Stablecoin adoption is surging throughout Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest adoption rate in the world at 9.2%

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 20, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Yellow Card (www.YellowCard.io), Africa’s leading stablecoin-based infrastructure provider, has been issued a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licence by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa.  

Commenting on the FSCA’s decision to issue the licence to Yellow Card Financial South Africa, Chris Maurice, Yellow Card’s co-founder and CEO, said, “The CASP licence underscores Yellow Card’s commitment to its customers in South Africa and regulatory compliance across the continent.This achievement reflects our dedication to providing secure, compliant and transformative solutions for our customers both in South Africa and across Africa.  

The CASP licence underscores Yellow Card’s commitment to its customers in South Africa and regulatory compliance across the continent

Stablecoin adoption is surging throughout Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest adoption rate in the world at 9.2%. In South Africa alone, where the number of total users of crypto assets is estimated to amount to 5.8 million people, stablecoins have experienced growth of 50% month over month since October 2023, displacing bitcoin as the country’s most popular cryptocurrency.  Yellow Card is excited to play a pivotal role in this financial revolution in South Africa. 

Yellow Card, which launched in South Africa in 2020, has facilitated over US$3 billion in transactions in the last several years and now operates in 20 countries across the continent. The company recently completed a US$33 million Series C financing, led by Blockchain Capital and existing investors, including Polychain Capital, Valar Ventures, Third Prime Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Block, Inc. (Square/Cash App), reflecting strong investor confidence in its mission.   

As the stablecoin landscape continues to evolve, Yellow Card is committed to leading the charge in making digital assets accessible and secure for businesses across Africa. With the recent licensing and funding, the company plans to expand its B2B offerings by enhancing its stablecoin rails, upgrading infrastructure, and advancing its B2B API and Widget. These efforts will empower businesses with seamless solutions for liquidity management and their general operations. 

To learn more about Yellow Card, visit: https://YellowCard.io/. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Yellow Card Financial.

The industry’s smartest and most aesthetically pleasing 5G and Wi-Fi 7 router opens new opportunities for service providers globally

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 20, 2024/APO Group/ — 

rainx, a leader in 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions, has launched the101 range (https://apo-opa.co/40UwYYE), an advanced ecosystem of fixed wireless 5G and Wi-Fi access products designed to meet the high standards of modern Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and their customers.

This lineup includes the101 and the101 Pro 5G smart routers, the101 Xtender smart mesh Wi-Fi extender, and the101 Loop – a new category of product designed for today’s always-connected customer, powered by MediaTek. Together, these solutions redefine 5G FWA, enabling operators to enhance network quality, reduce churn, and drive new revenue streams. The routers also offer a collection of 101 skins to suit the users’ style, creating devices that are designed to be on show.

Targeted to the demands of the modern telco

As demand for 5G-enabled FWA continues to surge, MNOs face complex challenges in scaling network capacity and quality for fixed locations, while managing the concurrent load on mobile networks. Recognising this challenge, rainx has engineered the Customer Edge approach, an integrated ecosystem of products and services designed to empower operators to manage and optimise the customer experience. This begins with the101 range of 5G smart routers, which double as network probes, feeding real-time insights to theStation, a smart managed services platform.

theStation provides operators with deep network insights, enabling accurate, proactive decisions on coverage and capacity expansion. Operators can access detailed data on network performance in the home, including Wi-Fi clients, usage patterns, speed and latency – providing proactive support and direct customer communication through the101’s touch screen. This visibility gives MNOs comprehensive control over the entire FWA ecosystem, helping to streamline network load management, anticipate capacity needs, and deliver high-speed connectivity for both residential and commercial customers.

For end-users, the101 range provides an intuitive, self-service interface that empowers customers to manage their network in real time, minimising support needs and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Key Products in the101 Range include:

the101 Pro 5G smart router

Built for premium, high-demand users, the101 Pro offers advanced 5G capabilities with the new MediaTek (MTK) T830 platform that delivers sub-6Ghz 5G with speeds of up to 7 Gbps, Wi-Fi 7 and 300MHz 4 carrier aggregation. The routers offer a range of customisable skins to suit the users’ aesthetic preferences that bring the Pro’s screen to life. Its powerful hardware ensures optimal performance for bandwidth-intensive applications, including cloud gaming.

Our Customer Edge approach provides operators with the deep insights they need to make informed decisions on their networks

Ripple Messaging™ offers MNOs a direct communication channel to the device’s 2.1” touch screen for real-time support and service notifications. It includes a built-in speed test and a “Tap for Support” feature. Additionally, theStation’s managed services enable proactive device management, optimising performance with real-time updates to ensure continuous service quality and reducing operational costs.

the101 5G Smart Router

rainx’s mid-range offering is powered by an MTK T750 platform with 200MHz two carrier aggregation and AX3600 Wi-Fi 6. With a 1.8” touch screen display, it offers smart features like “Scan to Connect”, direct messaging and a built-in speed test. It’s available with a choice of 101 skins to suit customer tastes. the101 also offers managed services through theStation.

the101 Xtender Smart Mesh Wi-Fi

the101 Xtender broadens 5G coverage, enabling MNOs to deliver high-quality, uniform connectivity throughout larger spaces. As part of the mesh network, Xtenders integrate directly with 101 routers, allowing operators to address Wi-Fi coverage gaps and deliver a consistent, high-speed experience across homes or office spaces.

the101 Loop

A new portable 5G router designed for today’s always-connected consumer. With built-in 5G, a 5.5” LCD touch screen, 25W stereo sound and a cinematic camera, the Loop lets you connect in exciting new ways. MNOs can leverage the Loop’s multimedia capabilities to offer premium services, build customer loyalty and create new ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) opportunities through integrated 5G and Wi-Fi.

