Topic focus · The builders and the systems
African Tech
Independent reporting on people, capital, skills, connectivity, infrastructure, policy, and the technologies moving between Africa and the world.
Latest stories
Kenya's geothermal cloud promise needs more than a power plant
Geothermal energy is a compelling ingredient for computing infrastructure. A 2024 cloud proposal is not a commissioning receipt—and buyers need evidence of the whole service.
Before choosing a maritime network, ask who handles the outage
Fieldbase's documents put support behind the satellite link in focus. They distinguish connection design, remote monitoring, field attendance and job records. Check what the actual plan includes.
Buying cloud services: ask what you can change without a support ticket
A cloud label should describe more than a location. NIST's established definition offers a practical way to ask about self-service, scaling, usage reports and the work your team will still own.
Satellite on your phone: check the service, not just the signal
A practical checklist for satellite-to-mobile: compatible device, country, supported features and the emergency limitations to understand before a trip.
African AI after the pilot: ask who will keep the system running
GIZ and Briter's October report describes talent and computing constraints. Here are maintenance and handover questions for African teams and UK clients.
GrainMate GM-103: the Ghana-made meter redesigned around its controls
A fresh Isaac Sesi profile brings an older hardware redesign into focus. GrainMate's dedicated keypad functions offer a useful way to examine everyday controls, documentation and support.
ChatGPT ads reach Nigeria and South Africa: a sponsored slot is not an answer
OpenAI names both countries in its latest expansion. Its engineering account explains why a paid placement and an ordinary answer should be read differently.
Spotify audiobooks in Nigeria: check the hours before choosing a plan
Spotify's Nigerian page offers a monthly audiobook allowance alongside individual purchases. Check which account receives the hours, when they expire and how playback uses them before deciding how to listen.
Nigeria's Device Checker checks network approval, not the whole phone
The NCC's current guidance separates a model's approval from a handset's verification. For buyers and visitors, a successful result still leaves questions about condition, repairs and the right import route.
Collective X's digital-skills pathway: ask what happens after training
South Africa's CollectiveXChange summit puts workplace learning back in view. Its organiser's programme rules offer a practical way to examine the employer, paid experience and work opportunity behind a training promise.
UniBetaAI study tools: keep the source beside the practice question
A generated quiz still needs an answer you can trace. Following a fresh UniBeta profile, PING proposes a note-to-question checking method, without claiming to have tested the platform or predicted an exam.
Termii V4 connects messaging and support. Check what happens between them
Termii's latest platform announcement joins verification messages, campaigns and customer support. For African businesses, the useful migration question is whether context and control survive each handoff.
Mobile wallets and instant transfers: what actually moves your money?
A wallet is an interface; a payment rail moves instructions; settlement is another step. Separating them makes comparisons between London, Lagos and Nairobi more useful.
Vernacular craft at Strand Aldwych: what The Pangolin Shield asks of durable design
The Pangolin Shield brings craft and reconciliation into public space. For PING!, it opens a separate reporting question: what would make a visible connection repairable?
AI shopping in 2026: what African retailers should do now
Google and Shopify are expanding AI shopping, but access depends on the market and checkout. For African retailers, the practical priorities are accurate product data, clear payment permission and profitable orders.
Africa’s GPU race has begun. Power, price and sovereignty will decide who wins
Smart Africa’s first continent-wide call for GPU partners turns AI ambition into a practical test: who can supply affordable compute without trading away local control?
Explore the questions we plan to report
Interviews, testing, source checks and human editorial approval are required before these plans become published stories.
Open the commissioning slate →