Tech

Starlink acquires one-year licence to expand internet coverage in Liberia

Published

2 months ago

October 11, 2024

The Elon Musk-owned internet service provider, Starlink, has secured a one-year provisional licence to expand its coverage in Liberia.

The one-year licencing agreement which was signed by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) will enable Starlink to increase its high-speed Internet access throughout the West African country, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

As part of the agreement, the provisional licence will allow LTA to assess Starlink’s services over the next year, setting quality standards and ensuring consumer protection as the technology is rolled out.

Acting Chairperson of the LTA, Abdullah Kamara, who confirmed that Starlink’s official service will be available in the first week of November, however, lamented that some individuals are already offering the service illegally across the country, and urged citizens to engage their ISPs to verify they are authorised resellers.

While Kamara acknowledged that the country is making universal Internet access a reality for the first time, he noted that this agreement will allow Starlink to deliver high-speed Internet to every village, town, and community, no matter how remote.

He pointed out that Kamara pointed out that Internet coverage in Liberia is currently around 60%, and the government’s goal is to push that number as close to 100% by leveraging Starlink.

The licencing comes three months after Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., held a virtual meeting with Musk to discuss the potential launch of the satellite Internet service provider in the country.

Boakai had then invited the SpaceX founder and his team to visit the country, affirming his administration’s commitment to ongoing engagement and collaboration.

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Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

2 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

3 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation