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Airtel launches XSafe 360 degree camera review to operate home surveillance solution

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Telecom major Bharti Airtel recently announced the launch of XSafe, an end-to-end, easy-to-operate home surveillance solution that includes a range of Wi-Fi based advanced cameras designed to ensure customers are connected to their homes even while they are away. 

Airtel Xsafe products include a sticky cam, priced at Rs 2,499, while the 360-degree cam is for Rs 2,999 and the active defense cam is for Rs 4,499. Customers can pay an annual subscription charge of Rs 999 and enjoy the first 1-month subscription for free. Airtel Xsafe security cameras are available across 40 cities including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and more 

We tested the Airtel XSafe 360-degree camera for more than two weeks and here’s what I have to say about Wi-Fi based advanced camera system launched by Bharti Airtel. It is an easy-to-operate, end-to-end home surveillance camera system at affordable rates. The experience was better when compared with the brands like Xiaomi and Realme. 

In terms of features and specifications, the 360-degree indoor camera features smart tracking, motion sensitivity control, 7-day cloud storage of videos, and two-way communication, and leaves no blind spots. Also, there is smart alerts feature with perimeter zoning. In addition to these, there is multi-person access to the video feeds. 

You need to download the Airtel Xsafe App for monitoring and to use all the advanced features available on the app. The app will provide real-time alerts should the camera detect any concerning movement. It also captures the feed for you to view whenever you wish through the notifications it delivers. Rather than going through the whole day’s feed, you can simply retrieve the video at any time through the App using Airtel’s secure cloud storage. The entire solution is end-to-end encrypted ensuring complete privacy. 

Airtel XSafe 360 degree camera performance

The performance of this security camera is really good. Thoughtfully designed privacy mode allows you to turn off the camera when you want. With a built-in mic and speakers, you can listen in or speak to anyone through the camera. The best part is AI algorithm on Airtel XSafe 360-degree camera intelligently detects the motion of human shapes in real-time. Upon seeing a moving person, the camera is smart enough to automatically track its movements and alert you with an image in real time. The overall experience with the Airtel XSafe 360-degree camera is satisfying. Whether you talk about clarity, night mode, or audio, this product ticked almost all the right boxes. 

Airtel XSafe 360-degree camera performance

– Live view

– Full HD video

– 360-degree coverage

– Wifi enabled

– Night vision

– Person detection

– Two way talk

– Privacy shutter

– Smart tracking

– Motion detection

Airtel XSafe 360 degree camera verdict: Available at affordable rates in India, the Airtel XSafe 360 degree home security camera offers top-end features including person detection, night vision, two-way talk, and more. The only thing the brand should work on is — Airtel XSafe app for better connectivity and it should be more user-friendly. 

SOURCE: Zee business

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AfricaAFRICA NEWSAirtelASIATechnology

Airtel launches ‘World Pass’ for international travelers across 184 countries

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

India’s second largest telco Bharti Airtel has revamped its international roaming offerings under the newly launched WorldPass which enables IR services in 184 countries. Until now, telcos had different offerings and packs for different countries.

As the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ebb, there has been a massive surge in international travel both for work and leisure. India has seen the number of international travellers this year  ..

The World Pass works seamlessly across 184 countries meaning a customer with a layover at an international airport or travelling to two or more countries can use one plan for the entire trip.

The telcos said that this change comes after extensive customer research it conducted that showed that many customers find international roaming packs in general confusing across the whole global telco industry.

As a result, many are not connected when they want to be. Or they seek complex alternatives of temporary connections abroad.

Shashwat Sharma, director consumer business, Bharti Airtel said, “At Airtel, our mission is to solve customer problems so that our experience speaks for itself. The feedback that we have heard on international travel related concerns has compelled us to launch a defining proposition for our customers – the Airtel World Pass. This offers our customers one pack for the globe, significantly greater value, allows them to control what they use on the app and allows for emergency data usage long after the pack allowance is over.”

“As a matter of fact, our new plans offer significantly better value than travel or local sims in most countries,” he added.

