📱NCC approves MTN Nigeria’s disconnection of Exchange Telecoms

Compliments of the season. Happy Holidays

Today’s Menu ☕️

📱NCC approves MTN Nigeria’s disconnection of Exchange Telecoms
🛜 Starlink hikes prices to ₦75,000 following NCC’s tariff approval plans
🤖 OpenAI unveils plans for transition to for-profit structure
📱President-elect Donald Trump requests Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban until after inauguration
🛜 Mafab Communications to launch 5G services by end of Q1 2025

If you haven't subscribed, join over 7,000 people curious about Innovation, New Products, New Technologies in Africa.

📱TELECOMS

NCC approves MTN Nigeria’s disconnection of Exchange Telecoms

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted MTN Nigeria the authority to disconnect Exchange Telecommunications Limited from its network. In a public notice issued by the telecom regulator on Friday, it was revealed that the disconnection notice was a result of Exchange Telecoms’ failure to settle its interconnect charges.

Exchange Telecoms is responsible for facilitating the interconnection of calls and data traffic both locally and internationally. It is currently connected to all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to perform this function. The disconnection implies that Exchange Telecoms will no longer be able to route MTN calls and data traffic to other networks. However, the NCC assured that MTN would switch to alternative channels following the disconnection.….…continue reading

🛜 INTERNET

Starlink hikes prices to ₦75,000 following NCC’s tariff approval plans

Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has notified its Nigerian customers of an impending increase in monthly subscription prices. This price adjustment will take effect on January 27, 2025. New subscribers will be required to pay the updated rates immediately, while existing customers will see the changes reflected in their forthcoming bills.

In an email communication to its users, Starlink elaborated on the reasons behind the price hike. The company stated, “To continue enhancing the Starlink network and provide reliable, high-quality service across Nigeria, we are adjusting our monthly subscription prices. These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to improve your experience with Starlink.”..……continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

OpenAI unveils plans for transition to for-profit structure

OpenAI has announced that it will be evolving its corporate structure to better align with its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—AI capable of performing most tasks that humans can—benefits all of humanity. Currently, OpenAI operates as a for-profit organization controlled by a nonprofit, with a “capped profit” share arrangement for investors and employees. However, in a blog post published on Friday, the company revealed plans to transition its existing for-profit entity into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). This new structure will feature ordinary shares of stock and will enshrine the OpenAI mission as its public benefit interest..……..read more

📱SOCIAL MEDIA

President-elect Donald Trump requests Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban until after inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump has formally requested the Supreme Court to postpone the implementation of a law that could potentially ban TikTok until after his inauguration. In an amicus brief, Trump’s attorney, D. John Sauer, stated that the future president seeks the opportunity to address the issue “through political means.”

The law, which mandates either a ban or the sale of TikTok, is scheduled to take effect on January 19, 2025, just one day before Trump’s inauguration. The brief describes the timing of the ban as “unfortunately timed” and argues that the incoming president should be granted additional time to negotiate a deal with TikTok. TikTok’s legal team has echoed similar concerns in their own requests for a delay of the ban. The brief also highlights Trump’s extensive “dealmaking” experience and his involvement with his social media platform, Truth Social.......……continue reading

🛜 TELECOMS

Mafab Communications to launch 5G services by end of Q1 2025

Mafab Communications, a Nigerian telecommunications company that secured a 5G license in 2021, is set to commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2025. This launch will mark the first time Mafab’s services will be commercially available, nearly three years after the company entered the 5G market.

The initial rollout will feature 102 operational sites in Kano and Abuja. Subscribers will need to purchase routers to connect to the network. Mafab is collaborating with multiple vendors to build out these sites in phases, ensuring a robust infrastructure to support its 5G services.

Following its January 2023 launch event, Mafab began advertising the sale of 5G routers on its website. However, buyers were unable to activate the service, leading to the suspension of router sales as the company continued to work on completing its infrastructure buildout.......……continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• MultiChoice Zimbabwe has launched the streaming platform Showmax, showcasing the significant growth and ongoing expansion of content as more people take advantage of the increasingly accessible streamed entertainment.….read more

• Ajé, a Nigerian startup that operates a blockchain-powered social commerce platform, has reached a significant milestone by onboarding over 7,500 users within just 12 months. This achievement underscores the platform’s growing influence in transforming trust in digital trade.…....read more

• The Bank of Tanzania (BOT), the nation’s central bank, has recently announced that payments made using debit, credit, or prepaid cards at point-of-sale (POS) machines will no longer incur any charges. This directive is part of BOT’s broader strategy to encourage the adoption of digital payments across the country…….read more

Do you know you can join and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel?