towers, pylons and masts, technical sites, power supply systems, and infrastructure maintenance and security.

The TowerCo model is built around infrastructure sharing, allowing mobile operators to focus on delivering services while TowerCos support infrastructure deployment, availability, and optimisation. This approach enables better utilisation of existing infrastructure, faster network deployment, and improved efficiency across the telecom sector.

The partnership between TOA Uganda and MTN Uganda demonstrates how collaboration between telecom operators and infrastructure providers can support the continued growth of digital connectivity in Uganda. Through initiatives such as the Abira site launch, the companies are contributing to efforts aimed at expanding access to reliable digital services and supporting the country’s digital transformation.

Mastercard has launched its Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, a pan-African initiative aimed at improving cyber resilience, strengthening collaboration and protecting the trust that supports Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy

The announcement was made during Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach’s visit to South Africa and Nigeria, highlighting the company’s continued commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation. Through the new initiative, Mastercard will bring its global cybersecurity expertise and intelligence capabilities to help organisations across the continent prepare for, respond to and recover from increasingly complex cyber threats.

The launch follows commitments made during recent engagements with the Nigerian government in Abuja and the South African government during the G20 meetings held in Johannesburg, with both discussions focused on advancing cybersecurity efforts across Africa.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, said, “We recognise that for digitisation to be inclusive, it must be trusted and secure. Mastercard has long been a trusted partner to South Africa, and its Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence is a welcome step to build on that foundation, drawing on the country’s best and brightest to meet a challenge no government or company can solve alone."

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, president of Nigeria, commented, “As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation, secure and trusted systems will be critical to inclusion and growth. We welcome collaborations that strengthen our digital economy and build resilience for the future.”

As digital adoption continues to grow across Africa, cybersecurity has become increasingly important to economic development. The Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence has been established to support stronger collective defence by connecting financial institutions, public sector organisations and businesses to share intelligence, improve preparedness, identify threats earlier and strengthen long-term resilience.

Michael Miebach, CEO, Mastercard, said, "Africa is dynamic, fast-growing, and ready to scale its digital future. That won't happen without trust. People don't use what they don't trust. That makes cybersecurity foundational to driving economic resilience and growth across the continent. By doing more to connect public and private sector efforts and share best practices, we can strengthen collective defense and secure a more confident and inclusive digital economy."

Africa’s digital economy is expected to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2030, increasing the need for stronger cybersecurity cooperation. At the same time, cybercrime continues to rise across the continent, causing significant economic losses annually. However, only around 35% of cyber incidents are officially reported, with limited detection capabilities, cyber maturity gaps and reputational concerns contributing to underreporting.

South Africa remains one of Africa’s most targeted markets, accounting for approximately 29% of ransomware attacks and 40% of phishing incidents across the continent. Nigeria also continues to rank among the markets most affected by ransomware and dark-web-related cyber threats.

Led by Mastercard, the multi-year initiative will begin a phased rollout in 2026, starting with South Africa and Nigeria. Through a collaborative model, the Center aims to strengthen cyber preparedness, improve resilience and support safer digital growth across Africa.

Operating as a pan-African platform supported by connected digital capabilities, the Center will provide participating organisations with improved visibility into emerging cyber risks. The initiative will include a first-year ecosystem cyber risk analysis covering up to 50 organisations, as well as access to an Africa-focused threat intelligence feed developed by Recorded Future, a Mastercard company.

By enabling collaboration among chief information security officers (CISOs), business leaders and cybersecurity professionals, the Center will support secure information sharing, joint exercises and coordinated responses to help create a stronger cybersecurity ecosystem across Africa.

The initiative will continue evolving as cybersecurity requirements change, with its activities centred around three key pillars:

Threat intelligence and strategic insights: Providing participating organisations with Africa-focused cybersecurity intelligence, risk assessments and a shared understanding of emerging threats.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Connecting CISOs, senior business executives and security teams to improve collective response capabilities and promote cybersecurity best practices across industries.

Readiness and resilience: Helping organisations prepare for future threats through continuous risk monitoring, resilience evaluations and scenario-based exercises designed to improve response and recovery.

The launch of the Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence represents another step in Mastercard’s broader commitment to building trust in the digital economy. Since 2018, the company has invested more than US$12.6bn in cybersecurity innovation and supported the launch of more than 20 cybersecurity-focused startups.

The initiative further reflects Mastercard’s transition from a payments network into a technology and cyber intelligence partner, supporting stronger cyber resilience and enabling secure, inclusive and sustainable digital growth across Africa.

By collaborating with governments, financial institutions, businesses and SMEs, Mastercard aims to strengthen the digital foundations required for inclusive economic development and support a more secure and resilient digital future across the continent.