Packing multiple improvements to its launch tag, the Itel A60 is an entry-level smartphone that offers extended features better than any other device in the same price range. Comparable devices including the MTN Kabode Supa and the Airtel 4G Smartphone don’t beat the new Itel A60 level making it a great device for low-end customers.

By standard, Itel Mobile confirmed at the launch that the A60 is the first 4G-powered smartphone in the A-series range. This means, 3G connectivity is no longer the limit, and faster internet speeds are the new target to allow customers use most available features on the device.

By specs, the Itel A60 sports a dual rear camera design with improved image quality as inked at the launch. Storage-wise, 32GB ROM + 2GB RAM is a standard that can deliver a smooth user experience when using the device. However, a big 5000mAh battery sums up the entry-level mark by delivering more uptime on the Itel A60 as revealed at the launch.

To sweeten the deal, upon buying the Itel A60, you get free MTN data in Uganda for the first 3 months. A total of 9GB is gifted to your device instantly as a token of thanks to utilize most features on the phone.

Currently, you can buy the Itel A60 at all MTN Service centers and over 230 dealer shops across Uganda. Also, you get the usual 12 + 1 Months after sales service warranty that lets you deliver your device to any Carlcare service center for free repairs or exchanges during the warranty period.

As a result of the partnership between Itel Mobile and MTN Uganda to launch the Itel A60, affordable and high-quality smartphones will be easily accessible in the near future as the age of AI and ChatGPT ignites a connected future.

Debswana’s Head of Information Management Molemisi Nelson Sechaba said that the Huawei-enabled smart mine solution has been deployed at Debswana’s Jwaneng open-pit diamond mine, and the project started operation in December 2021.

According to the Debswana head of Information Molemisi Nelson, the project started in December 2021 and Huawei’s 4G eLTE private network solution provides stable connectivity for the Jwaneng mine in Botswana.

It connects more than 260 pieces of equipment which includes drilling rigs, excavators, heavy trucks, and pickup trucks. This enables the interconnection between the mine’s production, safety and security systems.

Hon. Thulagano M. Segokgo, Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology of Botswana, stated that, the Government of Botswana is pleased to see Debswana and Huawei’s joint efforts aimed at driving digital transformation in the mining industry.

Xu Jun, Chief Technology Officer of Huawei Mine BU, said that Huawei is committed to using its strengths in ICT technologies like 5G, cloud, AI, and IoT to develop smart mine solutions that are based on an industrial Internet architecture for customers in the mining industry worldwide.

Liao Yong, Vice President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Region, said that mining is the economic backbone for many Sub-Saharan African countries and plays an important role in the economy of Africa as a whole.

Over the past five years, Huawei has provided services to mining enterprises in several countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and Ghana. Looking to the future, Huawei aims at working with more local partners to accelerate mining digital transformation and create more value in Africa.

According to Debswana, building on the success of the project in the Jwaneng mine deployed together with Huawei and Botswana local companies, the company plans to extend the smart mining solution in its Orapa, Damtshaa, and Letlhakane mines across the country in 2023.

EDITOR’s NOTE: Part of this story is from an official press release shared with the Tech Point Magazine team.

The new PoP, housed in the carrier-neutral iColo datacentre in Mombasa, brings an important new addition to the IP Transit options available in the datacentre to content distribution networks, cloud networks, and internet service providers.

Workonline is recognized for its long-term vision of deploying equipment capable of delivering up to 100 Gbps services at each of its core PoPs. Further to this, Workonline now connects its two PoPs in Mombasa to its main PoP in Nairobi over the four most reliable routes.

In return, this enables Workonline to provide the most reliable remote peering services, Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL), Ethernet Private Line (EPL), and IP Transit services in the market today.

In 2019, Workonline Communications became the first African network to deploy Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) Route Origin Validation (ROV) to improve the security of Internet routing in Africa, and now, Workonline’s engineers continue to assist other networks in Africa in implementing RPKI ROV as the head of business confirms:

“We’re committed to keeping traffic local and building a better Internet in Africa, with Africa – and supporting secure, efficient on-continent networks,”

said Benjamin Deveaux – Head of Business Development at Workonline Group.

iColo’s CEO, Ranjith Cherickel explains that Workonline’s PoP is a welcome boost for ensuring that more citizens access e-services, as a result, small businesses can come online and enjoy the benefit of world-class internet. “We are proud to partner with Workonline Communications to offer this experience”, Ranjith concluded.

