Telecom company unveils plan to support digital innovations

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A Ugandan telecom company has unveiled a plan to support digital innovations and young creatives, aiming to empower entrepreneurs and drive technology-driven solutions for the country’s growing economy.

Talkio Mobile, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), says it is positioning itself as a key player in Uganda’s digital transformation by offering affordable mobile services while creating platforms that nurture innovation. The announcement was made during the launch of its new flagship service centre at Ntinda Complex in Kampala last week.

Edna Ayebare, the Legal and Compliance Officer at Talkio Mobile, stressed that the company’s approach goes beyond providing telecom services.

“We have an influencer program that caters to young people. If you have an innovative idea, you can come in and we can work with you, set you up, and collaborate or partner with you,” she explained.

Ayebare noted that many artists and creatives have raised concerns about the abuse of their rights and loss of intellectual property, adding that Talkio Mobile seeks to change that.

“Every single activity or deal we engage in is going to be documented. As a creative or influencer, you can be rest assured that every partnership with us will be legally documented and followed up in line with the country’s laws. Your creativity and your work will be protected under intellectual property rights.”

She added that although the company is focused on young innovators, there is no strict age limit.

“We are a young company, so automatically we are aiming for young creatives. But I don’t want to set a limitation. We have an open-door policy—whoever wants to work with us, we welcome you.”

Talkio Mobile’s CEO, Vianne Allan Ahura, emphasised that youth empowerment and digital innovation are at the heart of the company’s growth strategy.

“We want the youth to be involved; we want to employ young people. When you look at our service centres, we are employing young, energetic teams. We are also reaching out to universities, activating youth programs, and introducing AI programs in higher institutions of learning. The goal is to establish a development hub that will enhance IT skills among the youth,” he said.

Ahura added that artificial intelligence presents new opportunities for entrepreneurship beyond traditional ICT fields.

“With AI, you can create businesses—these don’t have to be strictly IT-based. What matters is creating something simple that customers can adopt. With our internet and IT platforms, the youth can develop innovative products that address real needs,” he explained.

The CEO also pointed to connectivity as a foundation for digital innovation, saying that connectivity across Uganda has improved from 2G to 5G, noting that the rollout aligns with government efforts to extend broadband infrastructure through the National Backbone Initiative.

Over the past decade, Uganda has made significant progress in extending fibre optic connectivity through the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project, spearheaded by the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U).

The initiative has seen over 4,000 kilometres of fibre laid across the country, connecting more than 600 government offices, schools, and institutions, and linking Uganda to regional networks in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The improved backbone has reduced internet costs for bulk buyers, increased reliability, and created new opportunities for telecom operators to deliver affordable broadband services to end-users.

Ahura said Talkio Mobile intends to leverage this national infrastructure to complement its own service rollout.

“The government’s investment in the backbone has created an enabling environment. With our network and service centres, we want to extend these benefits directly to the youth and innovators who need affordable, reliable connectivity to create and scale their ideas,” he explained.

The Ntinda Complex facility is designed to serve as a one-stop destination for Talkio Mobile services, offering instant SIM provisioning, eSIM solutions, and tailored data bundles, while also supporting enterprise clients. The company has also launched promotional campaigns for early adopters, including prize draws with smartphones and data bundles.

Talkio’s expansion builds on its partnership with Interswitch’s Quickteller agent network, which has already extended its reach to more than 20,000 locations nationwide. According to Ahura, the Ntinda centre signals a shift from agent-based services to company-owned customer hubs.

“Our partnership with Interswitch provided the foundation for our nationwide reach. Now, with dedicated service centres like Ntinda, we’re elevating the customer experience to match the quality and innovation of our network services,” Ahura added

The company plans to open additional service centres in Kampala and regional towns through 2025 and 2026 as part of its wider roadmap. These investments, Ahura said, will complement Uganda’s broader digital infrastructure progress and open new opportunities for innovators across the country.