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Gartner Says IoT will Benefit African businesses

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The Internet of Things (IoT) will reach mainstream adoption in the next two to five years in Africa and is expected to have the most transformational impact on local businesses in the same period, according to Gartner, Inc.’s 2016 Hype Cycle for information and communications technology (ICT) in Africa.

“The level of interest in, and the pace of adoption of, ICT in Africa are increasing, and, although Africa’s insurance sector is small, it’s a key indicator of where IoT opportunities exist and will prove long-lasting,” said William Hahn, principal analyst at Gartner. “A growing number of insurers are seriously evaluating how the IoT might best be used, especially in terms of improving the customer experience.”

The primary usage scenario for the IoT in Africa’s insurance sector, initially, will be a “charging” scenario, in which connected “things” are monetised. “For example, drivers will be charged premiums based not only on how far they drive, but also on how safely they drive and the degree of risk associated with when and where they drive,” said Hahn.

According to the global research firm although challenges to widespread IoT adoption remain — a lack of access to end-user devices and policyholders’ concerns about data privacy, for example — in the long term IoT data, combined with advanced analytics, will give insurers much greater insight into the risks their policyholders face.

“This will present insurers in Africa with opportunities to prevent losses before they occur, and prompt them to act to prevent risk, which could increase customer engagement and loyalty, and thereby reduce churn,” said Hahn.

In addition, 11 technologies that will reach mainstream adoption in two to five years will have a high business impact in the continent in the same period. Among them is cloud office.

Cloud office
Gartner explains that cloud office includes email, instant messaging, file sharing, conferencing, document management and editing, and collaboration capabilities.
“Cloud office is becoming more mature, and enterprise adoption in Africa, as well as across the rest of the world, is growing,” said Jeff Mann, research vice president at Gartner.
The company estimates that cloud office adoption will double from 15% in 2016 to 30% by the end of 2018.
“Companies in Africa and all around the world are opting for cloud delivery in the desire to reduce costs, redeploy IT staff, encourage simplicity, and provide more functionality to users more quickly,” added Mann. “It’s important that organisations look beyond a ‘like for like’ deployment that focuses only on recreating previous on-premises functionality in the cloud, and investigate the unique capabilities of cloud products to improve efficiency and provide innovation.
“All medium-sized and large organisations in Africa must decide about cloud office deployment, even if they decide not — or not yet — to opt for it,” he adds.
Gartner believes that mobile telephony will also continue to evolve in Africa, with further penetration by ultra-low-cost mobile devices in the next two years.
With the proliferation of advanced underserved area comms (AUAC) into semi-urban and rural parts of Africa, Gartner expects AUAC to have a transformational business impact in Africa during the next five to 10 years. “They could prove a powerful force for reducing the ‘digital divide,’ which is one of the biggest social issues in Africa. They could also be significant enablers for the increasing number of organisations looking to benefit commercially from the large opportunities offered by low income Africans,” said Hahn.


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Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

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Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga

The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.

To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.

Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.

Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”

He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”

Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.

As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.

Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.


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Firm Identifies Global Scam Activity Linked to the Release of Avatar 3

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The premiere of Avatar 3 has taken place in several countries and has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in online interest. Amid the heightened attention surrounding the release, Kaspersky experts identified an increase in cyber-scam campaigns that exploit the movie’s launch and users’ desire to watch it online. The fraudulent websites target users across multiple regions, indicating attempts by attackers to reach a global audience.

The scam operates as follows: cybercriminals create suspicious websites that offer online access to the Avatar 3 movie. Attackers place particular emphasis on localisation, publishing the sites in multiple languages to attract users from different countries. However, the translations are often poorly executed and contain grammatical errors and inconsistencies, which may serve as indicators of fraudulent activity.

When users attempt to start the video, they are presented with a fake media player and prompted to register in order to obtain “full” or “unlimited” access to the film. As part of the registration process, users are asked to provide personal information, including an email address and mobile phone number.

At later stages, scammers may request additional data, including payment details, under the guise of activating a “free trial.” This creates risks of credential compromise, particularly if users reuse passwords across multiple services, and may also lead to financial losses.

“Cybercriminals consistently exploit major movie premieres to capture users’ attention and increase the effectiveness of their schemes. We advise accessing films only through official platforms and exercising caution when encountering websites that request personal or payment information. It is also important to use reliable security solutions to protect all devices, including mobiles,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.

 


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Galaxy Backbone Celebrates the Federal Government’s Paperless Civil Service Milestone

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Galaxy Backbone (GBB) aligns with and celebrates the successful announcement by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the achievement of a Paperless Civil Service, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public sector reform and digital transformation agenda.

The milestone was formally highlighted at a press briefing led by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commended Galaxy Backbone for its sustained support and contribution throughout the implementation of the programme.

GBB has played a critical role in enabling this transition by providing secure, scalable, and shared digital infrastructure that supports the digitisation of government processes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the 1Government Cloud, MDAs have been empowered to migrate from paper-based workflows to digital platforms, improving efficiency, collaboration, data security, and service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.

In addition, GovMail, GBB’s secure government email platform, has strengthened official communication, enhanced records management, and reinforced cybersecurity standards—key pillars in sustaining a paperless operating environment.

Galaxy Backbone acknowledges the collective efforts of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of ICT, consultants, partners, and dedicated public servants whose commitment and collaboration ensured the smooth delivery of this initiative.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was represented at the press briefing by Akintayo Bamisaye, Acting Group Head, Research, Digital Innovation and Skills Department (RDIS).

GBB describes the achievement as a strong close to 2025 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled public service.


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