Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Hong Kong boosts rural 5G with $25M rollout
Hong Kong launches a $25M subsidy plan to deploy 5G in rural areas, aiming to bridge the city’s urban-rural digital divide.
Ukraine leads Europe with Starlink phone messaging plan
Kyivstar teams up with SpaceX to roll out Starlink direct-to-cell messaging by end‑2025 and launch full satellite internet service in 2026.
Ukraine to launch Starlink mobile service by 2026
Kyivstar and Starlink will debut direct-to-cell messaging by end-2025, with satellite broadband and voice scheduled by mid-2026.
European telecoms oppose EU plan to deregulate networks
What happened: European operators reject EU proposal A coalition of regional telecom operators—including Vodafone (UK), Iliad (France), 1&1 (Germany), and others—released an open letter to the European Commission. The letter warned that the Commission’s plan to ease regulation on national fixed‑netw…
Why AFRINIC’s fallout has global implications for internet governance
AFRINIC’s ongoing crisis is exposing deeper vulnerabilities in the global internet governance model, questioning the viability.
Google expands subsea network with new US–EU cable
Google announces new subsea cable linking the US and Portugal to strengthen transatlantic data routes.
Indosat, Cisco and Nvidia open AI hub in Indonisia
Indosat, Cisco and Nvidia launch an AI hub in Jakarta to support Indonesia’s AI roadmap and digital workforce.
IQ Fiber brings 10‑gig network to Savannah
IQ Fiber launches 10 Gbps fibre service in Savannah with a US $50 million investment and new local operations centre.
Private 5G Push by NTT DATA and Eurofiber
NTT DATA and Eurofiber partner to deliver private 5G for European enterprises, enabling secure and scalable industrial connectivity.
Samsung’s new foldables start at $1,079, top out at $2,749
Samsung launches Fold 7 and Flip 7 with minor upgrades, but high prices continue to limit global foldable growth.
Brussels proposal risks new altnet monopoly across Europe
What happened: altnets warn Brussels’ deregulation risks monopoly A coalition of nine European alternative network operators—including Vodafone, Iliad, Colt and Eurofiber—has warned that Brussels’ plan to relax fixed‑network regulations could re‑monopolise the market. They issued an open letter on 1…
Airtel picks Ericsson for fixed wireless push India’s connectivity
Bharti Airtel partners with Ericsson for 5G fixed wireless access in India. But can this cloud solution overcome challenges in rural areas?
Technobiz Business Solutions: custom IT for business growth
Technobiz Business Solutions delivers customised enterprise IT services and systems integration across Kenya.
UK can follow Europe’s data centre playbook
Drawing on successes in Portugal and Germany, experts suggest the UK can boost its data centre industry by improving grid access.
MDPA: Mauritius’s digital growth catalyst
The Mauritius Digital Promotion Agency drives digital skills, SME programmes, and national ICT policy to build a high-capacity economy.
CNRST: Morocco’s national research engine
The Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) promotes Morocco’s scientific development via funding.
BotswanaPost national postal and digital services
BotswanaPost offers postal, logistics and digital financial services. It delivers agency banking and healthcare logistics across Botswana.
SCPT: Champions digital transformation at OSIANE 2025
SCPT joined OSIANE 2025 to showcase DRC digital progress, collaborating with ARPTC and ADN in Brazzaville.
Orange Burkina Faso telecommunications leader
Orange Burkina Faso offers mobile, internet, fibre and Orange Money mobile financial services. It serves over six million users.
T‑Mobile closes $4.4B UScellular deal, gains 30% spectrum
T‑Mobile acquires UScellular for $4.4 billion after DOJ antitrust clearance, gaining spectrum and customers while boosting rural 5G reach.
StellarIX: Pan‑African data infrastructure specialist
StellarIX, an Axian Telecom subsidiary, offers Tier‑III data centres, colocation, cloud hosting, and managed services across Africa.
Mantrac Ghana Ltd: Driving infrastructure growth
Mantrac Ghana boosts infrastructure by delivering Caterpillar machinery, smart fleet management tools, and digital support services across industries.
First Atlantic Bank: Driving financial innovation in Ghana
First Atlantic Bank leads Ghana’s digital banking revolution, enhancing financial inclusion and supporting economic growth.
SP Echo Ghana: Innovating the digital marketing landscape
SP Echo Ghana drives digital marketing innovation, helping businesses boost visibility, engagement, and growth in Ghana.
How AFRINIC is helping Africa embrace IPv6
AFRINIC supports Africa’s IPv6 transition with free training, deployathons, policy guidance and government collaboration.
AFRINIC’s Election Failures Undermine Africa’s Internet Reliability
Shady election processes and governance failures at AFRINIC risk disrupting address allocation and undermining Africa’s internet progress.
