Tech

Africa Mobile Networks pens deal with Starlink to connect millions in Africa

Published

1 year ago

August 16, 2023

Pan-African mobile operators, Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) has entered into a commercial agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to use Starlink constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to connect its station bases across the African continent.

Mike Darcy, CEO of AMN Group, who made the announcement on Wednesday, said the deal would see AMN’s mobile network migrate to high-speed and low-latency services to “serve even the most remote and rural communities in the world.”

According to Darcy, the partnership will pull their vision closer than ever and will “enable AMN to bring 3G and 4G services to rural communities with high quality of service, and deliver ever-increasing amounts of bandwidth and volumes.”

“We are already making rapid progress in Nigeria where we have over 1,000 operational base stations today, to connect more unconnected communities, and we are seeing a huge appetite for data services in many of these places,” Darcy said.

“AMN plans to deploy Starlink terminals at sites in Nigeria during 2023, as part of a larger project to connect 700 additional rural communities before the end of the year.

“By collaborating with Starlink, we can support significant growth both in terms of the number of sites and services offered,” Darcy added.

The CEO reiterated that AMN was committed to its vision of a fully connected world where no community of significant size was deprived of telecommunications services for the social, educational and economic benefit of the population.

“AMN has made significant progress towards this vision, with telecommunications services now accessible to more than 10 million people in nearly 4,000 communities in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as a direct result of the AMN towers.”

Chad Gibbs, SpaceX Vice President for Starlink Business Operations, who also commented on the partnership, said:

“We are excited to work with AMN on our shared vision of a fully connected world. Today’s announcement of Africa’s first cellular network to use Starlink for the backhaul is an important step that will bring high-speed connectivity to millions of people on the continent for the first time. especially in rural and isolated communities.”

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Tech

Tanzanian fintech startup Tunzaa announces capital raise for expansion

Published

6 hours ago

December 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Tanzanian fintech startup, Tunzaa, has announced raising fresh funds to enable it carry out its expansion plans.

The fintech, which has developed an innovative payments API enabling e-commerce transactions to be processed in installments, said in a statement that it secured the funding from Warioba Ventures.

A statement by Warioba Ventures said:

“This investment underscores our commitment to fostering solutions that address the unique challenges of African markets while creating a ripple effect of financial empowerment and economic growth.

“We believe Tunzaa is poised to redefine how payments and savings are integrated into the e-commerce experience, setting a new standard for financial inclusion and innovation.”

Tunzaa offers flexible installment that empowers consumers to access products more conveniently while promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

The platform inspires a culture of savings by enabling consumers to save towards specific goals through gamified incentives.

Tech

Egyptian freight-fowarding startup Nowlun raises $1.7m in seed funding

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Egyptian digital freight forwarding platform, Nowlun, has announced raising $1.7 million in seed funding, which is a significant milestone for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) logistics sector.

The seed funding round, according to Nowlun’s CEO, Moataz Khamis, was led by Nama Ventures and A15, with participation from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.

In a statement announcing the funding, Khamis said the investment will fuel Nowlun’s ambitious expansion plans and accelerate the development of its innovative technology platform, which is transforming the logistics industry by offering instant, transparent, and competitive ocean freight rates, streamlined shipment management, and real-time visibility into cargo movements.

Founded in 2021 by Khamis, Mahmoud Khaled, and Ahmed Emara, Nowlun has rapidly established itself as a key player in the MENA logistics market, integrating all major shipping lines, providing businesses with unparalleled access to real-time pricing and enabling them to make faster, more informed decisions.

“Nowlun’s advanced shipment management system offers a comprehensive control tower, allowing users to track their cargo in real-time, receive instant notifications, and proactively manage any issues,” Khamis said.

“Throughout my decade in logistics, I’ve witnessed the daily inefficiencies shippers face.

“Driven by a sense of responsibility, my team and I are committed to transforming the industry using cutting-edge technology. This funding will empower us to further simplify the shipping process and make shippers’ lives easier,” he added.