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Microsoft Airband to Connect nearly 40 Million People across Latin America and Africa (By Vickie Robinson)

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Airband

Through new and expanded partnerships, Airband is delivering against its goal to connect 250 million people by 2025

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 17, 2023/APO Group/ — 

By Vickie Robinson, GM, Microsoft Airband Initiative (https://www.Microsoft.com)

Today, we’re announcing new and expanded Airband partnerships set to provide high-speed internet access to nearly 40 million people across Latin America and Africa. These partnerships in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda mark significant progress in our commitment to extend high-speed internet access to 250 million people living in unserved and underserved areas around the world, including 100 million in Africa.

Across both Latin America and Africa, limited access to broadband can mean that people have fewer opportunities to develop the digital fluency and skills needed to participate in the digital economy.

At Microsoft, we believe that internet access and meaningful connectivity is a fundamental right. The Microsoft Airband initiative was launched to bring transformative connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Through the Airband initiative and its partners, Microsoft is serving as a catalyst to enable affordable access to connectivity, specifically focusing on regions with lower digital connectivity rates.

Connecting communities across Latin America

In recent years, about 37 percent of Latin Americans in rural areas have connectivity options, compared with 71% of the urban population (https://apo-opa.info/3o7ZQvD). Airband together with Wayfree in Guatemala, Fundacion Pais Digital in Chile, Brisanet in Brazil, and Anditel in Colombia will deliver 18 million people with access to high-speed internet.

Latin America combines thriving urban cities and rural areas with vast cultural heritage sites, however, like most places, there are unique challenges in advancing connectivity in certain regions. With greater access to the internet, Airband through its partners, hope to address societal issues, such as employment and education that can be strengthened through greater connectivity.

  • Brazil: Airband is expanding our footprint to Brazil, the largest market in Latin America, as part of our new partnership with Brisanet (https://apo-opa.info/435Pdsb). Working with Microsoft and NGOs like Amigos do Bem (https://www.AmigosdoBem.org/en/) and Mais Unidos (https://apo-opa.info/3IiPlML), Brisanet will extend high-speed internet access to more than 11 million people and support social and economic development in low-income regions of the country.

At Microsoft, we believe that internet access and meaningful connectivity is a fundamental right

  • Chile: Fundación País Digital (https://apo-opa.info/3WeCOjd) is a nonprofit organization working to develop Chile’s digital economy, expand connectivity, and improve digital literacy throughout the country. Through their newest initiative, Programa Conectando Territorios (https://ConectandoTerritorios.PaisDigital.org/), Fundación País Digital will expand connectivity to rural and underserved areas in two regions: the Biobío Region in central Chile, which has been significantly impacted by earthquakes; and the Antofagasta Region, known for its mining industry. With Airband support, in addition to connectivity, the program will target economic opportunities through training and employing local community members to maintain the new networks and will bring internet access to an additional one million people by the end of 2025.
  • Colombia: Our commitment with longtime partner Anditel (https://apo-opa.info/3M7ETch) to provide coverage for more than 600,000 people in five years has gone well ahead of plan. To date we have nearly doubled that target and are now expanding our partnership to cover an additional three million people by the end of 2025. Partnering with the Colombian government on ICT 360 (https://apo-opa.info/3IhtMfN), the national connectivity program, Anditel aims to cover 85% of Colombians by 2026.
  • Guatemala: Wayfree is the leading provider (https://apo-opa.info/3Wexvk2) of Internet connectivity in Guatemala. They are deploying wireless access zones in towns and villages, already covering over 40 percent of the 340 Guatemalan municipalities with the goal of making universal wireless internet access a reality. Airband’s support will catalyze deployments in the remaining municipalities in Guatemala and ultimately provide three million people with access to high-speed internet coverage by the end of 2025.

