Technology
Nokia Launches Three New Nokia C-Series Smartphones
By Adedapo Adesanya
Hot on the heels of the recent launch of the G11 and G21, HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced three new Nokia C-series smartphones –the C21, C21 Plus and C2 2nd edition.
According to the company, this is in response to success for Nokia smartphones within the affordable smartphone market, which saw a 41 per cent smartphone revenue growth for HMD increase from 2020 to 2021 and the company reached its first full year of operational profitability in 2021.
Forecasting one million subscriptions to its Services Suite in the first half of this year, HMD is also announcing a new services-focused division to further continue this period of growth. This will allow the company to foster further growth, attract talent, and better support existing clients by streamlining processes internally.
Speaking on this, Mr Florian Seiche, Chief Executive Officer, HMD Global said, “2021 was a transformational year, resulting in solid revenue growth across the business and today, we are celebrating a profitable new chapter for HMD Global with the release of three new affordable Nokia devices which are not only safe, reliable and durable but ensure as many people as possible can access the latest innovative technology for less.
“I am excited to announce that our services portfolio includes a secure device financing solution for smartphones and other devices. At HMD, we are bringing together these two ingredients, a high-quality smartphone experience and a financing solution that builds upon our mission to make modern mobile technology accessible to everyone.
“Combined with the success of our enterprise services offering to scale to 1 million subscriptions in H1 and delivering the exceptional level of services clients expect from us, we are delivering an accessible and seamlessly connected experience for people and enterprises worldwide.”
Adding his input, Mr Janne Lehtosalo said, “Our range of enterprise IoT offerings has already made a significant impact on multiple industries including logistics, healthcare, and financial technology around the globe.
“Following the creation of the new division, we believe we will be better organised to further grow our offering to more industries, better serve our existing clients, and bring new services to the market. We’re excited to have hit a projection of over one million subscriptions in H1 and are proud that we are able to consistently offer them unparalleled services regardless of where they are on the globe.”
Review of Nokia C-Series
The three new devices epitomise the durability and long-lasting battery life qualities Nokia phones became famous all those years ago. This, combined with the best of Android™ software, and security updates cements HMD’s vision for 2022 and beyond – building Nokia phones that last for longer whilst maintaining excellent build quality.
Nokia phones have incorporated a beautiful Finnish aesthetic that is also functional. The company are bolstering their successful Nokia C-series range, which was introduced in 2020 and already makes up 16 per cent of total company smartphone sales in the last five years.
Nokia C21 Plus
The hero of the C-series family – Nokia C21 Plus – is the smartphone that keeps on giving. It’s designed for durability and is rigorously tested to achieve sleek style and strength, while also delivering on battery life and most importantly, remaining affordable. The device comes with two different battery sizes, 4000 mAh and 5050 mA which deliver up to two- and three-day battery lif] respectively – allowing people to stay connected for longer and recharge less.
Built around a robust inner metal chassis with an IP52 rating protecting against elements, with dirt, dust, and water droplet resistance thanks to a toughened cover glass that protects the dazzling 6.5” HD+ display – ensuring Nokia Hope can stand up to all of life’s hustle-and-bustle.
A 13MP dual camera with panorama and portrait modes allows you to capture life’s best bits in stunning detail. A clean OS with minimal preloads gives you more space for the apps and content you choose. Plus, 2 years of quarterly security updates, and fingerprint and AI face unlock technology ensures the Nokia C21 Plus stays secure, inside and out.
Nokia C21
The Nokia C21 maintains the excellent build quality, security promises and the all-day battery life signature to the popular C-series. The device brings an improved 8MP camera with autofocus technology that seamlessly reads QR codes – so whether people are scanning menus, making payments or simply looking up information – the Nokia C21 ensures scanning QR codes is a breeze.
Enhanced memory capabilities, thanks to a multi-core processor, bring efficiencies without sacrificing the all-day battery life, while AI-powered face unlock is now supported by a fingerprint sensor for extra security and convenience. Two years of regular security updates also come as standard for C-series devices so people can rest assured that the Nokia C21 works hard in the background to keep their smartphone phone safe.
Nokia C2 2nd edition
The Nokia C2 2nd edition comes with super-tough and reliable Nokia build-quality with even more ways to connect. Designed to withstand life’s knocks, thanks to a tough inner metal chassis, and premium Nordic craftsmanship, this C-Series device has been rigorously tested to ensure it meets high durability standards and delivers a thoughtful and purposeful design at an affordable price point.
Giving you greater freedom to connect, and a reliable, super-smooth smartphone experience, the all-day battery life from a single charge enables hours of talk time and days of standby. The generous 5.7” display lets people easily stream, share and scroll through their favourite content and apps in brilliant definition – and capture the best bits of life, day or night, thanks to front and rear flash cameras. 2 years of quarterly security updates also ensure that the Nokia C2 2nd edition stays secure on the inside. The up-to-date OS with minimal preloads helps data go further, freeing up more space for the content and apps you love.
Other C-Series Accessories
HMD’s growth story continues with their accessories range, doubling the accessories business in 2021 with ambitious plans for future growth. Nokia C21, C21 Plus and C2 2nd edition come with a range of accessories including over-ear wired and wireless headphones and truly wireless earbuds offering an easy, hands-free calling experience.
Nokia Go Earbuds 2 + A truly wireless, clear sound and comfortable fit at ultra-high value, whilst environmental noise cancellation (ENC), sweat and splash resistance, up to 24-hour playtime will see users through even the rainiest of days
Nokia Headphones (Available in Wired and Wireless) – a super lightweight design with soft over-ear cushioning and a foldable arm for extra comfort and convenience, make for a seamless experience whether working or listening to music.