AFRINIC instability threatens Africa’s internet future
Governance failure undermines AFRINIC’s legitimacy AFRINIC, the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa, is once again embroiled in controversy following its most recent election process. Stakeholders say the process was riddled with irregularities—from disqualification disputes to unclear nomin…
The dark side of AFRINIC IP address leasing and brokering
AFRINIC’s election halt over one proxy vote exposed weak procedures, deepening distrust in its IP leasing and brokering governance.
Why AFRINIC needs more transparent IP resource allocation policies
AFRINIC annulled 800+ proxy votes in 2025, sparking community backlash and urgent demands for clearer IP allocation and election rules.
AFRINIC and IANA: Who really owns IP resources?
AFRINIC’s election crisis and IP dispute with Cloud Innovation challenge IANA’s role and ownership rules in African internet governance.
Why AFRINIC revoked millions of unused IPv4 addresses
AFRINIC reclaimed millions of unused IPv4 addresses under its exhaustion policy, triggering legal disputes and shifting Africa’s IP landscape.
How AFRINIC’s failures mirror broader governance issues worldwide
AFRINIC’s governance crisis reflects global struggles with transparency, accountability, offering lessons for institutions worldwide.
What happens when AFRINIC reclaims your IPs?
AFRINIC’s collapse has triggered legal battles and technical uncertainty. Here’s what it means when your IP addresses are targeted—and why it matters.
AFRINIC turmoil threatens service continuity, operators warn
AFRINIC cancels board vote amid legal challenges, causing IP delays and rattling network operators across Africa.
Ghana Dot Com: A digital trailblazer in West Africa
Ghana Dot Com leads West Africa’s internet, blockchain, and digital economy innovation from Accra headquarters.
Fimnet: Enabling Kenya’s Digital Growth
Fimnet delivers reliable networking, security and digital solutions for Kenyan businesses, supporting the country’s tech transformation.
Tullow Ghana Ltd: Building Ghana’s offshore oil legacy
Tullow Ghana Ltd leads Jubilee and TEN oil projects in Ghana with extended licences and long-term investment.
Internet Puissance Plus Burkina Faso broadband provider
IP Plus delivers high‑speed internet, VoIP, hosting, cloud and surveillance services. It offers connectivity across Ouagadougou and Bobo.
Orange Business: Unveils defence division
Orange Business unveils defence-focused unit for sovereign digital services in AI, cyber, and secure infrastructure.
Geonet Communications Ltd: Delivers affordable VoIP & bulk SMS
Geonet is a Nairobi-based ISP offering VoIP and bulk SMS over its own IP backbone, targeting diaspora and SME clients.
Mawingu Networks Ltd: Extends internet where others won’t
Mawingu delivers solar-powered internet across 28 counties in Kenya and expands regionally with $15M in new funding.
Spectrum Internet Service: Leading Ghana’s internet revolution
Spectrum Internet Service Ltd provides affordable, high-speed internet across Ghana, driving digital growth and innovation.
Bank of Africa Kenya: Supports small firms beyond big-bank reach
BOA Kenya delivers bid bonds, vehicle finance and cross-border transfers for SMEs underserved by traditional banks.
Fairphone 6 pushes modular design for longer-lasting phones
Fairphone 6 keeps modular design, adds long support, and meets EU repair rules and growing eco-tech demand.
Should AFRINIC Have International Oversight?
AFRINIC’s repeated election controversies raise global concerns over governance, prompting calls for international oversight and reform.
How AFRINIC’s Legal Freeze Impacted Internet Operations in Africa
A disputed proxy that halted an entire vote On June 23, 2025, AFRINIC held its first in-person board election in Mauritius since being placed under receivership in 2022. Just minutes before polls closed, the Nomination Committee halted voting because of a single “phantom” proxy vote. AFRINIC staff h…
What other RIRs must learn from AFRINIC election?
A suspension that silenced hundreds AFRINIC’s 2025 board election was halted just before voting concluded, triggered by concerns over a single proxy vote. This decision, stemming from the discovery of an allegedly unauthorised Power of Attorney (PoA), rendered hundreds of votes uncast and effectivel…
Telcoptics Solutions Ltd: Transforming fibre infrastructure in Kenya
Telcoptics, fibre optics, ICT Kenya, metro network, telecom deployment, infrastructure, structured cabling, Nairobi tech, LAN installation, network support
Vodacom Congo: Expands access with solar and inclusive tech
Vodacom Congo expands solar‑powered networks and accessibility in DRC, tackling digital inclusion and sustainability.
Sky unveils 5Gbps full-fibre broadband with Wi-Fi 7 hub
What happened: Sky speeds ahead with Wi‑Fi 7 and record fibre speeds Sky has announced the launch of its new broadband package featuring 5Gbps full‑fibre connectivity alongside a Wi‑Fi 7 Hub, making it the UK’s fastest major broadband provider, according to the company. The new service is available …