“Through smart hardware and services, we’re partnering with MNOs and MVNOs to unlock the potential of 5G,” said Brandon Leigh, Founder and Director of rainx. “Our ecosystem empowers operators to monetise latent 5G capacity, create new revenue streams, and addresses the shift from spiky mobile traffic to high, steady usage at fixed locations. Our Customer Edge approach provides operators with the deep insights they need to make informed decisions on their networks, manage the customer experience and generate ROI from 5G.”

“For customers, the 101range allows them to blend their aesthetic preferences with beautiful customisable skins, alongside high-performance engineering powered by the latest MediaTek CPE technology. the101 range delivers a reliable, high-speed connection that stays robust during periods of spiky traffic. The range also offers intuitive self-service features, allowing customers to easily monitor and control their router, reducing the need for support calls and creating a seamless, hands-on user experience that truly puts the power in their hands,” Leigh concluded. 

Rami Osman, Director of Business Development for MediaTek Middle East and Africa, said: “We are excited to collaborate with rainx to increase 5G FWA access across Africa, Asia and abroad to bring the benefits of fast, reliable connectivity to consumers and businesses. The MediaTek T830 has a highly integrated and compact design that provides big power savings and reduces development time and costs for customers like rainx.

“The MediaTek T830 chipset platform represents the latest advancements in both 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity and enables our customers to build extremely high-performance multi-gigabit 5G CPE products in the smallest form factors possible. Users can get a super-fast router at home of office that they can self-install and manage, reducing the lengthy installation times for fixed line broadband,” Osman said.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MediaTek Inc..

This partnership will foster enhanced economic ties, business opportunities, and knowledge-sharing across Europe and Africa

BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 20, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce (EUACC) (www.EU-Africa-Chamber.org), a prominent organisation dedicated to advancing economic relations between Europe and Africa, and APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to boost EUACC’s mission of promoting sustainable business development, investment, and strong private sector growth between the two continents. As the official communications partner, APO Group will support EUACC events, initiatives, and outreach efforts through strategic press release distribution, media monitoring, and expert public relations support.

The mission of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce is to contribute to the growth of a robust African private sector, facilitate meaningful dialogues on key economic and policy topics, and encourage mutually beneficial partnerships between Europe and Africa. In 2024, Africa hosts 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies and ranks as the second-fastest-growing economic region globally, behind Asia. EUACC works as a key facilitator for harnessing these opportunities by providing a platform for debate, connecting business leaders, and opening new avenues for career and business growth across Africa. Drawing on extensive experience in supporting Africa’s private sector ecosystem, EUACC empowers European companies to explore and invest in the continent’s vibrant industries, advancing cross-continental economic collaboration. As part of its advocacy for the African private sector, EUACC has developed a comprehensive strategy focused on five key pillars: access to finance, markets, innovation, influence, and sustainability. This targeted approach ensures impactful support for businesses and promotes sustainable development across Africa.

Commenting on the partnership, Sonia Toro, Executive Director of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, said, “This partnership with APO Group represents an exciting opportunity to advance our mission of connecting European and African businesses. APO Group’s extensive experience in the African market, combined with their communications expertise, will help us bring greater visibility to our initiatives and drive impactful conversations on economic cooperation. Together, we aim to empower businesses, foster mutual growth, and deepen the relationship between Europe and Africa.”

APO Group’s extensive experience in the African market, combined with their communications expertise, will help us bring greater visibility to our initiatives

APO Group’s Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), added, “We are honoured to work with the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce to support stronger business ties across Europe and Africa. This partnership is a powerful avenue for encouraging new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation between our continents. At APO Group, we’re committed to leveraging our expertise to amplify EUACC’s voice, helping to highlight the tremendous potential within the EU-Africa business landscape.”

Since its founding 17 years ago, APO Group has grown steadily, providing press release distribution and communications services to over 300 clients, 85% of whom are multinational companies. Its client roster includes industry giants such as Microsoft, TikTok, Coca-Cola, the NBA, Marriott, Canon, Western Union, MasterCard, KFC, GoDaddy, GE, Jeep, Toshiba, Vodacom, Universal Music, Binance, Kaspersky, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca, as well as major institutions like the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank. From 2012 to 2024, APO Group achieved an average annual growth rate of 35%, all without external funding, a testament to the demand for their specialised expertise and strong presence in the African market.

Through this partnership, the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce will leverage APO Group’s communication expertise to enhance the reach and impact of its key initiatives, which include trade missions, business forums, and networking events. APO Group will also assist EUACC in promoting major events such as the annual EU-Africa Business Forum, which brings together business leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss opportunities and challenges within the EU-Africa trade corridor.

With this partnership, EUACC is poised to broaden its impact, helping ensure that the voices and achievements of African and European enterprises are recognised on the global stage.

This strategic alliance marks an important milestone in EUACC’s journey, as it continues to create lasting connections, drive new opportunities, and elevate the economic partnership between Europe and Africa. Together, EUACC and APO Group look forward to a shared mission of nurturing a dynamic, sustainable, and mutually beneficial future for both continents.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.