Technology

Ericsson celebrates 150 years of global innovation and 30 years of partnership and digital transformation in Ghana. (Image source: Ericsson)

Telecom giant Ericsson is marking a dual milestone this year, its 150th anniversary as a global company and three decades of active presence in Ghana

The occasion honors a deep-rooted collaboration with the Ghanaian government, the local telecom sector, and the broader community, while spotlighting the company's ongoing role in shaping the country's digital future.

Across a century and a half, Ericsson has continually reshaped itself alongside the communications sector, moving from early telecom breakthroughs to building the digital backbone that keeps modern businesses, people, and communities linked today.

Three Decades of Telecom Milestones in Ghana

Ericsson's Ghana story dates back to 1996, when the company first established operations in the country. It quickly became a cornerstone partner in Ghana's telecom growth, playing a key role in rolling out the nation's very first commercial GSM network, a landmark achievement that kicked off Ghana's broader digital transformation.

In the years since, Ericsson has helped drive several major upgrades to the country's network infrastructure, including the rollout of 3G and 4G technology, connectivity solutions for rural areas, and the underlying systems that power mobile money and financial services nationwide, tools that have opened up new economic opportunities for individuals and businesses alike.

Ghana's telecom journey is one piece of Ericsson's much larger 150-year global narrative centered on expanding access to connectivity and fueling societal progress. The infrastructure Ericsson has built continues to serve as a critical resource for everyday consumers, private enterprises, and government institutions across the country.

Looking Ahead: 5G, Cloud, and the Future of Connectivity in Ghana

With its anniversary celebrations underway, Ericsson is turning attention to what comes next for digital transformation in Ghana. Key focus areas going forward include 5G and Differentiated Connectivity, network Cloudification and Automation, Enterprise and Mission-Critical Networks, and continued innovation in Mobile Financial Services.

"Our 30-year journey in Ghana is a testament to the shared belief in the potential of connectivity and the powerful partnerships we have forged over the years," Majda Lahlou Kassi, vice-president and head of ericsson West and Southern Africa, reflected on the milestone,

From the first mobile call to the promise of 5G, we have been privileged to work alongside our partners to build a strong digital foundation for the country. This anniversary is not just about celebrating the past; it's about renewing our commitment to Ghana's future. We are excited to continue this journey, co-creating solutions that will accelerate digitalisation, foster innovation, and unlock new opportunities for everyone."

Rostand Njomgang, head of Cluster Central at Ericsson West and Southern Africa, added, "For 150 years, Ericsson has been driven by the idea that communication can change the world. In Ghana, we have seen this become a reality. Our technology has helped bridge distances, empower entrepreneurs, and connect communities. As we look ahead, we are dedicated to advancing skills development and investing in the ecosystem that will support Ghana's ambition to become a digital leader. The next chapter of connectivity, defined by 5G, AI, and cloud innovation, holds immense promise, and we are proud to be a partner in making it happen."

A Global Legacy Rooted in Local Progress

Ericsson's anniversary celebrations tie together its global heritage with a distinctly local success story of growth and innovation in Ghana. Looking forward, the company remains committed to advancing Ghana's telecommunications landscape, supporting the country's digital ambitions, and continuing to push the boundaries of what connectivity can achieve.

The new service will boost connectivity for remote operations (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Paratus Uganda has launched Starlink’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellite service in the country, the first provider to do so, providing a boost to communications links for the landlocked East African state

For end users, such as mining and oil and gas operators, and other businesses working in remote locations, it will provide a faster and more resilient alternative to terrestrial connectivity, helping to keep critical operations, communications and digital services online where traditional infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

It also gives organisations greater flexibility to deploy connectivity quickly at new or temporary sites, supporting operations in some of Uganda’s most hard-to-reach areas.

The launch follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding and operational license agreement between Uganda Communication Commission and Starlink back in May 2026.

“This positions Paratus Uganda at the forefront of next-generation connectivity, unlocking high-speed, low-latency satellite access for enterprise customers across even the most remote parts of the country,” a statement by Paratus Uganda read.

Since launching last year through a joint venture between Paratus Group and Kampala-based ISP: ROKE TELKOM, Paratus Uganda has been supporting customers with resilient cross-border connectivity via the 2,000 km protected Goma-to-Mombasa (G2M) route.