Crossing the continent of Africa

Our efforts on the African continent are some of our most longstanding and farthest reaching. Today many African nations are rising economic powers, but on a continent with so many vast rural areas, delivering connectivity can be a challenge. On average Africa has a 40 percent (https://apo-opa.info/3IiPuQj) internet usage rate. Partnerships are key to the success of the Airband model, and we are building upon our existing partnerships in Africa, including with Mawingu and Tizeti.

  • Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda: Microsoft Airband’s relationship with Kenyan service provider Mawingu (https://apo-opa.info/3Ijr75f) began in 2014 with a pilot in Nanyuki and has since expanded to deliver high-speed internet access to four million Kenyans living in rural areas. Mawingu was Airband’s first partner, and thanks to the public-partnership model, today the company is Kenya’s leading internet service provider dedicated to rural and peri-urban markets. This latest expansion of our partnership with Mawingu will bring coverage to an incremental 16 million people across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda by the end of 2025, ultimately covering a total of 20 million people.

Mawingu provides meaningful internet access to locations throughout Kenya, such as hotspots, vocational schools and businesses. Just one example of Airband’s partnership has resulted in the deployment of more than 700 hotspots and connectivity for more than 100 primary schools, enabling community members to access digital skills training and essential education materials. The company has also partnered with Unilever and Microsoft Philanthropies to provide access and skills to female entrepreneurs.

  • Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire: Airband partner Tizeti (https://www.Tizeti.com/) has brought coverage to more than 900,000 people in Nigeria, expanding from Lagos to focus on underserved states across the country. Microsoft and Tizeti are expanding this partnership to Cote d’Ivoire, a cultural crossroads of West Africa, to bring internet access to almost 5 million people. Given that electricity is frequently unavailable, insufficient or unreliable in many parts of Africa, this expansion of our partnership includes infrastructure support and deployment of eight solar powered towers to help provide connectivity to households, small businesses and hotspots. This access will empower greater access to education, healthcare, and employment.

Bringing more digital opportunities to more people

Through partnering with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, organizations have additional support to create the infrastructure needed to provide connectivity support in many different ecosystems that ultimately drives self-empowerment and sustainable development and growth. These partnerships are essential in providing local expertise and experience to help achieve a greater goal tied to what can be harnessed with the support of connectivity.

As technology, like AI, advances, being connected provides a path forward to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Microsoft.

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Unstoppable Africa 2026 to bring African and global Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and leaders to New York to drive investment, ownership and growth across the continent

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September 3, 2026

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The program will focus on how Africa can capture more value from its critical minerals, strengthen infrastructure and trade, mobilise capital at scale and build more integrated and competitive markets

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 2, 2026/APO Group/ –More than 2,000 African and global business leaders plus heads of state will gather in New York on September 20–21 for Unstoppable Africa, flagship event of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://www.GABI.biz/).
 




 

Convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and organized and coordinated by the UN Global Compact, the fifth edition of Unstoppable Africa will convene under the theme “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future”.

Held on the sidelines of the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Unstoppable Africa will feature leading  investors, policymakers, creatives, sports executives and decision-makers working to accelerate Africa’s business, trade and investment and amplify its role in shaping global markets.

Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, said: “This year, we are sharpening the focus on mobilising capital, forging partnerships, building businesses and turning Africa’s assets and opportunities into investable, scalable outcomes. The ambition is not simply to shape how the world sees Africa, but to shape where global capital flows, where value is created and how Africa can capture it.”

The ambition is not simply to shape how the world sees Africa, but to shape where global capital flows, where value is created and how Africa can capture it

The high-level convening comes at a time of global supply chains being redrawn by geopolitical tension, energy insecurity and shifting trade rules. For the African continent, these pressures  create an opportunity to leverage its critical minerals, renewable energy potential, expanding consumer markets and young workforce to attract long-term capital and capture more value from global shifts.

Unstoppable Africa 2026 will look at how the continent can turn these shifts into lasting economic opportunity.  The program will focus on how Africa can capture more value from its critical minerals, strengthen infrastructure and trade, mobilise capital at scale and build more integrated and competitive markets. Discussions will also explore Africa’s energy transition, the development and ownership of AI and digital infrastructure, the financing and global distribution of African creative industries, and how sport can become a stronger engine for investment, talent development and economic growth.