The pass also gives customers access to a 24X7 Call centre support from any corner of the world free of cost on call and WhatsApp.

Airtel has also introduced special packs for long stay/frequent travellers in both prepaid and postpaid categories. The long term plan (postpaid) offers a validity of 1 year. The packs start at Rs 649 for both postpaid and prepaid customers and go up to Rs 14999 for postpaid, and Rs 2997 in case of prepaid.

In addition, customers will have unlimited data available for emergency usage and messaging applications. Customers can manage their international roaming needs on the Airtel Thanks app, with updates on usage, billing amount or addition of data or minutes as needed.

SOURCE: The Economic Times

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AfricaAFRICA NEWSAirtelBusinessNigeria

Airtel Africa partners Ericsson to build a more efficient network in Niger

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Airtel Niger and Ericsson deploy state-of-the-art, multiband multi-sector Radio 6626.

With the Ericsson Radio 6626, Airtel Niger will benefit from significantly decreased tower load and reduced energy consumption.

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Airtel Niger announce the deployment of Ericsson’s unique dual-band three-sector Radio 6626 to provide a 5G-ready and more efficient network that reduces energy consumption while delivering a state-of-the-art performance.

Combining three sectors and two frequencies in a single radio unit, Ericsson’s Radio 6626 will enable Airtel Niger to radiate all three sectors in their towers through just one radio unit thereby achieving significant energy reductions and operating expenditure savings. Field results have demonstrated a reduction in power consumption greater than 60 per cent, a reduction approximately 0.4 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per site per year and a 60 per cent reduced weight on the tower.

With Radio 6626 featuring added support to boost capacity while addressing operational costs related to energy consumption and site rental, Airtel Niger will enjoy efficient site upgrades and accelerated time-to-market of various services. Through the deployment, Airtel Niger will also have the capability to enhance both outdoor and indoor coverage for all mobile generations and build a significantly advanced and energy-efficient network.

Abdellatif Bouziani, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Niger says: ‘This collaboration with Ericsson is a big step in our mission to build a future-proof and a more sustainable network in Niger. With the deployment of Ericsson’s Radio 6626, we will be able to reduce operational expenditures significantly with lower power consumption, better site design, and with fewer radios without compromising network performance. The energy-saving features of the solution will lower our carbon dioxide emissions and will evolve our offerings to complement our sustainability ambitions.’

Todd Ashton, Vice President and Head of Ericsson South and East Africa at Ericsson Middle East and Africa says: ‘Radio 6626 will help Airtel Niger significantly increase the energy efficiency of the network infrastructure and launch new commercial connectivity services sustainably. With our state-of-the-art solution, Airtel Niger will benefit from faster rollout of services, achieve cost-efficiency, and provide a superior user experience to its customers across the country. In our mission to empower digitalization across Africa, we remain committed to modernizing existing infrastructures to increase energy efficiency and drive sustainability.’

This collaboration is the latest in Ericsson’s mission to foster sustainable growth and economic development in Africa. Through its highly compact and energy-efficient radio solution, Ericsson aims at providing communication service providers across the continent with access to cutting-edge products and solutions that empower a sustainable and connected Africa and keep #AfricaInMotion. Ericsson enables communications service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s portfolio spans the business areas Networks, Cloud Software and Services, Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Global Communications Platform, and Technologies and New Businesses. It is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency, and find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s innovation investments have delivered the benefits of mobility and mobile broadband to billions of people globally. Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York.

SOURCE: Market screener

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AirtelTechnology

Airtel partners with Tech Mahindra to deploy a captive private network

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Bharti Airtel has partnered with Tech Mahindra to deploy a captive private network at Mahindra & Mahindra’s Chakan facility, making it the first 5G-enabled auto manufacturing unit in India.

Under the strategic partnership, Airtel has deployed a ‘5G for Enterprise’ solution which has significantly enhanced Chakan’s network connectivity, resulting in improved speeds for software flashing, a critical operation for all vehicular dispatches.

