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WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday. 
ISSUE NO 150 VISA’S STUART BROCKLEHURST ON AFRICAN E-COMMERCE AND PAYMENT SYSTEMSE-commerce was meant to be the thing that was going to transform Africa’s trade with the rest of the world. The practice has fallen some way short of the theory. But African e-commerce is actually worth US$31 million a year, of which US$30 million is from South Africa. News Update’s e-commerce correspondent Cordelia Salter-Nour talks to Stuart Brocklehurst, VISA’s President, Development, CEMEA region. The division of which you are part covers Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). Part of your special focus is on ecommerce in Africa. How do you view the state of e-commerce in Africa? How successful is it so far and what are the main challenges ahead? The state of e-commerce in Africa mirrors the position globally. A while ago, it was seen as the answer to everything - it would propel Africa forward economically as the Internet destroyed the barriers to trade and allowed the continent to leapfrog other markets which were weighted down with legacy technology. As with much of the hype surrounding the web boom, this has not been realised, but equally the despondency which has followed more recently has been ill placed. There are a number of businesses from Accra to Addis Ababa and from Cairo to the Cape which are thriving, enriching the lives of their customers and delivering a small but steady contribution to economic growth. What level of e-commerce business would you estimate that is taking place on the continent using VISA in round terms? Including South Africa and excluding South Africa? Through our systems we’re seeing $30m a year from South Africa and about $1m a year from the rest of the continent. For the most part ecommerce is still firmly tied to the need to have some form of plastic credit card. In your view is e-commerce ever going to be liberated from plastic and if so, how and when? It’s the nature of doing business virtually that cash just doesn’t cut it. Electronic trade requires the electronic transfer of funds, and the most widely held and accepted form of electronic payment is that driven by the number on a Visa card. With 1.2 billion cards accepted at over 20 million locations thanks to a system which at peak times processes 6,000 transactions a second and has only had eight minutes of downtime in the last ten years - it becomes a natural fit. How ready is the African banking system ready for the challenge of ecommerce? Accepting e-commerce transactions is not for the faint-hearted. In the physical world volumes tend to move gently up or down, but ecommerce volumes can swing around wildly, creating significant exposure for acquiring banks. Amongst African banks, many have good understanding of e-commerce and are offering high quality, often innovative services - but equally, many others do not at present have the capital, the systems or the experience to engage in this type of business. Is it currently possible for a business based in sub-Saharan Africa to get VISA merchant status allowing them to take online payments? Yes, absolutely, and many do - but it’s not yet as easy as I’d like it to be. This links back to the banks - there are a number of banks in Africa which can help out, but they’re not spread around evenly and in some parts of the continent it can be tough finding one which can help. Is VISA thinking of developing its own payment systems to open up online credit purchases to a wider group of people? We’re passionately committed to expanding the benefits of formal payments services to ever more consumers, businesses, merchants and indeed economies. This is not necessarily through credit products, though. Debit cards are often the best introduction into payments. All Visa cards can be used for online purchases providing the issuing bank allows it. On your website it says the most popular card in the CEMEA region is Visa Electron (70% of your total card base) which is suitable for cardholders with little or no banking history. What is the uptake of the Electron card in sub-Saharan African countries? Very rapid - there are now 486,000 in Zimbabwe, 357,000 in Kenya, 217,000 in Botswana, 70,000 in Namibia, 22,000 in Seychelles. The Electron card is the ideal introduction to electronic payments and its widespread adoption across Africa is indicative of this. VISA introduced a "chip off-line pre-authorized card" (COPAC) in Ghana through the Standard Chartered Bank in 2000. What has the uptake of this card been like in Ghana, which other African countries has it been launched in and how is it doing? Visa is strongly committed to offline payments - and also to open standards. COPAC was based on a proprietary platform developed before the industry had agreed a common approach to smartcards. Currently we’re working to migrate our offline product over to the generic "EMV" platform upon which almost all Payment smartcards are based, which will provide it with far wider application. Visa International CEMEA (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa) web address: http://www.corporate.visa.com/av/regions/cemea.shtml The author Cordelia Salter-Nour runs eShopAfrica.com
