A mobile signal can reach a community while the internet remains out of reach for many people living there.

In its State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, launched on 15 September, GSMA says more than 3.4 billion people still do not use mobile internet. Most already live within mobile broadband coverage.

The report identifies handset affordability as the biggest barrier to adoption across surveyed low- and middle-income countries, followed by a lack of digital skills.

Its regional figures show that, at the end of 2025, an entry-level internet-enabled handset cost the poorest fifth of people in sub-Saharan Africa the equivalent of 76 per cent of their average monthly income. This is a regional finding, not a Zambia-specific estimate.

For Zambia, the report raises useful questions about device prices, digital skills and whether people can afford to keep using online services after buying a phone.

Network expansion matters. So does making connectivity usable for the people it is intended to reach.

Sources: GSMA connectivity report announcement, 15 September 2026

Illustrative photo by Paul Hanaoka / Unsplash. The person pictured is not identified as a participant in the GSMA research. Image source.

A new iPhone launch always generates excitement. For a buyer in Zambia, the useful question is what the changes mean in everyday use.

Apple announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on 9 September 2026. Its headline changes include a 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture, the A20 Pro chip, revised cooling and battery improvements.

Variable aperture gives the camera another way to control incoming light and depth of field. That could appeal to creators who want more flexibility when shooting photos and video.

Apple also promotes Siri AI and other software features, but says availability can vary by device, language and region. Manufacturer performance claims should be distinguished from independent testing.

For Zambian shoppers, the decision also involves the particular model being sold, network compatibility, warranty arrangements and access to repairs.

This article does not establish a verified Zambia retail price or official local launch date. A meaningful local comparison should use current seller quotes and clear warranty terms.

Before upgrading, compare the new capabilities with the tasks your existing phone already handles well.

Sources: Apple iPhone 18 Pro announcement, 9 September 2026

Image: Apple Newsroom, supplied with the iPhone 18 Pro announcement. Used for editorial coverage of the product. Image source.

An idea for cleaner energy, less waste or smarter farming could be the beginning of a Zambian business.

The Pachipanda Innovation Challenge 5.0 launched in Lusaka on 14 September 2026 under the theme “Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Zambia’s Green Economy”. The initiative brings together MTN Zambia Foundation, WWF Zambia and other partners to support young innovators.

According to the Ministry of Technology and Science, the fifth edition emphasises mentorship, incubation, skills development and helping participants move ideas towards commercially viable solutions.

Its focus includes renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, water conservation and other responses to environmental challenges.

The interesting story extends beyond a competition: can a locally developed solution attract customers, create work and solve a problem in its community?

For aspiring founders, the challenge is a useful programme to investigate. Anyone considering participation should check the organisers’ current eligibility requirements, application status and deadlines directly.

The strongest ideas will connect a clear local problem with a solution people can realistically use.

Sources: Ministry of Technology and Science launch report · MTN Pachipanda programme page

Illustrative photo by Jael Rodriguez / Unsplash. The person pictured is not identified as a Pachipanda participant. Image source.

Could tracking an application eventually become easier than chasing a paper file?

Zambia’s Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has directed government institutions to prioritise adoption of the Smart Office Platform. The directive was announced on 4 September during the platform’s commissioning and handover to Zambia Airports Corporation Limited.

SMART Zambia says the system is designed to improve records management, office workflows and service delivery. The National Coordinator was instructed to submit an onboarding progress report by the end of October.

Digital records and workflows could make documents easier to locate and administrative work easier to track. That is a potential benefit, rather than evidence that every participating office is already delivering faster services.

The practical test will involve staff training, reliable systems and measurable improvements for people using public services.

The October reporting deadline provides a useful checkpoint: which institutions have joined, what processes have changed, and are citizens receiving quicker responses?

Those answers will show how much the digital shift means outside government offices.

Sources: SMART Zambia: Smart Office adoption directive, 4 September 2026

Illustrative photo by Wesley Tingey / Unsplash. These are not records from a Zambian government office. Image source.