Other confirmed speakers include:

  • H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President, Republic of Sierra Leone
  • H.E. Duma Gideon Boko, President, Republic of Botswana
  • H.E. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
  • Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO, African Finance Corporation
  • Nolitha Fakude, Chairperson, Anglo American South Africa
  • Tidjane Thiam, General Partner, Allied Critical Minerals Fund
  • Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO and Executive Director, Naspers
  • Olugbenga Agboola, CEO, Flutterwave
  • Cameron Bailey, CEO, Toronto International Film Festival
  • Wanuri Kahiu, filmmaker
  • Akunna Cook, Founder and CEO, Next Narrative Africa Fund
  • Luol Deng, former NBA All-Star and President, South Sudan Basketball Federation
  • Clare Akamanzi, CEO, NBA Africa
  • Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
  • Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States on Arab and African Affairs
  • Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All

The five themes of GABI and Unstoppable Africa, namely Energy, Digital Transformation, Trade, Creative Industries, and Sport, will be supported by high-level plenaries, CEO and investor roundtables, ministerial dialogues, startup showcases, and GABI Solutions Labs. The 2026 edition will create opportunities to spark transactions, develop investment vehicles, and form cross-border alliances and partnerships. Full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area could create a $3.4 trillion market, according to UNCTAD’s 2024 Economic Development in Africa Report, highlighting the scale of the opportunity as regional integration deepens.

Once again, the event will be hosted by Folly Bah Thibault, Senior News Anchor at Al Jazeera Media Network, and Larry Madowo, International Correspondent at CNN, and will spotlight more than 500 nominees in the Unstoppable Africans campaign.

Media partners to date include African Business/New African; African Renewal; Afrique Media; AllAfrica; Arise News; Business Digest Magazine; Citizen TV; EIB Network; Envoy Magazine; The Kenyan Wall Street; News Central TV; SDG News; The Africa Report; The Nation Media Group; TIME Africa.

Unstoppable Africa 2026 will take place at the New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square, 1535 Broadway, New York City. Accredited media and other eligible communication professionals can register at https://apo-opa.co/4xvM3xh.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

 

 




 

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New DHL-Absa Partnership Opens Global Trade Opportunities for African Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME)

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3 hours ago

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September 3, 2026

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DHL

By combining DHL’s logistics expertise with Absa Group’s extensive banking, digital and financial capabilities, the partnership will equip SMEs with practical tools, training and access to services that support cross-border trade, e-commerce growth and sustainable business development

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 2, 2026/APO Group/ –DHL and Absa Group have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand DHL’s GoTrade programme across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), formalising a strategic partnership that paves the way for the rollout of the DHL GoTrade programme across key markets in SSA.
 




 

By combining DHL’s logistics expertise with Absa Group’s extensive banking, digital and financial capabilities, the partnership will equip SMEs with practical tools, training and access to services that support cross-border trade, e-commerce growth and sustainable business development.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi said the partnership will help SMMEs address the critical constraints to regional growth.

“This partnership brings together the finance, logistics, market knowledge and public support that SMMEs need to trade beyond our borders. By building the capacity of South African enterprises to enter African markets, we are not only growing individual businesses – we are strengthening intra-African trade, creating jobs and using the African market to power South Africa’s economic growth.”
the Deputy Minister said.

Every successful business starts with someone brave enough to dream bigger

The agreement was signed by Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, and Faisal Mkhize, Managing Executive for Business Development, Business Banking Pan-Africa at Absa Group.

“Every successful business starts with someone brave enough to dream bigger. Across Africa, there are thousands of entrepreneurs with incredible ideas, determination and ambition, but many still face stumbling blocks when it comes to trading globally.” said Hennie Heymans.

