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The TechAfrica News podcast 
where we dive deeper into the stories behind Africa’s digital transformation.
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We focus on the core forces reshaping the continent: connectivity and infrastructure, emerging technologies, digital health, financial innovation, and the evolving tech ecosystem.
Each episode offers clear-eyed insights into the breakthroughs and challenges defining Africa’s digital landscape. Expect candid discussions, expert analysis, and real stories that reveal the true impact of technology on Africa’s growth and future.
Produced in partnership with SmartAfrica, this podcast connects you to the essential conversations shaping Africa’s digital future.
LATEST EPISODES
EP.09 | PortaOne on Africa’s Telecom Shift: MVNO Models, Market Gaps, and IoT Opportunities
In this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara, engages in an interesting conversation with Roman Khalenkov, Chief Commercial Officer at PortaOne, to explore the shifting telecom terrain in Africa. With over 20 years of cross-disciplinary experience,  Khalenkov brings a sharp, systems-level perspective to one of the continent’s most active, yet misunderstood, sectors.Â
Drawing from PortaOne’s work, Khalenkov unpacks how regulatory asymmetries, uneven market liberalisation, and outdated assumptions continue to shape telecom outcomes across African countries. How can MVNOs carve out space and thrive? And what does it take to move from basic infrastructure to intelligent, integrated service delivery?
Talking Points
- 00:30Mobile-First Africa and the Pace of Innovation
- 04:45Market Structure, MVNO Potential, and Regulatory Barriers
- 09:27Building Successful MVNOs: Models and Missteps
- 13:35Customer Experience and the Power of Integration
- 20:37IoT in Africa
- 26:48AI in Telecoms: Not Yet a Game Changer
LISTEN TO OUR EPISODES
Coming up
14/07/25
Roman Khalenkov, PortaOne
28/07/25
Stefan Steffen
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About the Podcast
We started the TechAfrica News Podcast to go beyond the headlines and bring a human voice to the stories we cover every day. With so much innovation happening across the continent, we wanted a space where leaders, experts, and changemakers could speak directly—sharing perspectives, experiences, and strategies in their own words. It’s our way of making the fast-moving world of African tech more accessible, more personal, and more real.
About Smart Africa
Smart Africa is a pan-African alliance of 39 member states, international organizations, and private sector partners committed to driving Africa’s digital transformation. Launched with the vision of creating a single digital market, Smart Africa works to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development by fostering innovation and advancing digital policy harmonization.
Smart Africa plays a leading role in shaping the continent’s digital future—empowering governments, businesses, and citizens to thrive in the digital age.
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