World Bank joins AfDB and Mastercard to expand digital access for 100 million people and businesses in Africa

The World Bank Group has joined the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as a co-chair, supporting the initiative’s mission to deliver digital access to essential services for 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa by 2034

The Bank will serve alongside current co-chairs and founding members — the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard — combining efforts to expand the reach of critical digital solutions across the continent.

This partnership aligns with the World Bank Group’s strategy to drive digital transformation by broadening access to secure, affordable, and high-quality broadband and data connectivity, while ensuring that diverse digital services can integrate seamlessly for the benefit of users. The Bank will contribute its expertise, data-driven insights, and experience in enabling sustainable digital change.

The MADE Alliance is prioritising opportunities in agriculture, recognising the sector’s potential for digital technologies to accelerate development. World Bank-supported “Digital Agriculture Roadmaps” will unite stakeholders in crafting tailored action plans for specific countries, enabling the alliance to reach more farmers with impactful solutions.

“The World Bank Group is deeply committed to expanding inclusive digital access across Africa and connecting farmers to the digital tools they need to reach markets, access finance, and grow their businesses. Joining the MADE Alliance will help accelerate both of these goals, driving economic growth and improving livelihoods across the continent,” said Sangbu Kim, vice-president for Digital at the World Bank. “By bringing together our digital and agriculture expertise, global knowledge, and local experience, we can help scale lasting, transformational impact.”

The World Bank Group formally joined the MADE Alliance in late April during the alliance’s Steering Committee meeting, held alongside the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. 

“Two of the African Development Bank Group’s priority areas are to Feed Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The MADE Alliance: Africa brings us closer to achieving those goals by connecting the continent’s smallholder farmers to digital services that lead to greater food production, greater access to markets, financing and farming practices, as well as to increased incomes,” said Dr Beth Dunford, vice-president for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, which has committed US$300mn to the alliance’s first five years of programming. “The World Bank’s demonstrated expertise in the digital connectivity and agriculture sectors enables the MADE Alliance: Africa to reach more farmers eager to be part of Africa’s agricultural transformation.”

“The MADE Alliance brings complementary partners together to execute and implement programs that target the same regions and communities, allowing us to amplify our impact,” said Tara Nathan, founder and executive vice-president of community pass, Mastercard. “The World Bank brings enormous expertise in digital transformation and agriculture, and we are honored they have joined the alliance to deploy resources more efficiently and accelerate our work to help bring everyone into the digital economy.”

SEACOM teams up with Q-KON to enhance LEO satellite services, boosting enterprise connectivity across Africa

SEACOM, a prominent Pan-African provider of connectivity and cloud solutions, is proud to unveil its new partnership with Q-KON, a leading satellite engineering company serving Sub-Saharan Africa

This collaboration is set to elevate SEACOM’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services, which have been available in South Africa since early 2024.

The improved LEO service offering, made possible through this strategic partnership, will now be integrated into SEACOM’s comprehensive connectivity portfolio. This integration will enable SEACOM to enhance its overall service capabilities while increasing the adaptability and robustness of its network infrastructure.

Through LEO satellite technology, SEACOM clients can seamlessly incorporate satellite connectivity into their existing network ecosystems and business continuity frameworks. The system operates by transmitting data via satellite to teleport facilities and then on to various network centers and endpoints. Q-KON supports this effort through its enterprise-grade Twoobii-LEO satellite solution, powered by the global Eutelsat OneWeb high-speed, low-latency satellite constellation, deployed across strategic African markets.

“This partnership is consistent with our customer-centric strategy, and our clients can expect the best and most effective solutions for their enterprise needs,” commented Sajid Khan, managing director of SEACOM group digital services.

“LEO connectivity allows South African enterprises to reinforce their digital ecosystems and invest in heightened network resilience and business continuity. The partnership showcases the co-creation between the two companies, whose synergistic relationship has allowed us to combine our in-depth understanding of terrestrial infrastructure with their specialised expertise in satellite-based networks, resulting in innovative solutions tailored to modern business challenges,” remarked Khan.