“The addition of Starlink services further enhances the offering, delivering an integrated connectivity solution supported by the Paratus Group’s East-West Southern Africa backbone, redundancy solutions and value-added network services,” the statement added.

With Starlink now added to its portfolio, the company reported that it is activating a strong pipeline of customers across numerous sectors, including mining, healthcare, tourism, NGOs and government, many of which require dependable connectivity in remote and underserved areas.

“There has been significant demand for LEO services from enterprise customers who have been waiting for Starlink to become available in Uganda,” said Edwin Kyambadde, country manager of Paratus Uganda.

“Now that Starlink is licensed, the hard work begins as we connect customers across the country. This is a powerful addition to our network and it’s a game-changer for businesses operating beyond traditional infrastructure reach.”

Martin Cox, Paratus Group’s chief commercial officer, added that the Starlink license approval further enhances the group’s strategy of building a contiguous, multi-layered network across Africa.

“This will be Paratus Group’s ninth country in Africa offering Starlink services,” said Cox.

“Satellite plays a critical role in extending our reach into areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. With Starlink now available through Paratus Uganda, we can offer customers not only in Uganda but also across the East African region even greater resilience, faster deployment and truly borderless connectivity.”

Read more:

Ericsson launches telecom field operations learnership in South Africa

Mozambique advances climate resilience with drones

Testing is critical to commissioning Africa's data centres

Ericsson launches telecom field operations learnership in South Africa. (Image source: Ericsson)

Ericsson South Africa has launched the inaugural intake of its five-year field operations learnership programme, an initiative designed to develop technical skills and create career opportunities for young people in the country's telecommunications industry

The first group of 15 learners was officially introduced during a launch event held in KuGompo, Eastern Cape, on 22 July 2026. The occasion brought together Ericsson representatives, learning centre partners, customers and participants to celebrate the beginning of the programme.

The 12-month learnership leads to the Further Education and Training Certificate: Telecommunication Network Operations (SAQA ID 59057, NQF Level 4). Training will be delivered by Human Capital Learning Solutions and is accredited by MICT SETA and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

Combining classroom instruction with practical on-site training and workplace experience, the programme has been tailored to Ericsson's field operations, rigging and installation activities. It is intended to equip participants with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to become job-ready telecommunications technicians and riggers.

Siseko Ngxola, Head of Ericsson South Africa says: “Skills development is important to the future of South Africa’s digital economy. Through this learnership, Ericsson is helping young people build the technical, safety and workplace skills needed to support telecommunications infrastructure. The program also reflects our commitment to developing local talent and supporting a more capable future workforce in South Africa.”

Participants will receive training in core telecommunications principles, health and safety, communication, telecom infrastructure, rigging, installation techniques, tower climbing and field-based simulations. Alongside classroom learning, they will gain supervised experience on Ericsson projects while completing workplace logbooks and compiling a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) to demonstrate practical competence and satisfy the requirements for qualification.

The curriculum has been developed to prepare learners for the installation, maintenance and repair of telecommunications networks, while also reinforcing best practices in safety, quality, environmental responsibility and documentation in line with Ericsson's health, safety and quality standards.

Beyond technical competencies, the programme places emphasis on professional development by strengthening communication, teamwork, ethics, accountability and adaptability. These capabilities are intended to help learners perform effectively in project-based environments and contribute to Ericsson's operational activities across South Africa.

The initiative highlights Ericsson's long-term investment in South Africa and its commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through structured skills development. By nurturing locally trained talent with industry-relevant expertise, the company aims to strengthen the country's technical workforce, support employment creation and contribute to South Africa's digital transformation and economic development. The programme also supports Ericsson's objective of building a skilled local workforce capable of carrying out network deployment, modernisation and restoration projects safely, efficiently and sustainably.

A newly certified drone pilot explains how one of the nine drones works. (Image source: African Development Plan)

Mozambique has strengthened its disaster preparedness capabilities following the successful completion of its Drone Technology Project, a programme that has equipped the country with advanced drone technology and trained its first cohort of certified drone pilots to support emergency response and climate resilience

The project concluded with the graduation of 30 certified drone pilots during a ceremony attended by prime minister Maria Benvinda Levi, who highlighted the growing role of innovative technologies in protecting communities from climate-related disasters.

