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Ericsson Sees Strong Momentum in Sub-Saharan Africa

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A series of contracts in Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar and Benin, among others, highlight Ericsson’s growing footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa as communications service providers move to strengthen their networks and cater to demand for enhanced mobile services. Find out more here.

The momentum reflects the rapid growth of mobile connectivity across the region, as consumer demand for enhanced mobile services continues to grow and forward-thinking communications service providers are already securing their role in this dynamic market.

According to the June edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, current mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa is set to grow 12-fold by 2025. Mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to account for 72 percent of all mobile subscriptions in the same year, with LTE subscriptions estimated to triple and top 270 million.

Fadi Pharaon, President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “Technology brings an unprecedented opportunity to address the challenges of sustainable economic development and improve the livelihood of people in Africa.

The latest data shows that Africa is one of the fastest growing mobile markets and reiterates the need for a more efficient technology, higher data rates and availability of ample spectrum. Mobile and fixed networks are key components of critical national infrastructure to sustain and evolve emerging economies during remote work times.”

Expanding footprint in 2020

A slew of recent wins for Ericsson highlight the company’s growing footprint in the region as service providers strengthen their networks to meet growing demand from consumers and enterprises.

Earlier this year, MTN Benin has extended its long-term relationship with Ericsson to provide world-class managed services, including Network Operations Center, Field Services in Radio, Core and Transmission in Benin. Under the agreement, the future capabilities of efficiencies, automation and data will enable MTN Benin and Ericsson to jointly create a world of predictive operations with focus on customer experience, network quality, performance and automation.

In June of this year, Telma Madagascar switched on its 5G commercial network – powered by Ericsson – to offer subscribers high-speed services enabled by the new generation of mobile connectivity.

At the southern tip of the continent, MTN South Africa went live with commercial 5G in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth on June 30. Ericsson was announced as an MTN South Africa vendor in November 2019, to deploy products and solutions spanning its radio access network (RAN) Ericsson Radio System, transport and 5G Core network portfolios. Ericsson will also deploy Ericsson Spectrum Sharing.

In October 2020, Airtel Africa expanded its strategic partnership with Ericsson to enable 4G coverage in Kenya. With Ericsson’s Radio Access Network (RAN) and packet core products for 4G, Airtel subscribers will experience enhanced quality of voice and data.

The network modernization deal, signed in August 2020, is in line with the ‘Kenyan Digital Economy Blueprint Vision 2030’ which aims to provide robust connectivity in rural areas and facilitate e-commerce platforms.

Committed to sustainability

Ericsson has a major focus in supporting sustainability across Africa. In October 2020 it was announced that Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator will power Telenor Connexion’s global connectivity to Wayout’s sustainable water treatment micro-factories starting in East Africa. This will expanding to the Middle East, Asia Pacific and other markets in 2021.

Wayout has engineered plug-and-play micro-factories for local production of clean, filtered water, with minimal environmental footprint. Powered by solar panels, the micro-factories offer an advanced water purification system.

October 2020 also saw Airtel Zambia announce a partnership with Ericsson on a Product Take-Back programme to minimize the potential environmental impact when disposing of decommissioned electrical equipment.

The Product Take-Back programme is part of Ericsson’s sustainability efforts geared towards taking accountability for environmental impacts of all products and services during their lifecycle. The programme ensures that end-of-life material is treated and recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.


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Apple Faces €150M Fine in France Over Alleged Antitrust Violations

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French antitrust regulators have fined Apple 150 million euros ($162 million) over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature, which is facing scrutiny in multiple European countries.

The French Competition Authority ruled that Apple’s implementation of ATT was “neither necessary nor proportionate to the company’s stated goal to protect user data” and unfairly penalized third-party publishers.

Alongside the financial penalty, Apple has been ordered to publish the decision on its website for seven days. The ruling comes amid ongoing investigations in Germany, Italy, Romania, and Poland into ATT, which Apple introduced in 2021 as a privacy safeguard.

ATT requires apps to obtain explicit user consent via a pop-up before tracking activity across other apps and websites. If users decline, the app loses access to their advertising identifier, limiting targeted advertising. Critics argue that the system disproportionately benefits Apple by restricting competitors while promoting its own advertising services.

The French watchdog found that ATT forces users to navigate excessive consent windows for third-party apps on iPhones and iPads, making the process unnecessarily complicated.

Additionally, Apple’s system requires users to opt out of ad tracking twice rather than once, which the authority said undermines the feature’s neutrality and causes economic harm to app publishers and ad service providers.

The ruling emphasized that smaller publishers, which rely heavily on third-party data collection for revenue, are particularly affected.

The French regulator initially declined to impose emergency measures in 2021 after complaints from the advertising industry, but continued its investigation, ultimately leading to Monday’s decision.


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Cassava and Microsoft Boost Youth Employment in Green Tech

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Pan-African technology company Cassava Technologies, in a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, has launched a community engagement initiative focused on South Africa.

Cassava

Through this initiative, the two organisations will establish training hubs for youth in the local communities that will help spur employment opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

By prioritising renewable energy skills development, energy efficiency, and community microgrids, the initiative will empower the next generation to lead in the transition to clean energy. Activities will be focused in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where Cassava and Microsoft operate.

The project’s training hubs will play a vital role in equipping Africa’s women and youth with the skills they need to thrive in the renewable energy industry and ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are realised by all.

Cassava Technologies, through its renewable energy company and co-location companies, will be a key player in this collaboration. Their local renewable energy expertise will ensure that the initiative delivers tangible benefits linked to clean energy jobs and projects to the communities that are involved.

Through this initiative, Cassava and Microsoft are supporting community engagement and sustainable development in the region and across the continent, which lays the groundwork for expansion into other African markets.

Finhai Munzara, Chief Corporate Development Officer of Cassava Technologies, said, “We are honoured to collaborate with Microsoft on this project, which ensures that we bring all Africans along as we transition to a digitally connected future using sustainable energy. By leveraging our technological expertise, on-the-ground experience, and Microsoft’s global reach, we are poised to make a lasting, positive impact on South African communities.”

“We are pleased to work with Cassava to support climate initiatives in South Africa that enhance local communities, ensuring that those all have the tools to thrive,” said Markus Swart, Director of Data Centre Operations in South Africa at Microsoft.


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MTN, Lynk Global Make Africa’s First Satellite-to-Mobile Call

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MTN South Africa, in partnership with Lynk Global, has successfully conducted Africa’s first satellite-to-mobile phone call touted as a groundbreaking development.

MTN, Lynk Global Make Africa’s First Satellite-to-Mobile Call

This historic trial, conducted in Vryburg, North West province, marks a major step toward bridging connectivity gaps in underserved and rural regions across the continent.

The test involved making a voice call using a standard smartphone connected via a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

This innovative approach eliminates the need for traditional network infrastructure, providing a viable solution for remote areas with limited or no mobile coverage.

According to Charles Molapisi, CEO of MTN South Africa, this initiative aligns with the company’s broader strategy to extend network coverage to hard-to-reach areas.

“This achievement demonstrates our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure connectivity for all, regardless of location,” Molapisi stated.

The trial also assessed SMS capabilities over the LEO satellite connection, proving the technology’s potential for widespread application.

With successful implementation, satellite-to-mobile communication could revolutionise telecommunications in Africa, enabling digital inclusion and economic opportunities in regions previously disconnected from mainstream networks.

This milestone underscores the growing role of satellite technology in Africa’s telecommunications landscape.

By integrating satellite solutions with existing mobile networks, MTN and Lynk Global aim to provide seamless connectivity that overcomes traditional infrastructure challenges.

 

 

 


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