GHANAIANS ABROAD TO SET UP ALTERNATIVE TELECOM NETWORKA team of communication experts including Ghanaians living abroad have applied to the National Communication Authority (NCA) for a license to provide an alternative Nationwide Telecommunication Network in Ghana. The new network would be competing with the Ghana Telecom and Western TeleSystems. In a briefing on the alternative telecommunications network, Bing Aidoo, Chief Executive of One Dial Communications, Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Business Desk in Accra that One Dial will introduce fixed and mobile wireless communication infrastructure and service in conjunction with its joint venture partner, Star Communication of the USA. "This would be a simple, affordable and efficient communication service to each region in Ghana offering the largest consumer market for voice, data, and Internet service in a growing world of satellite communication technology." He said the team is poised to redefine how business is carried out and establish a system in Ghana, which would be an adjunct to the Multi-National Single Communication Network in Africa. Mr Bing was keen to bring the deal to Ghana and urged government and other stakeholders to make it work since it holds the potential of creating employment for over 600 employees nationwide. Mr Bing said the transaction would represent the largest wireless backbone with substantial gateways to allow speed and uninterrupted wireless communication network within and outside Ghana. He said the Multi-nation Communication Network would enable One Dial Communication, Ghana, to negotiate better pricing and delivery arrangements. "Areas that would benefit immensely are the internet, financial service arrangements to deliver goods and services, including dedicated and secured networks, ATM’s including other point of delivery, applications for government and the consumer market," adding that, " our network would operate effectively on 400 and 1,900 band with our specific equipment designed by Huawei and other Chinese and Canadian equipment manufacturers. Mr Bing told the GNA that their alternative would not hurt the Ghana telecom or Westel, "it would rather improve the services of the two current operators and provide consumers with efficiency and affordability. Access to Internet would be more affordable and subscribers and café operators would no longer be charged twice. "A fixed fee for the telephone line, which goes to the ISP would be negotiated between the ISP and the national communication carrier, he added. REGULATOR FINES TELKOM KENYA SH110 MILLION FOR POOR PERFORMANCESwamped with complaints about the performance of Telkom Kenya, the telecommunications industry regulator seems to be laying down the law at last. The Communications Commission of Kenya slapped a Sh110 million penalty on the state firm for failing to comply with the conditions of its various trade licences in the 2001/02 period. It was also reportedly considering seeking court action over a pending Sh58 million in penalties arising from Telkom’s 2000/01 performance. The CCK has also recommended that Telkom be stripped of its monopoly in the provision of long distance fixed line telephony and that a second national operator be licensed. "In view of non-compliance, the commission recommends to the government the need to licence a second national operator to offer effective competition to Telkom so as to improve service delivery. "If competition is not introduced, the firm’s dismal performance will considerably delay the government’s telecommunication rollout targets as set out in the Sector Policy Statement," says a board paper prepared last month and obtained by BusinessWeek. The regulator recommends the licensing of a second Internet backbone service provider to compete with it. Already, some two firms ­ Afsat Communications and another fronted by a number of major ISPs called Fast Lane ­ have applied for licensing. Even then, such applications will have to wait for a Gazette notice by Transport