SITA’s agreement to acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions could reshape competition in airport technology by bringing more of the systems that manage passenger processing, baggage and terminal operations under one provider.

The proposed acquisition brings together SITA’s aviation communications and information technology business with Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions’ capabilities in passenger processing, self-service, baggage handling and airport operations. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Beyond expanding SITA’s product portfolio, the deal reflects an industry-wide need to integrate airport systems as passenger volumes grow and airlines and airports face pressure to improve efficiency, manage disruptions and deliver more predictable journeys.

For airports, the appeal of a more integrated technology environment lies in the ability to connect processes that have traditionally depended on multiple systems and suppliers. Coordinating check-in, bag drop, baggage operations and other terminal functions can help reduce operational bottlenecks and improve the flow of passengers and luggage.

The acquisition could also strengthen SITA’s position in airport technology procurement, where customers increasingly need systems that communicate across organisational and operational boundaries. A provider with a broader range of capabilities could offer airports a more unified technology relationship, potentially reducing the complexity of coordinating different suppliers.

David Lavorel, SITA’s chief executive, said the acquisition would extend the company’s offerings and capabilities as the industry responds to rising expectations for more connected and resilient operations.

“This acquisition extends SITA’s offerings and capabilities, reinforcing our commitment and role as the trusted technology partner our customers rely on,” Lavorel said.

Nathalie Altwegg, SITA’s senior vice-president for airports, said the deal would strengthen the company’s ability to support customers across different airport environments.

For the wider industry, the transaction places renewed emphasis on the role of technology integration in airport performance. Passenger processing, baggage management and terminal operations are interdependent, and weaknesses in one area can affect the wider travel experience.

Airports are also under pressure to make better use of existing infrastructure rather than relying exclusively on physical expansion. More connected operational systems can help airport teams respond to disruptions, improve coordination and make better use of available capacity.

The acquisition’s implications will extend beyond large international hubs if the combined business can make its technology and support capabilities accessible to smaller airports and emerging aviation markets. For airports in Africa, where infrastructure, investment capacity and digital maturity vary widely, the practical value will lie in solutions that can be deployed affordably and integrated with existing systems.

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Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO said, “Our ambition for Africa is ultimately powered by people. Technology will continue to change what is possible, but it is the ingenuity, resilience and commitment of our people that turn that possibility into progress.”

The Forbes list is drawn from an independent, anonymous survey in which more than 300,000 employees in over 50 countries are asked how likely they are to recommend their employer to family and friends. Zain Group which is headquartered in Kuwait City topped the telecoms category.

Mupita said, “Being recognised among the world’s best employers for a sixth consecutive year is something we are proud of, particularly because the list is informed by the voices and experiences of employees.”

Over the last three years, MTN has climbed 261 places in the overall ranking, rising from 394th in 2023 to 133rd in 2026. This year alone, the Group moved up 33 places to rank 133rd out of 900 companies globally, making MTN the fifth-highest-ranked African company and the highest-ranked African company outside financial services.

The recognition comes at an important point in MTN’s journey as the Group begins delivering its Ambition 2030 strategy, with its people at the centre of the work to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress. The ranking is also a sign of the progress MTN has made in bringing its Live Inspired Employee Value Promise and Live Y’ello values to life.

MTN’s workforce spans more than 70 nationalities across its footprint, bringing together people working across Connectivity, Fintech and Digital Infrastructure. The Group’s Live Inspired employee promise and Live Y’ello values underpin its approach to creating a workplace where people can contribute meaningfully, continue learning and feel included.

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MTN Uganda has paid UGX 54.3 billion to the Uganda Communications Commission under the sector’s statutory levy regime, implying annual revenues of more than UGX 2.7 trillion. The contribution will help finance connectivity and digital inclusion projects in underserved communities across Uganda.

