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Terrestrial Fibre Still Mother of all Bottlenecks in Africa – Experts

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L-R: Ryan Solovei, Executive Vice President, Kwese; Jean Luc Vuillemin, Senior Vice President, Orange; Frederic Schepens, Chief Executive Officer, MTN GlobalConnect; Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, and Guy Xibi, Managing Director, Xalam Analytics, during the Africa Panel Session at the International Telecoms Week held in Chicago recently.
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Experts at the Africa Session of the International Telecoms Week conference in Chicago have described terrestrial fibre constraints as the mother of all bottlenecks hindering increased Internet penetration on the continent.

During his presentation on the theme “Enabling Content on the African Continent”, Chief Executive Officer of research firm, Xalam Analytics, Guy Zibi analyzed the African digital journey, highlighting dramatic changes that have altered the dynamics of the digital transformation of the continent.

According to him, the international capacity challenge has been solved, with most coastal countries exhibiting an oversupply of subsea cables serving the continent.

However, he noted that the reach of such capacity was still limited due to limitations in the availability of terrestrial open-access fibre which remains extremely low in most markets especially Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Tanzania among others.

These limitations have translated into retail connectivity prices as a proportion of income being 2X more expensive in Africa compared to Latin America and the Caribbean and 3X when compared to Asia.

Zibi highlighted the dangers of deepening the continent’s digital divide with services limited to narrow addressable markets and Africa’s inability to fully partake in the fourth industrial revolution.

He reiterated the need for more aggressive deployment of terrestrial infrastructure, especially in metropolitan and local networks to reach the end users and enhance affordability.

A panel that included high-level representation from Orange, MTN GlobalConnect, MainOne and Kwese challenged African policy makers to proffer incentives to encourage the deployment of broadband infrastructure of scale to support the rollout of much needed infrastructure to rural areas.

The Africa Panel session at ITW was sponsored by MainOne for the 7th year in a row and continues to provide a platform for players to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges across the region with a global audience.

The discussions focused on infrastructure challenges as well as regulatory and economic constraints that impede increased internet access and proliferation of broadband across the continent.


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Girls Slug it Out for N5m Prize in Glo Innov8 STEM Finale

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The race is down to three as the Glo Innov8 National STEM Competition for Girls approaches its grand finale. The competition, organized by the Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, will take place at the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française), Ikoyi, Lagos.

From over 200 schools that entered nationwide, 20 were initially shortlisted, and 10 went on to compete for a place in the finals. The three schools that made it to the last stage are Ephraim High School, Isolo Campus, Lagos; Regina Pacis International School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Peakfield Academy, Jos, Plateau State.

Hundreds of students across several states, including Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, FCT, Delta, Kaduna, and Adamawa submitted entries after the Glo Foundation’s nationwide call for participation.

The initiative, designed as a STEM-driven challenge, was launched to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child — celebrating creativity, innovation, and inclusion among young women in science and technology.

According to the Glo Foundation, “The competition is aimed at inspiring young girls to Compete, Innovate, and Win — while strengthening their confidence and expanding their knowledge in STEM subjects.”

The winning school will take home ₦2,000,000 cash prize, with each of its two student representatives receiving a brand-new laptop and the Teacher/Mentor/STEM Coordinator earning ₦200,000. Runners-up will also receive valuable consolation prizes.

The three judges of the virtual stage expressed delight at the quality of presentations from the top 20 schools. Tosin Olabode praised the participants’ creativity, saying, “I was particularly impressed by the prototype presentations — some schools clearly did their homework.”

Another judge, Amina Gabriel, highlighted the diversity of ideas, noting, “The schools presented innovative solutions addressing issues in agriculture, security, waste management, and firefighting. The prototypes ranged from apps to robots, making the competition truly engaging. I’m grateful to Glo Foundation for giving me the chance to support young girls in STEM.”

On her part, Sharon Ibejih added that “this competition has showcased a highly competitive next generation of women leaders in STEM. It’s a brilliant platform to nurture problem-solving and innovative thinking among students.”

