News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 189 on 2 January 2004
Top Story
MADAGASCAR: WIDENING LIBERALISATION LOOKS SET TO CREATE FOUNDATION FOR NEW ECONOMY
After a protracted power struggle with the previous incumbent, the current Malagasy government came to power in 2002. It has re-energised the privatisation process and made ICT a national priority. All of this forms part of a broader vision of the island of the island becoming something more like a developed country economy. A mixture of natural gas, eco-tourism and sapphire mining make this less unlikely than it might first sound. Russell Southwood reports on progress. The Malagasy Government has agreed to sell 50% of the shares (total share capital: USD10m) in the state incumbent telco to Hong Kong-based Distacom.…
Telecoms
TELKOM MALAYSIA IN FAST TRACK COURT TO CHALLENGE GHANA TELECOM
Telekom Malaysia’s subsidiary G-Com Limited has filed a writ of summons and a statement of claim against Ghana Telecommunications Company Ltd (GT), a company that Telekom holds 30 percent investment…
Telecoms
ZIMBABWE’S STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA SAYS ECONET MAY LOSE LICENCE
Zimbabwe’s state controlled media says the government is planning to withdraw the operating license of the largest cellular telephone operator, accusing the company of subversive activities." The majority shareholder of…
Telecoms
TLC MAURITIUS SEEKS A LICENCE FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLING
Mauritian regulator ICTA is being asked to grant a licence to TLC Mauritius. This company ( a subsidiary of a French company of the same name) wants to be able…
Telecoms
GAMTEL POISED TO USE EXTERNAL FUNDS FOR D1.67 BILLION EXPANSION
Gambian incumbent Gamtel, is to spend D1.67 billion in the year 2004 towards the goal of increasing capacity network by 230, 000 lines over the next five years.The bulk of…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- About N3 billion naira has been recovered out of the N43 billion owed the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited. (NITEL), Mr Tayo Ekundayo, NITEL’s deputy general manager, public relations, has said.…
Telecoms
TELECOM RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
- Telecel Zambia plans to invest USD15 million next year to add more towns to its network. The company plans to connect Siavonga next month and several other towns in…
Telecoms
LIBYA IN USD40 MILLION DEAL WITH CHINA’S ZTA TO DELIVER MOBILE NETWORK
China’s ZTA company has signed a USD40-million contract to install a new network of 600,000 mobile phone lines in Libya, the director of the state telephones and communications company said.…
Internet
CÔTE D’IVOIRE TÉLÉCOM LAUNCHES ADSL
Since 16 December Côte d’Ivoire Télécom has joined the growing list of African countries offering ADSL, writes Mounir Diawara. In the first instance during the launch phase, it will only…
Computing
TUNISIANS PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH FIVE CYBERPARCS
Five cyberparcs, spaces equipped with modern communications networks have been put up in Gafsa, Kasserine, Monastir, Siliana and Le Kef, were being promoted at an information day at technopôle d’El…
Computing
SMART CARD TO BE LAUNCHED IN NAIROBI TO CURB FRAUD IN HEALTH SECTOR
A tamper-proof membership information and administration management system for medical schemes will be launched in East Africa next year. The smart card technology is expected to help curb the rising…
Computing
ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES DRAFT ICT POLICY WITHOUT FUNDS TO BACK IT
Though the Zambian government has launched the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy, it has not set aside any funding measures to have the ICT policy implemented, writes Timothy…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
ticta_tz@yahoo.com - The Bank of Alexandria has selected Cairo-based Raya Integration, a subsidiary of Raya Holding to design and deploy LAN and WAN networks to enable the bank’s complete automation.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
EGYPT’S ORASCOM COMPLETES FINANCING ON ALGERIAN DEAL
Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) has announced the closing of €545 million in debt and equity financing by its mobile services subsidiary in Algeria, Orascom Telecom Algeria. A portion of the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
EGYPTIAN TELECOMS SECTOR UNDERGOING RESTRUCTURING
After multiple postponements and much last-minute deal making, Vodafone Egypt, the country’s second mobile operator, has listed on the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange (CASE). Meanwhile, news that the company…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
VODACOM BID TO ENTER NIGERIA HITS NEW HITCH
Vodacom’s bid to enter the Nigerian cellular market, by buying 51% of Econet Nigeria for 230m, is starting to look shaky, after the signing of the deal was postponed without…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- Telecom Egypt’s chairman, Eng. Okeil Bisheer, said that the offering of Telecom Egypt shares in the capital market would not take place before September 2004, at which time the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
READERS RESPONSES
ISSUE 187: POSTCARD FROM WSIS IN GENEVA - EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE Splutter, choke, cough, wheeze...I don’t believe it. Here I am, setting up the plan for obliterating the…
Digital Content
NIGERIAN 419ERS SURFACE IN BAGHDAD
Nigerian 419ers are now masquerading as coalition troops stationed in Baghdad who claim to have unearthed one of Saddam’s treasure hordes. It’s sort of like "Kelly’s Heroes" but relocated to…
Digital Content
African Web News - In Brief
http://thepeaceafricablog.typepad.com/ * With interconnection the big issue in Nigeria MTN’s boss there, Adrian Wood was in upbeat mood on the issue when he spoke at a recent ICT event. Here…
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EVENTS
AFRICAN ORACLE TECHNOLOGY DAYS Learn about grid computing with Oracle 10g. Hear directly from Oracle experts, customers, and partners. Learn how each step on the grid road map will lower…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
kenya_hrmgr@yahoo.com http://www.idealist.org/orgs/90963:315#internships 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…