and Communications Minister John Michuki overturning Telkom’s monopoly. TANZANIAN INTERCONNECT DISPUTE TAKES A STEP FORWARDHopes for fair cellphone interconnection rates have now been raised, as the first stage of tender evaluation is over, the Tanzania communication Commission (TCC) has confirmed. Due to the urgency with which the study is required, an internationally recognized consultancy firm with experience in at least three similar assignments, one being in a developing country would be eligible for the tender according to the specifications set by the TCC. Some analysts in the sector noted that the current interconnection rates were quite high compared to the costs incured by the companies. (source: IPP) KENYA’S SAFARICOM, ADTEL TARGET THE LOWER NICHE MARKETKenya’s leading mobile phone operator, Safaricom, plans to venture into the community telephone services to tap the lower end market. Joining forces with Adtel Phone Company, Safaricom hopes to cash in on the huge untapped market through its low priced services-a key selling factor designed to woo the low income group. The new facility, the firm says, is a business tool to be used for over-the-counter reselling of telephone calls, fax and data services. "The community telephone is a ready-to-go business model that provides a connection point for a standard telephone, fax machine and PC," according to senior officials of the two firms". The firm said unavailability of power will hardly affect operations since the community phone can be powered by the electricity or car battery. To re-load airtime in the new unit, the operator is required to deposit the required amount of money in the Adtel Bank account, then the customer service personnel remotely updates the credit via SMS to the community telephone once payment has been received. The credit updated by SMS will include the customer’s mark up. Once the credit has been updated, the operator can proceed to make calls. Airtime for this new phone service is purchased for as low as Sh15.50 and sold to customers at Sh20 for calls to Safaricom lines. Calls to KenCell and fixed lines are charged at Sh25 per minute. It is believed that an hour’s worth of airtime generates up to Sh270 profit. (source: Financial Standard) IN BRIEF- Nigeria signed a deal on Tuesday last week with Dutch telecoms consortium Pentascope for the management of its troubled national phone carrier Nitel for an initial three-year period. - Telecom Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have signed a five-year frame agreement with Nortel Networks - estimated at approximately US$60 million - for expansion and modernization of Egypt’s national telecommunications infrastructure. - An estimated 100 Telkom Kenya Limited technicians in Nakuru region, downed their tools yesterday demanding the removal of the company’s managers. They demanded the sacking of Managing Director, Augustine Cheserem, Human Resource manager, G K Gakure and the regional manager, Ali Hassan Boya. They called on the Anti-Corruption Police Unit to investigate alleged embezzlement of company funds in Nakuru. - Former workers retrenched by the Zimbabwean state-controlled Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) in 2000 staged a sit in at all PTC premises until they are paid their terminal benefits. - The Uganda Communications Commision (UCC) has raised about sh4.4b from the 1% levy on communications operators. The money was accumulated from the 1% levy of the annual gross income from all the major communication players.
ISPA LODGES TELKOM ANTI-COMPETITIVE COMPLAINT WITH ICASAThe Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has lodged a complaint with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) regarding a number of unfair and anti-competitive business practices undertaken by Telkom. The complaint deals with Telkom’s roll out of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) services, the BestFriends and SurfMore call packages, the bundling of VSAT service with Telkom’s Cybertrade product range and the anti-competitive bundling of competitive services with monopoly services. The launch of Telkom’s ADSL service last year was shrouded in secrecy, and lacked consultation with the Internet industry. While ISPA wholeheartedly supports the roll-out of broadband technologies like ADSL, Telkom’s refusal to provide information to ISPs prior to the launch of the service provided Telkom’s ISP division (Telkom Internet) with an unfair advantage over other ISPs. In addition, the lack of consultation has lead to a suboptimal mechanism for the delivery of ADSL service. This means that there is less choice for the consumer