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eGroupX launches eMobile in South Africa, offering tailored MVNO services alongside fintech solutions to promote financial inclusion and connectivity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Emerging fintech and telecom company, eGroupX, has made its debut in South Africa, launching a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service alongside a diverse range of offerings 

With an established presence in Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Angola, the company’s expansion into South Africa aims to enhance the accessibility and affordability of financial and telecommunication services for underserved populations.

eGroupX integrates financial and connectivity solutions to build an ecosystem catering to low-income households, SMEs, and informal merchants. Its services span banking, remittances, insurance, telecommunications, internet services, cryptocurrency, and forex trading, all designed to meet the unique demands of Africa’s financial landscape.

The MVNO service, branded as eMobile, operates through partnerships with established telecom providers to deliver cost-efficient mobile banking and onboarding solutions. Saud Ally, CEO of eGroupX, highlights the service’s tailored approach for South African communities.

“eMobile has adopted a localised approach, which includes exclusive bundles for students, small businesses, and underserved areas, ensuring customers experience reliable coverage and high-quality service. The focus is on simplicity, with a seamless onboarding process and free SIM cards,” explained Ally.

eMobile leverages the infrastructure of a major telecom provider in South Africa, whose identity will be disclosed at an upcoming launch event. The service is already operational, promising affordable and accessible connectivity across the region.

In addition to telecommunications, eGroupX offers a cryptocurrency platform called DoshFX, providing secure options for buying, storing, and trading digital assets. The platform includes advanced tools like real-time market data and customizable trading options, catering to novice and experienced crypto users alike.

“For active crypto traders, the trading platform offers advanced tools, including real-time market data, charting tools, and customizable trading options, catering to both beginners and experts. Users can track their investments in real-time through the portfolio management feature, providing a clear view of asset performance and value fluctuations,” remarked Ally.

Acknowledging that many South Africans are underutilizing traditional banking services, eGroupX aims to bridge the gap by promoting financial inclusion. Their mission is to integrate financial services into everyday life, empowering users to engage actively and effectively.

“Financial inclusion is not just about giving people access to financial services; it’s about integrating these services into their everyday lives in a way that adds real value. Our approach leverages the strengths of each business unit to deliver services that are greater together than they are apart. Our mission is to reshape financial services in South Africa and empower millions of people to take control of their financial futures,” Ally concluded.

Rack Centre CEO, Lars Johannisson. (Image source: Rack Centre)

TelCables Nigeria, a subsidiary of the global ICT solutions provider Angola Cables, has announced plans to establish a new Point of Presence (PoP) at the Lagos Rack Centre facility

This initiative aims to enhance low-latency interconnectivity and Cloud access across West Africa.

Fernando Fernandes, CEO of TelCables Nigeria and West Africa, highlighted the importance of this expansion in improving digital connectivity in the region. Leveraging the extensive Angola Cables backbone network, the PoP will enable businesses and communities to access digital content and services more efficiently and affordably.

“The new PoP at Rack Centre represents a crucial step towards strengthening the digital infrastructure of West Africa, providing faster, more reliable internet access to local enterprises, government institutions, and individuals by localising traffic,” Fernandes stated.

He further explained that the PoP, with direct connections to Angola Cables’ SACS and WACS subsea cables, will enable efficient data routing to South America, the US, and Europe via EllaLink. This provides both a standard and redundancy routing option, ensuring reliable connectivity.

Rack Centre CEO, Lars Johannisson, noted that Rack Centre Lagos, currently undergoing expansion with the addition of the LGS 2 Data Centre, is nearing completion. Once operational, the campus will offer 13.5MW of IT power and 7,200 sq m of space. “Operators like TelCables, hyperscalers, businesses, telecom operators, and service providers will have access to world-class carrier and cloud-neutral infrastructure to securely scale their digital operations, ultimately fostering economic growth in Nigeria and the West Africa region,” Johannisson said.

Rack Centre Lagos already hosts over 68 telecommunication carriers, ISPs, and global Tier 1 networks. The LGS 2 Data Centre is being designed with AI readiness, ensuring advanced data processing and storage capabilities essential for businesses adopting AI and machine learning technologies. Johannisson emphasised that the development would significantly boost Africa's digital growth, promoting innovation and economic expansion across Nigeria and the continent.

