MAMBO Explains
The iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the US is quietly different from every other one in the world
Every iPhone 18 Pro, in every country including the US, uses Apple's own C2 modem.
Topic
Connectivity
Stories, glossary entries, and explainers connected to connectivity.Key terms in Connectivity
Quick definitions before the deeper reading.
MAMBO Explains
A 2,000km fibre route now connects Mombasa to the DRC, and Paratus wants East Africa to notice
Paratus Group is highlighting its live 2,000km G2M fibre route linking Mombasa to Goma, DRC, alongside new satellite services, at ITW Africa 2026.
MAMBO Explains
Kenya's emerging technology sandbox deadline is here. What happens next?
The CA sandbox gives selected innovators a supervised route to test AI, 5G, 6G, IoT, cybersecurity and digital-content products before full market deployment.
Should you care?
Airtel Nigeria's one-seat shops show why telecom's future is still physical
The new compact shops reduce the cost of physical retail while keeping registration, support and financial services close to customers.
MAMBO Take
South Africa is ready to scale AI. Access and infrastructure could still split the winners
The conference moved past chatbot demos toward energy, banking, public services and telecom infrastructure. The harder question is who can participate.
Should you care?
Africa's telecom ministers met in Abuja to write one digital rulebook
African ICT ministers gathered in Abuja for the ATU's 7th Conference of Plenipotentiaries, aiming for a unified continental strategy on spectrum, AI, and digital infrastructure.
Should you care?
Kenya's new KSh250,000 licence to import phones and routers, explained
Kenya now requires a KSh250,000 Communications Equipment Distributor Licence to import phones, routers, and modems, part of a crackdown on counterfeit and non-compliant devices.
Should you care?
Starlink freezes new signups in 7 Kenyan counties
Starlink has paused new signups in seven Kenyan counties after rapid subscriber growth filled the network capacity available in those areas.
Should you care?
Inside Kenya's controversial internet metering bill
Kenya's internet metering bill would give every subscriber a unique meter number and require providers to turn usage into verifiable bills.
MAMBO Take
Amazon Leo is coming for Starlink in Africa. Cheaper internet is not guaranteed
Amazon now has enough low-Earth-orbit satellites to begin service, but Africa needs gateways, licences and affordable hardware before competition reaches consumers.
Should you care?
Samsung Messages is shutting down in the US. Google has won the Android texting war
Samsung is directing supported US Galaxy phones to Google Messages. The move simplifies Android texting, but it also gives Google more control over a basic phone function.
MAMBO Explains
Wi-Fi 7 labels are a mess. Here is what actually matters
Router boxes advertise enormous Wi-Fi 7 speeds, but your internet plan, devices, radio design, and wired ports decide what you will actually experience.
Business
New leaders at the NSE and Airtel Kenya
The Nairobi Securities Exchange and Airtel Kenya have new leaders, with Tom Mulwa named NSE chairman and Djibril Tobe taking over as Airtel Kenya managing director.
Business
South Africa sets six pillars for its digital economy
South Africa is framing its digital-economy push around six priorities: subsea cables and telecoms, AI, data centres, cybersecurity, startups, and cross-border digital transformation.
Should you care?
Kenya hits 800 million GB of data as 2G and 3G fade
Kenya used about 800 million GB of mobile data in one quarter as smartphones crossed 50 million and 5G subscriptions kept rising.
Business
Airtime credit is back for millions of Nigerians
Airtime and data lending has resumed in Nigeria after a suspension linked to FCCPC digital-lending rules and a court fight.