and a more limited ADSL service is available than in other countries. Telkom has chosen to deploy ADSL in such a manner that the DSLAM units at Telkom exchanges are shared between all upstream service providers. These are then connected with the authentication server through a shared link on the Telkom ATM network at centralised regional sites. There has been no attempt to ensure that the upstream provider is able to ensure service levels over these links. The upstream ISP is also expected to cover the cost of the link between the authentication server and the ISP’s network. Telkom’s ISP is co-located with the authentication servers and thus has a unfair cost advantage in this competitive sector of the telecommunications market. ISPA believes that ISPs should be able to locate their own DSLAM units at Telkom’s exchanges, removing any need to rely on Telkom’s IP network to relay the ISP’s customer’s information and reducing Telkom’s anti-competitive cost advantage. Telkom’s Cybertrade product range combines electronic commerce services with a range of access solutions, including analogue telephone ines, ISDN connections and ADSL. One of these products includes a ‘CyberSat’ access options, which is asymmetric satellite access via a VSAT earth station, an access mechanism not readily available to other non-Telkom ISPs. ISPA supports the roll-out of alternative access technologies such as VSAT, but believes that Telkom should not enjoy a monopoly on the provision of Internet access using VSAT. Other ISPs must be afforded the opportunity to provide VSAT access services to their commercial and residential clients. In August 2002, Telkom launched the SurfMore call package, which aims to provide Internet users with reduced call charges to ISPs. While ISPA supports any initiative to bring down the costs of connecting customers to ISPs, Telkom used the launch of the SurfMore package as an opportunity to unfairly market Telkom Internet. The initial advertising campaign for SurfMore gave the impression that SurfMore was only available if Telkom Internet’s services were used. Telkom also enjoys an unfair advantage through its ability to bill for competitive Internet access services on the same bill it uses for voice services. In many other jurisdictions, such practice is not permitted by the regulator. To ensure fairness, ISPA believes that Telkom should be required to make it clear to a consumer signing up for the SurfMore calling plan, that they have a choice of Internet service providers. Telkom should also be required to separate their billing for competitive and non-competitive services. The BestFriends calling plan, a new service included in Telkom’s rate filings for 2003, gives telephone customers the ability to select several commonly called numbers. The customer enjoys reduced call charges to those numbers. In the definition of the BestFriends calling plan filed with ICASA, Telkom specifically excludes calls to ISPs. It is ISPA’s view that excluding a particular type of business from benefitting from a call plan is an unfair and discriminatory practice. Including calls to ISPs in the BestFriend calling plan would be a welcome additional step in reducing the costs of Internet access for South African consumers. KENYANS TO ENJOY HIGH SPEED DATA SERVICE FROM JUNEKenyans could soon begin enjoying high speeds in data transmission following the licensing of a local company to provide public wireless data services. SimbaNet plans to start offering the full range of services by June, this year. According to the company, the technology affords speeds of up to 11 megabytes per second (mbps) in ideal circumstances, which is equivalent to 200 times faster than the speed of current conventional digital lines, according to Ms Jacqueline Wanyande, the SimbaNet Com Ltd’s corporate solutions consultant. Initially, the new service will target high-end corporate customers. The data will be beamed on a frequency alloted to the firm by the CCK, and what a customer would need is a special antenna and radio set to receive and relay the data. (source: http://www.nationaudio.com ) IN BRIEF- Guinea hosted the fourth annual Internet Fiesta. Organised by the Friends of the Future, its President asked why celebrate the internet in Guinea? According to Katy Sensy, there were several reasons including: the number of internet users; the proliferation of cyber-cafes and the number of Guinean web pages has increased, if only slightly. - South African ISP DataPro, has announced a new solution that will give government departments and local councils the ability to satisfy their overall Internet connectivity requirements.
