Author: Chris Anu

Outernet comes to Africa as Rivada and Q-KON confirm partnership. Satellite connectivity firm Q-KON and Rivada Space Networks have signed a memorandum of understanding, with the aim to power network expansion and digital transformation across Africa.Under the agreement, Q-KON will leverage Rivada’s Outernet to provide resilience for specialised data networks across Africa and cyber security to enterprises that require secure infrastructure, such as banking and financial services, according to a statement.The Rivada Outernetis a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation designed to provide gigabit-speed connectivity to any point on the globe, without needing to touch the public internet or third-party…

Amazon.com-owned Audible is working with US-based book publishers to convert print and e-books into AI-voiced audiobooks, helping to expand its catalogue, particularly in non-English speaking markets. “Every book deserves to be heard in audio,” Audible CEO Bob Carrigan said in an interview. Audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in publishing, according to Audible, but only 2-5% of existing print and e-books exist in audio form, he said. “Our goal is to close that gap.” Publishers can select from more than 100 AI-generated voices across English, Spanish, French and Italian, including numerous accent and dialect options. Titles can be either created exclusively…

African businesses can turn on AI Max and begin experimenting, says Google. Google is rolling out the beta version of AI Max for Search Campaigns, an upgrade to its Search Ads platform that it says provides intuitive advertising tools to businesses − including those in Africa.According to a statement, the tools, targeted at companies looking to grow and expand their online presence, use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve how ads are shown, helping local firms to connect with a larger customer base.AI Max is designed to help businesses become visible in more relevant searches, even when potential customers don’t use…

Shoprite Holdings has collaborated with non-profit Blind SA to develop voice navigation functionality to assist visually impaired users better access the Checkers Sixty60 application. According to a statement by Blind SA, the organisation approached the Checkers team with a list of “priority issues” the visually impaired community had concerns about following the October 2024 relaunch of the Sixty60 app. “Since the app update of January 2025, [the app is] much more accessible,” said Blind SA president Christo de Klerk. “Not only did Checkers Sixty60 make technical enhancements to the app, but it also invested in upskilling its developers, product owners…

Hardy Pemhiwa, president and group CEO of Cassava Technologies. Pan-African technology group Cassava Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Zindi, a professional network for data scientists in Africa, to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and GPU-as-a-service (GPUaas) across the African continent.According to a statement, the new partnership will see the organisations collaborate on several initiatives. These include using Cassava’s GPUaaS capabilities for Zindi’s AI solution development, and identifying opportunities for both organisations to leverage one another’s platforms and ecosystems.“For Africa’s AI ecosystem to grow and thrive, it is essential to provide platforms and resources for the continent’s…

Envisionit Deep AI is a London-headquartered South African start-up that uses a combination of computer vision and pattern recognition software to aid doctors in the diagnosis of diseases typically identified using imaging technologies such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. In South Africa, Envisionit is targeting the occupational healthcare market by partnering with mining companies to assist with periodic chest x-rays that help prevent and treat incidents of lung disease among mineworkers. The company’s exploits overseas, where AI adoption is much higher, have taken more of meta-analytical flavour. “A lot of mining companies are facing large class-action lawsuits…

Government’s top echelons are again considering their technology requirements, despite budget delays. Activity on National Treasury’s eTenders Portal saw an increase last week as the spate of public holidays finally came to an end. While larger value tenders will have to wait for finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s new budget, government’s top echelons are once again considering their technology requirements. The first national department to feature in this week’s tender round-up is a request from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) for the maintenance, support and licensing of its Documentum enterprise content management environment (ECM). “The DTIC is a…

Communications minister Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi on Monday launched government’s digital transformation road map, a document aimed at directing the digital reforms envisaged under phase 2 of Operational Vulindlela, the economic reform initiative led through President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office. Speaking at a launch event in Johannesburg, Malatsi said government’s digitisation efforts are aimed at changing the way citizens interact with state services, describing the typical experience as inconvenient and indicative of deeper structural problems in the way public services are designed and delivered. “Innovation without coordination cannot deliver real change. With this road map, we are…

IBM, Venn Cubed and ITWeb will host a webinar focused on AI in finance, a critical area of focus in today’s digital ecosystem. IBM and partner Venn Cubed have teamed up with ITWeb to host the Forecast & Assist with AI webinar on 22 May. The free-to-attend webinar will provide a roadmap for companies on how to replace outdated traditional financial planning technology with an advanced AI-driven alternative. The discussion will focus on IBM’s AI-driven Planning Analytics platform and how this technology helps finance teams transform planning, forecasting and decision-making, as well as enabling intelligent data exploration.The webinar is targeted…

A decade ago, when Microsoft was reined in by the US justice department, a prominent Silicon Valley attorney popularised a theory about antitrust cases: “The trial is the remedy.” The theory meant that forcing a monopolist to defend its conduct could open up space for other companies, particularly newcomers, to innovate in a market. And today, it’s happening with Google. Just as Microsoft is believed to have missed the technology world’s move to mobile platforms because it was so focused on its own monopoly case with the justice department, testimony and internal documents suggest Google may have fallen behind in…