Internet

Airtel partners with Mobihealth to expand telemedicine services, enhancing healthcare access in underserved Nigerian regions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Airtel Nigeria has partnered with Mobihealth International to deliver telemedicine services nationwide, aiming to improve healthcare accessibility, especially in underserved areas

The agreement was signed at Airtel’s Lagos office, enabling Nigerians to access affordable, round-the-clock teleconsultations with licensed medical professionals via mobile devices. Mobihealth’s platform also includes prescription services, medication delivery, and access to international specialists.

Leveraging Airtel’s extensive network, Mobihealth will expand its reach to rural and remote areas, addressing challenges like doctor shortages, high healthcare costs, and limited medical facilities. This initiative is expected to enhance healthcare access across Nigeria and potentially serve as a model for scaling digital healthcare across Africa.

Femi Oshinlaja, chief commercial officer of Airtel Nigeria, remarked, “We believe that telemedicine will play a crucial role in Nigeria’s healthcare future. Our partnership with Mobihealth showcases our dedication to providing innovative solutions that significantly improve the lives of Nigerians.”

Dr Funmi Adewara, CEO of Mobihealth, added, “This partnership with Airtel is a major milestone in our mission to democratize healthcare in Africa. Together, we will offer a lifeline to millions who face barriers to accessing timely, affordable, and quality medical care. Our telehealth platform will provide convenient access to qualified doctors, diagnostics, and treatments, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

MTN launches 5G in Benin and Congo, driving digital transformation, inclusion, and innovation across Africa’s connected future. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

MTN Group has announced the commercial launch of 5G networks in Benin and the Republic of Congo, reaffirming its commitment to advancing digital solutions that drive Africa’s progress and bring the benefits of modern connectivity to everyone

This transformative technology marks a major milestone in reshaping how communities and businesses across Africa connect, innovate, and thrive. Beyond delivering significantly faster speeds and lower latency, 5G serves as a catalyst for progress, unlocking new opportunities in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

By promoting digital and financial inclusion, MTN aims to ensure technology is a force for positive change across the continent.

Mazen Mroue, MTN group chief technology and information officer, commented, “The launch of 5G in Benin and Congo-Brazzaville underscores MTN’s role in shaping the digital future of Africa. 5G is more than a technological advancement — it is the foundation for innovation, economic growth, and the creation of new opportunities. We are pleased to support the evolution of a connected, inclusive, and prosperous Africa.”

MTN’s 5G journey began in June 2020 with its first commercial rollout in South Africa. Since then, the service has expanded to Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and now Benin and Congo-Brazzaville, with trials ongoing in South Sudan.

In 2023, MTN established 2,251 5G sites, adding 829 more in the first half of 2024. As MTN works to secure the necessary spectrum and licenses to expand its 5G footprint, it remains committed to leveraging technology to drive innovation, create shared value, and foster sustainable growth across Africa.

Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space collaborate to launch a satellite system, boosting digital transformation across Africa. (Image source: ThalesAlenia)

Moroccan operator Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a satellite communications system for Morocco

This very-high-throughput system (VHTS) will serve 26 African countries, including 23 French-speaking nations, covering 550 million people across 12 million square kilometers.

The MoU was signed during French president Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco. The ceremony was attended by Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, and French minister of economy, finance and industry, Antoine Armand.

Thales Alenia Space will design and build a high-performance, flexible satellite under this agreement. The satellite aims to deliver high-speed internet to transform Africa’s digital landscape, offering connectivity essential for high-value services to governments, businesses, and individuals. It will also address the digital divide, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

Ahmed Toumi, chairman and CEO of Panafsat, stated, “This project is the next key stage in the digital transformation process and the development of a digital economy in Morocco, and across Africa as a whole. It will change the lives of millions of people, eager to benefit from Internet access and all the essential services they need. We are delighted to be able to draw on the outstanding expertise and capabilities of a partner like Thales Alenia Space. We look forward to working together on this major project, which will bring significant benefits across the continent.”

Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, added, “It is a privilege for Thales Alenia Space to be chosen by Panafsat to deliver this new geostationary telecommunications satellite. The project will make a significant contribution to bridging the digital divide in rural areas, as well as boosting economic growth and strengthening digital sovereignty across the African continent. We are honored to embark on this long-term partnership with Africa’s foremost private operator, helping it to expand its capabilities and develop space services for the benefit of the entire continent.”

Nokia strengthens five-year partnership with Microsoft Azure, enhancing datacentre scalability and reliability across 30+ countries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nokia has extended its multi-year agreement with Microsoft Azure by an additional five years, focusing on supplying datacentre routers and switches

This collaboration will leverage Nokia’s data centre networking portfolio to enhance the scalability and reliability of Azure datacentres globally. Through this partnership, Nokia will expand its presence to over 30 countries, solidifying its position as a key supplier for Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure.

The agreement also builds on the companies’ existing partnership around open-source SONiC. Nokia continues to innovate in SONiC capabilities, particularly in supporting high-capacity network roles within chassis-based datacentre environments.

As part of the initiative, Nokia will provide its 7250 IXR-10e platform for multi-terabit-scale interconnectivity within Microsoft’s datacentres. Nokia will also maintain its delivery of a custom-developed top-of-rack switch extensively used across the Azure network. These SONiC-based routers and switches will support greenfield deployments and Microsoft’s transition from 100GE to 400GE connectivity in existing facilities. This shift ensures Microsoft can address rising traffic demands with Nokia’s high-performance, reliable networking solutions. Deployments of the 7250 IXR-10e will commence in February.

Vach Kompella, senior vice-president and general manager of Nokia’s IP Networks business, commented, “We are pleased to move to the next phase of our relationship with Microsoft by expanding the agreement’s product scope, geographical reach, and time commitment to five years. As a result of this new deal, Nokia will further increase the scalability and reliability of Microsoft Azure datacentres around the world. This win affirms Nokia's commitment to being a strategic supplier for tier one hyperscaler companies and highlights that our multi-year strategic investments and approach have put us on the right trajectory.”

David Maltz, technical fellow and corporate vice-president, Microsoft Azure Networking, added, “As leaders in the advancement of cloud compute, we are continuously expanding our global footprint to support the massive growth in compute workloads. Over the past six years, we have worked with Nokia's engineers to develop their routers running SONiC to rapidly advance our expansion at the quality our customers demand.”