Telecom
Airtel Africa Seeks US$194m from IFC to Invest in Network Expansion

Airtel Africa has proposed to raise US$194-million through debt from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to initiate network investment across seven subsidiaries and refinance existing loans.

Airtel Africa is an integrated mobile phone operator operating in 14 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The IFC stated: “(it) will support the project with a debt package of up US$150 million from its own amount and up to US$44 million in mobilisation from MCPP (Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme) funds.”
According to the financial institution the funds will be used to support Airtel Africa’s operations and investments across the seven subsidiaries including Chad, DRC, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Airtel Africa is yet to respond to requests for comment at the time of publishing.
In January this year, the company said it was serving over 122 million people across African 14 markets in which it operates including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania Uganda and Zambia
It said it will continue to execute its growth strategy to deliver on its market potential afforded by demographics and market dynamics across voice, data and mobile money services.
The company’s need to invest in network expansion follows a statement included in its financial report for the period ended 31 December , 2021 that “there is now an improvement in customer growth trends across its operations with Nigeria returning to strong customer growth after a period affected by the implementation of ’know-your-customer’ requirements.”
In July 2021, Airtel Africa inked a deal to sell about 7.5% stake in its mobile money unit to Qatar Holding LLC for around US$200-million following a similar transaction with global payment processor MasterCard for US$100-million with the aim of using the proceeds to invest in network and infrastructure in the respective operating countries among others.
Telecom
SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.

SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Telecom
Meta Names Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as President

Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.

Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
Telecom
X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the @Twitter account, replacing its profile with a standard notice citing violation of platform rules.

Musk
The action, which occurred on Sunday, January 11, left users encountering the handle greeted by a bold “Account Suspended” message on a black screen, with no details provided on the specific rules broken or the duration of the suspension.
The development has sparked widespread confusion and nostalgia among users, given that Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, approximately six months after acquiring the platform for $44 billion in late 2022.
The @Twitter handle had remained dormant since before Musk’s takeover, serving as a legacy remnant of the platform’s original branding, and its suspension appears to mark the final erasure of the Twitter name amid X’s ongoing efforts to combat spam, impersonation, and rule violations.
X’s official statement on the suspended page simply reads: “X suspends accounts that violate our rules,” without offering an appeal process or further explanation, unlike standard user suspensions.
Public reactions on social media ranged from humorous laments of “RIP Twitter” to speculation that the move resulted from automated moderation or a deliberate cleanup of legacy trademarks.
xAI’s Grok AI described it as a purposeful retirement of outdated elements rather than a genuine infraction, while neither Elon Musk nor X spokespeople issued any comment as of Monday morning.
This incident underscores the evolving identity of the platform under Musk’s ownership, which also saw a domain shift to x.com in 2024, further distancing it from its Twitter roots.
Industry observers note that while the suspension aligns with X’s stricter enforcement policies, the lack of transparency has fueled debates on consistency in applying rules to high-profile legacy accounts.
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