MICROSOFT SOUTH AFRICAN AD PULLED BY ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTOHRITYThe Advertising Standards Authority of SA (ASA) has ordered that a Microsoft ad implying that its software will bring about the extinction of the hacker is to be pulled for being "unsubstantiated and misleading". The ad under the spotlight. Its caption states: ‘Microsoft software is carefully designed to keep your company’s valuable information in, and unauthorised people and viruses out. Which means that your data couldn’t really be safer, even if you kept it in a safe. Which is great news for the survival of your company. But tragic news for hackers.’ An objection was lodged by freelance journalist Richard Clarke, in his personal capacity, who complained that the advert was untrue. He claimed Microsoft software is littered with vulnerabilities. The advert depicts a dodo, a woolly mammoth, a sabre tooth tiger and a hacker. The caption claims that not everyone benefits from Microsoft software and that with it, a customer’s data couldn’t be safer even if it was kept in a safe. It was published in the November issues of ITWeb Brainstorm and Time Magazine. "Microsoft’s software is littered with vulnerabilities," Clarke says in his submission. (source: http://www.itweb.co.za) ZAMBIAN COMPANY FINED FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE PIRACYThe Lusaka High Court has ordered Amanita Premium Oils to pay Microsoft $13, 901 for illegal use of windows and office programmes on 30 computers. Microsoft market development partner-Zambia George Mudenda confirmed the court action in a statement which was passed on January 29 in the country’s first software piracy case. Microsoft’s legal representatives first took the matter to court in January 2001 after an audit report which indicated the illegal use of windows and office programmes on 30 computers by Amanita.Amanita was also instructed to pay 10 per cent interest per annum on the amount from the date the action was initiated. It would also be responsible for microsoft legal costs. (source: Times of Zambia) DIREQLEARN OPENS FOR BUSINESS IN NIGERIAThe Minister of Education, Prof Babalola Borisade last week formally commission the offices of education technology solutions provider, DireqLearn Nigeria Limited in Abuja. Also expected at the commissioning are the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr Bangumzi Sifingo, ministers, and stakeholders in education and Information and Communications Technology. DireqLearn signaled its entry into Nigeria with its award as the prime contractor in fulfillment of the SchoolNet Nigeria Digi-Net Project. This significant intervention aims to equip 35 schools throughout Nigeria with state of the art equipment and VSAT Internet access, provide educational content, train teachers and provide a long-term plan for sustainability. IN BRIEF- Alvarion, the wireless broadband solutions provider has signed an agreement to acquire InnoWave, the global leader of fixed wireless wideband services.Alvarion,is represented in South Africa by Comztek. - Storgate Africa has entered into an agreement which will see it become a fully authorised local distributor of LSI Logic’s complete range of board-level products, including Raid storage adapters, SCSI and Fibre Channel host bus adapters. - Acer Computer (M.E.) Ltd. last week announced plans to increase the size and scope of its highly-successful Acer Certified Sales Professional (ACSP) program for Egypt.In expanding the program, Acer aims to equip regional channel sales personnel with world-class levels of customer service and product knowledge training. - Rocky Mountain Technology Group, a US based information technology firm plans to create a Cyber City in Kampala that will develop infrastructure, train people, data process and export software from Uganda. The Group will also develop an information technology networks for the Government ministries and departments.
MSI RAISES US$117M TO INTENSIFY ITS BATTLE AGAINST VODACOM AND MTNPan-African cellular network operator MSI has raised another US$117m to fund its expansion, with immediate plans to intensify its battle against SA cellular companies MTN and Vodacom. MSI’s first move could see it go head-to-head with MTN in Kenya, where a 60% stake in the Kencell operator is up for grabs. MSI will also escalate its war with Vodacom in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the two are direct rivals. The latest cash injection was "quite an amazing achievement", given the precarious state of the telecommunications sector, said MSI’s chief strategic officer, Terry Rhodes. Of the money, US$109m is a loan from ING Bank and Standard Bank in London. Topping it up is a sixyear unsecured loan of US$8m, the first loan ever made by the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, with backers including the Development Bank of Southern Africa. MSI last raised money in September 2001, drawing in $120m to beef up its operations in 13 African countries. The company was last seen in SA during the battle to become the third cellular operator, as part of the defeated Khuluma 084 consortium. Despite not winning a foothold in SA, it has not lost its appetite for tackling MTN and Vodacom in other territories. "We have reached a point where all our operations are self-sufficient and we have 1,25-million customers," said Rhodes. Its results due soon for financial 2002 should show a profit before tax and amortisation, although the bottom line is not yet profitable. "This extra money is to help us grow faster to compete with Vodacom in Tanzania and ... (Congo) to make acquisitions," said Rhodes. He confirmed that both MSI and MTN have carried out due diligence on Kencell, where a 60% stake held by the debt-ridden European operator Vivendi is for sale. Kencell is 40% held by the local Sameer Group and is Kenya’s second largest cellphone operator, with 600,000 subscribers. MTN has