Imagine sending a message from a place where your phone usually loses signal, without carrying a satellite dish.

Airtel Africa’s press-release archive records the commercial launch of Starlink Mobile in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2026, following data and messaging tests in Kenya earlier in the year.

The underlying Direct to Cell technology lets specially equipped satellites communicate with LTE phones through partner mobile networks. Starlink describes the satellites as functioning like mobile towers in space, with access dependent on an approved market and participating operator.

For Zambia, the potential is compelling: another way to reach farmers, travellers and communities beyond ordinary mobile coverage.

However, the DRC announcement does not confirm a Zambia launch. As of 4 October 2026, the sources reviewed for this article do not establish local availability, pricing or supported services.

The development gives consumers a clear story to watch: whether satellite connectivity becomes part of their mobile service, and what it can actually do when it arrives.

Sources: Airtel Africa press releases · Starlink Direct to Cell technology overview

Illustrative photo by atelierbyvineeth / Unsplash. The photo does not show a satellite connection test. Image source.

A classroom’s next learning resource could arrive through a satellite connection.

Zambia’s three-year Connectivity and Digital Learning Programme aims to connect an initial 70 public schools to Starlink internet, with solar power solutions for schools operating off the electricity grid.

The partnership involves the Presidential Delivery Unit, Ministry of Education, Public Private Dialogue Forum and MySol Zambia Ignite Energy Access Zambia. PPDF’s September announcement says Chainda Primary and Secondary School is already connected, with another 69 public schools intended to follow.

For learners and teachers, the promise is practical: access to online educational materials, teacher development and opportunities to strengthen digital skills.

Making the connection useful will also require suitable devices, teacher support and dependable maintenance. Subscription costs and funding beyond the programme are important questions for the rollout.

The first connection offers a starting point. The next milestone is showing how the programme changes everyday learning as more schools come online.

Sources: PPDF programme announcement, 17 September 2026

Illustrative photo of solar panels in Chile by Antonio Garcia / Unsplash. This is not a photograph of the school programme. Image source.

Facebook on Tuesday made its largest single investment by putting $5.7 billion into Jio Platforms of India, an enormous bet on the developing market and a sign of how large tech companies are forging ahead in the pandemic.

Jio Platforms is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, one of India’s biggest multinational companies and a major provider of cellular and internet services in the country. The investment, which requires approval from competition regulators, would give Facebook a 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms, Jio said.

Facebook said the move indicated its commitment to India. More than 388 million people in India have been connected to the internet over the past four years through Jio, Facebook said.

“The country is in the middle of a major digital transformation, and organizations like Jio have played a big part in getting hundreds of millions of Indian people and small businesses online,” Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, said in a post to his Facebook page announcing the deal. “With communities around the world in lockdown, many of these entrepreneurs need digital tools they can rely on to find and communicate with customers and grow their businesses.”

Facebook is moving forward with strategic investments at a fragile time in the global economy. While many businesses have been hurt by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, large technology companies are positioned to benefit in the long run as more people turn to their services while sheltering indoors. Companies such as Apple, Alphabet and Facebook all have financial muscle to ride out a difficult period.

SOURCE: NY TIMES https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/technology/facebook-jio-india.html

ZAMTEL in partnership with the Examinations Council of Zambia and the Ministry of General Education have launched an interactive e-Learning portal and Smart Revision platform to ensure continued learning.

The launch of both the e-Learning and Smart Revision portals, which are a complete package for providing alternative and supplementary learning resources for learners comes when the Ministry of Education wants to bridge learning gaps due to the closure of schools in light of Covid-19.

The eLearning portal can be accessed at www.elearning.co.zm while Smart Revision can be accessed at www.smartrevision.co.zm and is free of charge during the current Covid-19 outbreak period.

The national e-learning portal is an electronic platform for educators and learners which has various educational resources such as e-books, links for specialised services and virtual library.

The Smart Revision portal is hosting ECZ past examination papers together with model answers and revision tips for grades sevent nine and twelve as well as General Certificate of Education (GCE) candidates.

