Telecom
Intelsat Partners XinaBox to Launch Careers in Africa’s Satellite Tech Space
Intelsat has entered into a partnership with XinaBox, a provider of modular electronics for learners and professionals, to deliver space-focused STEM learning tools to teenagers across Africa.
Intelsat is sponsoring scholarships, each worth hundreds of dollars, for 20 students in Africa to access XinaBox’s dedicated space STEM kits and educational programs, which culminate in students designing, building and launching satellites into space.
The kits provide a rapid hardware development platform, specifically designed and manufactured for STEM applications in schools and universities.
According to XinaBox, using commercial standard electronics components, students are able to design and build circuits, code using multiple formats and conduct experiments, without specialist equipment or lab.
The company states: “Through building, experimenting, and creating working electronic devices, crafters, students and tinkerers learn critical STEM skills, including coding, electronics, data gathering and analysis, control, and all the principles of Internet of Things (IOT), while engaging with the sensory environment around them. This approach uniquely bridges the virtual worlds of software, the cloud, and big data, with students’ real-world surroundings.”
Melissa Longo, global media relations manager, Intelsat, says: “This is a pan-African initiative so we are hoping that students from all over the continent will apply. The kits are already used in some South African schools, as a growing number of teachers are using technology in the classroom. The feedback from teachers and students has been amazing: students are showing a different level of interest and are excited about the new – and fun – experience in programming and coding.
We really believe in the initiative that will show a new side to technology, science and space – and hopefully spark interest. Imagine, last year, over 40 thinsat satellites, designed and coded by school children from the US and South Africa, launched into space on an Antares rocked that was on its way to the ISS – a unique experience for the children.
Longo says of the broad need for STEM skills in Africa that as governments, enterprise and consumers increasingly rely on connectivity to operate and communicate, satellite has proven essential to the continent’s development, and more particularly for certain rural and remote communities.
“This has had a direct impact on the industry that has grown over the year and, in 2019, about 8,500 people worked across the African space industry. We also share our knowledge through training programmes across the continent to help strengthen these much-needed STEM skills.”
Longo adds that from Intelsat’s three offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Dakar, a team of highly qualified sales and technical professionals work closely with regional customers and partners to respond to the continent’s connectivity demands.
“While this team of locally recruited experts work also with their counterparts in the US and Europe, they understand like on-one else the challenges of the region and the needs of their customers. The number of people working across the African space industry has increased over the years underpinned by a growing supply of qualified graduates as a number of African universities offer relevant degrees and we know that we can count on these to help us bring new solutions to the continent.”
Judi Sandrock, one of the co-founders of XinaBox, says: “When the Intelsat team suggested supporting African students on our flagship program, we were excited and inspired. Our primary goal is to give access to space for all.
“Intelsat’s values and ours are totally aligned, with the students and their futures at the core. Intelsat’s support will allow the XinaBox Space STEM program to accelerate as we move into 2021.”
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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