been asked to bid for the stake in partnership with a Kenyan financial house, ICDC In vestment. ICDC and MTN previously worked together as joint bidders for the second Kenyan licence before they were beaten by Vivendi. Now the victorious Vivendi is scaling back its costly foreign activities and its stake is on the market. However, since the buyer will inherit the Sameer Group as its local partner, Rhodes said there was no need for a foreign operator to team up with local investors. "We will bid for the 60% by ourselves and I think MTN would also want the whole 60%. It’s going to be an interesting battle," he said. "Kencell isn’t yet profitable and it has more than $250m in debt, all provided by Vivendi, and they are looking for a buyer to take that on. The two serious contenders are us and MTN." The bid for Kencell will prove a sizable commitment for any operator, including MSI with its newfound wealth. (source: Business Day) NITEL OWES MTN AND ECONET N2.9 BILLIONNITEL is indebted to MTN Communications Nigeria and Econet Wireless Nigeria to the tune of about N2.9 billion. It was learnt that the debt is for the settlement of calls terminated on the GSM networks from NITEL’s fixed lines network between July 2002 and December 2002. Confirming the development, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Afam Edozie, said that the over N2.9 billion was inclusive of the 20 per cent outstanding from the settlement of the voices of calls terminated on the mobile network from NITEL fixed lines from August 2001 to June 2002 bills. It was learnt that out of the N2.9 billion, MTN is owed about N1.6 billion for calls terminated on its network by subscribers of NITEL while Econet is owed N1.3 billion. Though Edozie who spoke with The Guardian in a telephone interview admitted that his firm was being owed over N1 billion by NITEL, he was silent on the actual figure, saying he could not confirm the details of the invoices. He disclosed that the invoices for the bills had been sent to NITEL since January but that till now there was no indication of a possibility of paying the debt by the national carrier. MTN and Econet have forwarded the details of the call records so as to facilitate the account settlement from NITEL’s end. But the invoices, which were accompanied by the details of the call record since they were sent in January, have not received any positive response from NITEL. An investigation revealed that the delay in getting a positive response across to the private operators (MTN and Econet) is not unconnected with the move by government to privatise NITEL that has led to the appointment of a management contractor. Also, NITEL on its part appears not to be convinced enough that the bill is actually the figures claimed by the GSM operators. To this end, NITEL, according to sources is carrying out an in-house verification and comparison of the invoices sent by both MTN and Econet as the private operators themselves are also owing NITEL for calls terminated on NITEL’s network from the GSM network. Following unending wait for a positive response, the GSM operators have now appealed to the Communications Minister, Dr. Halilu Bello Mohammed and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for their intervention. The NCC on its part invited all parties to a meeting last month where it directed NITEL to settle their accounts with the GSM operators as soon as possible. But nearly one month after, nothing seems to have happened. In his response, the Corporate Affairs Manager for Econet Wireless Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Opara, said that despite entreaties made to NITEL over the need to urgently settle the bill, nothing positive had happened. NITEL’s Deputy General Manager, Public Relations, Tayo Ekundayo, in an interview with The Guardian acknowledged that they had received invoices from the GSM operators. He, however, noted that such invoices would have to be screened to compare with the records of NITEL. "You don’t expect us to supply because they sent invoices claiming an amount as being owed them, then we just go ahead and pay. We have to cross-check with our own invoices for clarification," he stated. According to Ekundayo, what NITEL is owing the GSM operators is being exaggerated while little is only said about what the GSM operators are owing NITEL. "We are also owed by the GSM operators because it is a two-way affairs while subscribers from NITEL’s fixed lines network call into their networks, their subscribers also call into our network," he said. It took the intervention of the Presidency which mandated the minister of communications to direct NITEL to settle the August 2001 to June 2002 bills before NITEL agreed to pay 80 per cent of the total amount. This time around, it may also require the same measure. Already subscribers to both networks stand the risk of not being able to enjoy the slightly improved seamless calls across the networks. (source: The Guardian) IN BRIEF- Empowerment group Ucingo Investments has turned to government for help after facing a cash crunch over payment for its 3% stake in Telkom, the value of which has dropped in line with a lower listing price. Ucingo acquired its 3% stake in 2000 for R565m using debt finance. This was granted on the assumption that the Telkom’s stock, which was valued at R33.81 a share at the time, would appreciate ahead of its listing, allowing Ucingo to repay the lenders the capital and mounting interest costs. - Gartner Dataquest is advising telecommunications operators to "view investment in South African telecom companies with extreme caution" until at least the end of this year.In a report released earlier this month, Gartner warns that the legislative and operational framework for telecommunications is unlikely to be stable before the end of the year. It also recommends that those still interested in SA work with Telkom rather than its potential competitor.