As the final stage approaches, anticipation is high for what promises to be a memorable showcase of brilliant young Nigerian girls and a testament to Globacom’s commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators.

 


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Tecom, Huawei to Champion Smart Connectivity and Digital Innovation in Abuja

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Tecom Concept Limited, Nigeria’s trusted technology partner and official Huawei Enterprise Solutions distributor, is set to host a groundbreaking event titled “Empowering Smart Connectivity & Innovation” in Abuja.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the NAF Conference Centre, Plot 496, Ahmadu Bello Way, Gwarinpa Expressway, Kado, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m is an high-profile engagement which seeks to showcase how innovative digital infrastructure and intelligent connectivity can transform business operations and enhance productivity in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

The event will bring together ICT professionals, enterprise leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss how smart, scalable, and sustainable technology can drive Nigeria’s digital growth agenda.

At the heart of this initiative is Tecom’s partnership with Huawei, one of the world’s leading providers of ICT solutions. Together, both companies aim to empower Nigerian organizations with the tools and knowledge needed to modernize their operations and compete more effectively in a connected world. Participants will experience firsthand how Huawei’s enterprise solutions—ranging from next-generation network infrastructure and storage systems to intelligent collaboration technologies—are redefining the future of business connectivity and innovation.

According to Happiness Obioha, Managing Director of Tecom Concept Limited, this collaboration demonstrates Tecom’s commitment to bridging the technology gap and helping organizations harness the power of digital transformation. “Our goal is to create a platform where businesses and IT professionals can explore innovative technologies that make communication smarter, operations more efficient, and growth more sustainable,” she stated.

The event will feature expert-led sessions, product showcases, and interactive discussions designed to provide practical insights into how Huawei’s solutions can transform business environments. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage directly with Huawei specialists, gain valuable knowledge, and explore tailored solutions for their unique organizational needs.

Tecom encourages all technology professionals, business leaders, and public sector representatives to participate in this transformative event and be part of the conversation shaping the future of smart connectivity and digital innovation in Nigeria.


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Africa’s TikTok Trailblazers Take the Spotlight at 2025 Awards Ceremony

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TikTok is set to honour Africa’s most influential digital creators at the 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa, scheduled to hold today in Johannesburg.

The event, which celebrates the creators, artists, and trendsetters who shaped the continent’s digital culture in 2025, will feature nominees across categories such as food, entertainment, sports, education, music, and storytelling.

According to TikTok, this year’s awards reflect a shift in the creative landscape, where niche content went mainstream and community-driven creators became cultural tastemakers.

“This year will be remembered as one where African creators refused to be predictable,” the platform said in a statement. “From the sound of BhadBoi OML’s ‘Wasiu Ayinde’ on repeat, the energy of the ‘Ngishutheni’ dance craze to the grit of #CorporateTok, and Shallipopi’s unforgettable hits, TikTok is celebrating the genius of creators who’ve turned 60 seconds into a movement.”

Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the awards are a moment of reflection and celebration.

“Our annual awards are a moment for reflection and celebration where we build deeper relationships with the people who power the continent,” Sidwaba said. “At its core the TikTok Awards celebrate the vibrant community who continue to inspire creativity, build community and spread joy on the platform while turning their passions into prosperous careers.”

Voting for the awards closed on Nov. 14, with users allowed one vote per category per day. TikTok encouraged fans to follow its official pages and use the hashtag #TikTokAwardsSSA to support their favourite creators.

Nominees include @diaryofanortherncook (Nigeria), @chefabbys (Ghana), @englishwithclem (Kenya), and @theycallmeshallipopipp (Nigeria), among others.

TikTok said the awards underscore its commitment to supporting Africa’s creator economy and amplifying voices that drive social change and cultural expression.

“As we celebrate a new era that has brought us new icons, TikTok’s mission to support African creators remains clear,” the statement added.


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