DCDT to establish artificial intelligence advisory panel

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is preparing to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) expert advisory council as it moves to shape the policies and regulations... 

Telcos spend billions on batteries, generators to ensure customers remain connected during loadshedding

South African telecommunications operators spent billions of rands to keep communications infrastructure operational during bouts of loadshedding in the 12 months to September 30, 2023. The... 

Lowered profile, integral bogeys the answer as Condra is set to install crane in factory with limited headroom

Crane manufacturer Condra Cranes is preparing to embark on a crane installation to customer specifications in a factory that has no roof access and limited headroom. The team of Condra specialists,... 

Paratus Botswana completes Botswana Kalahari fibre route

Telecommunications and network services provider Paratus Botswana has completed the last leg of the new 840 km Botswana Kalahari Fibre (BKF) route between the Namibian border and Lobatse. The new... 

MTN South Africa, Investec, Electrum collaborate to introduce PayShap on MoMo

Information and communications technology group MTN South Africa has partnered with Investec and Electrum to introduce the PayShap solution on its Mobile Money (MoMo) platform. The collaboration... 

Icasa officially appoints new chairperson

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has appointed Councillor Mothibi Ramusi as chairperson, effective May 2, for a five-year term. The official appointment of Ramusi... 

Africa’s small businesses increasingly investing in technology to boost growth and resilience

Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly investing in technology to bolster growth and enable resilience, a new report shows. The report, titled ‘Levelling the SME... 

E-waste now the fastest growing waste stream globally

Electronic waste (e-waste) has now become the fastest-growing form of waste worldwide, as consumers shed more than 50-million metric tonnes of e-waste each year – equating to about 7 kg of e-waste... 

Households remain under high interest rates chokehold

South Africa’s high interest rates continue to pressurise the finances of households amid the ongoing restrictive monetary policy stance by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African... 

MTN, Huawei launch joint technology innovation lab

Telecommunications giant MTN Group and information and communication technology group Huawei have jointly launched Technology Innovation Lab to accelerate digital transformation and sustainable... 

Seacom launches LEO satellite service for enterprise clients

Telecommunications and managed services provider Seacom has launched its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service for its enterprise clients after a two-year process of consultation with industry... 

National register of polluters necessary to deal with water pollution, says DWS

The establishment of a national register of polluters will be key to dealing with the pollution of the environment and water sources in South Africa, says Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo... 

MDPMI provisional report to be published in October

The provisional report for the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) is expected to be published in October, the Competition Commission announced following the conclusion of the nearly... 

Work continues on Rooiwal, Klipdrift water infrastructure upgrade, refurbishment

The refurbishment of the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works and the upgrade of the Klipdrift water treatment works in Hammanskraal is well underway, with Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu... 

People at the heart of South Africa’s water sector recovery

The complexity of the water sector in South Africa, along with the numerous and seemingly insurmountable challenges faced, demands a series of integrated interventions – and people are at the... 

MTN South Africa injects R10bn into network expansion

MTN South Africa deployed R10.1-billion in capital expenditure (capex), excluding leases, at an intensity of 19.5%, during 2023, to drive network capacity expansion and power resilience. This... 

Discontinuance of Africa’s 2G, 3G networks to be gradual and targeted

While there are benefits to phasing out legacy networks, such as second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G), progress in sub-Saharan Africa will be slower and more targeted than other... 

People at the heart of South Africa’s water sector recovery

The complexity of the water sector in South Africa, along with the numerous and seemingly insurmountable challenges faced, demands a series of integrated interventions – and people are at the... 

Accessing the growth potential of tailings retreatment and rehabilitation

New research, developments in technology and advancements in equipment are unlocking significant growth opportunities in the extraction and treatment of tailings in South Africa. However, while... 

Joburg Water assures of quality as it upgrades lab power, equipment

Johannesburg Water on Wednesday assured residents of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) that the drinking water it provides is of the highest possible quality. The water utility, responsible for the... 

