News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 1017 on 20 March 2020
Top Story
Covid-19 casts a long shadow across Africa’s communications industry – an opening snapshot of what’s happening and what it means
20 March 2020
Nobody really knows how long it will take to get Covid-19 under control or its short and long-term-effects. But it’s important to try and make sense of events so that the whole industry can come out of it with as little damage as possible. Russell Southwood looks at how communications in Africa will be a key element during this unprecedented crisis. Starting in February I went from having a couple of work conference trips organized to cancelling trips to events that had been postponed and having our last face-to-face supper with friends on Monday. Regular trips to the gym in…
Telecoms
Vodafone Group creates 5-point plan to counter impact of coronavirus
20 March 2020
The Vodafone Group has announced a five-point plan to help counter the impact of the covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Under the plan, the company said it will seek to maintain the…
Telecoms
What African operators are doing to help during COVID-19 outbreak
20 March 2020
A number of African operators are stepping up to help during the COVID-19 outbreak that is now affecting at least 30 African nations, with more than 470 confirmed cases on…
Telecoms
CamTel issued new fixed, mobile licences
20 March 2020
Cameroonian telecoms operator CamTel has received three licences from the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART), following a restructuring of the state-owned firm last year. ITWeb Africa reports that one of the…
Telecoms
MTN Uganda ends three-year license tussle with government
20 March 2020
Telecommunications giant MTN has said it will list 20 percent of its shares on the Uganda Securities Exchange, and pay $100 million in blanket taxes as part of the conditions…
Telecoms
In brief
20 March 2020
Just over 3.3 million mobile customers have reactivated their SIM cards, following the conclusion of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA’s) biometric SIM card registration scheme on 20 January. Daily…
Internet
South Africa: MTN To Announce Data-Price Changes Before End Of March
20 March 2020
MTN plans to announce its new data prices in South Africa by the end of March after it was ordered to cut prices by the Competition Commission. Vodacom, MTN’s competitor…
Internet
Africa: Coronavirus Pandemic Sparks Calls to Delay Sale of .org Domain
20 March 2020
Tbilisi — Selling control of .org site registration to a private company as planned could now impact charities grappling with COVID-19 A decision on the sale of the .org internet…
Internet
Mozambique launches universal access projects in ten areas
20 March 2020
The Mozambique government’s Universal Access Service Fund (Fundo do Servico de Acesso Universal, FSAU) has launched projects to improve connectivity in ten locations in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane,…
Internet
In brief
20 March 2020
Africa’s largest innovation incubator, CcHub, will offer funding and engineering support to tech projects aimed at curbing COVID-19 and its social and economic impact. The Lagos and Nairobi based organization…
Computing
Telkom zero-rates education websites amid coronavirus outbreak
20 March 2020
Telkom said on Monday that it is zero-rating dozens of educational websites as well as sites that provide information that can help South Africans contain the spread of the novel…
Computing
Google’s Women Will initiative to empower 20,000 African females in 2020
20 March 2020
In celebration of the International women’s day 2020, Google has announced that it will double its commitment to women in Africa by training 20,000 females this year under the Women…
Money Transfer
Kenya: Airtel Kenya Waives Mobile Money Transaction Fees Across All Bands
20 March 2020
Airtel Kenya has waived the transaction fees across all bands on its mobile money service. The telco announced Monday that starting Tuesday, all person to person money transfer will be…
Money Transfer
Dimkes launches M-Chipuka for mobile loan access
20 March 2020
Dimkes Sacco has launched an e-loan platform dubbed M-Chipuka to allow its members to access mobile loans. M-chipuka will be accessible to Android App and iOS users, it can also…
Money Transfer
South Africa Looks to Blockchain to Reduce Unemployment
20 March 2020
The South African Presidential Commision on the Fourth Industrial Revolution believes that blockchain expertise and Synthetic Intelligence might assist scale back unemployment within the nation. Commissioner Mpho Dagada instructed the…
Money Transfer
New SearchShop platform empowers consumers with real-time information for better financial decision making
20 March 2020
Leading fintech software specialist, e4, has announced the launch of its innovative new platform, allowing consumers to perform live individual, company, property, and vehicle searches anytime, anywhere. SearchShop provides vetting…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Africell Holding completes strategic group reorganisation
20 March 2020
Africell Holding, which operates mobile networks in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, has announced the completion of a strategic group reorganisation, involving the opening…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South Africa: Telkom Share Price Tumbles After $90m Restructuring Bill Announcement
20 March 2020
The shares of South Africa’s partly state-owned Telkom tumbled by 16.93 percent on the JSE last week Friday after it announced that the first phase of its restructuring would cost…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Nigeria & Ghana Smartphone Markets in Good Shape in 2019 but COVID-19 Casts a Dark Shadow in West Africa
20 March 2020
Lagos – Nigeria's smartphone market grew 5.3% quarter on quarter (QoQ) in Q4 2019, according to the latest figures from global technology and consulting services firm International Data Corporation (IDC).…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
20 March 2020
An advisory panel established by Namibian president Hage Geingob has recommended that Telecom Namibia (TN) should be partially privatised, reports The Namibian. The potential sale is among the measures included…
Digital Content
African governments, Facebook and Twitter are fighting to dispel misinformation on coronavirus
20 March 2020
With nearly 600 confirmed coronavirus cases across Africa, public anxiety and safety fears are proving fertile ground for the spread of misinformation. But just as they deal with testing, diagnosing…
Digital Content
WhatsApp launches coronavirus info hub, donates $1 million to International Fact-Checking Network
20 March 2020
The WhatsApp messaging application has announced the launch of a service with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide information about Covid-19. WhatsApp will…
Digital Content
Libyan ed-tech startup iStudy steadily builds customer base in spite of challenges
20 March 2020
Libyan ed-tech startup iStudy is steadily increasing the number of schools paying to use its platform in spite of the various challenges it faces in its home market. Launched in…
Digital Content
Russian trolls are outsourcing to Africa to stoke US racial tensions
20 March 2020
With tech companies wise to many of the tactics that Russia’s now-infamous troll farms used to seed disinformation during the 2016 election, those campaigns are getting creative. According to…
More
People
20 March 2020
Zimbabwe: NetOne Board Insists On CEO’s Suspension Zimbabwe’s mobile operator, NetOne’s CEO, Lazarus Muchenje remains suspended despite the relief order that was granted by the High Court last week to…
More
Events
20 March 2020
East Africa Comwill now take place from Monday 14 - Tuesday 15 September 2020Radisson Blu, Nairobi Upper HillKenyaEast Africa Com, the regions leading telco and digital transformation event, brings together…