Blazing hi-speeds and ultra-low latency now allow managers to undertake multiple software flashing sessions in parallel, which has resulted in reduced turn-around time for an operation, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Further, the computerized vision-based inspection is now fully automated resulting in improved paint quality.

Ajay Chitkara, director and CEO, of Airtel Business, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Tech Mahindra and Mahindra Auto to demonstrate this transformation and have made the Chakan manufacturing facility India’s first 5G enabled auto manufacturing unit. As the industry 4.0 paradigm gathers momentum, reliable data networks will prove to be a key differentiator in factory and manufacturing performances. This is just the beginning, and I am certain we will showcase many more innovative use cases that will help redefine manufacturing in India.”Manish Vyas, president, Communications, Media, and Entertainment Business, and CEO, of Network Services, at Tech Mahindra, said, “Our collaboration with Airtel is aimed at enhancing customer experience through digitally powered new-age platforms and solutions. We are confident that this partnership will help unlock opportunities across industries to improve productivity, drive intelligent network-led enterprise digitalization, and spur innovation.”

SOURCE: Mint news

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AirtelBusinessEconomyFinance & ServicesINVESTMENTNigeria

Lagos-based equity and Investment firm decries funding gap for women-led businesses

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

The Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital, a Lagos-based equity and investment company, Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, has complained about the funding gap women-focused businesses are grappling with.

She argued that businesses managed by women make up 40% of all small and medium enterprises in Africa.

In a press statement made available to The PUNCH, Rhodes pointed out that women regrettably received only 1% of startup capital, attributing this to the lack of female capital allocators in the region.

She said Aruwa Capital was creating funds to invest in innovative businesses that are founded or led by women.

She said, “Through its investment strategy, the fund aims to create more sustainable and scalable pathways for economic growth and inclusion in the region.

“The fund will invest $500,000 to $2.5m in women-focused small and growing businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, targeting investments in critical sectors such as healthcare, fintech, renewable energy, and essential consumer goods.”

ALSO READ: Airtel signs $194 million loan deal with IFC to boost African operations

Okunbo-Rhodes explained that Aruwa invests in innovative businesses, poised for scale, that provides essential goods and services to the rapidly expanding female economy, and businesses that are founded or led by women or have gender-diverse teams.

She further stated that the first institutional fund of the equity and investment company was oversubscribed and exceeded its expected target of $20m.

According to her, the fund has made six investments, committing over 45% of its capital into a diversified portfolio of rapidly growing companies.

SOURCE: Punch news

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AirtelBusinessEconomyFinance & ServicesMarketsNigeriaTechnology

Airtel signs $194 million loan deal with IFC to boost African operations

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Tuesday entered pact with Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC) to obtain $194 million credit to strengthen operations in six of its 14 African markets. IFC is a unit of the World Bank Group.

“The new financing facility is in line with Airtel’s Africa strategy to increase debt within its operating companies,” the telecom firm said in a Tuesday statement posted on the Nigerian Exchange website.

Airtel Africa, Nigeria’s biggest company by market value, in July settled senior notes of $450 million ahead of due May 2024 due date, cutting debt to $550 million as of September.

That pushed its leverage ratio down to 1.3x for the half year ended 30 September 2022 from 1.5x a year earlier.

The borrowing will be repaid over eight years and enables the wireless carrier to bolster operations and investments in Zambia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Niger, the first three being markets where it has acquired extra spectrum this year.

ALSO READ: NASENI to maintain Nigeria’s critical infrastructure

“Not only does it align with our focus on improving our balance sheet through localizing debt within our OpCos, but as we make progress on our sustainability journey it also supports our commitments and ability to meet strong ESG criteria,” CEO Segun Ogunsanya said of the new facility.

“I look forward to working closely with IFC in the coming years as we explore further opportunities to support the economies and communities where we operate.”

IFC, which as the biggest development institution in the world sees the private sector of developing economies as its investment target, is teaming up with Airtel Africa to deepen internet connectivity with the lower-income countries on the continent as their focus.

