Internet

Paratus Botswana launches the transformative SADC Highway, boosting regional fiber capacity, lowering latency, and driving economic growth across Southern Africa

Paratus Botswana, a prominent provider of telecommunications and network services, has begun work on the SADC Highway, a new fiber route connecting Gaborone in Botswana to Livingstone in Zambia via Zimbabwe

The first phase, spanning approximately 500km from Gaborone to Plumtree, is set for completion in February 2025. This initiative aims to enhance rural network coverage by enabling smaller providers to benefit from lower costs per megabit.

The SADC Highway is a key component of the Paratus Group’s Southern Continental Agenda and integrates seamlessly with the Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route, launched earlier this year. With up to 11 terabits of potential new capacity for Zimbabwe and Zambia, the route also provides critical redundancy for existing networks passing through South Africa. It offers an alternative path connecting the East and West directly to the Equiano subsea cable in Swakopmund, Namibia, via TKF, while providing a direct link southward to the Teraco Data Center in Johannesburg. Bypassing traditional routes like Beitbridge, this new highway promises lower latencies and higher capacities.

As the country managing director of Paratus Botswana explained, “This is an attractive new route for Botswana as well as Southern Africa. It is eagerly awaited, as witnessed by several operators already purchasing capacity.”

“The SADC Highway also represents Paratus Botswana’s fourth fiber route: two into South Africa, one into Namibia, and very soon this new route into Zimbabwe and Zambia. This cements our position in Southern Africa and Botswana as a communications hub not only due to the geographic location but also to the foresight by Paratus in addressing regional needs. It demonstrates the Paratus Group’s commitment to investment in Botswana and contribution to economic diversification in the country. The various routes now provide unsurpassed redundancy and diversity for the country.”

The SADC Highway, once completed, will deliver low-latency, high-capacity connectivity. By linking to the Equiano subsea cable, it will boost capacity, reduce costs, and stimulate regional economic growth.

Bruwer emphasised, “This is another part of our ongoing investment in our network infrastructure to meet the growing demand for telecommunications services in the region. These investments align with our vision to connect more people across the continent with quality communications and network services.”

MTN Group highlights urgent need for collective action to safeguard children online, unveiling research on child safety and digital well-being across Africa. (Image source: MTN Group)

MTN Group brought together policymakers, educators, advocacy groups, and experts in digital safety to share the findings of its Online Child Safety African Insights research, carried out in collaboration with IPSOS

The digital age presents significant opportunities for children across Africa, but it also introduces serious risks that require collective action to ensure their safety.

The event also marked a renewed commitment by MTN through its Help Children Be Children (HCBC) initiative, which aims to combat online child abuse and exploitation.

The research, conducted in Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia, highlights the pressing challenges children face in the digital world. In Nigeria, more than half of the children surveyed reported encountering bullying or harassment online, but many refrained from seeking help due to fear of being judged or punished. In South Sudan, the unregulated access to inappropriate content, coupled with a lack of parental oversight, was found to cause increased stress and behavioral problems in children. Meanwhile, educators and parents in Zambia expressed the urgent need for assistance in navigating online safety measures.

The research also revealed a disturbing correlation between online abuse and negative mental health effects, such as anxiety and social withdrawal in children.

MTN group’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, Nompilo Morafo, stated, “This research underlines the urgency of equipping children with the skills to protect themselves online while empowering caregivers to create safer digital environments.”

The HCBC initiative addresses the challenges identified in the research, focusing on peer advocacy and enhancing the ability of caregivers and educators to help children stay safe online. By empowering children—many of whom face online harassment and harmful content exposure—MTN aims to create a secure digital environment. This includes promoting online safety within communities and equipping adults with the knowledge and tools to mitigate these risks. Such efforts not only reduce exposure to dangers but also improve mental health outcomes, addressing the emotional toll revealed in the research.

A key component of MTN’s strategy is its partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which has led to the development of the MTN-IWF Portal, a vital resource for reporting harmful online content across Africa. Available at Child Online Protection | MTN.com, the portal enables swift action in addressing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In 2023, MTN reviewed over 656 million URLs using adaptive systems to block harmful sites identified by the IWF.

The findings from the research and MTN’s proactive measures highlight the importance of collaboration. Governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals must work together to protect children from the darker side of the internet. Reports of harmful online activity can be submitted through the MTN-IWF Portal to ensure that dangerous content is removed quickly.

MTN remains committed to protecting Africa’s youngest digital users, helping them navigate the internet with confidence and security while prioritizing their safety and well-being.

Microsoft for Startups & NVIDIA Inception join forces to empower health and life sciences startups with cutting-edge tools and resources for AI-driven solution. (Image source: Microsoft)

Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception are teaming up to provide health and life sciences startups with the essential tools, resources, and expertise to accelerate innovation

This strategic partnership merges Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise capabilities with NVIDIA’s groundbreaking advancements in AI hardware and software. Together, they aim to eliminate barriers that hinder early-stage companies and enable rapid progress in addressing some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges.

Unlocking opportunities for startups

Both programs are committed to empowering startups. Microsoft for Startups supports entrepreneurs by offering access to its extensive cloud infrastructure, powerful AI tools, and go-to-market assistance, allowing companies to scale globally and connect with enterprise customers. Meanwhile, NVIDIA Inception equips startups with cutting-edge GPU technologies, mentorship, and AI expertise to overcome technical complexities and achieve breakthroughs in industries like healthcare.

Through this partnership, startups can access a comprehensive suite of benefits, including cloud credits, technical guidance, and advanced AI tools, helping them fast-track their ideas and deliver transformative outcomes.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the growth of AI-driven solutions in health and life sciences, creating opportunities for startups to redefine healthcare’s future. By joining forces, Microsoft and NVIDIA are providing the foundation for startups to innovate at scale and make a tangible impact in the industry.

“Working with both Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception has been transformative for Pangaea Data. By combining their resources and access to cutting-edge AI models, we are able to accelerate development and deliver real-world value to our joint customers. Leveraging AI tools from Microsoft and NVIDIA, we apply clinical guidelines to find previously overlooked patients at the point of care who need treatment or access to clinical trials, ultimately improving patient outcomes,” stated Dr Vibhor Gupta, founder & CEO, Pangaea Data.

“Collaborating with Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception represents an incredible opportunity for Artisight to elevate healthcare delivery. By leveraging their combined resources and cutting-edge AI capabilities, we can transform productivity for healthcare providers and deliver meaningful outcomes to our customers. This partnership enables us to scale our smart hospital solutions more rapidly, from operating rooms to patient rooms, ultimately creating a future where technology empowers clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on operational hurdles,” remarked Andrew Gostine, co-founder & CEO, Artisight.

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.