By Aduragbemi Omiyale

In a bid to provide cost-effective services to more people and deepen digital inclusion in key markets, including Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Airtel Africa Plc and Vodacom Group have sealed a strategic infrastructure sharing deal.

It was gathered that the initial partnership focuses on sharing fibre networks and tower infrastructure, to accelerate the roll-out of digital services in these markets, increasing connectivity for customers while reducing operators’ infrastructure costs and improving speed to market.

According to the chief executive of Airtel Africa, Mr Sunil Taldar, “This partnership is aligned with our unwavering commitment to delighting our customers by always making our network available to them even in the remotest locations.”

“Working with Vodacom, we will open greater access to digital and financial opportunities which will transform the lives of our customers while complying with all regulatory requirements,” he added.

He stressed that, “Even as competitors, it has become a business imperative for us to collaborate in the provision of critical infrastructure required to build resilient network with strong capacity to support the emerging digital technologies as well as the growing need for data-enabled products and services.”

“Accelerating the deployment of fibre connectivity is a key enabler in the acceleration of 4G and 5G technologies in Africa to deliver the high-speed, low-latency, and reliable connections needed for modern digital applications.

“This partnership allows for further opportunities for both operators to enhance network performance, extend coverage, and increase mobile, fixed, and financial services leveraging a broader footprint on the continent,” Mr Taldar stated.

His counterpart at Vodacom, Mr Shameel Joosub, said, “Providing connectivity to empower people is at the core of our strategy. Our partnership with Airtel Africa is a proactive step forward in creating a sustainable, inclusive, and connected digital future for the continent.

“Through infrastructure sharing, we can provide cost-effective services to more people, more rapidly, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age. As we fulfil our ambition to connect 260 million customers by 2030, the need for scalable and cost-efficient network solutions becomes increasingly significant.

“This partnership provides us with the opportunity to narrow the digital divide, empowering more individuals and communities through digitalisation across the continent. It is aligned with our purpose to connect for a better future.”

The agreement marks a transformative milestone in promoting digital inclusion and expanding access to reliable connectivity across Africa.

By leveraging existing infrastructure, the collaboration aims to deliver improved connectivity, faster internet speeds, and more reliable services. This will not only enhance customer experience but also assist with providing access to digital services for a broader population, particularly those in underserved areas, helping to bridge the digital divide in Africa.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Global tech giant, Google, has introduced a new era of AI-powered search to its users in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa with AI Mode in Search.

This feature is more intuitive, comprehensive, and helpful as it helps users tackle complex, multi-part questions with more intuitive responses, multimodal inputs, and deeper ways to explore topics.

In a statement on Thursday, the platform stated that AI Mode transforms how people interact with Search by allowing them to ask nuanced and exploratory questions that would previously require multiple searches. Powered by a custom version of Google’s latest Gemini 2.5 model, AI Mode brings advanced reasoning and context understanding to Search.

It said the feature is especially useful for longer, more detailed queries. A key feature of AI Mode is its advanced reasoning, which uses a query fan-out technique to break down a user’s question into subtopics and simultaneously search a multitude of queries on their behalf. This allows for a deeper dive into the web, uncovering hyper-relevant content.

Furthermore, AI Mode is designed to be truly multimodal, allowing users to interact in the most natural way for them, whether through text, voice, or even images.

Simply tapping the microphone icon or uploading a photo allows users to ask questions using their voice or camera. A core principle of AI Mode is to help users find the best of the web.

The AI-powered response includes prominent links to web sources, expanding the types of questions people can ask and opening up new opportunities for content discovery.

With AI Mode, web links are prominently displayed, ensuring users can easily click through to discover more. Data from AI Overviews shows that AI-powered results lead users to visit a greater diversity of websites and spend more time engaging with them.

While AI Mode aims to provide a reliable AI-powered response, in cases where confidence is not high, the system will default to a set of traditional web search results.

Google disclosed that the AI Mode would begin rolling out today and will appear as a tab on the Search results page and within the Google app for Android and iOS.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring AI Mode to our users in the region,” the Managing Director for Google Africa, Mr Alex Okosi, said.

“We know that people in this region are curious and have complex questions about everything from planning a trip to understanding a new concept.

“With AI Mode, Google is reimagining the Search experience. Users will not only find the information they need more easily but will also be empowered to explore a wider range of content from across the web,” he added.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

About 13,597,057 social media accounts have been removed on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for posting offensive content and violating the code of practice.

According to a statement signed on Wednesday by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Ms Hadiza Umar, the action was taken in collaboration with the platforms.

In the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report submitted by Google, Microsoft, and others, it was revealed that about 754,629 complaints were officially recorded.

“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines.

“The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users. It also demonstrates the platforms’ commitment to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online environment for all.

“This achievement reflects the provisions of the Code of Practice, which mandates that large service platforms are registered in Nigeria and comply with relevant laws, including the fulfilment of their tax obligation, while reinforcing the commitment to online safety for Nigerians.

“While NITDA acknowledges these commendable efforts, we emphasise that building a safer digital space requires sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.

“We remain committed to working with industry players, civil society, and regulatory partners to further strengthen user safety measures, enhance digital literacy, and promote trust and transparency in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” the statement stated.