Posts by Alastair Tempest
Opportunities and Publications
SMEs and the Digital Economy A new report by the International Labour Office (ILO), the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) entitled “Small goes digital…
Read MoreEgypt provides a case study in how to prepare for the Africa Free Trade Area
The African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could add at least 32 new trade partners to Egypt and help diversify and upgrade the country’s economy. But to benefit fully from the…
Read MoreNigeria Starts to Backpaddle on Twitter Ban
The Nigerian President has called for a meeting with Twitter to discuss its recent ban on social media company, having realised that his decision to suspend Twitter indefinitely could backfire…
Read MoreMobile Money in West Africa – Orange Feels Squeezed
Created by two Americans to lower the cost of mobile money transactions, Wave has been in the spotlight ever since Orange Telecom tried to curb its development in Senegal. Taken…
Read MoreIFC Launches its DigiLab Programme in the Middle East and Africa to Help Financial Institutions Improve Digital Services
DigiLab Finance is a capacity building programme that equips selected financial institutions – including banks, microfinance institutions and digital financial services providers – with practical knowledge and tools to help…
Read MoreCompetition Announced in This Newsletter’s “Opportunity and Publications” Section Announces Winners
Nine African tech Startups are among the 117 chosen so far for the Silicon Valley-based Y Combinator accelerator. All winners will receive US$125,000 each in seed funding as well as…
Read MoreTraining in the Digital Economy
The Google for Startups Accelerator is a 3-month online programme that includes 3 intensive virtual training boot camps, mentorship, and Google product support. For the second year in a row,…
Read MoreAfrica is poised for a data centre boom as internet penetration rates rise and the continent begins to play catch-up with other regions
According to Standard Bank, Africa accounts for less than 1% of the world’s co-location data centre supply, with SA accounting for the bulk of the continent’s capacity. Co-location facilities rent…
Read MoreNew Telecoms Link Planned from the Atlantic Ocean through the Congo Rainforest to East Africa, And Telcos Attract Investment
UK-based Liquid Intelligent Technologies and US social media giant Facebook are to collaborate on an extensive long-haul and metro fibre network in the DRC, which they say could improve internet…
Read MoreMobile Connections – Are we getting Our Money’s Worth in Africa?
No – according to a new report by Speedcheck, the high prices that people in Africa pay for the internet are rarely matched by the connection speeds. Speedcheck, a website…
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