Africa: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

South Africa's government directive mandates that all government data must reside within national borders when using cloud computing services, creating complex compliance challenges as modern cloud environments often involve cross-border data flows. This requirement forces government institutions and technology providers to carefully examine the entire data lifecycle, from storage and backup to access and processing, while ensuring compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.

The first half of 2026 brought transformative changes to global sport, from FIFA's landmark transfer system reform and CAF's controversial AFCON Final reversal to strengthened maternity protections and eligibility frameworks. In Nigeria, record funding commitments, institutional restructuring, and diaspora talent recruitment initiatives marked a pivotal shift, while landmark court rulings clarified regulatory authority over betting operators and footballer employment rights.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on road construction companies, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and adopt preventive measures to protect fibre-optic cables during road construction, rehabilitation and other civil works across the country. The NCC said damage to fibre infrastructure could disrupt essential services and impose significant costs on citizens and the wider economy, as communications infrastructure now supports banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security and emergency communications.