Srinagar, India — A newly released United Nations report has raised urgent concerns that the world’s push toward clean energy and digital technologies is driving a hidden crisis in some of the planet’s most vulnerable regions, where mining for critical minerals is depleting water supplies, damaging health, and deepening inequality. The report, Critical Minerals, Water…
There is a story South Africa has been telling itself about the digital divide, and it is only half true. The dominant narrative frames the problem as one of connectivity: lay the fibre, lower data prices, extend mobile coverage, and the informal economy will follow. It is a tidy story, and not entirely wrong. However,…
What if small businesses could advertise like big brands? Prism, a soon-to-launch self-service platform designed to simplify digital out-of-home (DOOH) media for small businesses, is hosting a pre-launch competition that aims to put SMEs on the map. It’s 7am, and Viktor is unlocking the doors to his coffee shop for the day. He knows his…
MSMEs are the backbone of South Africa’s economy, contributing over 60% of employment and a significant share of GDP, yet many still face barriers to market access, funding, and digital integration. As Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, the next phase of growth will be driven not only by large enterprises, but by the…
Women still make up less than a third of the world’s workforce in STEM. (Image source: 123RF) Minister Solly Malatsi has emphasised the critical need for inclusive growth within the ICT sector, drawing attention to the need for more girls and women in the ICT sector. Malatsi made the comments at the second annual Girls…
By 2024, only 38% of Africa’s population was online, according to the International Telecommunication Union–far below the global average of 68%. For a continent often described as digital-first, this gap exposes deeper structural barriers that continue to limit access, opportunity, and meaningful economic participation, particularly for its youth. Africa’s digital economy is frequently framed as…
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the backbone of modern economies, shaping everything from finance and healthcare to governance and security. As global competition intensifies, two dominant models have emerged — the United States’ capital-driven approach and China’s state-guided, infrastructure-led strategy. For Africa, this moment presents not just a choice between competing systems, but an opportunity…
Addis Ababa — Addis Ababa is fast emerging as a focal point for Africa’s digital transformation, as momentum builds toward the highly anticipated African Social Media Influencers Summit 2026. A high-level stakeholders’ consultative meeting has set a bold and strategic tone for the summit, positioning Ethiopia’s capital as a key platform for amplifying Africa’s voice…
Sentech CEO Tebogo Leshope. Strengthening South Africa’s digital infrastructure is critical to unlocking socio-economic growth, says Sentech CEO Tebogo Leshope. As a result, the country needs to “respond decisively by accelerating investment and strengthening critical skills” across both the public and private sectors, he notes. Key among the digital infrastructure investments is the country’s data…
The West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) has warned that lack of cable resilience is putting the region’s $150billion digital economy at serious risk. WATRA’s Executive Secretary, Aliyu Aboki, who disclosed this in a report made available to our reporter on Monday, added that the West African cable network “rests on a fragile foundation.” “In…