The credit is backed by joint financing from a coterie of institutional investors through IFC’s Managed co-lending portfolio program. The Zambian part of the IFC loan is “supported by the Local Currency Facility of the International Development Association’s (IDA) Private Sector Window.”

SOURCE: Premium

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AirtelBusinessMarketsNigeriaTechnologyUncategorized

Jumai CEOs Sacha piognonnec and jeremy hodara step down as firm suffers losses

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

The founders and co-Chief Executive Officers of Jumia Technologies, Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara, have both stepped down from their position with immediate effect.

This is as the Africa-focused e-commerce group is struggling with persistent losses and a slumping share price, Bloomberg reported.

According to a statement on Monday, Francis Dufay, who has held various leadership roles at Jumia since 2014, has been appointed as the acting CEO. It added that a search for a permanent replacement for the former leaders was underway.

In the statement, the Chairman, Jonathan Klein, said, “We want to bring more focus to the core e-commerce business as part of a more simplified and efficient organization with stronger fundamentals and a clearer path to profitability.”

ALSO READ: FIRS briefs MTN, Airtel and commercial banks on the collection of VAT

Poignonnec and Hodara were former colleagues at McKinsey & Co who founded Jumia in 2012 with a plan to introduce online retail and trading of goods to African markets.

The group, which operates out of Lagos, Nigeria, pursued expansion into the likes of food delivery but has yet to make a profit, Bloomberg noted.

Jumia listed in the US in 2019, and the shares have since lost 71% of their value. The stock slumped 13% as of 12:19 p.m. in New York.

SOURCE: Punch news

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AirtelBusinessMobile Telecommunications Network (MTN)NigeriaSpotlightTelecommunications

FIRS briefs MTN, Airtel and commercial banks on the collection of VAT

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has appointed telecommunications giants, MTN and Airtel, as well as commercial banks or deposit money banks in Nigeria to withhold Value Added Tax (VAT) charged on all taxable supplies made to them, and remit same to the agency. 

This is according to a statement from the Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman of FIRS on Media and Communication, Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, who backed this with a public notice issued on November 7, 2022, and signed by the Executive Chairman of the service, Muhammad Nami. 

Nami in the notice explained the role of the companies as well as the obligations of their suppliers with regards to the withholding of Value Added Tax. It takes effect on the 1st of January 2023. 

Excerpts of the Notice: Nami in the notice said, “This Notice is given to all persons carrying on trade, profession or business of any kind, tax practitioners and the general public that, with effect from 1st January, 2023; in line with the provisions of Section 14(3) of the Value Added Tax Act Cap. V1 LFN 2004 (as amended), the following companies are appointed to withhold or collect VAT charged on all taxable supplies made to them: MTN; Airtel; and all money deposit banks—as defined by the CBN Guidelines.” 

ALSO READ: Bank Zero announces launch of cash deposits, announces 2023 fees

On Remittance: The FIRS noted that these companies were expected to remit the tax they would withhold on or before the 21st day of the month immediately following the month the tax was withheld, in the format prescribed by the Service.

  • He said, “The companies shall remit the tax withheld or collected, in the currency of transaction, to the Service on or before the 21st day of the month immediately following the month the tax was withheld or collected.
  • “The tax withheld or collected under this notice shall be remitted in the format prescribed by the Service but separately from VAT due on the companies’ taxable supplies.” 

On claiming your VAT back: The notice further explained the options that were available to suppliers of these companies whose output tax is withheld. 

  • “A supplier whose output tax is withheld, as provided in this notice, may deduct the input tax paid on the goods purchased or imported to make the taxable supply from the output tax collected on other taxable supplies, 
  • “And where the input tax paid to make the supply is not fully recovered from the output tax on other taxable supplies, the balance is refundable to the supplier; provided that a supplier who is entitled to a refund may utilise the amount refundable to offset future VAT liability or request for a cash pay-out.’’ 

