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AfDB, AXIAN Telecom Partner to Accelerate Africa’s Digital

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African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $160 million senior corporate loan to support AXIAN Telecom to expand digital access and finan­cial inclusion in nine African countries.

AfDB, AXIAN Telecom Partner to Accelerate Africa’s Digital

The loan will accelerate the modernisation and expansion of AXIAN Telecom‘s network infrastructure, with a focus on 4G and 5G deployment; while also driving digital innovation in its operations, enabling them to expand to more countries.

AXIAN Telecom, headquar­tered in Mauritius, serves 42.9 million mobile subscribers, 11.4 million data users, and 15.2 million mobile financial service users, positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s digital trans­formation.

A key focus of the funding is to address gender disparities in access to financial services. Over $10 million will be dedicat­ed to empowering 22,000 women entrepreneurs in Madagascar through AXIAN’s Mvola plat­form.

Additionally, a $2.5 mil­lion grant will enhance finan­cial literacy and credit access for 34,000 women businesses across Madagascar, Tanzania, and Senegal, enabling them to grow and transition into the formal economy.

Highlighting the initiative’s importance, Solomon Quaynor, VP for Private Sector, Infrastruc­ture and Industrialisation African Development Bank’ said: “This investment reflects the African Development Bank’s commit­ment to driving Africa’s digital transformation and fostering inclusive growth. By support­ing AXIAN Telecom’s growth plan, we are bridging the digital divide, creating opportunities for millions across the con­tinent, and fostering innova­tion.”

Quaynor described the Afri­can Development Bank’s sup­port as part of a partnership to accelerate progress, advance financial inclusion—particular­ly for women—and drive sus­tainable development, adding, “Together, we are building the infrastructure and ecosystems that will enable Africa to thrive in the digital age.”

Has­san Jaber, CEO, AXIAN Telecom said: “We are hon­oured to partner with an organ­isation that shares our vision of advancing Africa’s digital econ­omy. The funding from the Afri­can Development Bank not only underscores the immense dig­ital potential of the continent but also highlights the critical role of collaboration in driving sustainable development.”

 


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GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

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GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI has been unveiled, marking a significant initiative aimed at empowering small and growing enterprises in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

This fund is designed to fos­ter AI-driven innovations that tackle critical socio-economic and climate challenges, helping underserved regions unlock the transformative potential of ar­tificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence has proven its ability to address pressing global issues, from pre­cision agriculture and renew­able energy to remote health­care and financial inclusion.

Yet, LMICs remain under­served in funding and resourc­es, with only a small percentage of global grants directed toward locally-developed AI solutions.

Despite the growth of AI-driven technologies, these advancements are often not tailored to the unique needs of local populations in LMICs.

The GSMA Innovation Fund seeks to close this gap by iden­tifying, testing, and scaling impactful AI solutions that are contextually relevant and capa­ble of delivering measurable socio-economic and climate benefits.

In partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the GSMA Innovation Fund provides a comprehensive sup­port package to selected enter­prises. Key benefits include:

Grant Funding: Ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 for projects lasting 15–18 months.

Tailored Venture Support: Guidance to strengthen busi­ness models and improve scal­ability.

Partnership Opportunities: Facilitation of collaborations with mobile operators, public sector organizations, and other stakeholders.

Peer Learning: Platforms for exchanging knowledge and best practices with other innovators.

Visibility and Exposure: Access to GSMA’s global events, publications, and online plat­forms to connect with potential investors and partners.

 


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MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian government to take legitimate measures to safeguard the rights and safety of internet users in the country.

MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

In a statement released ahead of Safer Internet Day (SID), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) called on the Nigerian Federal and State governments to take measures to protect internet users’ rights.

MRA highlighted the misuse of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, initially designed to address cybercrime threats.

According to MRA, the Act has been exploited by powerful individuals to intimidate journalists, activists, and citizens, undermining freedom of expression and cybersecurity.

Mr. Ayode Longe, deputy executive director, MRA, emphasised that these actions violate democratic principles and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. He highlighted the SID theme “Together for a Better Internet” as a call for multi-stakeholder cooperation to create a safe and accessible online environment.

Longe noted Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption but pointed out persistent online threats, including scams, data breaches, and misinformation.

He stressed the need for legal frameworks that protect users’ rights without compromising their privacy or freedom of expression.

MRA urged the government to review the Cybercrimes Act to ensure it aligns with international human rights standards and to establish guidelines to prevent arbitrary prosecutions.

MRA also called for digital literacy initiatives and collaboration with tech companies to promote online safety.

Additionally, they urged the courts to protect Nigerians’ rights by rejecting unfounded cybercrime cases and ensuring fair application of the law.

Longe reiterated MRA’s commitment to defending digital rights and advocating for a free and open digital environment where everyone can access information and express themselves responsibly.

Together, stakeholders can create an internet where all users, regardless of age or background, can engage safely and freely.


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Google Messages to Enable WhatsApp Video Calls

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Google Messages is reportedly working on a new feature that would allow WhatsApp video calls; the feature was found in the app’s code and is not yet functional, but it reportedly activates when the caller’s device is not running Google Meet.

Google Messages to Enable WhatsApp Video Calls

Users of the tech giant’s first-party app in Mountain View are reportedly able to make video calls more easily because of this functionality.

According to a separate report, the app recently combined the gallery picker with the camera viewfinder when the camera option was opened.

A report from the Android Authority suggests that Google Messages may soon incorporate WhatsApp’s video calling functionality. The functionality was discovered by the publication in Google Messages version 20250131.

The code had a flag for the feature, which was turned on. As a result, consumers cannot try it out at this time.

According to screenshots the website posted, when users select the video call icon in Google Messages, a prompt advising them to use WhatsApp to make video calls appears.

But following the reports, the feature only appears if the caller does not have Google Meet installed.

Interestingly, at the moment, users can only use Meet to make video calls; if they don’t have it loaded, the app asks them to do so before attempting again.

With this new functionality, WhatsApp does not direct users to the chat app when they make a video call.

Rather, it is said to activate the full-screen video conference interface immediately.

If Google Messenger is the user’s main messaging program, this functionality could save them multiple clicks.

Though based on the article, the capability is limited to individual talks.

The app can only use Meet to start video calls in group discussions.

Furthermore, it has been noted that Google Messages does not trigger the WhatsApp video call pop-up if the recipient does not have WhatsApp installed.

 

 

 


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