News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 178 on 23 April 2004
Top Story
Satellite and fibre: Good friends or the best of enemies?
Before SAT3 most of Africa was served by satellite. With the introduction of SAT3 in May 2002 things were bound to change in Africa’s connectivity markets and the ensuing competition should have spelt cheaper prices. Russell Southwood looks at what has actually happened and how things might change in the future. SAT3 goes from Lisbon down the west coast of Africa to South Africa. SAT3/WASC/SAFE (to include all its legs) was financed and built by a consortium of 36 organisations including the incumbent telcos of the African countries it connects which include: Angola Telecom, Camtel, Cote D’Ivoire Telecom, NITEL, OPT…
Telecoms
GHANAIAN GOVT IN TALKS WITH IFC OVER USD100M LOAN TO FINANCE GT
The World Bank’s private sector finance arm, the IFC has agreed to re-open discussions with Ghanaian Government for the provision of a 100 million dollar loan to improve operations of…
Telecoms
ZIMBABWE’S SNO TELEACCESS CONTINUES TO DELAY NETWORK LAUNCH
Zimbabwe’s second fixed telephony service provider, TeleAccess Global Corporation, continues to wade in troubled waters that have seen the continued deferment of its network launch. Initially set for June 1,…
Telecoms
SA COURT BATTLE OVER LEAST COST ROUTING TECHNOLOGY
Communications companies are back in court this week fighting for the right to help corporate customers slash their phone bills by using least-cost routing. MTN, Nedtel, Nashua Mobile and Orion…
Telecoms
NIGERIA’S SNO GLOBACOM ROLLS OUT IN MAJOR CITIES
After the official inauguration of its Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) Services in Abuja, Nigeria’s, Globacom has extended its services to leading Nigerian cities with the roll out of…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Celtel Uganda is offering a 41% discount to all its subscribers on all calls made within the country on Independence Day. - Telecom Namibia is increasing the price of…
Internet
AFRICA VENTURE PARTNERS LAUNCHES IP-DIRECT FOR SATELLITE VOICE AND IP
South African company Africa Venture Partners is launching a multimillion-dollar venture to provide satellite-based voice and internet communications across the continent. An initial USD28.5m investment will cover the launch of…
Internet
TELKOM AND SENTECH BATTLE OVER SA SATELLITE BROADBAND MARKET
Telkom and Sentech appear set to go head-to-head in the broadband Internet access via satellite market, following the parastatal’s launch of its SpaceStream Express (SSE) and SpaceStream Office (SSO) products.…
Internet
AFRICA ABUZZ ABOUT PORTABLE IP ADDRESS PROPOSAL
The African Internet community is abuzz following a proposal to allow organisations in sub-Saharan countries better access to their own portable Internet address and that the region be handled as…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- SA’s Systemsfusion, a supplier of next generation IP services and hosting platforms, has partnered with MTN Airborn and Sun Microsystems to provide what it calls a ‘turnkey solution that…
Computing
GRINTEK ADDS E7M UPGRADES TO SWAZILAND’S MATSAPHA AIRPORT
The Matsapha International Airport is now effectively equipped with one of the most modern communication and instrument landing systems in the world following upgrades worth E7million by South Africana aviation…
Computing
KENYAN ICT HEALTH CONFERENCE CALLS FOR A NATIONAL TELEMEDICINE CENTRE
A two-day seminar on improving healthcare in Kenya through information and communication technology, organized by Kenya ICT Federation and AITEC, brought together 70 local and international participants from the medical…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Microsoft is to establish IT academies at Ghana’s University of Cape Coast and the University of Education at Winneba on a pilot basis. Microsoft and the World Bank would…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
ACCEPTANCE OF VODACOM OFFER BY NIGERIA’S EWI RINGS BELL ON ROUND ONE
In an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting attended by three state governors, Bola Tinubu of Lagos, James Ibori (Delta) and Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom) yesterday, the Board of Econet Wireless Nigeria Limited…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- South Africa’s Competition Commission on Tuesday last week recommended that the proposed merger between listed technology company Allied Technologies (Altech, ALT) and NamITech Holdings be prohibited. The Commission has…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
RESPONSES
ISSUE 176: MAURITIUS CORRECTION I would like to bring your attention to the article on Mauritius in ‘in Brief" on issue 176: 1. DCL’s director’s last name is : Ramalingum…
Digital Content
28 YEAR OLD NIGERIAN ARRESTED IN BERLIN OVER 419 SCAM
A 29 year old Nigerian has been arrested in Berlin as part of an international gang of 419 scammers, local police announced last Thursday. The young man, suspected of having…
Digital Content
ZIMBABWE’S DAILY NEWS OWNER LAUNCHES SA-BASED WEBSITE
This week, six defiant words - "The Daily News will be back" - appeared at the top of The Daily News’ new Website, promising readers the battle is far from…
Digital Content
African Web News - In Brief
- The governor of the Niger delta state of Bayelsa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has donated N2 million to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for the establishment of its web site.…
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PEOPLE
* Ivorians suddenly seem to be high-profile. The list of (24) candidates for the job of Director-General of RASCOM includes Koffi Gnamini Chérubin who is currently Head of Finance for…
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EVENTS
FUTUREX AND FUTUREBIT 2004: WHERE ICT-E AND BUSINESS CONNECT 2004 will mark the beginning of a whole new era in South Africa’s ICT-E industry with the launch of Futurex, a…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
www.dgfoundation.org/prize 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…