MTN Uganda has paid UGX 54.3 billion (approximately US$14.7 million) to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) as its statutory industry levy for 2025, a contribution that not only reinforces the telecom operator’s dominant market position but also highlights the growing scale of Uganda’s digital economy.

The payment, equivalent to 2 percent of the company’s gross annual revenues as required under Uganda’s communications regulations, implies that MTN Uganda generated approximately UGX 2.71 trillion (US$734 million) in revenue during the 2025 financial year.

The levy is one of the telecommunications sector’s most important funding mechanisms, providing resources for extending connectivity and digital services to communities that remain commercially unattractive to private investors.

Under the Uganda Communications Act, licensed telecommunications operators contribute 2 percent of their gross annual revenues to UCC. Half of the funds are remitted to the government’s Consolidated Fund, while the remaining portion is retained by the regulator and channelled through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF).

The fund supports projects aimed at expanding communications infrastructure, broadband connectivity and digital access in underserved parts of the country.

Officials described MTN Uganda’s latest contribution as a significant boost to efforts aimed at expanding Uganda’s digital footprint and ensuring broader participation in the digital economy.

The contribution comes at a time when Uganda is increasingly positioning digital transformation as a central pillar of economic growth, public service delivery and financial inclusion.

Over the past decade, mobile network operators have invested heavily in expanding telecommunications infrastructure, helping increase voice and data coverage across much of the country. However, significant connectivity gaps remain, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach communities where network deployment costs remain high and commercial returns uncertain.

For MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge, the next phase of the country’s digital journey is less about basic connectivity and more about meaningful participation.

“Our challenge is no longer whether Uganda is connected. It is whether more Ugandans can participate in the activities the digital economy creates,” Mulinge said.

Her remarks reflect a growing policy debate around digital inclusion, affordability and access to devices, areas that many analysts consider critical to unlocking the full benefits of connectivity.

Civil society organisations and digital rights advocates have previously argued that taxes on digital devices and communications services continue to slow adoption, particularly among lower-income households, despite increasing network availability.

Through UCUSAF, UCC has over the years financed a range of initiatives aimed at narrowing the country’s digital divide. These include broadband expansion projects, ICT laboratories in schools, community information centres and telecommunications infrastructure deployed in rural areas.

The fund has also supported programmes focused on digital literacy, internet access and the adoption of communications technologies among underserved and marginalised communities.

UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said the regulator views contributions from operators such as MTN Uganda as an important partnership in advancing national development goals.

“We thank MTN for viewing this responsibility not as a burden but as a shared investment in Uganda’s future,” Thembo said.

The size of MTN Uganda’s contribution also serves as a useful indicator of the company’s continued dominance in the telecommunications sector. As the country’s largest telecom operator by subscriber numbers and one of its biggest corporate taxpayers, MTN has continued to invest heavily in network expansion, mobile financial services and broadband infrastructure.

The company has consistently positioned itself as a key enabler of Uganda’s digital transformation agenda through investments in technology platforms, connectivity solutions and financial inclusion services.

Industry analysts note that universal service funds are becoming increasingly important as regulators and governments seek sustainable ways to extend digital services beyond commercially viable markets.

As demand for internet access, mobile money services and digital platforms continues to grow, such funding mechanisms are expected to play a critical role in ensuring that the benefits of Uganda’s digital economy reach communities that might otherwise be left behind.

For policymakers, regulators and operators alike, the challenge is increasingly shifting from building networks to ensuring that citizens have the skills, devices and affordable access required to participate fully in a rapidly digitising economy.

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As organisations deploy more cameras, access control systems and automated license plate recognition tools, the data generated by physical security infrastructure is becoming both an operational asset and a growing concern.

Genetec Inc., a global provider of enterprise physical security software, has outlined a set of best practices aimed at helping organisations safeguard sensitive data without undermining the effectiveness of their security operations.

The company argues that physical security systems now produce vast streams of video footage, access logs and vehicle data that increasingly feed into investigations, compliance reporting and operational decision-making. But as reliance on this data grows, so too does regulatory scrutiny and exposure to cyber threats.

