The Association of Comms & Technology (ACT), which represents South Africa’s biggest telecommunications operators, wants a five-year exemption from parts of the Competition Act so they can coordinate parts of their rural infrastructure roll-out. The pitch is simple – stop duplicating infrastructure, lower the cost of deployment and reach places that remain underserved. This is…
The author, ACT CEO Nomvuyiso Batyi Paul Colmer argues in TechCentral that the Competition Commission should refuse the application ACT has made on behalf of its members for a five-year exemption covering parts of rural network deployment. He makes his case carefully, and it deserves a direct answer rather than a restatement of our position….
In education, asset ownership, and access to technological and financial resources, the urban-rural divide compounds the gender gap. Key findings Across 38 African countries, women trail men in educational attainment: 54% of women have secondary or post-secondary education, compared to 62% of men. Women are also more likely than men to have no formal education…
Nomalungelo Gina, deputy minister of science, technology and innovation. SA has launched its first National Science Month (NSM), expanding what was previously National Science Week into a month-long programme designed to increase public engagement with science, technology and innovation. The initiative, launched by the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) at the Vaal…
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a series of resolutions and recommendations aimed at expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy in rural communities across West Africa, with lawmakers calling for accelerated investment in renewable energy to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods. The resolutions were unanimously adopted at the conclusion of a five-day delocalised…
South Africa’s 5G population coverage surged from 46.6% to 58% in a single year, the biggest network coverage jump recorded in communications regulator Icasa’s latest State of the ICT Sector report — but rural areas remain drastically underserved, with some provinces offering next-generation connectivity to as few as 7% of their rural populations. The national…
In rural sub-Saharan Africa, access to clean drinking water often depends on a simple technology: the handpump. These manually operated systems pump water out of the ground for more than 184 million people. Yet despite their importance, research has found that at least 100,000 handpumps out of the 500,000 to 1.3 million in use in…
A new United Nations report has warned that global water inequality remains one of the most pressing development challenges of the decade, with billions still lacking safe drinking water and sanitation – while women and girls continue to bear the heaviest burden of water insecurity. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2026, titled Water…
Despite global trends towards consolidation, unique conditions across sub-Saharan Africa call for infrastructure specialisation, according to SES. There is a trend towards consolidation in the telecommunications sector, largely driven by rising infrastructure costs and shrinking margins as data overtakes voice as the primary communication medium. In the African context, MTN Group’s recent announcement that its…
Bentol, Montserrado County — FACE Africa, a Liberia and U.S.-based nonprofit organization, has completed and dedicated 71 new household latrines, one hand pump and one solar-powered water tower in rural Bentol City, Montserrado County. The day of the ceremony was a vibrant and joyful celebration hosted in Belekpoi Town and included local leadership and WASH…
