Author: Anita Bosman
Cairo: TECHz – News Desk Egypt’s digital payments landscape is expanding as Giza-based Sahl, a prominent bill payment platform, integrates Cairo-based Klivvr into its ecosystem. Following a recent platform update, Sahl users can now directly manage and pay their Klivvr installments through a newly dedicated category within the Sahl application. Sahl is recognized as the only mobile application in Egypt allowing users to charge prepaid electricity cards via smartphone NFC technology, alongside managing over 50 other utility and telecom services. By incorporating Klivvr, Sahl taps into a growing demand for flexible financial solutions. Klivvr’s Financial Regulatory Authority-approved “Buy Now, Pay…
Lagos: TECHz – News Desk In a defining move for global financial integration, Nigerian financial services powerhouse Zedcrest Group has completed the full acquisition of Leatherback, the UK-founded cross-border payments technology company. The transaction, closed for an undisclosed sum, marks a pivotal expansion of Zedcrest’s financial ecosystem as it aims to bridge international payment gaps for individuals and enterprises. The acquisition is the culmination of a multi-year partnership between the two entities. Zedcrest initially anchored Leatherback’s early growth by leading its $10 million pre-seed funding round, providing crucial capital and operational guidance to scale the platform. By transitioning from a…
Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk South Africa’s digital ecosystem has taken a significant leap forward in addressing the chronic shortage of specialized tech skills. Vodacom has officially partnered with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to launch the Vodacom AI Lab. This initiative aims to cultivate a sustainable pipeline of job-ready artificial intelligence (AI) and data science talent. Housed within UJ’s College of Business and Economics – specifically anchoring the Centre for Applied Data Science – the new lab departs from traditional sandbox learning. The partnership brings academia, industry, and cloud computing together to…
Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has officially published its draft International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap 2026 for public consultation, alongside draft implementation plans. The roadmap establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for spectrum allocation over the next five to ten years. The regulator’s core objective is to exponentially increase the volume of broadband spectrum available for assignment. ICASA aims to grow the available broadband spectrum from the current 850 MHz to at least 18,588 MHz by 2030. This capacity scale-up is designed to keep pace with growing mobile data demand while answering the…
Ruaka: TECHz – News Desk Safaricom Business, in a collaborative effort with the Embassy of Peru to Kenya, has officially donated KES 500,000 to Gacharage Comprehensive School in Ruaka, Kiambu County. This strategic partnership is designed to improve physical learning conditions and promote equitable access to education for the community’s students. The financial contribution was channeled through Safaricom’s recently concluded Shangwe@25 Business Promotion initiative. The donation reflects a shared vision between the telecommunications leader and international diplomats to advance quality education and unlock new opportunities for youth. The funds have been immediately utilized to address pressing needs at the school,…
Dubai: TECHz – News Desk Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has officially announced the launch of its Jaywan Debit Card for current and savings account customers in Dubai. Developed and operated by Al Etihad Payments – a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE – the Jaywan national card payment scheme is designed to localize domestic card transactions. By processing payment data securely within the UAE, the initiative enhances payment sovereignty and bolsters the resilience of the national financial system. The introduction of the Jaywan Debit Card expands the reach of this homegrown ecosystem, aligning with the country’s economic and…
Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk Vodafone Group and its African subsidiary, Vodacom Group, have reported a strong start to the 2027 financial year, posting double-digit organic service revenue growth across their African operations for the quarter ended 30 June 2026. The quarter was marked by robust momentum in Egypt, a turnaround in South Africa’s prepaid segment, and a milestone $2.1 billion (R35 billion) acquisition that gives Vodacom a controlling stake in Safaricom. Vodafone Group announced that total global revenue rose 9.7% to €10.3 billion, bolstered by service revenue growth and the consolidation of Three UK. Global organic service revenue increased…
Abuja: TECHz – News Desk The GSMA has officially endorsed the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, marking a significant milestone for the continent’s digital landscape. Adopted by Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the 7th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) in Abuja, the declaration commits African governments to advancing policies that promote digital inclusion, resilient infrastructure, technology-neutral regulation, and locally relevant digital services. In conjunction with this commitment, the Federal Government of Nigeria and its continental partners unveiled ATLAS Umoja AI, a pan-African artificial intelligence initiative designed to ensure…
Kampala: TECHz – News Desk In a major step toward bridging the digital divide, dfcu Bank, acting through the dfcu Foundation, has donated 100 desktop computers to Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. The computers, officially handed over at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, Kampala, will be distributed to selected schools in underserved communities across the country. Designed to accelerate Uganda’s digital skilling agenda, the devices come preloaded with the SOMA digital learning platform. This software will equip young innovators, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and digital professionals with the tools needed for business development training and…
London: TECHz – News Desk Verto, a leading global payments and financial technology company, has been recognized in the CNBC and Statista World’s Top Fintech Companies for 2026 list. Earning a spot on this prestigious ranking, Verto joins 500 global fintech firms celebrated for driving innovation, growth, and market impact in financial services. The 2026 edition of the CNBC and Statista ranking serves as a comprehensive census of a rapidly maturing sector. To compile the final 500, Statista assessed over 3,500 companies using more than 25,000 data points. The ranking highlights organizations across eight key segments: payments, neobanking, alternative financing,…