“By partnering with Absa Group, we are creating a powerful ecosystem that combines logistics excellence with financial expertise, ensuring that SMEs across the continent to grow sustainably. To be clear, this is really about helping African SMEs turn big ambitions into real opportunities. Whether it’s understanding how to export for the first time, finding the right financial support, reaching new customers online, or expanding into international markets,” he added.

Approximately 1,600 SMEs have been trained in Uganda, one of the earliest markets to implement the programme, with more entrepreneurs also benefitting from Kenya, Botswana and Zambia. Mozambique and Tanzania are next in line for rollout.

“SMEs are at the heart of Africa’s economic future. They create jobs and strengthen communities.  Our partnership with DHL Express is about giving business owners practical support, and access to trade solutions that can help them move beyond their local markets and realise their growth ambitions,” said Absa Group’s Mkhize.

As the SME sector across SSA continues to play a critical role in driving economic growth, innovation and job creation, the partnership between DHL and Absa Group is a commitment to helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers to trade and unlock new opportunities beyond their borders. Together, the two organisations aim to equip more businesses with the knowledge, networks and support they need to grow sustainably, compete globally and contribute to Africa’s economic growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL Express SSA.

 

 




 

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TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil to Open Procurement Doors for Angolan Companies at Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026

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3 hours ago

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September 3, 2026

By

Etu Energias

Two of Angola’s largest operators will host dedicated procurement workshops on September 8, giving Angolan companies direct insight into supplier requirements and contracting opportunities across major upstream projects

LUANDA, Angola, September 2, 2026/APO Group/ –Energy majors TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil will host dedicated procurement workshops during the pre-conference program of Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 on September 8, connecting Angolan companies directly with two of the country’s biggest international operators.
 




 

Led by Patricia Campos, Head of Procurement and Contracts Division at TotalEnergies, and Adão Costa, Procurement Manager at ExxonMobil, the respective sessions will offer practical insight into how local companies can position themselves to secure contracts across Angola’s expanding upstream industry. Taking place ahead of the main conference – scheduled for September 9-10 -, the workshops strengthen AOG 2026’s role as a platform for translating investment into tangible opportunities for Angolan businesses.

TotalEnergies’ workshop comes as the operator advances a multi-billion-dollar offshore portfolio. The company is developing the Kaminho project in Block 20/11 alongside Sonangol and Petronas – the first large-scale deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. Sanctioned in 2024, Kaminho will feature a zero-flaring FPSO with capacity of 70,000 barrels per day, with first oil targeted for 2028.

The company has also extended licenses for strategic producing assets, including Block 32, creating a framework for further development across six discoveries surrounding the Kaombo Norte and Kaombo Sul FPSOs. Through its role in the New Gas Consortium (NGC), TotalEnergies is at the forefront of Angola’s non-associated gas development. The NGC achieved first gas production from the Quiluma field in 2026, paving the way for a diversified energy mix in Angola. Campos’ workshop will provide a direct interface between those suppliers and the procurement processes governing TotalEnergies’ activities.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil is pursuing a dual-track strategy combining redevelopment of mature producing assets with frontier exploration. In April 2026, the company awarded an EPCI contract to Subsea7 for its Likembe Redevelopment 2.0 Project, which will connect additional reservoirs to existing Block 15 facilities through subsea tiebacks. ExxonMobil and its partners have also moved to extend production from the Mondo and Saxi-Batuque fields following the extension of Block 15’s production license through 2037.

Beyond Block 15, ExxonMobil is expanding its exploration footprint. The company partnered with TotalEnergies and Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels to secure exploration rights across multiple blocks in the frontier Benguela and Namibe Basins, while subsurface evaluation continues across additional offshore acreage. Costa’s workshop will share insight into how Angolan companies can position themselves at the forefront of these developments.

By placing procurement managers directly in front of Angolan businesses, AOG 2026 will give domestic suppliers greater clarity on what major operators need, how procurement decisions are made and where opportunities are emerging. As billions of dollars move into Angola’s upstream sector, the September 8 sessions will help ensure more Angolan companies are equipped to move with them.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 




 

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