Mathieu Chevalier, principal security architect at Genetec, cautions that physical security data can be highly sensitive and should not be treated as a commercial asset to be exploited beyond its original purpose.

He warns that some market approaches risk expanding the use of collected data in ways that create privacy vulnerabilities. Instead, he says, organisations should demand clear limits on how their data is used, enforce strong lifecycle controls and adopt technologies designed to respect privacy by default.

The emphasis on “privacy by design” reflects a broader shift in corporate governance, where compliance is no longer limited to IT departments but extends to facilities management, risk teams and executive leadership.

Genetec’s first recommendation is the development of a clear and documented data protection strategy. Organisations are encouraged to regularly assess what data they collect, why it is collected, where it is stored, how long it is retained and who has access to it.

Such documentation, the company argues, reduces unnecessary data exposure and helps identify policy gaps before regulators or cybercriminals do. It also enhances transparency, an increasingly critical factor in maintaining trust among employees, customers and the public.

In many jurisdictions, evolving data protection frameworks have blurred the line between physical and digital security. Video footage and biometric identifiers, once viewed as operational tools, are now squarely within the scope of privacy regulation.

A second pillar of Genetec’s guidance focuses on designing systems with privacy controls integrated from the outset. This includes applying purpose limitation and data minimisation principles to ensure that only data necessary for defined security objectives is collected and retained.

The company recommends encrypting data both in transit and at rest, enforcing strong authentication protocols and implementing granular access controls. It also points to privacy-enhancing technologies such as automated anonymisation and masking to reduce identity exposure while preserving the operational utility of footage and records.

This approach reflects growing concern that surveillance technologies, particularly when combined with artificial intelligence, can expand beyond their intended scope if not tightly governed.

Treating cybersecurity as continuous

Genetec also frames data protection as an ongoing operational discipline rather than a one-time compliance exercise. Regular system hardening, vulnerability management and timely software updates are described as essential safeguards in a threat environment where attack vectors evolve rapidly.

The convergence of physical and cyber domains means that a breach of surveillance infrastructure can compromise not only privacy but also operational continuity. As more systems become networked, physical security teams increasingly find themselves operating within the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.

The company further highlights the role of cloud-managed and software-as-a-service deployments in strengthening resilience and compliance. Cloud environments can simplify patch management and ensure that privacy controls remain current, while also offering flexibility in balancing scalability and data residency requirements.

However, Genetec underscores that technology choices alone are insufficient. Organisations are urged to evaluate vendors based on transparent data governance practices, clearly defined limits on data use and independent security certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017 and SOC 2 Type II attestations.

Vendor vulnerability disclosure processes and the ethical deployment of artificial intelligence—particularly where personal data is involved—are also identified as critical due diligence factors.

The recommendations signal a broader industry recognition that physical security can no longer be managed as a siloed operational function. As video management, access control and analytics platforms become more sophisticated and interconnected, they create expansive data ecosystems that demand robust oversight.

Founded in Montreal more than 25 years ago, Genetec serves over 42,500 customers across 159 countries, providing video management, access control and automatic license plate recognition solutions built on an open architecture.

Its latest guidance suggests that in the race to enhance security capabilities, organisations must give equal weight to the governance frameworks that protect the very people those systems are meant to secure.

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Pan-African network services provider Paratus Group has switched on a 2,000-kilometre terrestrial fibre route connecting Mombasa to Goma via Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali, creating what the company describes as a protected digital highway for carriers, internet service providers and large enterprises operating across the region.

The Goma-to-Mombasa (G2M) route is now live and carrying traffic for its first wholesale customers, delivering direct access from inland markets to global subsea cable capacity on the Kenyan coast. Officials say, for eastern DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in particular, the link reduces reliance on fragmented routes and improves latency, reliability and redundancy for international connectivity.