DAS technology is commonly used in large buildings like Hospitals, Shopping malls, office buildings, and hotels with poor network reception. It uses a system of distributed small antennas that are connected to a single common source or gateway and distributed throughout an area to improve wireless coverage.

As per Airtel Uganda’s smart poles implementation, the telco notes that they are designed to facilitate the transition to 5G network technology that was recently announced, as ATC Uganda also continues to work closely with mobile network operators to support the transition to 5G.

While speaking at the launch of the Smart Pole in downtown Kampala, Mr. Manoj, the Airtel Uganda Managing Director, noted that the telco Airtel has previously received hundreds of complaints for weak signals in high-density areas like Luwum Street.

To address this, the telco decided to challenge the ATC and Airtel engineering teams to come up with a lasting solution since users in these areas rely a lot on mobile networks for business hence the introduction of smart poles as he said.

“We have already established 6 poles in the city. Additionally, We are committed to reducing carbon emissions in our services therefore, we thank ATC for providing a green solution.”

said Manoj Murali – Managing director, Airtel Uganda.

In return, the CEO of ATC Uganda Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda appreciated Airtel Uganda for the strategic partnership aimed at improving the quality of telecommunications services in Kampala.

While at the launch, the deputy director of KCCA expressed his gratitude to Airtel and ATC Uganda for partnering with the City Authority on their mission to create a smart city. Since may businesses in the city rely on voice and data network traffic, providing the smart poles will accelerate the network reception for people working in buildings across Kampala.

For now, as 5G is the main goal Airtel Uganda has set to achieve in 2023, the introduction of smart poles makes it easy for business people to access quality voice and data network speeds to meet their goals.

This announcement comes in light of the imminent launch of the new terrestrial data superhighway built by Liquid, connecting Kenya and South Africa.

The technology used has allowed Liquid to build its first terrestrial route that will provide 12 terabits of capacity for carriers and service providers in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the DRC. The route, which measures 16,576 km, has been designed to cater to the demand for more capacity from Liquid’s hyperscale customers.

Hardy Pemhiwa, Group President and  CEO of Cassava Technologies, says,

“As a business of Cassava Technologies, Liquid is committed to enabling a digitally connected future for every business and individual in Africa. We are proud to partner with Nokia as we expand our high speed fibre backbone on the continent. This investment further demonstrates our commitment towards Africa’s inclusive digital transformation”.

In addition, the route will provide thousands of businesses and millions of households in many of Africa’s landlocked cities, towns and villages with more resilient connectivity and access to numerous data centres and cloud resources. At the same time, providing an alternative option in case of a subsea cable outage between the two countries.

Rajiv Aggarwal, Head of Central East and West Africa (CEWA) Market Unit at Nokia, said,

“Nokia’s next-generation optical network will enable Liquid Intelligent Technologies to maintain its leadership position and emerge as a preferred partner of organizations requiring massive capacity. We are delighted that our technology and expertise will help Liquid Intelligent Technologies provide the best-in-class digital infrastructure to Africa’s enterprises and will play a role in strengthening the digital infrastructure of the continent”.

Shahzad Manzoor Khan, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, adds,

“Internet giants, established cloud service providers and other mega-organisations are demanding hyperscale data centres that can support high levels of performance, spikes in demand, and redundancy while enabling massive availability. Our new terrestrial fibre corridor is the first of its kind in Africa in terms of distance and capacity”.

The new route is a validation for existing and potential customers that Liquid continues to deliver intelligent networks that provide increased redundancy and resilience.

EDITOR’s NOTE: Part of this story is from an official press release shared with the Tech Point Magazine team.

The fast and affordable UberGo

UberGo is a more affordable ride option with a minimum fare starting at 13,000 UGX. This option uses smaller, fuel-efficient hatchback vehicles, to boost rider demand and unlock further earning opportunities for drivers.

Current drivers on UberX can now cross dispatch onto Uber Go and have the first option to add UberGo cars to the new service. 

