Author: Chris Anu

Government has developed a national satellite strategy that will be presented to cabinet ministers soon. One of the recommendations is that government should acquire and fully own its own geostationary satellite. The department of communications & digital technologies and the department of science, technology & innovation have worked on the proposal together. According to a joint presentation by representatives of both departments in a meeting of their respective parliamentary portfolio committees on Tuesday, it would take between five and seven years for South Africa to develop and put its own satellite into orbit. The satellite strategy will assist us in…

Samsung names TM Roh as acting head of its Device eXperience division. Samsung Electronics has announced the appointment of TM Roh as acting head of its Device eXperience (DX) division. This follows the death of Han Jong-hee, who served as vice-chairman, CEO and head of the division. Samsung’s DX unit comprises the firm’s mobile and consumer electronics businesses.In a statement, the electronics giant says Roh’s appointment is in addition to his role as head of the Mobile eXperience (MX) business. He also previously served as head of the corporate design centre.Other changes include the appointment of Won-joon Choi as MX…

BYD’s Sealion 7 China’s BYD enjoyed a strong start to 2025, with sales up 58% in the first quarter versus the same period of last year. The nation’s best-selling car brand delivered 371 419 passenger vehicles in March, bringing the total for the first three months of the year to 986 098 units, data released on Tuesday shows. Of those, 416 388 were pure electric vehicles. BYD stopped making combustion engine cars in 2022 and now only produces EVs and hybrids. The numbers will likely be in stark contrast to US rival Tesla, which only makes EVs and whose first-quarter sales may be…

OpenAI’s valuation is now at $300 billion. Japanese multinational investment company SoftBank is set to lead investment of $40 billion in US-based generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) start-up OpenAI.This, as the GenAI market is intensifying following the launch of the Chinese-based platform DeepSeek-R1 language model.The Chinese model has garnered attention for its performance and cost-effectiveness, challenging established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.Following the launch, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, commended DeepSeek’s R1 as “an impressive model, particularly around what they’re able to deliver for the price”.In a statement, SoftBank says it entered into a definitive agreement with OpenAI and its affiliates to…

Where would we be without knowledge? Everything from the building of spaceships to the development of new therapies has come about through the creation, sharing and validation of knowledge. It is arguably our most valuable human commodity. From clay tablets to electronic tablets, technology has played an influential role in shaping human knowledge. Today we stand on the brink of the next knowledge revolution. It is one as big as — if not more so — the invention of the printing press, or the dawning of the digital age. Generative artificial intelligence is a revolutionary new technology able to collect…

Traditional security measures are often insufficient to protect its assets, says SITA. Despite ongoing negotiations surrounding the approval of the 2025 National Budget, activity on National Treasury’s eTender Portal has started to pick up, albeit with state-owned entities leading the return to procurement activity.The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) dominates the issue, with three tender invitations, two of which target security solutions. In the first advertisement, the agency says it wishes to procure a penetration testing solution with support and maintenance. This will allow it to be proactive in enhancing its security posture by identifying security flows in systems and applications…

Communications regulator Icasa has signalled it intends to make available radio spectrum in what it has described as two “innovation bands”. It wants the bands in question, between 3.8GHz and 4.2GHz and between 5.925GHz and 6.425GHz, to be made available for “dynamic spectrum access”, meaning they will be shared with other licensed telecommunications operators, provided they don’t cause interference. The draft regulations on dynamic spectrum access and opportunistic spectrum management were published in the Government Gazette late last week – read them here (PDF) – for public consultation. The second phase is aimed at introducing dynamic and opportunistic spectrum access…

The project aims to enable African communities to transition to a digitally-connected future using sustainable energy. Cassava Technologies is partnering with Microsoft to launch a community engagement initiative focused on establishing training hubs in South Africa for the youth in local communities that will help spur employment opportunities in the renewable energy industry.By prioritising renewable energy skills development, energy-efficiency and community microgrids, the initiative aims to empower the next generation to lead in the transition to clean energy. Activities will be focused in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where Cassava and Microsoft operate, said Cassava Technologies. According to the companies, the…

MTN South Africa is muscling its way into the low-cost uncapped internet market with a R5/day product that directly competes with similar offerings by fibre-based internet providers such as Riot Network, Wire Wire Networks, Fibertime and Vumatel’s Vuma Reach. Dubbed MTN GigZone and currently in a pilot phase, the service offers 5Mbit/s internet speeds for R5 valid for 24 hours to MTN’s prepaid customers at selected community locations in Gauteng and the Western Cape. “MTN South Africa has launched MTN GigZone to address the critical need for affordable, reliable internet access in township communities, where cost remains a major barrier…

Gauteng’s e-government department has introduced Mzansi Digital Learning. The Gauteng Department of e-Government has partnered with Afrika Tikkun, Microsoft SA, Vodacom and Maponya Mall to provide a digital learning platform for Gauteng residents.Called Mzansi Digital Learning, the platform provides free access to industry-recognised foundational and practical digital skills training and certification, according to a statement. The e-government department highlights that Mzansi Digital Learning is designed to equip individuals with essential skills for the digital economy. It is self-paced learning that is accessible via smart device or a laptop with a stable internet connection.“With a focus on technology and digital literacy,…