Eskom smart meter roll-out is badly behind

Eskom smart meter roll-out is badly behind

The prospect of Eskom meeting its March 2026 or March 2027 smart meter roll-out targets looks increasingly unlikely. The utility has only installed and uploaded 75 736 smart meters on feeders affected by load reduction of its target of 577 347 for March 2026, amounting to just 13.1% of the total. The smart meters are meant to…

Read More
Quectel Launches SP895BD-AP Smart Module, Powering the Next Generation of Intelligent IoT Applications

Quectel Launches SP895BD-AP Smart Module, Powering the Next Generation of Intelligent IoT Applications

Quectel Wireless Solutions, an end-to-end global IoT solutions provider, announced the official launch of its new-generation flagship smart module, the SP895BD-AP. Powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ Q-8750 processor, the SP895BD-AP module boasts enhanced graphics processing capabilities, superior visual imaging effects, and advanced edge computing performance, meeting the requirements of high-end devices such as video conferencing…

Read More
High Court nullifies smart driver’s licence tender

High Court nullifies smart driver’s licence tender

Department of Transport minister Barbara Creecy. (Image source: GCIS) The political principals in the Department of Transport (DOT) have welcomed the ruling setting aside the driving licence card machines tender awarded to French firm IDEMIA. This week, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria declared that the tender was irregular, invalid, unlawful and unenforceable. As…

Read More
Eskom 87% short of 2027 smart meter target

Eskom 87% short of 2027 smart meter target

Eskom hopes to cut down on electricity theft though smart meters. (Image: Pixabay) Power utility Eskom has installed just over 73 500 smart meters – roughly an eighth of its target – as it races to eliminate load reduction by March 2027. In a recent statement, Eskom said more than 90% of the 73 523…

Read More
Meta’s smart glasses update boosts sound clarity and Spotify integration

Meta’s smart glasses update boosts sound clarity and Spotify integration

Meta Platforms has begun rolling out a major software update for its AI‑powered smart glasses lineup, introducing new features designed to improve everyday usability and audio experiences. The v21 software update, currently being deployed through Meta’s Early Access Programme, brings two headline enhancements: Conversation Focus and deep Spotify integration. The improvements apply to Meta’s AI…

Read More
Smart village powers Limpopo amid SA’s digital divide

Smart village powers Limpopo amid SA’s digital divide

Electricity and energy minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. A Limpopo village is set to receive a smart village micro-grid that will provide solar-powered electricity to rural communities through smart grids. The project will be launched on Friday by electricity and energy minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa at Madimbo Primary School near Musina. It aims to provide sustainable,…

Read More
Africa: Rwanda – a ‘Smart Power’ Without a Regional Peace Strategy

Africa: Smart Aid Still Matters As Africa Ramps Up Domestic Health Financing

Nairobi — As donor funding for Africa’s flagship health programmes declines, African leaders are pushing for greater self-reliance anchored in domestic resource mobilisation, even as they stress that targeted external support remains critical. At the Africa Health Systems Forum hosted by Strathmore Business School’s PRISM Centre with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,…

Read More
Eskom grilled over 6.2m smart meter plan with no budget

Eskom grilled over 6.2m smart meter plan with no budget

The smart meters enable two-way visibility into electricity consumption. Eskom doesn’t know how much its 6.2 million smart meter rollout will cost, doesn’t have all the meters in stock, and hasn’t finalised procurement – yet insists it will meet its March 2026 target of 577 000 installations. During a presentation to the portfolio committee on…

Read More
Locally made smart ring launched in partnership with FNB

Locally made smart ring launched in partnership with FNB

FNB has expanded its digital payment ecosystem into the wearable technology space by announcing a new partnership with South African fintech start-up VezoPay, the company behind the country’s first smart payment ring. Read: Google South Africa launches AI glossary in Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans The new offering targets FNB Private Bank and RMB Private Bank…

Read More