The new UberX explained

UberX, with a minimum fare of 14,400 UGX, is now a high-end trip experience for those looking for extra comfort. The product is designed to give riders more trip customisation options and an enhanced on-trip experience. 

It will connect riders to top-rated drivers (with a minimum rating of 4.84)  with newer vehicles, offering riders a stylish ride and drivers with greater earning options. 

Commitment to improving Uganda’s ecosystem 

“Uganda is a key market for Uber in Sub-Saharan Africa. As we grow, we are committed to rolling out a suite of products that demonstrate our understanding of the local market. As we expand and launch new products, drivers will have access to more earning opportunities, and riders to reliable and convenient modes of transportation,” says Imran Manji, Head of Uber East Africa.

The company explains that they are committed to supporting and empowering the thousands of drivers that keep cities moving. With the new prices, these changes will help drivers to better manage increasing operating expenses and continue offering quality rides for residents’ everyday needs. 

Safety remains a key priority for Uber. UberGo and UberX carry the same door-to-door safety features such as GPS tracking, Driver Injury Protection, 24/7 support, and driver background checks and screenings.

As ridesharing becomes a way of life for more people, Uber is rolling out a new safety feature, Safety Check Up. Based on research, most riders seem to be unaware of the safety features available to them. As a result, Uber has launchedSafety Check-up in Uganda which will encourage riders to complete their safety profile by turning on and utilising available features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification and RideCheck.

Uber has announced its expansion into four new cities in Kenya; Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha and Kisumu. This makes Uber available in eight cities across East Africa, which means more drivers have access to earning opportunities and more riders an affordable, convenient, and reliable travel solution throughout the region, at the tap of a button. 

Commitment to safety

As ridesharing becomes a way of life for more people, Uber never stops raising the bar on safety and is rolling out a new safety feature, Safety Check Up. 

Based on research, most riders seem to be unaware of the safety features available to them which contribute to a lack of confidence in the safety of the app. As a result, Uber is launching Safety Check-up in East Africa which will encourage riders to complete their safety profile by turning on and utilising the available features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification and RideCheck.

“We are committed to being a leading safety innovator, using new technology to improve safety standards for all our users. We continue to innovate to find new ways to promote safety, such as our GPS tracking and location sharing features, and our one-stop in-app safety centre with emergency assistance button, to name just a few,” says Imran Manji, Head of East Africa, Uber

New product innovations

Travelling across the city with an entire crew has never been easier, with the launch of UberXL in Nairobi, Kenya. This option provides seating for up to 6 people and extra luggage and is great for airport trips and even for groups who are making a business trip. 

Manji explains: “We are committed to East Africa, which is a key contributor to the growth of our business in Sub-Saharan Africa. At Uber, we’re passionate about helping people travel and discover their city with ease and helping drivers increase earning opportunities. 

EDITOR’s NOTE: Part of this story is from an official press release shared with the Tech Point Magazine team.

It comes right at the time when the company is expanding its service offering to support business operations. Through the platform, merchants can offer instant payment terms to their customers through a frictionless B2C-like “Buy Now Pay Later” checkout experience. 

The solution can be integrated easily via APIs into existing e-commerce platforms and marketplaces.

Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, a co-founder and shareholder in the company, says that the B2B merchants that use Chil Food Center will now be able to sell more by offering better payment terms to their business customers. 

“Our Buy Now, Pay Later solution eliminates all the burden and risk associated with offering payment terms online by letting B2B merchants instantly offer credit terms at checkout even if the customer is buying from them for the first time,” Nabuuma says.

Merchants using CHIL Food Center will also see an increase in their revenue and customer satisfaction. Nabuuma says the platform is able to protect them against the risks of non-payment, so they are always sure to get paid no matter what. 

What next?

Currently, the Food Center has over 300 merchants making use of the Buy Now Pay Later solution daily, and thousands of buyers transacting on the platform.

The proceeds of the pre-seed funding will be used towards further developing its digital credit technology and extend its services across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, supporting the growth of the B2B commerce space.

The company plans to recruit more staff for its Lille and Dubai offices and is on the verge of raising $15M in seed round.