“TelCables, powered by the Angola Cables network, is a growing entity within the Nigerian geography, and we firmly believe that collaboration is the key to building and promoting resilient and efficient digital infrastructure. Our partnership with Rack Centre is part of a greater vision, and if we can do this together, we are setting the right course for Africa’s future prosperity as a contributor to the rapidly evolving digital economy,” Fernandes concluded.

Nokia and du launch the first 5G Cloud RAN in MEA, enhancing scalability, flexibility, and enabling advanced use cases across various industries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nokia and du, a prominent telecom and digital services provider, have announced the deployment of the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN solution in the Middle East and Africa region

This initiative underscores du's hybrid RAN strategy, which combines purpose-built and cloud-native infrastructures to achieve enhanced scalability and flexibility. The deployment supports the UAE's digital transformation and advanced applications in AI, machine learning, and industry-specific sectors like manufacturing, energy, and logistics.

Cloud RAN innovation

The 5G Cloud RAN site, established in Abu Dhabi, utilises Nokia's innovative anyRAN approach. The solution includes Nokia’s virtualised Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralized Units (vCU) on Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers, integrated with Red Hat OpenShift, a leading hybrid cloud platform. This setup facilitates cloud-native RAN functions, enabling service providers like du to scale their networks efficiently and launch new services seamlessly. Nokia’s AirScale Massive MIMO Radios operating on the 3.6 GHz (n78) spectrum and 5G Standalone architecture were also deployed.

This commercial Cloud RAN deployment supports hybrid environments, allowing operators to transition to fully cloud-native networks. Nokia’s consistent RAN software ensures uniform features and performance across both Cloud and purpose-built RAN systems, enhancing network monetisation opportunities for service providers.

Saleem Alblooshi, chief technical officer of du, stated, “Our collaboration with Nokia represents a major leap forward in du’s mission to deliver exceptional network performance and innovative services. Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network's efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large.”

Mark Atkinson, head of RAN at Nokia, added, “This strategic partnership with du is much more than an infrastructure deployment. Both companies are committed to driving innovation by developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI and private wireless networks. Under our anyRAN approach, we bring together Nokia’s expertise, trusted performance, and innovation in radio networks with best-in-class partner solutions to offer true flexibility and scalability to operators and enterprises. This collaboration will enable the development of innovative services that empower businesses and individuals alike.”

MTN Group partners with ODC to innovate Open RAN solutions for Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The ORAN Development Company (ODC), based in Northern Virginia with development teams in the UK and India, has announced a strategic collaboration with MTN Group, Africa’s leading telecommunications provider

MTN delivers connectivity solutions across the continent, from bustling urban centers to remote villages. This partnership aims to create and test innovative Open RAN (ORAN) solutions specifically designed to meet the unique demands of African networks. The collaboration aligns with MTN Group’s mission to deliver affordable, high-quality telecommunications services throughout Africa, leveraging advanced Open RAN architectures for enhanced network flexibility.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, MTN Group operates across 16 African countries, connecting over 280 million users. Committed to driving Africa’s digital transformation, MTN has consistently embraced cutting-edge technologies to address connectivity challenges and meet the needs of its diverse customer base.

Transforming Africa's networks 

As part of this partnership, ODC and MTN Group will initiate joint lab projects to develop and test ORAN solutions that enhance network agility, scalability, and efficiency. These efforts include lab and field trials to ensure optimal performance and seamless integration into MTN’s current network infrastructure.

Additionally, MTN Group will provide insights to help ODC refine its ORAN software and platform development, incorporating artificial intelligence to reduce operational expenditure (OPEX). The collaboration will also explore advanced research in 6G and non-terrestrial communications, integrating these innovations into ODC’s ORAN solutions.

“Open RAN represents a transformative approach to how we design and operate our infrastructure—enhancing flexibility, driving cost efficiencies, and paving the way for next-generation technologies,” said Amith Maharaj, MTN Group network design and planning executive. “At MTN, we are continuously seeking innovative solutions to address Africa’s unique connectivity challenges while building resilient and future-ready networks. Through our collaboration with ODC, we are unlocking new possibilities to expand our reach, improve service quality, and empower the communities and businesses we serve.”

Matthew Johnson, global head of ODC, expressed,“Our collaboration with MTN Group focuses ODC directly on MTN’s unique network needs, enhancing efficiencies while supporting the evolution of next-generation capabilities, silicon, and AI.”

This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing network innovation in Africa. ODC is proud to support MTN Group in developing robust, adaptable solutions for the continent’s future connectivity needs.