The launch reflects a broader shift in how Africa’s digital backbone is being built. Rather than isolated national networks, operators are increasingly investing in continuous, multi-country corridors designed to support regional trade, cloud services and cross-border data flows. By directly linking eastern DRC to coastal cable landings, the new route brings one of the continent’s most underserved markets closer to global networks.

Paratus said the route runs through fully licensed operating companies in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, with local partnerships underpinning the build. In Uganda, the project was delivered in collaboration with Roke Telkom, while MoveOn Telecoms partnered on the Kenyan segment. The network interconnects with key data centres in each major city along the route, allowing carriers and enterprises to localise traffic while maintaining international reach.

For businesses in eastern Congo and neighbouring countries, the implications extend beyond faster internet speeds. Reliable fibre connectivity is increasingly seen as foundational infrastructure, enabling sectors such as fintech, mining, logistics, energy, manufacturing and digital services to operate at scale and integrate into regional and global value chains.

Paratus Group Chief Commercial Officer Martin Cox described the link as more than a technical upgrade, framing it as infrastructure with economic consequences for the region. He said the protected route from the coast into Goma dramatically improves resilience while opening new commercial opportunities across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.

The G2M route also strengthens Paratus’ broader continental network strategy. It complements the company’s East–West fibre backbone, which stretches from Maputo to Swakopmund in southern Africa and interconnects with the Equiano subsea cable, providing redundancy and low-latency links between Africa and Europe. Together, the networks position Paratus among a small group of operators offering seamless regional and cross-continental connectivity through a single provider.

East Africa, home to more than 200 million people, is one of the continent’s fastest-growing economic regions, with rapid expansion in ICT-driven sectors. As cloud adoption accelerates and governments push digital trade and services, demand for secure, enterprise-grade connectivity is rising sharply.

With the Mombasa–Goma corridor, Paratus is betting that Africa’s next phase of growth will depend as much on digital highways as on physical ones. Much like historic trade routes that linked the interior to the coast, the new fibre link is designed to pull inland economies deeper into regional and global commerce—this time through data rather than traditional commodities.

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Airbus Defence and Space has secured a major contract from Eutelsat to manufacture 340 additional OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, expanding Europe’s role in the rapidly escalating global competition to dominate satellite broadband infrastructure. The award, announced in Paris on 12 January 2026, brings Eutelsat’s total orders from Airbus to 440 satellites following an earlier batch of 100 procured in 2024.

The satellites will be built on a newly installed production line at Airbus’s Toulouse facility, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of 2026. Airbus described the deal as a significant step in strengthening European sovereignty in LEO satellite manufacturing.

Eutelsat’s existing OneWeb network comprises over 600 satellites operating in 12 orbital planes at 1,200 km above Earth. The constellation delivers high-speed, low-latency internet globally, including to underserved regions across Africa and remote markets where terrestrial networks remain patchy or economically unviable.

The new satellites will replace the earliest spacecraft as they reach end-of-life while incorporating upgraded technology, including: advanced digital channelisers for improved onboard processing, enhanced efficiency and flexibility, optimised architecture for long-term performance, and hosted-payload capability, opening room for new commercial and government applications

Eutelsat CEO Jean-François Fallacher said the satellites will guarantee service continuity for a growing customer base benefiting from OneWeb’s low-latency coverage. Airbus’s Head of Space Systems, Alain Fauré, described the contract as confirmation of Airbus’s leadership in LEO satellite design and production.

China Files Plans for Over 200,000 Satellites in Sweeping Orbital Expansion

The Airbus–Eutelsat deal comes amid a dramatic surge in global competition for orbital and spectrum resources. Reporting by The Blueprint indicates that Chinese companies have filed proposals for more than 200,000 internet satellites with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), signalling Beijing’s intent to match or surpass US-based megaconstellations.

