National digital platform transforms Liberia’s payments. (Image source: The Central Bank of Liberia)

The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) will launch the Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS) on December 16, 2025, a platform designed to facilitate mobile money transfers between Liberia’s two major Mobile Network Operators, Lone Star MTN and Orange Liberia

The launch event, taking place at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, marks a significant step in modernising Liberia’s national payments infrastructure and expanding access to secure, convenient, and inclusive digital financial services.

The ceremony will bring together key stakeholders from Liberia’s financial sector, including mobile money operators, Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange, all commercial banks and financial institutions, government ministries, agencies and commissions, development partners, and international stakeholders.

His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr will deliver the keynote address, reaffirming the Government of Liberia’s commitment to digital transformation under the ARREST Agenda.

The IIPS is a national digital payment platform regulated and supervised by the Central Bank of Liberia. It enables full interoperability between banks, mobile money operators, and other financial service providers, allowing instant and secure transactions across different platforms and institutions.

With the IIPS, both individuals and businesses will be able to send and receive money in real time, whether between bank accounts, mobile wallets, or across service providers. This enhances convenience, reduces transaction delays, and limits reliance on cash.

Why the IIPS matters for Liberia

As Liberia’s digital economy continues to grow, the need for a unified, efficient, and inclusive payment ecosystem has become increasingly urgent. The IIPS addresses persistent challenges such as fragmented payment channels, slow transaction processing, and limited interoperability among financial service providers. By connecting all major players on one national platform, the system enhances trust, transparency, and efficiency across the digital payments landscape.

Expected benefits and impact

For citizens and small businesses:

The IIPS will make everyday transactions simpler and safer. Whether sending money to family, receiving payments directly into a mobile wallet or bank account, or conducting business without carrying cash, market women, farmers, students, entrepreneurs, and SMEs will benefit from faster and more reliable digital payment options.

For government:

The platform will support efficient Government-to-Person (G2P) transactions, including salaries, social benefits, and other public payments. This will improve transparency, reduce leakages, and ensure funds reach beneficiaries quickly and securely.

For the wider economy:

The IIPS strengthens Liberia’s financial infrastructure, promotes innovation, and expands access to regulated financial services across both urban and rural communities, advancing the country’s broader financial inclusion agenda.

The CBL notes that the rollout of IIPS services will continue following the official launch, in close partnership with participating banks and mobile money operators. The Central Bank of Liberia remains committed to improving the safety, security, and efficiency of the country’s payment systems and encourages all media partners to help inform and educate the public about the IIPS and its benefits.

The collaboration aims to deliver affordable, high-quality mobile connectivity to underserved and remote communities across Africa

Vanu, Inc., a leading provider of mobile network infrastructure designed to help operators profitably serve rural areas, has entered a strategic partnership with Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, Project Kuiper

The collaboration aims to deliver affordable, high-quality mobile connectivity to underserved and remote communities across Africa, beginning with southern Africa.

Vanu’s mission centres on bridging the global digital divide by connecting those who remain unconnected. Its innovative coverage solutions already enable millions of people in isolated regions across multiple continents to access mobile networks

Through the integration of Amazon’s advanced satellite network into its portfolio, Vanu will strengthen its capacity to deliver reliable connectivity while partnering with a globally recognised technology leader.

Project Kuiper currently has over 150 satellites in orbit and continues to expand its growing constellation. Leveraging this infrastructure, Vanu plans to deploy its “Coverage as a Service” model, using Amazon’s low-latency backhaul connectivity to provide mobile broadband to rural populations starting in 2026.

By utilising satellite backhaul, Vanu can bypass the high costs and complexity of traditional telecom expansion, enabling access to high-speed communication for education, healthcare, commerce, and emergency response in remote communities.

“We are energized by this opportunity to accelerate our mission,” said Andrew Beard, CEO of Vanu. “Amazon’s low Earth orbit constellation gives us the scale, reliability, and performance to reach areas that have been technologically excluded for far too long. Together, we can reshape what is possible for rural connectivity worldwide.”

“Project Kuiper was created to help connect customers and communities beyond the reach of existing networks, and our backhaul solutions are an important part of that vision,” said Chris Weber, Vice President of Consumer and Enterprise for Project Kuiper. “Vanu has a proven track record connecting some of the hardest-to-reach places on the planet. Using satellite-based connectivity from Amazon, they can enable mobile network operators to reach more subscribers in more places.”

