Saturday, November 23African Digital Business Magazine
Tech

The Role of eSIM and eUICC in Modern Technology

By Alex Vlasenko The evolution of mobile technology has led to significant advancements in how we connect and interact with our devices. Two of the most transformative developments in this field are the embedded SIM (eSIM) and the embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC). These technologies are revolutionizing the way we manage mobile connectivity, offering greater flexibility, enhanced security, and a more streamlined user experience. Understanding eSIM and eUICC An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical SIM card. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs are embedded directly into devices during manufacturing. This small chip can store multiple network profiles, making it easier to switch between different carriers an...
Real Estate

African Market Disruption – Trends Shaping the Future of Real Estate

Cape Town, Wednesday, 31 July 2024 - Malcolm Horne, Group CEO of Broll Property Group, shared the stage at the annual SACSC (South African Council of Shopping Centres) Congress in a panel discussion alongside Matt Clark, Head of EMEA Retail at AlixPartners, and Mike Coppin, Director & Co-Owner of Food Lover’s Market. The panel explored the latest trends and innovations shaping the retail and real estate sectors, with Horne highlighting Broll's strategic initiatives in disrupting the market. Innovating with Technology "Our focus has always been on staying ahead of market trends by integrating cutting-edge technology into our operations," said Horne. "We utilise advanced data analytics and AI to provide our clients with actionable insights, allowing them to make informed decisions and ...
South Africa News

SME confidence on the rise as GNU promises growth

As the nation approached the polls, iKhokha conducted a survey across its national base to learn more about SME confidence in our government. The survey revealed that 76% of SMEs felt government support to be ineffective in promoting small business growth and development. In May, retail spending fell by 0.7% month-on-month as uncertainty lead to more frugal consumer spending. This downturn was mirrored in the automotive sector, where new car sales saw a 14.2% drop. iKhokha also observed an 8% decrease in SME turnover in May and June as the nation held its collective breathe, watching potential coalition discussions play out in the media, further unsettling South African nerves. Last month, South Africa breathed a collective sigh of relief and entered a new era of our democracy with the f...
Art

CELIA & JOHNNY THE LEGENDARY DEBUT PAIRING OF SALSA ICONS CELIA CRUZ AND JOHNNY PACHECO RETURNS TO VINYL OCTOBER 11 IN CELEBRATION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The bestselling 1974 record, which launched the celebrated Cuban singer’s status as “Queen of Salsa,” features the hits “Toro mata” and “Quimbara,” among others The newly remastered album will also make its debut in hi-res digital audio Craft Latino proudly announces a special 50th anniversary reissue of one of salsa music’s most important albums, Celia & Johnny. The 1974 Vaya Records release, which pairs legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz with bandleader/producer/Fania co-founder Johnny Pacheco, established Cruz as a salsa icon, thanks to such enduring hits as “Toro mata” and “Quimbara.” In stores October 11 and available for pre-order today, Celia & Johnny features all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, 180-gram vinyl and is housed in an old-school style tip-o...
Business, Kenya News

APA Insurance and Hollard International commence collaborative operations

Collaborative effort to drive change in East Africa's Insurance market Following the announcement of their partnership last year, APA Insurance, a leading insurance company in Kenya, and Hollard International, a Pan African Insurer, have officially commenced collaborative operations. This partnership aims to unlock the potential of Kenya's insurance industry by leveraging their combined expertise to provide customised insurance solutions for both individuals and businesses. Ashok Shah, Group CEO of Apollo Investments Limited, said “Our partnership with Hollard International is strategic for APA Insurance as it opens new avenues for growth and expansion. Hollard's investment in Apollo Investments Limited, APA’s parent company, provides us with access to a broader market and further expert...
Art

Latin and African Music: A Cultural Exchange Across the Atlantic

By Pablo Solis Development Manager for Latin America at Music Works International (CCLA & ACA), Arts Connect Africa Music transcends boundaries, connecting people across cultures and time. The musical connection between Africa and Latin America is a vibrant and enduring example of this. Despite the Atlantic Ocean separating these regions, shared rhythms and inspirations have woven a rich musical tapestry that continues to inspire. This article explores the historical and contemporary connections between these musical traditions, highlighting how music industry professionals can collaborate to bridge cultural divides. Historical Connections Spanish guitar melodies and African drum beats merged in Cuba to create a unique musical blend known as Afro-Cuban music. This fusion spawned v...
Energy

Global African Hydrogen Summit Channelling Capital Towards Critical Sectors For Sustainable Development

With more than 600 million people across Africa lacking access to electricity, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that Africa will need to double its electricity generation capacity by 2040 to meet growing demand. The African continent has been identified as a prime source for renewable energy exports to regions seeking to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet net-zero targets. Most development banks, bilateral aid, export credit agencies, and development finance institutions have a clear mandate to facilitate the energy transition. Many of these institutions offer preferable terms to projects that help achieve net-zero targets. Additionally, numerous climate investment funds and venture capital funds are dedicated to green energy investments, including throughout the deve...
South Africa News, Startups

Young founders & investors flock to Joburg’s first Founder’s Den event, hosted by local digital innovation agency Specno

The “Founder’s Den” event, which took place at the Old Mutual headquarters in Sandton on Thursday 25 July, is responsible for successfully hosting over 150 business leaders, investors, and founders from a curated list of key eco-system players from South Africa’s startup community in Johannesburg last week. The gathering, which usually takes place in Cape Town, aims to shape the future of business in South Africa by bringing together a number of visionary entrepreneurs, tech industry leaders, and investors. It has been hosted on an annual and bi-annual basis by Specno since 2021, and its launch in Johannesburg this year was made possible by Old Mutual’s innovative partnerships and ventures hub, Next176. The event was organised with the aim of building a supportive ecosystem for startups ...
Nigeria News, Startups

24 health supply chain innovators are now emerging as market leaders across Africa, reaching 50,000 healthcare providers across 33 countries

After years of building, leading healthcare supply chain innovations in Africa now appear to be on the cusp of more substantive impact Healthcare consulting firm Salient Advisory has launched its latest market intelligence report, focusing on 24 leading Africa-focused supply chain innovators which appear to be on the cusp of more substantive impact. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the report titled “Leading Innovations Enabling Health Product Access in Africa'', finds that, amid difficult macroeconomic realities and dwindling investment in African technology ecosystems, a select number of African health innovators are emerging as leaders. Having operated for 10 years on average, the 24 leading innovators collectively now partner with 100+ manufacturers and 75 public health institutions, ...
African News, Main, Nigeria News

United for Wildlife strengthens fight against the illegal wildlife trade by adding a West Africa Chapter to its global network

United for Wildlife, founded by The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, convened leading figures from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors from across West and Central Africa to develop a regional network to combat the illegal wildlife trade in the regions. Lagos, Nigeria: United for Wildlife has established landmark agreements with one of Nigeria’s leading law enforcement agencies as well as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, as part of the organisation’s work to build a regional network to combat the illegal wildlife trade in West Africa. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and United for Wildlife are committing to work together on a number of fronts; developing training and education in the region in relati...