Telecom
Airtel Unveils Affordable Roaming Bundles
Airtel Nigeria, has introduced a unique roaming package that will empower telecoms consumers to connect with business associates, friends and family members at discounted rates, in line with its vision of providing innovative and affordable mobile telephony solutions.
Dubbed “Airtel Roam and Home”, the specialized bundle plan is designed to provide easy, convenient and affordable services to travellers who roam, offering free incoming calls and discounted roaming tariff by up to 90%.
According to Airtel, the new package is consistent with its vision to be the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, empowering telecoms consumers to roam at a discounted rate on 28 selected networks in 26 countries.
To enjoy the service, customers are expected to dial *789#.
The bundle is a renewable monthly plan and available in 26 countries including top international destinations such as UK, US, Canada, India, China, Dubai, South Africa and Israel, among many others.
Speaking on the innovative product, Mr. Maurice Newa, chief commercial officer, Airtel Nigeria, stated that through the package, Airtel Nigeria was poised to create unique and exciting experience for its customers who travel for business, trade, holiday, leisure, pilgrimage, festivities or other important activities.
Newa noted that roaming services are often very expensive and complex to activate hence the importance of providing convenience and ease to our esteemed customers.
He said, “Airtel Nigeria clearly understands the lifestyles of its highly valuable customers in Nigeria and we are positioned and able to deliver according to their needs. We are keen on contributing to the success of our customers and remain committed to providing unmatched, quality products and services to them. That is one of the reasons why this unique Roam & Home bundle has been designed as a holistic plan for our customers travelling abroad.”
The bundled plan simplifies the roaming process and addresses high rates with reductions of up to 90% in 26 countries. As a bundle for both pre and postpaid customers, there is no need for activation – customers can simply subscribe by dialling *789#.
Activation can be done before or while roaming. Once there is sufficient credit, the customer can just dial the appropriate code for the bundle they want.
Organisations today face a data paradox: they need to make fast, intelligent decisions but are overwhelmed by large volumes of often unreliable information. With over 75% of business leaders under pressure to prove data’s value, the demand for trusted, actionable insights has never been greater.
What is agentic analytics
Agentic analytics allows users to collaborate with AI agents to speed up the entire data-to-action process. Instead of relying on static visualizations, analysts can use AI to automate tasks like data preparation and ETL (extract, transform, load processes), freeing them to focus on deeper analysis. Business leaders can ask natural language questions and get instant, reliable answers along with recommended actions. This makes data-driven decision-making easier and more efficient, removing the need for technical expertise and manual effort typical of traditional BI tools.
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Built on the trusted Salesforce Platform and leveraging the power of Data Cloud, Tableau Next delivers enterprise-grade performance, robust security, and flexible, zero-copy data integration for seamless data connectivity. Tableau Semantics, an intelligent semantic layer, provides a unified understanding of information, ensuring data consistency and accelerating the discovery of critical insights. The built-in workflow engine in Tableau Next seamlessly translates insights directly into actionable steps, dramatically accelerating the time to value. The key differentiator is the native integration with Agentforce, Tableau Next equips humans and AI agents with pre-built analytical skills to rapidly transform data into tangible business value, marking a significant leap forward in data-driven decision-making. It includes:
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Ensuring Data Trust and Accuracy:
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“Tableau Next helps businesses achieve faster, more impactful results with their data,” said Ryan Aytay, CEO of Tableau. “We’re shifting from basic reports to a world where AI is a collaborative decision-making partner. By combining AI agents with trusted data and easy-to-use tools, we’re making data accessible to everyone and transforming the data-to-action process into an automated, proactive, and insight-driven cycle. This empowers users to improve decision-making, boost efficiency, and manage risk more effectively.”
Chinese-founded e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein have announced upcoming price increases for U.S. customers, citing higher operating expenses due to tariffs imposed during former President Donald Trump’s administration.
These tariffs include a 145% import tax on most goods made in China and the elimination of the “de minimis provision,” which previously allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The changes, effective May 2, have disrupted the business models of both companies, known for their ultra-low prices and extensive digital marketing campaigns.
Temu and Shein, which specialize in affordable products ranging from clothing to electronics, have urged customers to shop before the price adjustments take effect.
The companies aim to minimize the impact on consumers while adapting to the new trade rules.
These developments come amid concerns from U.S. lawmakers and business groups about the competitive advantage of inexpensive Chinese goods and the potential entry of counterfeit products through the now-canceled exemption.
Google has opened applications for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program, a three-month initiative designed to support early-stage startups using artificial intelligence to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Across the continent, startups are demonstrating how local innovation can solve deeply rooted problems. In West Africa, Crop2Cash – an agritech platform and alumni of the program – is using AI to digitally onboard smallholder farmers, build their financial identities, and provide them with access to credit, traceable payments, and productivity tools.
Through these efforts, Crop2Cash is improving agricultural outcomes and unlocking economic opportunity for farmers who have long been excluded from formal systems—illustrating the kind of impact that’s possible when African startups receive the support they need to scale.
The Accelerator is open to Seed to Series A startups based in Africa that are building AI-first solutions. Startups must have a live product, at least one founder of African descent, and a clear vision for responsible AI innovation. Selected participants will receive:
Dedicated technical mentorship from Google and industry experts
Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits
Access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators
Workshops focused on technology, product strategy, people leadership, and AI implementation
AI’s potential to accelerate Africa’s development is real, and Google is investing in ensuring that African startups lead that charge. According to McKinsey, AI could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, but only if bold innovation is supported at the grassroots.
“Startups are Africa’s problem solvers. With the right resources, they can scale their impact far beyond local communities,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google.
“This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply.”
Since 2018, the program has supported 140 startups from 17 African countries. These alumni have raised more than $300 million in funding and created over 3,000 jobs. Many are now regional and global leaders in their categories.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Startups interested in participating can apply at: https://startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/africa
For further information and updates, visit the Google Africa Blog or follow @GoogleAfrica on social media.
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