HMD Enterprise division
The one million subscriptions are split between the three core products (Connect Pro, Enable Pro, and Softlock) currently sitting under HMD Global Services, and are made up of IoT connections, EMM licences, and device lock licences. The global growth of the existing HMD Global Services lines led to the subdivision, which will further enable the team to focus on improving existing product lines, as well as innovating and creating new product offerings to clients.
Pricing and availability
Local pricing, variants and availability will be shared in-market at a later stage.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Google and UpSkill Universe, Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading AI and business skills training partner, have announced a major redesign of the Google Hustle Academy programme. For the first time, the free training initiative is open to everyone, not just business owners.
The new curriculum is focused on equipping individuals and entrepreneurs with practical AI skills and comes at a time when small businesses have become the engine of Africa’s economy, creating over 80 per cent of jobs on the continent. To help them grow, the Hustle Academy was launched in 2022, providing bootcamp-style training on business strategy, digital skills, AI, and leadership. The program has since trained over 18,000 SMEs, with many reporting increased revenue and job creation.
Now, as AI reshapes the job market, the program is evolving. The 2026 edition is built for anyone in Sub-Saharan Africa, including employees, students, and job seekers, who want to use AI to advance their careers. To meet the needs of a diverse audience, the new format includes short, 60-minute webinars and more immersive, high-impact bootcamps. These sessions are laser-focused on putting AI to work immediately in areas like digital commerce, marketing, and growth strategy.
Speaking about the academy, Mr Gori Yahaya, Founder & CEO of UpSkill Universe, said, “The 2026 Hustle Academy is designed to close the AI Skills gap with hands-on training that is short, focused, and immediately useful. AI is reshaping how businesses win and how careers are built, right across this continent. We’re excited to renew our partnership, now in its fifth year with Google, combining their global AI leadership with our deep regional AI expertise. The next wave of AI leaders will come from this continent. We are making sure they are ready.”
The Hustle Academy initiative has strengthened digital competitiveness across emerging African economies by enabling SMEs to move beyond AI awareness to practical implementation, positioning them for sustained growth in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.
“We believe that the future of Africa’s digital economy lies in the hands of individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Our new strategy focuses on scaling reach by training individuals in the latest AI-centred tools and techniques,” said a Google representative.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open. Interested participants can apply at: https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/hustle-academy
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To develop the country’s internet ecosystem and build a dedicated connectivity community, the London Internet Exchange (LINX) has launched a 12-month no-charge promotion for all services at its new Ghana Internet Exchange Point, LINX Accra.
LINX Accra went live at the end of 2025, providing a regional interconnection point and a platform for networks to meet and exchange traffic, available from PAIX, Onix and the new Digital Realty data centre launched at the end of last year.
As part of its growth drive, LINX Accra aims to attract major global internet carriers and content delivery networks to keep more traffic local to Ghana, building relationships between local networks and encouraging early adoptions through promotion.
A key aspect is growing the local networking and peering community to reduce Ghana’s reliance on international routing, improve latency, and cut costs for networks and end users across the country.
“Ghana’s connectivity ecosystem is growing fast, and our goal, through the promotion, is to remove early barriers and encourage local ISPs to join and exchange traffic from the start.
“We’ve seen in other African markets that once the local community grows, global networks follow, so this is an important step for building community engagement and driving the localisation of internet traffic in Ghana and West Africa,” the Head of Existing Business for LINX, Inga Turner, said.
Ghana is one of West Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets, with over 70 per cent of the country’s 25 million people accessing the internet, and Accra is connected to six submarine cables to provide international connectivity to the country.
The market is also attracting significant data centre investment with new facilities opening every few months.
LINX has had a successful growth in Kenya, building on a similar promotion for LINX Mombasa and LINX Nairobi, which helped establish and expand the connectivity ecosystem, attracting major global networks and content providers to keep traffic local.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has announced plans to establish a national cybersecurity coordination council to strengthen Nigeria’s response to rising digital threats.
In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy said the council will serve as a multi-stakeholder platform to improve coordination, intelligence sharing, and collaboration between public and private institutions.
The initiative, championed by the Minister of Communications, Mr Bosun Tijani, aims to enhance Nigeria’s ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated cyber incidents affecting both private companies and public systems.
“The proposed council is envisioned as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder coordination platform, designed to convene key actors and strengthen partnerships that support efficient coordination, trusted information sharing, and sustained cooperation among institutions responsible for advancing Nigeria’s cybersecurity posture,” the ministry said.
The council will bring together chief information security officers, cybersecurity experts, technology firms, law enforcement agencies, and relevant government institutions.
It will also provide advisory support to the federal government on strategies and frameworks needed to improve national cyber resilience.
“The approach reflects the government’s recognition that modern cyber threats demand collective defence models, trusted threat intelligence sharing, and multi-stakeholder coordination,” the ministry added.
The move follows recent cyber incidents that disrupted operations and highlighted the “increasingly coordinated and sophisticated nature of cyber threats,” signalling the urgent need for stronger national cybersecurity frameworks.
This development comes amid the rising frequency and complexity of cybercrimes, which have made cybersecurity a vital tool that countries must focus on.
Special policies around data breaches, ransomware attacks, and third-party liabilities have come to the fore. While cybersecurity has been historically underutilised in Nigeria, its critical role in mitigating the financial fallout of cybercrimes and threats has taken a new dimension with the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Countries are leveraging AI tools to enhance threat detection, automate incident response, and analyse patterns to identify risks early. These AI-driven solutions enable quick and effective responses, improving resilience by detecting anomalies, predicting potential attacks, and mitigating threats before they escalate.
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