Africa's Data Centre Industry Report
ATR

twitteryou tubeacpRSS Feed

Mobile

PalmPay launches USSD code in Nigeria, enabling millions to access financial services without internet, enhancing financial inclusion. (Image source: Palmpay)

PalmPay, a prominent financial platform with over 30 million users on its mobile app in Nigeria, has introduced a USSD code service

This new feature provides Nigerians with an alternative way to manage their finances without relying on internet access. By dialing *861# on their mobile phones, PalmPay customers can now perform various banking transactions.

Expanding cashless transactions 

Since launching in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license granted by the CBN, PalmPay has offered a range of financial services, including money transfers, bill payments, credit, and savings, all within its comprehensive financial "superapp."

For those without smartphones, PalmPay’s vast network of over 500,000 Mobile Money Agents enables transactions nationwide. The addition of the USSD feature is designed to increase accessibility and convenience for users, especially in a market where internet outages are common.

Chika Nwosu, managing director for Nigeria, reaffirmed the company’s focus on financial inclusion: "At PalmPay, we aim to bridge the gap in digital access, and the introduction of our USSD service aligns with that mission. Our platform ensures seamless connectivity for our users," he stated. He also highlighted the security aspect of the new service, noting that users can freeze their accounts remotely if their phone is lost or stolen, providing enhanced protection for their finances.

PalmPay has made notable strides in Nigeria, amassing over 30 million registered users and connecting 1.1 million businesses through its network of mobile money agents and merchants. The platform has played a pivotal role in driving financial inclusion, with one-third of its users having opened their first-ever financial account through PalmPay.

Recently, PalmPay was named one of the World’s Top 250 Fintech Companies in 2024 by CNBC and Statista.

With a focus on user-friendly interfaces, reliable transactions, and growth through fee-free transfers and promotions, PalmPay continues to strengthen its position as a key player in Nigeria’s fintech landscape.

Vivek Badrinath is the new director general of the GSMA. (Image source: The GSMA)

The GSMA, a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem, has appointed Vivek Badrinath as the new director general and member of the GSMA board

Badrinath has held several significant leadership roles throughout his career, experience that will stand him in good stead to perform effectively in his new position. And this history includes extensive engagement with Africa, having previously served as regional CEO of Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific at Vodafone. Before this, he held key positions at Orange.

The new director general will take over from Mats Granryd, who will step down from the role after MWC Barcelona 2025.

Driving digital change

“I am delighted to announce Vivek Badrinath’s appointment.” said José María Álvarez-Pallete López, chairman of the GSMA. “During our selection process it was clear that Vivek’s deep understanding of the industry and its potential make him the ideal individual to lead the GSMA into the next phase of its evolution. I am confident that Vivek will work, together with the board and our excellent GSMA leadership team, to drive change and innovation, creating value for both the industry and society.”

“I’m proud and honoured to be joining the GSMA at such an exciting time in the industry’s development,” remarked Badrinath. “I look forward to working with the GSMA board, it’s members, and the leadership team to extend and amplify the positive impact of the mobile ecosystem for people, industry and society globally.”

The development will enable mobile service providers to deliver 5G services to their subscribers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nokia has strengthened its partnership with Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) by building a 5G mobile core network

NGIC will make use of the 5G network to offer wholesale services to mobile service providers in the country, enabling them to deliver 5G services to their subscribers.

The 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) Core will provide the security, resiliency and reliability that is needed to deliver 5G services in the West African country. The agreement includes Nokia’s Cloud Mobility Manager (CMM) and Cloud Mobile Gateway (CMG), in addition to the previously announced 4G and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) AirScale base stations, and will be managed by Nokia’s MantaRay network management system. Nokia will also provide its end-to-end service suite for the full scope of the deal.

“We chose Nokia because they are a trusted and proven partner in Africa that can deliver on our ambitions to introduce 5G services in Ghana,” remarked Harikirit Singh, executive director of NGIC Ghana. “As NGIC is a wholesale network provider to mobile operators in Ghana, Nokia’s 5G RAN and Core solution is a key part of our network evolution as it incorporates the flexibility, scalability, resilience and security that we need as the sole 5G network in the country. This will enable us to integrate more seamlessly with our clients’ networks to deliver 5G services to the people and businesses of Ghana.”