The partnership will begin in southern Africa, where Vanu and Amazon plan to showcase a sustainable and scalable framework for rural connectivity. By merging Vanu’s innovative terrestrial technology with Project Kuiper’s global satellite broadband capabilities, the collaboration aims to establish a replicable model for inclusive digital growth, setting the foundation for long-term global impact.

Yas expands fibre dominance with Wananchi Acquisition. (Image source: YAS)

AXIAN Telecom Fibre Ltd (“Yas”), a subsidiary of AXIAN Telecom Holding and Management PLC, has successfully completed the acquisition of 99.63% of Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd (“Wananchi”), one of East Africa’s leading fixed broadband and enterprise connectivity providers

This milestone reinforces Yas’s strategic vision, expanding its footprint across high-growth fibre markets and reaching over one million homes across the region.

East Africa is among the fastest-growing broadband markets on the continent, driven by rising data demand and accelerating digitalisation across enterprises. The integration of Wananchi positions Yas to capitalise on this momentum, delivering reliable, high-speed, and inclusive connectivity across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi, while paving the way for future expansion into neighbouring markets. In Tanzania, the acquisition is expected to strengthen Yas’s market presence by leveraging synergies with its existing operations.

Operating under the well-established brands Zuku (consumer) and Simbanet (enterprise), Wananchi serves customers through an extensive fibre backbone and last-mile network. Under Yas’s ownership, the company will benefit from enhanced investment capacity and access to group-wide expertise to scale Fiber To The Home (FTTH), Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), and cloud connectivity solutions throughout the region.

“Wananchi Group’s network, customer relationships, and local expertise align perfectly with our ambition to be a leader in broadband connectivity across Africa,” commented Hassan Jaber, CEO of AXIAN Telecom.

 “Yas already has a strong presence in East Africa, and this acquisition builds on our deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and needs while giving us access to new vibrant markets in Kenya and Uganda. Together, we will unlock new potential for growth, innovation, and value creation — delivering better access and new digital services for the communities and businesses we serve.”

“Our goal is to build a leading pan-African broadband connectivity provider, and Wananchi’s addition is a big step forward. We are committed to bringing high-speed Internet to millions more Africans. Our strong performance so far, doubling of our fixed broadband base and achieving double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth, shows the strength of our model,” added Bertrand Lacroix, CEO of AXIAN Telecom Fibre. 

Yas currently operates in Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal, and Togo. The integration of Wananchi will leverage Yas’s operational scale, investment capacity, and cross-market expertise, while ensuring continuity of employment and business operations. Customers, employees, and partners can expect a smooth transition as Wananchi begins its next chapter within the Yas family.

The collaboration aims to rapidly scale the service and onboard the next wave of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country

Vodacom South Africa has announced a strategic partnership with global technology leader Circles to accelerate the expansion of its Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) platform

The collaboration aims to rapidly scale the service and onboard the next wave of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country.

The partnership leverages Circles Aspire, a product line from Circles, to enhance Vodacom’s wholesale services strategy. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in providing South African MVNOs with a more dynamic and efficient platform to launch and manage their operations.

"We are very pleased to announce our partnership with Vodacom to power their MVNE platform services in South Africa. With the first MVNO customer, Mr Price Mobile, already live, this marks an important milestone," said Sanjay Kaul, CEO, Circles Aspire.

"Vodacom already plays a pivotal ‘telco of telcos’ role, and by integrating Circles’ proven MVNO enablement services, they can now deliver even greater value to the market. We look forward to jointly expanding this success in South Africa," he added.

Shenge Buthelezi, managing executive of wholesale for Vodacom South Africa, commented, “We are excited to partner with Circles Aspire. This partnership re-affirms our long-term commitment to high quality, purpose driven, and value-creation led approach to the MVNO market in South Africa. As we continue to scale up and onboard more partners, we are confident that our MVNE platform will enable a sustainable, seamless, digital-first, API driven and faster time to revenue service for our MVNOs which is critical for value creation and sustainability of the MVNO Market.”

Vodacom’s MVNO strategy focuses on value creation, targeting three to five key MVNO partners over the next three years. These collaborations are expected to combine industry expertise with Vodacom’s robust network infrastructure and wholesale capabilities.

Circles’ MVNE technology offers a cloud-native, multi-tenant, and API-first architecture, designed for agility and rapid deployment. It enables faster onboarding, reduces time to market, and provides MVNO customers access to Circles’ suite of services, including Customer Value Management (CVM) tools — a key differentiator in South Africa’s competitive mobile sector.

The partnership also underscores Circles’ long-term commitment to Africa, supported by continuous investment in its EMEA operations and a shared vision to shape the future of mobile connectivity across the continent.