"The use of drones in the management of natural disasters is an initiative that embodies the Government's commitment to adopting innovative technologies for monitoring extreme weather events, conducive to the protection of human life and the social and economic fabric of our country," the prime minister said.

Addressing the graduates, she added, "The certificate you receive today is more than authorisation to pilot. From now on, you will become part of the country's first line of response. This mission must be undertaken with discipline and responsibility, because a well-piloted drone can accomplish in a short time what a team would take days to do in disaster areas. A well-piloted drone allows search and rescue teams to obtain precious information about who needs support and what kind of support."

Drone technology strengthens disaster resilience

Mozambique continues to face increasing climate-related risks, including cyclones, severe flooding, prolonged droughts and rising sea levels that threaten communities, infrastructure and food security. As these extreme weather events become more frequent, authorities are turning to digital technologies to improve disaster preparedness and emergency response.

The Drone Technology Project was supported by the African Development Bank Group in partnership with the Government of Mozambique and financed through a US$967,000 Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund grant. Implemented over 15 months after its launch in April 2025, the initiative was designed to build national capacity in drone operations, geospatial technologies and digital disaster management.

Building long-term technical capacity

According to Rômulo Cunha Corrêa, African Development Bank Country Manager for Mozambique, the project has established a sustainable foundation for the country's future disaster management efforts.

"This project is more than the delivery of equipment. It is about technology transfer, capacity building, innovation, and long-term resilience," Corrêa said, adding that it had helped Mozambique "build the human and technical foundation needed to use drones, sensors, geospatial data, and digital systems to better protect communities and infrastructure."

Corrêa said the programme aligns closely with the African Development Bank's priorities for climate resilience, digital transformation and sustainable development across Africa. He noted that the collaboration between the Bank, the Government of Mozambique, the Republic of Korea and Busan Technopark has established a strong platform for continued innovation in drone-enabled disaster management.

Beyond supplying drone equipment, the project introduced a locally managed disaster assessment and emergency response system while strengthening the technical skills required to operate and maintain it over the long term.

Korean expertise supports implementation

The project was implemented with technical support from the Republic of Korea, led by Busan Technopark in partnership with Hojung Solution and PNU Drone of Pusan National University.

Working alongside the African Development Bank Group and Mozambican authorities, the partners delivered customised drone systems, specialist training programmes and a disaster management platform tailored to Mozambique's operational requirements.

The system proved its effectiveness shortly after deployment when severe flooding affected the country during January and February 2026. Emergency drone teams worked alongside national authorities to conduct real-time flood assessments, providing the first practical demonstration of the project's operational capabilities.

Thirty certified drone pilots graduate

A key outcome of the initiative was the graduation of 30 newly certified drone pilots, who have received training in disaster response, agriculture, surveying and infrastructure management.

The graduation ceremony included a live drone flight demonstration showcasing emergency aerial operations.

Graduate pilot Eunicia Sambo highlighted the responsibility that accompanies the new qualification.

"Today we celebrate an achievement, but we also assume a new responsibility. The certificate we received marks the beginning of a mission that requires permanent updating, innovation and commitment to the public service," Sambo said. "On behalf of graduates, we reaffirm our commitment to serve Mozambique with competence, dedication, professionalism and public service spirit."

Officials from Busan Technopark described the newly trained pilots as the project's greatest achievement, while representatives from PNU Drone said the programme establishes a long-term foundation for Mozambique's emerging drone industry. Hojung Solution also pointed to the successful flood response earlier this year as evidence of the immediate value delivered by the initiative.

Expanding Africa–Korea digital cooperation

The completion of the Drone Technology Project marks another milestone in cooperation between Mozambique, the African Development Bank Group and the Republic of Korea.

Building on the programme's success, stakeholders plan to expand technology-driven partnerships across Africa, with further discussions expected during the 8th KOAFEC Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Seoul from 8–11 September 2026 under the theme "Harnessing AI and Digital Infrastructure for Africa's Transformation."

The initiative demonstrates how digital technologies, skills development and international collaboration can strengthen disaster preparedness while supporting climate resilience and sustainable development across the continent.