MTN, Vodacom ranks top in valuable brands survey

Telecommunications groups MTN Group and Vodacom Group have secured the top two spots in the latest Brand Finance survey. Despite an 8% decrease in brand value to R68.2-billion, MTN Group maintained... 

AfriForum requests urgent meeting with Mashatile on water situation following interest in engagement

Civil rights organisation AfriForum on Monday said that it requested an urgent meeting with Deputy President Paul Mashatile following an announcement that government’s new water task team is... 

Evolving sefa innovates, partners to grow South Africa’s SMME economy

Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa), an implementing agency of the Department of Small Business Development, is evolving, innovating, and partnering to assist in unlocking the potential of... 

MTN named South Africa’s best mobile network

Telecommunications giant MTN Group has maintained the title of South Africa’s best mobile network in the latest MyBroadband Insights report. The first quarter 2024 Mobile Network Quality Report... 

Icasa publishes draft plans for radio frequency spectrum

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Monday published the Draft Radio Frequency Migration Plan (RFMP) and the Draft International Mobile Telecommunication Roadmap... 

Progress made on the Lower uMkhomazi water project

Good progress is being made on the implementation of the Lower uMkhomazi water scheme project, in KwaZulu-Natal, which is expected to be complete by December 2027, says Water and Sanitation... 

South Africa’s water availability on the edge

Various factors can lead to a rapid decline in South Africa’s water availability, according to Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, who reiterated the need to diversify the water... 

Gauteng metros continue to exceed water allocations

Water utility Rand Water on Friday reiterated its commitment to be part of the Gauteng water provision solution, as high water consumption across Gauteng continues. The utility is collaborating... 

SAʼs smartphone shipments surge 29%

Smartphone shipments in South Africa in 2023 expanded 29%, driven by robust shipments in the second half of the year, intensified competition among Chinese original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs)... 

UCT research team develops ‘new set of tools’ to support mine closure planning in South Africa

A new set of tools aimed at assisting in responsible and sustainable mine closures across South Africa has been developed by a University of Cape Town (UCT) research team through a Water Research... 

Liquid C2, partners combine forces to create safer, more productive digital experience

Pan-African technology group Liquid Intelligent Technologies business Liquid C2 is collaborating with global technology leader Google Cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic to... 

MTN, Huawei sign MoU for joint innovation tech laboratory

Telecommunications giant MTN Group and information and communication technology (ICT) giant Huawei have partnered to create a Joint Innovation Technology laboratory at MTN’s Roodepoort... 

Vodacom SA awarded 5-Star Green Star certification

Telecommunications group Vodacom South Africa has been awarded 5-Star existing building performance (EPB) certifications for two of its buildings, Vodacom’s Business Park and Corporate Park, at its... 

ICT industry transitioning into intelligent economy era

The global information and communication technology (ICT) industry is undergoing a significant shift as the world transitions from a digital era into an era of the intelligence of everything. As... 

Mike Silber to join MTN

Telecommunications giant MTN Group has appointed Mike Silber as group executive regulatory, effective April 1. Over the past five years, Silber held the role of Liquid Telecom group chief... 

RMB advises Royal Bafokeng on the proposed acquisition of Swiftnet

Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) has entered into a transaction agreement alongside Actis to jointly acquire 100% of independent owners, operators and developers of mast and tower infrastructure... 

Telkom forms new technology committee

JSE-listed telecommunications group Telkom has established a technology committee to boost technology strategies. According to an update to shareholders on Sens on Wednesday, the new Technology... 

CoJ officially launches water security strategy

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has officially launched its Water Security Strategy to connect to existing strategies and policies to offer an aligned approach to water security and provide a... 

AIIM consortium acquires Octotel, minority stake in RSAWEB

A consortium, led by infrastructure-focused private equity fund manager African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), has signed an agreement to acquire fibre network operator Octotel. The... 

MTN rides out difficult operating environments

Telecommunications giant MTN Group unpacked a resilient set of 2023 financial results, despite elevated inflation in several key markets averaging a blended 16.7%, forex volatility and ongoing...