More than a dozen filings were submitted late last month, including the two largest proposals — CTC-1 and CTC-2, each targeting 96,714 satellites. Additional filings include China Mobile’s 2,520-satellite L1 system and the Shanghai Spacecom submissions for the Qianfan constellation. Larger projects such as Guowang (13,000 satellites) and Qianfan’s 15,000-satellite network continue to advance toward deployment milestones.

China’s accelerated filings follow complaints raised last year about congestion caused by SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently constitutes the majority of active satellites in LEO.

SpaceX Continues to Expand as Collision Concerns Grow

Starlink remains the dominant global operator. The US Federal Communications Commission last week approved 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, on top of a planned 42,000-satellite architecture already on SpaceX’s books.

The intense pace of deployment has amplified fears of orbital collisions. In December, a Starlink satellite malfunctioned and began an unplanned descent; earlier this month, SpaceX said it would lower the orbits of about 4,400 satellites to reduce collision risk.

Under ITU rules adopted in 2019, operators must deploy at least one satellite within seven years of filing, 10pc of their constellation within two years of launch, 50pc within five years, and 100pc within seven. With filings from the US, China, Europe, and emerging private operators surging, orbital pathways and radio frequencies are becoming scarce strategic assets.

The new OneWeb order strengthens Europe’s manufacturing base and positions Airbus as one of the few global players capable of mass-producing LEO satellites at competitive scale. For African governments and telecom operators exploring satellite-enabled rural connectivity, the stability of the OneWeb network offers an alternative to US- and China-led constellations.

As the world edges toward a future defined by tens of thousands — and soon hundreds of thousands — of satellites in low Earth orbit, decisions taken now will shape who dominates global broadband services, spectrum access, and space governance for decades.

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Africa’s cryptocurrency boom is accelerating faster than regulators and security systems can adapt, widening exposure to financial crime across the continent. New data shows Africa processed USD 205 billion in on-chain crypto transactions between July 2024 and June 2025, cementing its status as the world’s third-fastest-growing crypto market. But the rapid uptake has also drawn increased attention from cybercriminals exploiting gaps in regulation and digital infrastructure.

Fuelled by economic uncertainty, high remittance costs, and interest in alternatives to traditional banking, cryptocurrency has become a lifeline for many Africans. Yet this growing reliance is unfolding against a backdrop of weak cybersecurity capacity, creating vulnerabilities that governments are struggling to contain.

“Fraud, hacking and illicit transfers are on the rise, targeting countries that lack adequate protection,” says Allan Juma, Cybersecurity Engineer at ESET Africa. “Anti-money laundering frameworks only work when supported by robust cybersecurity. Without secure systems for transaction monitoring, identity verification and platform integrity, even the strongest regulations can be bypassed.”

Africa already loses an estimated USD 88.6 billion annually to illicit financial flows, with crypto-related scams now forming a notable share. These losses drain public finances, create uncertainty for businesses and investors, and threaten the long-term stability of digital finance across the region.

Governments are beginning to respond. Countries such as Kenya and Ghana have recently enacted Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) laws that combine compliance requirements with mandatory security standards for crypto platforms. The goal is to close gaps exploited by cybercriminals and ensure that digital transactions become safer and more transparent.

“Africa has become a testing ground for financial cybersecurity,” Juma notes. “The challenges African countries are facing now are the same issues other emerging markets will confront as digital finance expands. The frameworks taking shape here—built on threat intelligence, secure infrastructure, and regulatory oversight—could become templates for securing digital economies in high-risk environments globally.”

But policymakers must strike a delicate balance. Excessively restrictive security rules could exclude millions who rely on crypto for financial access, while weak protections will fuel fraud that erodes trust in digital currencies. With over 350 million unbanked Africans, maintaining both accessibility and safety is an economic and social priority.

“The path forward lies in treating cybersecurity and compliance as complementary,” says Juma. “When strong encryption, multi-factor authentication, and resilient digital systems work alongside clear legislation, they create digital finance ecosystems that people can trust.”