Q-KON also sees great promise in the partnership and the opportunities it unlocks across Africa. “The rise of LEO technology throughout Africa’s corporate and public landscape has provided a unique opportunity for Q-KON, one that we are embracing with the power of collaboration and the help of reputable industry players such as SEACOM. We are very excited to see where this partnership takes us and how we work together to usher in the next stage of continent-wide digital transformation,” remarked Dr Dawie de Wet, group CEO of Q-KON and their African satellite service, Twoobii.

The use of LEO satellite technology has grown rapidly across Africa in recent years, especially in remote and underserved regions where connectivity is often limited. This trend is expected to continue its upward trajectory in the near future.

“The recent accelerated growth of satellite services in general for Africa, and LEO services specifically, provides Q-KON with a unique opportunity to develop Africa-centric solutions leveraging the global constellations and our in-depth system engineering capabilities. The most recent success is the development of the Super Smart Twoobii-OneWeb service. We are pleased that SEACOM has selected Q-KON as a valued partner for this connectivity segment, and we look forward to supporting SEACOM on this journey,” added de Wet.

South African enterprises are increasingly exploring the potential of LEO satellites, driven by digital transformation initiatives and a shift toward alternative energy models. According to Khan, this form of connectivity is particularly well-suited for organisations with high-demand applications.

“LEO connectivity is especially suitable for organisations with low latency and intensive workloads, including those in mining, retail, and financial services sectors,” Khan explains. Khan also notes that LEO connectivity adds to enterprises’ connectivity infrastructure and does not replace other wired and terrestrial technologies and mediums.

“The ability to continue operating during a network disruption or failure is where the true value of LEO comes to light. Imagine a bank or retail finance provider with branches or outlets in regions lacking adequate terrestrial systems and infrastructure. By leveraging a LEO connection, those providers can keep outlets connected and provide essential services to their clients,” said Khan.

“By expanding and guaranteeing network availability, companies can reduce costs, increase their market presence, operate in underserved areas, and uphold the quality of their customer experience. With the help of Q-KON and by upholding our commitment to creating a digitally connected Africa, we can tailor our solutions and deliver impactful results,” he concluded.

Paycorp invests in UK’s Currency Stream to accelerate FX tech growth across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe

Paycorp, a global payments group with strong South African roots, has made a strategic investment in Currency Stream, a UK-based fintech that specialises in real-time foreign exchange and multi-currency payment solutions

This partnership is set to accelerate Currency Stream’s growth in Europe and open up new expansion opportunities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Paycorp will contribute capital, international reach, and over 20 years of payments expertise to help drive Currency Stream’s global ambitions.

The investment builds on a successful working relationship that spans over seven years. Since 2017, Paycorp has implemented Currency Stream’s Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) technology across Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Africa.

“This partnership is a natural evolution of our long-standing relationship with Currency Stream,” said Steven Kark, CEO and co-founder of Paycorp, who will be joining the Currency Stream International board. “They’ve consistently delivered results with robust tech, transparency, and smart thinking. As they expand globally, it makes perfect sense for Paycorp to back that growth and take this offering deeper into markets like Africa, Asia and the US.”

Currency Stream’s proprietary technology supports real-time DCC and Multi-Currency Pricing (MCP) in over 160 currencies. Already trusted by top acquirers, gateways, and e-commerce platforms worldwide, the company’s solutions will now be brought to new sectors and high-growth regions. The focus will be on retail, travel, and online commerce — markets where FX transparency and multi-currency functionality are increasingly vital.

“This investment cements a powerful partnership built on innovation and trust,” said Noel Goddard, founder and CEO of Currency Stream. “Paycorp understands the complexities of cross-border payments and has the scale, experience and strategic focus to help us serve more partners faster, particularly across Africa and other emerging markets.”

