News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 1026 on 29 May 2020
Top Story
Nigerian online transport start-up Plentywaka in the eye of the Covid-19 storm – how it’s weathering difficult times
29 May 2020
For some online start-ups in Africa like Jumia, the Covid-19 lockdown has presented both opportunities and challenges. For others, it has created difficult setbacks that have taken time to negotiate. Earlier in May we spoke to Johnny Enagwolor, co-founder and Managing Director of transport start-up Plentywaka, a premium bus hailing service. The idea for the bus services Plentywaka runs came out of bitter personal experience:”I saw the problems ravaging the whole transportation system in Lagos. One day I was going for an interview a year ago. I waited one hour for a bus with a group of 30 people. I…
Telecoms
FISE Announces the World’s First 4G Phone With an Integrated Thermometer, Running on KaiOS
29 May 2020
Hong Kong, China, 27 May 2020 – Today FISE, provider of leading core solutions of intelligent hardware and KaiOS Technologies, maker of the leading mobile operating system for smart feature…
Telecoms
5G connections in Sub-Saharan Africa to hit 28 million by 2025 – GSMA
29 May 2020
The Global System for Mobile Telecommunications Association (GSMA) has estimated that by 2025 about 28 million devices will be connected to a 5 G network in sub-Saharan Africa – representing…
Telecoms
South Africa: ICASA Publishes Spectrum Assignment For 470 - 694 MHz Frequency Band
29 May 2020
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has recently announced its final radio frequency spectrum assignment plan for the 470 to 694 MHz frequency band. The move is expected…
Telecoms
Vodacom Group Makes SA Business Stand-Alone To Be Led By Balesh Sharma
29 May 2020
The Vodacom Group has commenced a vast restructuring of his businesses across Africa, starting with the separation of its South African company from the rest of Africa - making it…
Telecoms
Uganda: 18,000 'Made in Uganda' Phones Exported to Morocco
29 May 2020
Uganda has exported the first batch of 18,000 locally-made mobile phones to Morocco. The 2G-enabled analog mobile phones were manufactured at Simi Technologies, Uganda's first mobile phone assembly plant…
Telecoms
South Africa: Cell C Looking To Shed Hundreds Of Workers
25 June 2020
South Africa telco, Cell C has announced that it is a consultation process that will lead to the reduction of more than 900 of its current work-force. The affected staff…
Internet
Airtel Africa announced a new partnership with Unicef for online educational course
29 May 2020
Unicef has announced a new partnership with Airtel Africa which aims at providing children with access to remote learning by using mobile technology to benefit school children affected by the…
Internet
NCC reviews spectrum trading guidelines
29 May 2020
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed it is reviewing its ‘Spectrum Trading Guidelines, 2018’, in line with recommendations made in the new National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, which was published…
Internet
Nigerian state looks to activate digital economy with broadband project
29 May 2020
Ekiti State government has said a 606-kilometer broadband infrastructure it is working on would generate healthy competition within the ICT sector as well as boost the state’s internet penetration from…
Internet
MainOne partners Government and the World Bank to Deliver Connectivity Services into Burkina Faso
29 May 2020
MainOne, one of West Africa’s premier connectivity and data center solution provider, has been entrusted by the State of Burkina Faso, backed by the World Bank, to provide bulk connectivity…
Computing
Kenya: Safaricom Youth Orchestra Students Go Online for Classes
29 May 2020
Members of the Safaricom Youth Orchestra will get their music lessons through e-learning using 4G-enabled mobile handsets from Safaricom. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the physical practice sessions. But, the…
Computing
In brief
29 May 2020
Selected Africa Data Centre Association members are offering free hosting for Corona-fighting applications: http://africadca.org/en/adca-free-hosting-to-fight-covid-19 The members offering this hosting are: GPX Global Systems (Egypt), PAIX (Ghana), Africa Data Centres (Kenya,…
Money Transfer
South Africa’s Mama Money Expands Global Reach with Western Union
29 May 2020
Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and Mama Money, a rapidly growing international money transfer company, have joined forces to enable Mama Money customers to…
Money Transfer
SA fintech Peach Payments raises new investment led by UW Ventures
29 May 2020
Launched in 2012, the SA fintech company runs a B2B digital payment service for SMEs and entrepreneurs in South Africa. The financial platform is increasingly growing in popularity with…
Money Transfer
DHL Express cements commitment to growing African e-commerce with strategic investment in Link Commerce
29 May 2020
DHL acquires a stake in their strategic partner company, Link Commerce, in support of growing e-commerce in Sub-Saharan Africa and other global emerging e-commerce markets; Africa’s online retail market predicted…
Money Transfer
Viu South Africa to launch premium payments through MTN Viu Streaming Revenues South Africa
29 May 2020
Viu South Africa and MTN South Africa have announced a new partnership by offering MTN Direct Carrier Billing on its app for Viu Premium payments. Viu Premium cost R5…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN Nigeria Looks To A US$126 Million Bond Issuance
29 May 2020
MTN - Africa biggest mobile network by subscriber base - is looking to issue a bond to the tune of one hundred and twenty-six million US dollars in Nigeria -…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance confirms plans to sell 45% stake in Ethio Telecom
29 May 2020
Under plans outlined by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance (MoF), a 45% stake in monopoly telecoms provider Ethio Telecom is to be sold, Addis Fortune reports. Under the proposal, a 40%…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Carry1st has $4M to invest in African mobile gaming
29 May 2020
Gaming development startup Carry1st has raised a $2.5 million seed round led by CRE Venture Capital . That brings the company’s total VC to $4 million, which Carry1st will…
Digital Content
How East African Musicians Are Making Money Today
29 May 2020
We speak with star artists and music industry professionals to find out how monetization sources are changing in East Africa. As the world continues to embrace technology, and with the…
Digital Content
Apple Music to launch its 1st radio show in Africa
29 May 2020
The streaming platform announced Thursday that “Africa Now Radio with Cuppy” will debut Sunday and will feature a mix of contemporary and traditional popular African sounds, including genres like Afrobeat,…
Digital Content
Universal Music Group Launches Def Jam Africa, Includes Vector, Larry Gaaga, Others in Roster
29 May 2020
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the launch of Def Jam Africa, a new label division within the continent dedicated to representing the best…
Digital Content
Google Doodle Spotlights Zimbabwe's Traditional Music With Mbira
29 May 2020
Today's Google Doodle celebrates the mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean instrument whose sound has been popularised by musicians such as Stella Chiweshe, Leonard Chiyanike, Biggie Tembo and the Bhundu Boys, among…
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People
29 May 2020
WIOCC CEO Chris Wood is one of the world’s 100 most influential people in the wholesale carrier community Credited for growing WIOCC from an unknown start-up into the organisation…
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Opportunities
29 May 2020
Applications open for BongoHive FinTech Challenge Zambian innovation hub BongoHive has opened applications for its annual FinTech Challenge, which aims to identify and develop fintech entrepreneurs to boost financial inclusion.…
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Events
29 May 2020
East Africa.com 10 - 15 September 2020Radisson Blu, Nairobi Upper HillKenyaEast Africa Com, the regions leading telco and digital transformation event, brings together experts and industry stakeholders from across telecommunications,…
