Kenya's third-biggest telecom operator, Telkom Kenya, secured the loan from the European Investment Bank as it tries to gain market share by expanding its mobile and data services. This comes a month after Airtel Africa secured $1.25 billion in investment ahead of its IPO. That and more in today's brief.
Ermias Amelega Bringing Alibaba to Ethiopia
The Ethiopian businessman says that has "finalized business dealing with Alibaba to bring them to Ethiopia". The partnership with Alibaba will allow him to bring Alibaba Cloud computing service to the horn of Africa country. Addis Insight.
Blockchain firmly on Nigeria's 2019 political agenda
Abubakar Atiku, a former vice president - and now the main opposition presidential candidate in Nigeria's general elections in February 2019 - proposed the policy as a way to improve the Nigerian economy. To date, it is the first time a national policy for the nascent industry is being suggested. IT Web Africa.
Nopia Ride Electric Cab Commences Operations In Nairobi
Hailed as an ‘eco-Uber’, the service launched in August this year to break into the city’s competitive taxi market by offering zero-emission rides at lower rates. Juha Suojanen, the CEO and founder of Ekorent which initially started as an electric car rental app in Helsinki, is in Nairobi promoting the firm’s new ride-sharing company, Nopia Ride. Kenyan Wall Street.
Yego launches toll-free telephone booking system for taxicabs & motorcycle taxis in Rwanda
The company has launched Yego 9191, a toll-free telephone booking system. This doesn't require one to have a smartphone, to download the App or have data on their phone. Instead, to order, you simply call ‘9191’ for free from an MTN, Tigo or Airtel line then speak to the Yego agent. TechMoran.
LifeBank launches Airbank, an emergency oxygen delivery service
According to The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, in 2017, Nigeria had the 6th highest child mortality rate. That is 100 deaths per 1,000 live births. LifeBank believes that with Airbank, they will bring the figure down. Digest Africa.
MTN and Orange launch Mowali, a pan-African mobile money interoperability service
The aim of Mowali is to increase the usage of mobile money by consumers and merchants. The service will immediately benefit from the reach of MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money. Bringing together over 100 million mobile money accounts and mobile money operations in 22 of sub-Saharan Africa’s 46 markets. Digest Africa.
Telkom Kenya gets $40 mln loan from European Investment Bank
Telkom will use the funds from the EIB, the European Union’s not-for-profit long-term investment arm, to improve and expand its network, the company and the bank said. The operator, which is the smallest in Kenya behind Safaricom and Bharti Airtel’s Kenyan unit, has been focusing on data to try to win customers. Reuters.