This move aligns with Paycorp’s wider strategy of expanding its portfolio of value-added payment solutions. With operations in Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, and the UK, Paycorp is already recognised for its services in ATM and cash operations, transaction processing, embedded business funding, and alternative payments.

Vodacom commits over US$56mn to improve 4G/5G coverage, digital tools, and SME growth in Mpumalanga province

Vodacom Mpumalanga is taking decisive steps to advance digital inclusion by allocating R620 million (approx. US$34.7mn) towards its network for the current financial year

This investment is aimed at enhancing network infrastructure and expanding connectivity, especially in deep rural and township communities, underscoring Vodacom's commitment to building a digitally inclusive society.

In the 2024–2025 financial year, the region had already invested more than R400 million, and for 2025–2026, it is committing an additional R620 million to extend broadband coverage across the province. This brings the total investment to over R1 billion (approx. US$56mn) in two years—part of Vodacom's long-term goal to provide the most extensive and reliable network for all South Africans, regardless of location.

Given Mpumalanga’s challenging terrain and remoteness, Vodacom is intensifying its 4G and 5G site deployment using licensed spectrum (L700, L1800, and L2100) to enhance coverage and capacity in underserved areas. The province now hosts over 1,300 mobile infrastructure sites, 41% of which are connected to high-speed fibre, enabling faster and more stable internet access for homes, schools, businesses, and government institutions.

The investment also covers mobile network boosters, upgraded transmission technology, and backup power systems designed to address issues arising from Eskom’s grid instability, vandalism, and theft.

“Data traffic in Mpumalanga has increased by over 42% year-on-year, with 90% of this carried over 4G. As demand grows, Vodacom's network investment is not only improving connectivity for its customers in the region but laying the groundwork for a more inclusive digital economy. By increasing coverage and capacity, we can ensure that all our customers can be empowered by technology, whether that is access to education and essential services, or helping the growth of enterprises, from SMEs to the public sector, through transformative digital solutions,” commented Monde Ngcukana, managing executive for Vodacom Mpumalanga Region.

In parallel with infrastructure upgrades, Vodacom is addressing affordability challenges, such as the cost of devices and data, which can hinder digital participation. Its Easy2Own initiative promotes smartphone access through a flexible financing model where customers pay an initial deposit and repay in manageable instalments. In July, in celebration of Mandela Day, Vodacom launched its R67 smartphone campaign in selected stores nationwide, including Mpumalanga. This initiative supports the transition from basic phones to 4G-enabled devices. Meanwhile, personalised data offers—Just 4 You and Just 4 Your Town—use individual usage patterns and location data to reduce connectivity costs.

Vodacom’s smart solutions are also enabling better public service delivery across Mpumalanga. The SmartGov Platform digitises administrative processes, increasing real-time transparency. With the SmartCitizen Engagement app, residents can log service issues, which government teams can address more efficiently via multi-channel contact centres and mobile-enabled teams. Smart Utilities tools improve billing accuracy for water and electricity, while SmartPlaces and SmartBuildings enhance energy efficiency, environmental monitoring, and security. Smart Asset Management further assists local authorities with predictive maintenance and improved audit outcomes.

To stimulate the local economy, Vodacom supports Mpumalanga’s SMEs through Vodacom Business, which provides data bundles and digital tools such as cloud hosting, cybersecurity, POS systems, and IoT technologies. For those needing financing, VodaLend offers flexible loans of up to R5 million, disbursed within 24 hours and with no collateral or early settlement penalties.

Internally, Vodacom Mpumalanga also prioritises local partnerships by working with community-based contractors and security companies, many of whom contribute directly to network deployment and benefit from job creation initiatives.

“By removing barriers to access and partnering with government and business, we are giving the people of Mpumalanga the tools to learn, work, innovate, grow and connect to a better future,” concluded Ngcukana.