The platform is meant to help learners in examination classes from Grade 7, 9 and 12 prepare for examinations.

General Education Minister David Mabumba launched the two online platforms in Kasama at Kasama College of Education on Monday and hailed Zambia for the innovation.

Mr Mabumba said the Ministry of General Education will endeavour to continue meeting the educational needs of the learners and continue taking quality education services as close to the learners as possible.

He said Government is elated that ECZ has leveraged the services and expertise offered by Zamtel, good example of how partnerships among government institutions can make use of public infrastructure to benefit the people of Zambia.

He commended Zamtel for zero rating the two services during the Covid-19 period describing the gesture by Zamtel as patriotic.

And Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said the launch of e-learning and Smart Revision is part of the digital journey that Zamtel has embarked on which has seen the company roll out a number of digital products on the market.

Mr Mupeta said the e-learning Platform contains rich educational resources including learning and teaching materials, eBooks, links to specialized services and virtual library.

He said the launch of e-learning and Smart Revision is part of the digital journey that Zamtel has embarked on which has seen the company roll out a number of digital products on the market.

“The launch of the e-learning and Smart Revision Platforms comes at a time when we are facing the challenges in the health sector which have forced the authorities to order the closure of all schools as a precautionary measure following the outbreak of Convid-19. With schools closed, the pupils can take advantage of these products to continue learning from their homes by accessing content online,” he said.

“The launch of these two products also speaks to the promotion of social distancing as a way of preventing the spread of Convid-19,” Mr Mupeta said.

Meanwhile, ECZ Director Michael Chilala said the e-Learning and Smart Revision portal completes the circle of e-education services that the Council is providing to learners.

He said the two platforms are the latest innovations that the Council has implemented after the successful roll out of the SMS results release and the online registration of candidates and the most recent e-statement of results taking away the paper based exam statements.

While we are facing a challenging time with the spread of COVID-19, staying connected with family, friends, colleagues, and business partners has never been more important. As Zambia’s No. 1 telecommunications provider, MTN Zambia in partnership with Simfy Africa, has today announced the launch of an instant messaging Application called ‘Ayoba’ that will be available to all android users and will allow customers to stay connected, chat and share media files at no cost.

Ayoba is a free instant messaging app, available for Android devices downloadable from the Google play store. The Ayoba App comes with the added benefit that allows customers to connect with anyone regardless of whether they have the Ayoba App or not. Ayoba will allow customers to securely send and receive text messages, voice messages, videos, images, audio and other files with any of their contacts, using their mobile device.

Commenting on the launch, MTN Zambia CEO, Mr. Bart Hofker said, “As we continue to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world for our customers, we are introducing this Ayoba messaging App, the first of its kind in Zambia which will contribute to bridging the digital gap as well as provide our customers with a superior customer service. Ayoba is an exceptional new product that combines innovation, high end encryption security with convenience of service to ensure that we provide our customers with utmost satisfaction in terms of their digital experience.”

Mr. Hofker also noted that, “2020 has not been an easy year so far especially with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is easy for people to get discouraged in these moments and to look for relief from their anxiety. That is why we are offering our customers a chance to experience a brighter side of life during these dark times by embracing the use of our innovative products and services such as Ayoba and MusicTime to stay connected with their friends and loved ones and also stay entertained.”

MTN Zambia Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Seun Soladoye revealed that, “Our customers that download the Ayoba App will download it for free and will not be charged for data and SMS from the Ayoba App. The FREE data usage on Ayoba applies to all our customers from the moment that they install the App for the first time. After the first three (3) months free data usage on Ayoba, our customers can subscribe for Ayoba bundle as low as K1 and be able to stay connected with friends and loved ones through instant messaging and sharing of media files like pictures, music, videos and also the sharing of real time location with Ayoba contacts.

Ayoba can be downloaded from the Google play store or from the App website at www.ayoba.me.

SOURCE: TECH TRENDS ZAMBIA https://www.techtrends.co.zm/mtn-zambia-launches-ayoba-an-instant-messaging-app/