Expanding 5G

The Nokia and NGIC 5G open-access and cloud-based network will offer mobile operators in Ghana a shared, secure, environmentally sustainable and high-speed network that will enable the rapid expansion of 5G services with reduced capital expenditure. In the future, the network will enable newer capabilities, like enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communication and ultra-reliable low-latency communication.

NGIC plans to launch its wholesale 4G and 5G Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) within 2024. Additionally, to keep the shared network at the forefront of technology, Nokia and NGIC will build a flagship 4G/5G Center of Excellence in Ghana that will serve as a test bed for newer technologies and use cases, and also demonstrate Nokia’s capabilities on network sharing, Cloud RAN and Open RAN.

Michael Tseytlin, chief technology officer of NGIC Ghana, surmised, “In partnership with Nokia, we will empower our customers to fully benefit from 5G in Ghana, with plans to extend this to other regions in Africa. NGIC will utilize Nokia's technology and products to deploy network infrastructure and related services, aiming to serve both enterprise and consumer markets. This initiative will help bridge the digital divide and introduce new services in finance, healthcare and education to enable Ghana's transition to the digital economy.”

Page 1 of 260
Oil Review Africa
NEW interactive digital platform

Most Read

For Ghanaian customers, this license means more efficient and secure money transfers across the country. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Image source: OneWeb)

The introduction of Network One in Nigeria aligns with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive for in-country transaction routing, boosting local processing capabilities. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

OADC Texaf Digital - Kinshasa, a 2MW open-access, Tier-III data centre, boosts DRC's digital ecosystem with carrier-neutral, sustainable infrastructure. (Image source: Open Access Data Centres)

Angola Cables Network traffic climbs to record peak. (Image source: Angola Cables)

iXAfrica Data Centres and Moringa School launch Kenya’s first comprehensive Data Protection course. (Image source: iX Africa)

Qualcomm empowers African tech startups with mentorship. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

LINX expands its African interconnection platform to PAIX Data Centres Nairobi, enhancing peering and connectivity for Kenya’s digital growth. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Siemon's new LightStack and LightStack 8 offer cutting-edge ultra-high-density fibre solutions for data centers and enterprise networks, available globally. (Image source: Siemon)

The development will enable mobile service providers to deliver 5G services to their subscribers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Latest news

MTN Congo's new 5G network aims to revolutionise connectivity and drive economic growth in the region. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Safaricom launches M-PESA Ratiba, allowing users to set standing orders for recurring payments directly from their mobile wallets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Arctic Wolf expands into South Africa, recruiting local partners to offer advanced cybersecurity solutions and protect businesses from cyberattacks. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Kazang Pay launches in Zambia, allowing merchants to accept card payments on existing terminals, boosting financial inclusion and business growth. (Image source: Kazang)

Airtel Nigeria embraces renewable energy to reduce diesel costs, boost operational efficiency, and enhance sustainability amid revenue growth. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Partnership aims to enhance digital payments across the Middle East and Africa, benefiting merchants and consumers alike. (Image source: Mastercard)

Mohamed Elbelamachi, regional managing director, Francophone Africa. (Image source: Network International)

AFC have agreed with Itana to jointly develop the first digital economic zone in Africa. (Image source: Africa Finance Corporation)

Nebula Logistics Africa extends cloud partnership with Datacentrix to enhance IT infrastructure and agility amid business growth. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Ooredoo secures a QAR2bn (US$550mn) financing deal with QNB, Doha Bank, and Masraf Al Rayan to expand its data centre and AI business. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Vodacom Business partners with local governments to transform South African cities through innovative digital solutions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

KaiOS partners with Mastercard to enable SMEs in emerging markets to accept digital payments via affordable KaiOS-powered devices, starting in Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Raxio Group launches Tier III data center in Abidjan, fueling Côte d'Ivoire's digital transformation and connectivity. (Image source: Raxio Group)

Eutelsat OneWeb trains local partners in Africa to accelerate the rollout of its LEO satellite network, boosting high-speed internet access. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Siemon expands optical patching solutions for NVIDIA AI infrastructure, enhancing GPU cluster performance with structured cabling expertise. (Image source: Siemon)

Africa Tech Festival

More Articles