SUSTAINABLE ICT CASE STUDIES SITE LAUNCHEDA Sustainable ICT Case Studies website (www.sustainableICTs.org) has been launched. It has been generated by Gamos and BigWorld as part of a research programme into Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sustainability factors. Funded by the Department of International Development (DFID), the research programme identified activities from across the world that sought to benefit the poor and had an ICT component. In particular it considered programmes where ICTs had enhanced ongoing development activities, the ICT activity could be replicated without sizeable investment, and there was a measure of sustainability. For more information about this project please email: research@gamos.org TIME TO GET ONLINE WEBSITE GOES LIVE, OFFERS LEARNING MATERIALSKabissa has launched a new web site for its Time to Get Online project. It is an Internet capacity-building project for West African civil society organizations that that was launched in November 2002. Initially, it targeted organizations in West Africa whose main agenda concerns human rights, freedom of information, responsive government and democratization. A set of self-learning materials has been developed to help civil society activists and organizers to get online and to integrate the Internet into their organizations. The materials can be used as both a self-taught curriculum and as a reference guide for users with varying levels of Internet experience and expertise. The materials are available for download for African civil society organizations. Local workshops serve as a supplement to the learning materials and give organizations the opportunity for hands-on learning. For more info go to: http://www.ttgo.kabissa.org IN BRIEF- South Africa’s Eating-OUT web site has now added Sleeping-Out, an accommodation guide featuring 600+ hotels, guest houses and game farms. In order to foster the creation of low-cost, long-distance/rural wireless connections to the internet, Simon Woodside has created a new mailing list "wireless-longhaul@openict.net". The topics include, point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, long-haul or back-haul data links. Generally oriented toward commodity, open-spectrum products, like 802.11b (Wi-Fi), 802.11a, 802.11g, etc. as well as HF and packet radio. To subscribe please visit: http://openict.net/mailman/listinfo/wireless-longhaul and fill out the form there.
PEOPLE* All our informants report that Ghana Telecom’s performance has got markedly worse. But don’t take our word for it. In a long article in the Ghanaian Chronicle about his frustrations with it Kwaku A. Danso writes:"A man who is working for me as my project manager informs me that it took him about two hours to get an email sent last week at an Internet Café. Within the last year, 2001 to 2002, one may have noticed that phone calls to Ghana are becoming more and more difficult, requiring several attempts, especially during the day time. A five minute call may end up taking an hour of one’s precious time". "Many of my friends I talk to in the US and even Europe are complaining. "Ghana’s phone lines are hard to get through", is the common discussion. As population increases, one expects an increase in business transactions, an increase in buildings, and hence traffic flow of vehicles and of information along communication lines. It does not take a genius to figure this out. Planning these is part of what government is created for by a citizenry, people are elected, and hired to work for government". * The ILL loan saga rumbles on with former MD Bernard Longe seeking to put its Directors in court as defendents. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday refused to vacate its earlier order that a third party notice be issued on 13 directors of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, whom its former managing director, Bernard Longe, sought to be joined as defendants in a suit brought against him by the bank over the botched sale of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) shares. The bank reportedly lost about $131.7 million (about N10.69 billion) in the botched bid. First bank had through its counsel, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), instituted an action against its former MD over the loan granted Investors International (London) (IIL), in the company’s bid to buy the telecommunication national carrier. But Longe in a joinder application prayed the court among