Author: Gugu Lourie

The use of drones or remotely piloted aircraft systems is forecast to grow exponentially. Globally the drone business is proving to be one of the most explosive new growth industries in recent years, with South Africa a relatively late bloomer. The South African drone industry is to generate R2 billion in 2017, according to a latest research conducted by economist Dr Roelof Botha The research also indicates that the industry has a potential to create a total of 30 830 informal jobs and 3 600 formal jobs. In less than five years we will see unmanned aerial vehicles being flown on…

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South Africa’s banking group FNB’s mobile phone business Connect has sold more than 75 500 own branded smartphones to its customers. FNB Connect has sold more than 75 500 own branded FNB smartphone in the past year, Shadrack Palmer, the chief commercial officer at FNB Connect, told Techfinancials. The mobile phone business of FNB started selling its own branded smartphones last August in a move that is aimed at fully integrating banking and customer mobility. FNB is offering customers the choice of two smartphones, the ConeXis A1 and X1 respectively. Asked whether FNB Connect is content with the uptake of…

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The Jaguar E-type, launched in 1961, has regularly been voted the best-looking car of all time. Even Enzo Ferrari called it “the most beautiful car ever made”. The Jaguar E-type Zero’s unique electric powertrain was developed by an electric powertrain specialist in conjunction with Jaguar Land Rover engineers and to a specific brief from Jaguar Land Rover Classic. It uses some technology and components borrowed from the upcoming I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover’s first production all-electric vehicle. The E-type Zero has a ‘real world’ range of 270km, helped by the low weight and good aerodynamics. It uses a 40kWh battery, which…

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The HMD’s flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8 is now on sale in South Africa. The smartphone is available through Vodacom’s uChoose Flexi 150  for 12 month contract at R449/month. The Nokia 8 brings three world-firsts to Android smartphones, including a debut collaboration with ZEISS optics. The Nokia 8 introduces a world-first in enabling Dual-Sight video to be livestreamed natively and in real-time to social feeds such as Facebook and YouTube. Dual-Sight simultaneously harnesses both the front and rear cameras in a split screen visual for both photos and videos. With just one touch, this world-first livestream capability gives more immersive…

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly coming of age, as business leaders increasingly grasp the immense potential of “smart” machines and other innovations as catalysts for greater efficiency and competitiveness, according to global consulting firm Accenture. By 2019, the global market for content analytics, discovery and cognitive systems software is projected to reach $9.2 billion, according to IDC, more than double that of 2014. Accenture defines AI as a collection of multiple technologies that enable machines to sense, comprehend and act—and learn, either on their own or to augment human activities. AI is already starting to change how humans and computers…

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The IoT ecosystem is expected to experience the largest growth in the history of humankind. With a current market valuation of over $900 billion, both manufacturers and those looking to adopt Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are aware of the potential of IoT. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), also known as the Industrial Internet, brings together brilliant machines, advanced analytics, and people at work. It’s the network of a multitude of devices connected by communications technologies that results in systems that can monitor, collect, exchange, analyze, and deliver valuable new insights like never. South Africa is not left behind in the…

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The former chairman of the country’s communication watchdog Paris Mashile has been appointed as acting chair of the regulator. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa)announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Mashile as acting chairman after another acting chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga completed his term. Mohlaloga joined ICASA on 01 July 2013 as a councillor. He was then appointed an acting chairperson of the Authority on 22 June 2016, a role he fulfilled until the end of his term. “During his tenure as councillor and acting chairperson, Mohlaloga was instrumental in making sure that ICASA discharges its constitutional…

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Chinese firm Huawei has unveiled its ‘Grow with the Cloud’ strategy. The group wants to partner with telcos around the world to build a cloud network with global coverage This is part of Huawei’s strategy to continue leveraging the strengths of its global platform to build an open ecosystem that thrives on shared success. “The cloud is a cornerstone of the intelligent world,” Guo Ping, Huawei’s Rotating CEO, said. “Society is experiencing a tangible Matthew effect in digital technology development. Because of this, as well as economies of scale in investment, clouds around the world will begin to converge –…

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By Staff Writer Stash, an investment app created by Liberty, has proven to be a major hit amongst young South Africans after being downloaded and used by 12 000 users since this year’s Android launch in April. On 15 October, the app to invest your spare change will also be available on Apple’s iOS. Stash is an app that simply rounds up transactions when you swipe your bank card and invests the digital spare change in South Africa’s Top 40 companies, tax free. In just 49 seconds, you sign up, link your debit, credit or cheque card to the app,…

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The South African Government is planning to create a National Fourth Industrial Commission. “We have decided to form a National Fourth Industrial Commission to help us embrace and cope with the Digital Revolution,” Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, said on Monday. The minister made the remarks during Telkom’s annual South African Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC), this year held on a ship, cruising through some of the most historic locations such as Province, Nice, Florence, Naples, and Rome. Cwele told delegates that government will continue using its policies and regulatory framework to hasten the creation of…

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