East African Business Week

Kampala, Uganda — When the idea of 'hanging out' is mooted in any discussion, very often than not, relaxing in a certain location with a group of friends just catching up is what springs out.

However on Google+, Hangout is a video-conference that allows you to connect with people in different locations. This is a feature that has the potential to change the way businesses communicate.

Dar es Salaam — The much awaited Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) that is aimed at ensuring and monitoring the movements and safety of cargo started operations on July 1 this year after a three months trial.

Speaking exclusively to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week the Acting Director-Taxpayers Service Mr. Allan Kiula said that ECTS, a system which is being overseen by Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has been on trial in order to prove its capability and safety of consignments in Tanzania.

Umeme recently launched bill payments by Mobile Money together with real-time bank reconciliations, meaning that customers will be able to avoid disconnections caused by delayed payment reconciliations.

Tanzanian government will soon investigate and report back to the national assembly about the stands of ownership of the local mobile phone operator MIC Tanzania Ltd, Tigo.

This comes following the pressure from some members of Parliament who wanted to know why Tigo Tanzania Ltd is wholly owned by foreigners which is contrary to the laws of the country specifically EPOCA Act of 2010.

The entry of Airtel Uganda into the Mobile Money platform is set to generate renewed innovativeness that could yet again send ripples across Uganda's telecom sector.

Early last week, Airtel launched it's mobile money platform dubbed 'Airtel Money' that will enable Ugandans to access liquid cash and convert it to e-money in order to pay bills and accounts, top up mobile credit and receive money across the country's telecom networks.

Airtel Uganda has suspended plans to stop accepting inbound calls from Uganda Telecom following intervention from the government.

Airtel has been in dispute with Uganda Telecom for some time over a US$2.3 million debt that Telecom is struggling to pay.

The publicly-owned Tanzania Telecommunications Limited (TTCL) is seeking a US$214.67 million credit facility, as it plans to enter into the third privatization attempt.
Reports from the TTCL workers’ union revealed last week that an unnamed Vietnamese firm has shown interest in buying the country's telecoms back bone firm.

This will be the third privatization attempt after the first two that ended miserably for Tanzania as the two firms bought in failed to meet agreed terms and scope of work and business targets.