Mergers and acquisitions in 2025 reflected a shift toward consolidation, regional scale and restructuring as firms responded to tighter regulation and rising capital demands. From cross-border bank takeovers and insurance mergers to fintech spin-offs, companies moved to strengthen balance sheets and position for long-term growth. The Independent highlights the key …
Read More »AXIAN’s Wananchi deal sparks fiercer East Africa broadband battle
Uganda’s impact may be stronger, with low fixed broadband penetration dominated by MTN and Airtel, and only a few fibre providers serving the enterprise market Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | AXIAN Telecom has moved to strengthen its position in Africa’s digital infrastructure market with the completion of its acquisition …
Read More »Businesses flock to Ethiopia’s newly-opened banking market
Equity Group is also accelerating its entry strategy. In September, Equity Group chief executive James Mwangi met with officials from the Ethiopian Investment Commission to discuss licensing and operational frameworks, according to Semafor Africa. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Ethiopia’s banking market, once sealed off to foreign participation, has …
Read More »GSMA report shows digital policy reforms could add sh14.6 trillion to Uganda’s GDP
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A new GSMA report, unveiled today at the GSMA Digital Africa Summit Uganda, reveals that with the right digital reforms, Uganda could connect 4 million more citizens to the internet, create 1.79 million new jobs, and generate UGX 14.6 trillion in additional economic value …
Read More »Indus Towers forays into international markets, eyes Uganda
Gurugram, India | THE INDEPENDENT | Indus Towers Limited has announced that its Board of Directors, at a meeting held earlier in the day, reviewed and deliberated on strategic opportunities to expand the Company’s footprint across select international markets. Recognizing the growth potential in emerging geographies, the Board has approved …
Read More »Parliament pushes for mobile number portability to enhance telecom competition
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament urged the government to expedite the implementation of a Mobile Number Portability (MNP) licensing framework, as outlined in the 2018 National Broadband Policy, to foster competition and enhance service quality in Uganda’s telecommunications sector. MNP enables mobile phone users to switch telecom providers …
Read More »Telecoms: We should jointly nurture the same small talent
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Telecommunication companies have teamed up to guide upcoming and prospective telecom engineers to ensure a bigger pool of professionals to serve the sector. Rajesh Agarwal, Airtel Uganda Networks Director says that just like the Ugandan market, the human capital resources from which the telecom’s source …
Read More »UCC urges telecoms to open up on data operations
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) is calling for transparency from telecom operators and internet service providers regarding their data processes to address customer frustrations regarding data inconsistencies. During a town hall meeting with data providers, Nyombi Thembo, the UCC executive director, emphasized the regulator’s …
Read More »Ethiopia’s second telco license likely to ignite global investor interest
The prospect of a second private telecoms licence in Ethiopia comes after a massive previous bid by regional giant MTN failed Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | BIRD AGENCY | Ethiopia’s July 1 unveiling of a tender for a second new telecommunications license opens Africa’s second-largest market to more competition and comes …
Read More »African telcos target minors with new mobile money solutions
From house piggy banks to accounts in commercial banks and now on mobile, junior accounts are going digital as telcos tap a much younger population to grow what could be their next biggest customer base Harare, Zimbabwe | BIRD AGENCY | Until recently, young children have been saving small amounts …
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