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EBRD boosts Tunisie's telecom transformation

EBRD backs Tunisie telecom with major financing to accelerate 5G rollout. (Image source: EBRD)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has entered into a strategic partnership with Tunisie Telecom, Tunisia’s national telecommunications operator, to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and support the company’s long-term transformation

Under the agreement, the EBRD will provide a development-linked loan of up to €190 million (approx. US$205mn), to be released in four tranches, starting with an initial committed tranche of €50 million (approx. US$54mn). The financing will support a multi-year investment programme aimed at upgrading Tunisie Telecom’s mobile access network from 4G to 5G, expanding its fibre footprint, and connecting up to 200,000 households through fibre-to-the-home services. The programme also includes modernisation of the operator’s backbone and core networks, alongside targeted investments in energy efficiency and energy generation.

The financing package will further enhance Tunisia’s international connectivity by supporting Tunisie Telecom’s connection to the MEDUSA submarine cable, a Mediterranean subsea network backed by the European Union (EU) and led by Spanish firm AFR-IX. Spanning more than 8,000 km, MEDUSA links nearly 13 countries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

The EBRD loan is supported by an €11 million (approx. US$12mn) EU grant provided through the Neighbourhood Investment Platform. This includes an investment grant for core network upgrades and cybersecurity improvements, as well as a technical assistance grant to deliver a comprehensive transformation programme for the national operator.

That transformation programme is designed to address key areas of corporate development, including workforce skills, sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalisation, cybersecurity and strategic reform. It is expected to enhance Tunisie Telecom’s operational efficiency, resilience and competitive positioning.

Notably, this marks the first time since 2012 that the EBRD has extended financing to Tunisia’s public sector without a sovereign guarantee. The loan is also structured as a development-linked facility, meaning interest rates will be adjusted based on progress against agreed transformation milestones, including sustainability targets and broader state-owned enterprise reform objectives.

The project reflects the EBRD’s integrated approach to Tunisia’s digital sector and builds on its collaboration with the Tunisian government, the Ministry of Communication Technologies and the national telecom regulator to advance digital services, sector competitiveness and innovation.

EBRD president Odile Renaud-Basso said, “We are very proud to support a key sector for Tunisia at a time when digitalisation and connectivity are of very high and ever-increasing importance. Partnering with the Tunisian government and the EU, we are contributing to the modernisation of Tunisie Telecom and the digital transformation of the country. This upgrade will also enhance connectivity to Europe and ultimately help position the country as a key digital hub across the Mediterranean region and in Africa.”

“We are pleased to partner with the EBRD in a move that underscores international confidence in Tunisia’s economy and supports our vision for advancing the telecommunications sector. Through modernised digital infrastructure, improved international connectivity and new technologies, such as 5G and fibre, we aim to enhance services in education, healthcare and smart cities, bridging the digital divide and driving Tunisia’s digital economy forward," added Lassaad Ben Dhiab, CEO of Tunisie Telecom.

EU ambassador to Tunisia Giuseppe Perrone commented, “Today we mark a landmark investment in Tunisia’s digital future. Through our joint EU-EBRD support for Tunisie Telecom, we are accompanying the company’s modernisation plans by reinforcing its critical infrastructure in line with the National Digital Strategy, accelerating 5G rollout and connecting Tunisia to the MEDUSA submarine cable – a Global Gateway flagship. This is more than a project: it is a concrete step toward fast, secure and future-proof connectivity across the Mediterranean, strengthening the EU–Tunisia partnership launched in 2023 for the benefit of our citizens.”

The EBRD financing is backed by a first-loss guarantee from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), delivered through its Digital Transformation Platform, an EU flagship initiative supporting digital inclusion and sustainable growth in partner countries. The guarantee aligns the project with the EU Global Gateway strategy, supporting high-speed broadband deployment, digital solutions and inclusive economic development in Tunisia and the wider region.

Digifarm empowers Kenya’s smallholder farmers

Digifarm transforms Kenyan agriculture. (Image source: Safaricom)

Digifarm, a subsidiary of Safaricom, is leveraging technology to empower farmers in Kenya, drawing inspiration from the success of M-PESA in promoting financial inclusion at the grassroots level

“Today, everybody can access mobile money on their phone. That is the vision for Digifarm. 25 years from now, I want you to look back and look at how technology will have transformed agriculture in this country. 80% of our food is from small-holder farmers, so we must enable our farmers. And technology is the way to do it,” said Seema Gohil, Digifarm’s director.

The platform is accessible to all farmers across Kenya, regardless of their location or farm size. Digifarm delivers tailored digital solutions and services directly to farmers’ phones through two main arms: Kilimo and Soko.

Kilimo, the agriculture-focused arm, integrates digital technology, artificial intelligence, partnerships, and farmer services to meet the full spectrum of smallholder needs. Through Kilimo, farmers gain access to digital extension services, agricultural inputs, financial services, and training programmes designed to enhance their skills and productivity.

Soko, the marketplace arm, connects farmers directly with buyers, cooperatives, and processors across multiple value chains. The platform also provides market-oriented services, such as digital tracking of sales and inventory, maintaining sales records to qualify for future credit, and enabling instant payments via M-PESA.

Having spent the past two decades driving financial inclusion through M-PESA in Kenya and beyond, Safaricom now aims to extend its impact into agriculture through Digifarm.

“The entire ecosystem of farmers in this country needs support. Because if farming is nearly half of the people in the country, from an employment perspective, and nearly a third of the GDP of the country, then making sure that farmers are thriving is critical to our success as Safaricom and critical to the economic success of the country,” explained Michael Mutiga, chief business development and strategy officer at Safaricom.

