technology & convergence

- In Mauritius, a large share of broadband Internet is used to download movies.
According to a survey conducted by DCDM Research on the use of the web by the Mauritian population, 30% of the bandwidth is utilised for audio and video files.
Of the 800 respondents, it appears that 54.8% download movies occasionally, 41.8% watch videos online regularly, 43.6% download music, 28.1% share files with other users regularly and 71% of frequent social networks.
Mauritius Telecom made the same observations as Emtel.

At the end of 2012, Owolabi wrote the following:
Startimes move provides mobile digital TV service to portable handset in Africa, such as mobile phone, MP4, GPS, PC, camera and other small electronic devices with small screen.

Startimes Move subscriber can watch 12 digital TV channels which include, News, Movies, Entertainment and lot more.

Startimes Move Bouquets (Mobile digital TV Bouquet)

Emerging markets are becoming integral participants of the global economy. The rapid growth in these markets is pushing businesses towards adapting and creating products and service offerings to cater for such markets - across all industries and sectors.

Recent Forbes research highlights that the expected growth in emerging markets is estimated at a rate of two or three times faster than developed nations such as the United States.

The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting technology in Tanzania has started to accrue benefits since it was decided to migrate in phases from last December.

The Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Professor Makame Mbarawa revealed over the weekend in Dar es Salaam when talking to a delegation from Zambia who visited the ministry to learn how Tanzania successfully migrated to the digital system.

In Senegal, public TV channels RTS1  and SN2 are now available live on RTS’ website. The upgraded website also provides video archives, podcasts and live RSI radio. The portal is linked to Facebook.

As part of the activities put in place to better connect Nigerian consumers, StarTimes, one of the leading pay digital TV providers in Nigeria, has unveiled StarTimes M50 Mobile TV Phone and the launch of its free door-to-door service. The company has also unveiled its plans to invest N15billion and create 8,000 jobs in the market.

Apple TV is available in South Africa.

Core Group, the official distributors of Apple products in South Africa, announced that the highly anticipated Apple TV device will be made available to customers in South Africa on 18 January 2013.

The highly anticipated Apple TV device will be made available for customers in South Africa (image: Apple)

OSN showcased its latest innovative offerings to the Minister of Information and Communications at the opening of InfoConnect 2013.

OSN, the pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, presented its latest innovative offerings to the Minister of Communications and Information, HE Salem Al-Uthaina earlier today as he inaugurated InfoConnect 2013.

The final regulations governing South Africa’s migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television will ultimately make spectrum available for broadband applications.

The final regulations governing South Africa’s migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television were gazetted on 14 December 2012 and will ultimately make spectrum available for broadband applications.

- 16 Jan. 2013: Satellite operator Eutelsat has chosen technology provider Harmonic’s ProStream 1000 stream processing and transcoding platform to help deliver DTH services in Africa.

- The African Movie Channel has launched an app for the iPad, a video-on-demand channel on the Roku platform and a revamped on-demand portal. End 2012

- Made in Africa website  offers the ability to exchange comments about TV programmes.