It further noted that the Service has instituted adequate measures to ensure prompt payment of refundable input tax under this arrangement, while also stating that input tax claims, which include refunds, are subject to the limitations imposed by Section 17(2)(a) of the VAT Act. 

SOURCE: Nairametrics

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AirtelBusinessEconomyINVESTMENTMarketsNigeria

Stock investors lose N3.28tn on their investment in three months

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Stock market investors on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited lost N3.28tn of their investment between August 1 and October 31, 2022.

The trading activities, which began with a market capitalisation of N27.163tn in August to close at N23.88tn as of October 31, 2022, shed a 12.09 per cent or N3.28tn in the three months under review.

The breakdown revealed that the stock market in October depreciated by N2.57tn as investors’ aggressive profit-taking in Airtel Africa and Dangote Cement Plc impacted the overall market capitalization and in September, the market depreciated by N430bn.

The market lost about N283bn in August. Consequently, the NSE All Share Index, which tracks the general market movement of all listed stocks, shed 12.24 per cent to close on October 31, 2022 at 49,024.16 basis points from 49, 950.32 basis points on August 1, 2022.

Further findings revealed that the stock price of Airtel Africa in three months has depreciated by N630.40 or 33.08 per cent to N1,275.00 per share, from N1,905.40 per share in August, while Dangote Cement stock price dropped to N220.50 per share in October, representing a decline of 16.8 per cent or N44.5 from N265 per share in August.

ALSO READ: Nigeria to requires N834tn to meet net zero target by 2060

A capital market analyst, who spoke with The Punch on the bearish performance within the period under review, stated that the capital market would not operate in isolation.

While speaking with The Punch in an interview, the President of PEARL Awards, Mr Tayo Orekoya, said the major factor contributing to the recent depreciation was the incessant increase in the benchmark interest rates.

According to him, “One major factor that has contributed to losses is the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate. The rates by the central bank were increased in May. It was 13 per cent by July 2014. By September, talked about 15.5 per cent.

“Naturally, you will see that investors would want to withdraw from equities markets to fixed income-yielding investments because there is a moderate risk on the fixed income investments. Of course, as much as the  MPR keeps going up, then you would expect that investors will move and that accounts for the loss in the equities market, in favor of the fixed income market.”

SOURCE: Punch news

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AirtelBusinessEconomyKenya NewsSafaricomTechnologyTelecommunications

Safaricom Customers To Keep lines Active For Up To Two Years Without Top Up

by Radarr Africa
written by Radarr Africa

Safaricom customers will now be able to keep their lines active for a period of up to two years without topping up.

This is after the telco unveiled the Daima service which will offer packages that range from six months to two years, allowing customers to keep their lines active during long periods of inactivity.

The service seeks to address the challenge of inactive lines for customers who may be traveling or living abroad for long periods, are away at school, or are away at police and army training.

Other customers are faced with a change of ownership of a line due to the loss of a loved one, others are inactive due to a car tracking service or have multiple lines that they wish to keep active.

According to the country’s telecommunication regulations, a customer needs to have used a provider’s service within the previous 90 days to be considered active. Telecommunication operators are required to reissue inactive customer lines.

“We are yet again innovating around our customers’ needs by introducing solutions such as Daima that are modelled around the lifestyles of our customers,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO.

ALSO READ: Auditor-General unearths Sh2.5 billion irregular pay at Kenya Power

Daima will offer three packages starting from Sh200 for six months, Sh500 for 1 year, and Sh 1,000 for two years. Each option will provide 20 minutes of calling time and 20 SMS across all networks every month.

Customers can access Daima by dialing *100*4# and selecting the Daima option and through the MySafaricom App in the coming weeks.

The new service comes barely two weeks after the Communication Authority of Kenya switched off unregistered lines seeing telcos lose some of their subscribers.

As of October 13, Safaricom was leading with the number of registered clients with 38 million (91 per cent) followed by Airtel 13.4 million (48 per cent) and Telkom Kenya 1.8 million (40 percent).

SOURCE: Capital business

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