What the investors had to say

“We understand that trade credit is critical to supply chains, and Solerchil Technologies is solving this problem. That is why we are happy to be part of this and hope to lead even more rounds,”

says Richard Scott Johnson, a partner investor at Sufishent LLC

Under Section 5(k) of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, UCC is mandated to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers and operators regarding the quality of communications services and equipment.  

Section 5 (1) of the Act also tasks UCC to set national standards, ensure compliance with standards and obligations laid down by international communications agreements and treaties to which it is a party. These include Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Radio Frequency (RF) requirements, equipment safety and health requirements technology, performance and functionality requirements.

Today, through the SIMU KLEAR campaign, UCC has joined the rest of the world to fight against the use of substandard mobile communication devices. These include Fake Smartphones that are branded as copy, and hicopy grades on the market, as well as substardand feature phones that often use popular brand idenfications such as Nokia.

Since February 2020, the Commission has successfully implemented a concerted stakeholder engagement process entailing engagements with public sector, sister agencies, regulators, policy makers, industry actors and the media. Now, the 2nd phase of the SIMU KLEAR campaign has introduced the 197 hotline dedicated to public sensitization.

In most cases, when a customer uses an Illegitimate device, it lowers the quality of service on intermediate communication devices which, in most cases, lowers the quality of service on public communication networks thus affecting the experience of other consumers and businesses on the same medium.

When you buy any device, you want it to deliver the performance, functionality and safety expected of devices in that family. This is the purpose of standards according to UCC. Illegitimate or Counterfeit devices compromise on those standards in favour of returns, impacting value proposition and safety.

Every legitimate mobile phone has a unique identifier that registers it to a carrier network. This number is called the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The IMEI number can be used to verify the legitimacy of the mobile phone.

To confirm if your phone is legitimate, dial *197*4# or *#06#, and the device IMEI code will automatically display on your phone’s screen. Alternatively, the IMEI number can be found on the body of the mobile phone, usually under the battery.

Currently, it is estimated that over 180 million counterfeit mobile phones are sold globally per annum and this represents a potential loss of €45bn to legitimate device manufacturers.

The new UCC Campaign will run for a period of over 6 months to build public awareness about the dangers of using fake and illegitimate mobile communication devices in Uganda.

This was during the Commonwealth Youth Forum, held ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM), under the theme ‘Taking Charge of Our Future’.

“I grew up in Africa, schooled in Africa, and started my business in Africa before I scaled to the rest of the world. I therefore know each problem every enterprenuer faces in their journey and it why I accepted the Commonwealth appointment,”

Said Ms. Nabuuma on her new role.

She also adds that, “I am here to look out for ways to help tech entrepreneurs get training, to scale their innovations, get linked to the investors willing to invest in the African tech ecosystem, and every young entrepreneur is my priority because I am one of them.”

The Role of an African Representative on the Commonwealth Youth Council

As the African Regional Representative, Ms. Nabuuma will support the overall governance of the Council in their respective regions. She is accountable to the General Assembly as the official link between the CYC and the African continent.

Ms. Nabuuma will also be an advocate for young people in the Commonwealth is considered an ‘ambassador’ for the Council in Africa. She will as well coordinate and promote the work of the council at the African regional level.

The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC)

The CYC, which is led by a nine-member executive team, acts as a coalition of national youth councils and other youth-led civil society and private sector bodies from over 54 Commonwealth member countries.

The other members of the Commonwealth Youth Council include the Chairperson, Vice-Chair – Partnership & Resources, Vice-Chair – Policy & Advocacy, Vice-Chair –Inclusion & Engagement, Asian, Caribbean & Americas, Pacific representatives, and the Special Interest representative.

The council works to mobilise, amplify and action the voices of young people and advocate for governments to meaningfully engage and develop young people. It partners and collaborates strategically with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other organizations with a focus on youth development and global change.

Shamim’s recent achievements

Recently, Shamim Nabuuma’s CHIL Group was among the 30 women-led startups that benefited from the Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) growth programme.

In April 2020, she became the first Ugandan to make it on the cover of Forbes Magazine, for her selection in the magazine’s Africa 30 under 30 list.

In 2021, she was selected by the Bloomberg New Economy as one of the extraordinary individuals forming the inaugural class of catalysts which includes 30 other scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. In the same year, she was also profiled among the 80 women advancing AI in Africa.