Tag Archives: Africa

Google internet cable lands in Africa, promising fast connection

The Google app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register DAKAR, March 18 (Reuters) – A subsea cable owned by Google (GOOGL.O) that promises to double internet speeds for millions in Africa arrived in Togo on Friday, the company said, the latest step in a multi-year project to provide cheaper access to users across the continent. The Equiano cable, the first of… Source link

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‘The idea that there’s not enough human capital in South Africa is outrageous’: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong

As the U.S. faces a cash crunch and global pressure to prioritize vaccinating African countries, two unlikely partners have joined forces to do the same, all without U.S. government funding or help. Baylor College of Medicine’s Dr. Peter Hotez and ImmunityBio (IBRX) executive chairman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong announced a partnership in late 2021 in which Hotez and his partner, Maria Elena Bottazzi, licensed their free, no-strings-attached COVID-19 vaccine candidate to ImmunityBio. And the… Source link

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Nigeria looks to Europe for funding as Chinese lenders move away from costly projects in Africa

Nigeria is looking to Europe for funding to complete infrastructure projects such as railways, with a senior official in the West African nation saying Chinese loans are drying up. Analysts say Nigeria’s situation reflects a broader Chinese move away from funding these expensive projects in Africa, where China has provided hundreds of billions of dollars in loans to develop infrastructure as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Last weekend, Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi told Nigerian… Source link

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Google’s Africa Investment Fund makes first investment in Uganda’s SafeBoda – TechCrunch

Internet giant Google announced today that it has made the first investment from its Africa Investment Fund in Ugandan super app SafeBoda. The undisclosed investment comes two months after Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced the tech giant’s intentions to commit $1 billion over the next five years in “tech-led initiatives”, which includes a $50 million Africa Investment Fund targeted at early- and growth-stage startups on the continent. He made this known at the Google for Africa… Source link

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Google delays return to office in Europe, Middle East, Africa – Business Insider

A man walks past a logo of Alphabet Inc’s Google in front of at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland July 1, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com Register Dec 2 (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google is delaying its return-to-office plan in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Business Insider reported on Thursday, citing a company memo. Google had previously extended its voluntary… Source link

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After $1 billion investment, Google pledges to build a more ‘vibrant and dynamic’ digital ecosystem in Africa

During the pandemic in 2020, nearly 20 million more Africans subscribed to a mobile service than in the previous year, according to industry trade group Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), with 4G connections set to double over the next four years. Tech giants such as Google — which expects hundreds of millions more people to come online across the continent for the first time in the next few years — are moving quickly in the race for Africa’s digital inclusion. Last year,… Source link

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Google to invest $1 billion in Africa over five years

LAGOS, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Google plans to invest $1 billion in Africa over the next five years to ensure access to fast and cheaper internet and will back startups to support the continent’s digital transformation, it said on Wednesday. The unit of U.S. tech company Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) made the announcement at a virtual event where it launched an Africa Investment Fund, through which it will invest $50 million in startups, providing them with access to its employees, network and… Source link

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Google confirms $1B investment into Africa, including subsea cable for faster internet – TechCrunch

The developing world represents the best chance of growth for large internet companies, and today one of the very biggest set out its strategy for how it plans to tackle that. Google said that it would be investing $1 billion to support “digital transformation” across Africa. This will include landing a subsea cable into the continent to enable faster internet speeds, low-interest loans for small businesses, equity investments into African startups, skills… Source link

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Facebook, Google build undersea internet cables for Asia and Africa

Facebook and Google are building undersea internet cables around the world — and are betting that the investments will bring in millions of new customers. Facebook revealed Sunday that it is helping build a 7,500-mile cable connecting countries including Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan. The cable, called Project Apricot, is expected to launch in 2024 and will help deliver better 4G, 5G and broadband internet to the region, according to Facebook.  That… Source link

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