Telecom
Galaxy Backbone Continues To Strengthen Unified Digital Communications In Government
In the last two weeks of the Federal Government shut down of business and social operations in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos & Ogun States due to the global pandemic of the Corona Virus which has also affected Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), an organisation under the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy had set up a team made up of Senior Management, Network Engineers, System Administrators & Customer Operations Executives; the GBB Covid-19 Action Team.
Its main objective is to ensure the continuity of government operations through the provision and implementation of Video Conferencing, IP Phones and other communication services to the members of Presidential Taskforce Committee, Office of the Vice President, Honourable Ministers, Permanent Secretaries of Federal Ministries, Security Operatives, Federal Ministry of Health, the National Centre for Disease & Control (NCDC) and other public sector essential service providers.
Several successes have been recorded through this initiative which has enhanced the operations of government officials during this COVID-19 times. Over 150 Unified Communication devices, from Video Conferencing terminals to Video Phones, have been installed in the offices and residences of top government officials.
Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Galaxy Backbone, recently noted that these services has enabled the executive officers of the Government to communicate amongst themselves while maintaining the principles of social distancing; “We have deployed Video Conferencing facilities and IP Telephony to the State House to enable effective communication and possible online meetings of Mr President with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19, Honourable Ministers, top government officials and other NEC members.”
Galaxy Backbone continues to maintain a 24hr operation to ensure that the services of government ministries and agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control and other relevant bodies and agencies helping to keep the nation healthy, function seamlessly in emergencies like this.
All GBB personnel at the frontline will continue to adhere strictly to all the guidelines set by the NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health & the World Health Organisation (WHO) as it discharges its essential services.
GBB is primarily the Digital Infrastructure & Shared Services provider of network, communications and connectivity services to public organisations within the nation.
It also runs the only TIER III Datacentre in the Nation’s public sector with a Back-Up Datacentre in Enugu. We encourage MDAs and private sector to collocate or host their applications at Galaxy Backbone’s secure Datacentre which is operated and managed strictly under International Service Management standards.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
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