Africa’s crypto future will depend not just on innovation, but on whether its digital infrastructure can keep pace with demand. As adoption accelerates, the continent’s ability to secure its financial systems may decide whether cryptocurrency becomes a transformative tool for inclusion—or a growing risk in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

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Scheduled to take place between October 21 and 23 at the Kigali Convention Centre, the Mobile World Congress for Africa (MWC) is a major annual connectivity event organized by the GSMA that brings together leaders from government, industry, and tech to discuss and advance digital transformation across the continent.

Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA said, “This year’s event switches gears beyond counting connections and coverage to delivering the connectivity, skills, and innovation which confronts the challenges still ahead, and accelerates Africa’s growth for decades to come. Let’s join leaders from across the ecosystem in Kigali next week in pressing forward through action.”

President Paul Kigali will officially open the three-day event which includes several fringe discussions and exhibitions. senior executives from major operators and technology players, including Airtel Africa, Amini, Axian Telecom Group, Ethio Telecom, Huawei, MTN Group, Orange, and ZTE will be in attendance.

Mobile connectivity is a key driver of digital transformation and socioeconomic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and businesses are also increasingly using 4G and 5G networks alongside technologies such as AI and IoT to enhance productivity and service delivery. However, despite growing demand for mobile services, a significant usage gap persists, indicating substantial untapped market potential.

According to 2024 GSMA report, the adoption of 4G continues to rise in the region and is forecast to account for 50% of total connections by 2030. 5G adoption is accelerating and forecast to contribute $10 billion to the region’s economy by 2030, accounting for 6% of mobile’s total economic impact. Meanwhile, the mobile ecosystem supported 1.5 million jobs directly and more than 2.2 million jobs in other sectors in 2023.

The conference programme is structured around four key themes shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem over the next 12 months and beyond;

• Connected Continent: Exploring how expanded connectivity, affordable smart phones, and the rollout of 5G are enabling millions across Africa to access services and participate in the global digital economy.
• The AI Future: Examining AI’s potential to double Africa’s GDP growth by 2035 and drive innovation, while emphasizing skills, collaboration, and ethical practices.
• Fintech: Showcasing how mobile-powered fintech solutions are transforming financial systems, enhancing inclusion, and fostering economic resilience.
• Africa’s Digital Frontier: Highlighting the continent’s fast-growing digital sectors, from entertainment to healthcare, and the innovations defining Africa’s next chapter of transformation.

Founding and Headline Sponsors of MWC Kigali include Huawei, MTN, and ZTE, with Airtel and Orange as Industry Sponsors, alongside Event Partners the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) and Smart Africa

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The partnership will tap into startups, technology providers, accelerators, and industry partners to pilot innovations aimed at making travel smarter, faster, and more seamless. Ethiopian Airlines expects the collaboration to strengthen operational efficiency and deliver smoother journeys for millions of passengers transiting through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport – now ranked among Africa’s busiest hubs.

“Ethiopia is realising its ambition to become a sophisticated, dynamic destination for investment, trade, and tourism. Ethiopian Airlines plays a central role in making that vision a reality,” said Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO. “Creating the best first and last impressions for business and leisure travellers is crucial, and this partnership puts us in the best position to deliver exceptional experiences while taking full advantage of the opportunities ahead.”

With travellers increasingly expecting digital-first services, African carriers face mounting pressure to adopt smart technologies that cut queues, optimize scheduling, and enhance the end-to-end travel experience.

“Africa is experiencing unprecedented growth in air travel just as passengers’ expectations are being reshaped by rapid advances in digital technology,” said Selim Bouri, President, Middle East & Africa at SITA. “Hubs like Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport need to provide a frictionless passenger journey so airlines can optimize flight schedules and deliver smooth, memorable trips. This collaboration is about driving the innovation needed to meet these demands and help shape the future of African aviation.”

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