others to join the 13 directors of the bank as co-defendants. Insisting that everything that was done in relation to the transaction, the subject matter of the suit, was done with the knowledge, consent and approval of all the directors sought to be joined as third parties. Longe, who said the directors were members of the board with him at that material time, pointed out that if the court decided in favour of his erstwhile employer (First Bank) that he was liable to pay the monies lost in the failed IIL deal, all the other directors of the bank at that material time would be liable jointly and severally pursuant to the provision of section 20(b) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 1991 as amended. Ruling on an objection by the directors last week, trial judge, Justice Abubakar Gumel refused to vacate the order to serve third party notice on the directors sought; and fixed further hearing for May 6. * Johnnic Communications (Johncom), owners of brands such as the Sunday Times, Gallo Music, Nu Metro, Exclusive Books and I-Net Bridge, is making senior management appointments to pursue its strategy of welding its media, digital and entertainment operations into a more tightly focused operation aiming at growth in SA and Africa, it said yesterday. "Two principles underpin our strategy: to improve profitability and continue to drive transformation," Johncom chairman Mashudu Ramano said. Johncom’s board said it had no intention of breaking up the group, despite recent media speculation. It has appointed Johnnic Publishing CEO Connie Molusi as Johncom CEO to drive its integration strategy, and further management restructuring would follow soon. EVENTSSOUTHERN AFRICAN INTERNET FORUM, KWA MARITANE GAME LODGE, PILANESBERG, SOUTH AFRICA (11-13 APRIL 2003) The Southern African Internet Forum has three key objectives: 1. To help create a shared strategic agenda between the private sector, the regulators and civil society that will help each advocate for change that will overcome current obstacles. 2. To offer high-level training through experience-sharing that will enable the private sector and civil society the ability to identify new opportunities and to act boldly in tackling them. 3. To allow participants the opportunity to put in place a Southern African Internet Forum as a way of pursuing these discussions on a regular basis. The South African Internet Forum be a three-day event with a high-level training workshop on the third day (11-13) April 2003, Kwa Maritane Game Lodge, Pilansberg, South Africa). There will be a plenary stream with breakout panels to discuss specific topics. It will precede IDRC’s Acacia event; Lessons of Empowerment from Communities enabling participants to attend both events. DAY ONE NB: Starts 2pm Opening session: Plenary: Setting an agenda for action Session 2: Regulators, policy makers, civil society and
the private sector: Forging new relationships to make things
happen DAY TWO Session 3: Thinking the Unthinkable - African regulatory
challenges for the 21st century (VOIP, the international
bandwidth monopoly, interconnection and rural operators Session 4: Digital rights - The minefield of censorship,
personal privacy and much more: What users are entitled to LUNCH Session 5: Lobbying government and regulators: Getting
your voice heard, influencing others - Lessons to be learnt Session 6: Reaching the parts others cannot reach: DAY 3 Session 7: Domain names - How can Southern Africa regain
control of this process Closing plenary session: Creating a Southern African Internet
Forum The Kwa Maritime Bush Lodge is two hours from Johannesburg. Transport arrangements will be confirmed with you upon booking. The conference delegate fee for the Forum is R3,800/$480 per person in single accommodation and R2,500/$320 per person in shared accommodation. The fee includes accommodation and all meals from Friday night to Sunday lunch. For further details, contact Sean Moroney on sean@aitecafrica.com or look on the AITEC web site (http://www.aitecafrica.com) The forum is being organised by AITEC and Balancing Act, with support from the Southern African Open Society Initiative.
If our correspondent is "off the mark" or you have
factual amendments, mail them to us and we will include them
in subsequent News Updates. If you'd like to contribute, write
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This page last updated on January 28 2004.
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