For farmers, Digifarm is designed to be a simple and trusted digital companion. For banks, agribusinesses, and other stakeholders, it provides a platform with data, scale, and direct access to millions of farmers. For Safaricom, Digifarm represents a strategic component in the telco’s mission to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.

Thunes and Sterling Bank transform cross-border payments

Partnership with Sterling Bank empowers Nigerians abroad with faster, transparent, and reliable money transfers

Thunes has announced a strategic collaboration with Sterling Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service commercial banks, to enhance cross-border payments for Nigerians in the diaspora

The partnership aims to simplify, accelerate, and secure money transfers, setting a new standard for sending funds home.

With approximately 17 million Nigerians living abroad, the need for reliable, transparent, and fast financial connections has never been greater. Leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, Sterling Bank will roll out this enhanced capability across multiple European markets, providing diaspora customers with a consistent, seamless way to support their families and manage finances.

Through this collaboration, both new and existing Sterling Bank account holders can now enjoy instant, secure cross-border payments. Research conducted by Thunes indicates that for nearly half (46%) of diaspora consumers in Europe, sending money home is a routine and essential activity, comparable to paying rent or utilities.

Daniel Parreira, senior vice-president, sales – Africa at Thunes, said, "Welcoming Sterling Bank to our Direct Global Network marks another significant milestone in our expansion across Africa, and the trust in our infrastructure across the continent. Together, we're enabling a new level of convenience, speed, and confidence for customers managing finances across borders. This alliance demonstrates our ongoing dedication to making global money movement instant, transparent and accessible for all."

Ayodeji Saba, head, Switch & Remittances at Sterling Bank, added, "This partnership reflects Sterling Bank's deep commitment to making it easier for Nigerians abroad to send money home. With Thunes' trusted technology, we're giving our customers a faster, more reliable, and more affordable way to fund their Sterling Bank accounts from their foreign bank accounts. It's a major step forward in improving the experience for our diaspora community."

This collaboration underscores both companies’ shared commitment to financial inclusion and community empowerment, helping Nigerians abroad manage their finances efficiently while supporting Thunes’ mission to onboard the next billion end users in emerging markets into the global economy.

Totogi charging-as-a-service enables MVNE scale

Totogi’s multi-tenant platform introduces a new operating model for the MVNE

Totogi has revealed that an Africa-based mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE), supporting around one million subscribers across 30 mobile brands, has chosen Totogi Charging-as-a-Service to manage its entire multi-brand operation on a single cloud-native charging platform

The MVNE oversees a broad mix of prepaid, eSIM, broadband, and value-added mobile services for both consumer and enterprise offerings, all delivered through a unified infrastructure. By adopting Totogi’s pay-as-you-grow, price-per-transaction model, the operator aims to maintain tighter cost control, enable flexible scaling, and simplify the management of multiple brands through one multi-tenant charging environment.

Totogi’s multi-tenant platform introduces a new operating model for the MVNE. Each MVNO brand operates within its own dedicated tenant, with full autonomy to create tariffs, set pricing, and launch promotions, without relying on the MVNE for routine changes. This approach allows brand teams to move faster, while the MVNE retains overarching visibility and governance across the platform. The self-service capability removes much of the operational friction typically associated with supporting multiple MVNOs.

“Running multiple brands on one charging platform is the kind of operational complexity that would paralyse a legacy charging deployment,” said Danielle Rios, CEO of Totogi. “With Charging-as-a-Service on AWS, this MVNE gets elastic scale, instant pricing changes, and the ability to spin up new MVNOs, each with its own separate tenant, without spinning up new infrastructure. Each MVNO controls its own offers; the MVNE manages the platform. This is what modern charging looks like: one platform, 30 brands, a million subscribers, zero change requests.”

The deployment is currently in progress, with full implementation expected to be completed in early 2026.

Eutelsat and Airtel modernise Gabon rail network

OneWeb LEO brings connectivity to Gabon trains

Eutelsat has announced the deployment of its OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services to passenger trains in Gabon, in partnership with Airtel Gabon

The rollout follows successful testing and is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Gabonese Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation and the Ministry of Transport, Merchant Marine and Logistics, in collaboration with the Transgabon Railway Operating Company (SETRAG).

By bringing LEO broadband connectivity to rail transport, the project aims to modernise Gabon’s railway network, enhance passenger comfort, and provide reliable digital services along long-distance routes that extend beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. The initiative is expected to accelerate the integration of digital services into public transport, supporting the country’s broader digital transformation goals.

This deployment also expands the reach of Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO services across Africa, reflecting the company’s commitment to collaborating with governments and telecom operators to develop digital infrastructure for transport and public services. It further strengthens Eutelsat’s partnership with Airtel, laying the foundation for future rail connectivity projects across the continent.

“This deployment with Airtel Gabon reflects Eutelsat’s commitment to extending the benefits of OneWeb LEO connectivity in support of national digital initiatives. It also reinforces our partnership with Airtel and establishes a strong foundation for additional rail connectivity projects across Africa. By enabling reliable broadband services on passenger trains, we are contributing to the modernisation of public transport infrastructure and an improved travel experience for rail passengers in Gabon,” said Philippe Baudrier, vice-president, Africa, Eutelsat.

“Working with Eutelsat, the government, and national partners such as SETRAG, we are supporting the delivery of onboard connectivity services that enhance passenger comfort and support the integration of digital services into Gabon’s rail network. This project reflects our broader commitment to supporting the country’s highest authorities in their vision for innovation and digital transformation across the country,” added Thomas Herbert Gutjahr, Airtel Gabon managing director.