Issue no 211
Top Story
ENERGY SPECIAL - GENERATING ELECTRICITY FOR ICT IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
Operating any form of ICT in remote locations offers considerable challenges beyond using the equipment itself. One of the key problems to overcome is being able to access a reliable source of electricity. This week News Update looks at two solutions to this problem. Rebecca Meyer and Will Cawood describe a biogas generator at a school in South Africa. Although now connected to the national grid it continues to use its own electricity to power a telecentre. Global Catalyst Foundation’s Jeff Schneidermann describes two different responses in Tanzania: a biogas generator for a teachers’ college and solar panels for a…
Telecoms
HIGH CELLPHONE COSTS CHOKE CAMEROONIAN MARKET
The growth of the cellphone industry in Cameroon is being choked by expensive cellphone handsets, with a motorbike being cheaper than a cellular telephone. A Sony Ericsson P800 costs about…
Telecoms
ORASCOM TELECOM’S ALGERIAN OPERATION ORDERS MEDIATION PLATFORM
Algeria’s GSM mobile operator, Orascom Telecom (OTA), has signed a USD2 million contract with Intec Telecom Systems for its InterconnecT billing and Inter-mediatE convergent mediation solutions to enable the GSM…
Telecoms
MADAGASCAR GOVERNMENT SELLS STAKE IN FIXED-LINE INCUMBENT
According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Distacom Communications, the parent company of Hong Kong mobile operator Sunday Communications, has invested in Madagascar’s Telecom Malagasy (Telma), to…
Telecoms
MAURITIUS: OUTREMER TELECOM CONTESTS TWO DECISIONS FROM ICTA
Outremer Telecom, a French operator doing international calling to Mauritius, has lodged an appeal over two decisions by the regulator ICTA to the ICT Appeal Tribunal, the first time it’s…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- The South African Ministry of Communications last week approved the applications of four telecommunications firms to operate small networks in far-flung, underserviced areas, providing rural communities with new communication…
Telecoms
TELECOM RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
* NITEL, last week entered into agreement with Telecom New Zealand on termination of international traffic. * Thuraya has entered the Kenyan market through local franchise holders, Telemedia Communications Limited.…
Internet
ISPs IN GHANA’S N REGION OF TAMALE CALL FOR REVIEW OD LICENCE FEES
ISPs in Tamale, in the northern region of Ghana, have called on the regulator, the National Communication Authority (NCA) to review its licensing regime. The ISP’s claim that the USD30,000…
Internet
SA’S ICASA TO PROBE TELKOM ADSL INTERNET SERVICE
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has approved a committee to investigate Telkom’s Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) after a formal complaint was lodged by MyADSL, a broad-band internet…
Internet
XANTIC OFFERS FASTER AND CHEAPER ONLINE BROWSING VIA EASY ACCELERATOR
Xantic has announced the launch of Easy Accelerator, an innovative application that makes browsing the internet via satellite faster and cheaper than ever before. Available free of charge from Xantic’s…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Having recently freed up its 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz frequency bands for use by ISPs, the regulator CCK is encouraging operators to attend a WLAN Technology Course at the African…
Computing
ACT 2004 IN MAURITIUS PROMISES TO BE ‘KEY NETWORKING EVENT’
ACT 2004 is set to attract a wide range of participants from throughout the continent to participate in this ‘key networking event’. Flavien Bachabi, Vice-President of Africa sales for Intelsat’s…
Computing
A LINUX TOOLKIT FOR NON TECHNICIANS IN COMMUNITY BASED TELECENTRES
www.chasquinet.org The main components of the toolkit are: - Introduction to technological sustainability: The reasons for why a tool kit for open source software for community based telecentres is necessary.…
Computing
CIDA RECEIVES R12 MILLION WORTH OF E-LEARNING COURSE CONTENT FROM LEARNING RESOURCES
People effectiveness specialists, Learning Resources, announced today the donation of the full range of NETg and Harvard Business School Publishing e-learning courseware to CIDA City Campus, South Africa’s first virtually…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Acer, has invested USD2 million to create a service infrastructure in SA in line with international standards. "As a leading vendor of notebooks in SA, Acer realised the importance attached…
digtool
AFRICAN COUNTRIES CONSIDER US CDMA WIRELESS STANDARD
Under pressure to provide unlimited access to telephones, African countries are considering a US technology that also offers the promise of bringing the Internet to some of the world’s poorest…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
NIGERIAN TELECOM FIRM RELTEL RAISING FUNDS ON THE INDIAM MARKET
elTel, a Nigeria-based telecom company, is looking to raise funds and find a strategic partner from India. The company has appointed the Mumbai-based investment banking firm Strategic Capital Ventures Ltd…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
VIVENDI RE-AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO HANG ON TO MAROC TELECOM STAKE
French group Vivendi Universal is to sell its 55% in Monaco Telecom as it has sold its 60% in Kencell but will hold on to its stake in Maroc Telecom,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SA’S TELKOM CONTINUES TO MAKE HIGH PROFITS IN ABSENCE OF SNO
Telkom last week announced strong group annual results for the year ended March 31, 2004, with healthy increases in operating revenue and operating profit, positive cash flow growth, and excellent…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
CORRECTION
ISSUE 210: ZAMBIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY PRESIDENT RECOMMENDS COMPUTER REGISTRATION Our Zambia correspondent misunderstood that Computer Society of Zambia President Milner Makuni was actually opposed to the registration of computers. The…
Digital Content
SENEGALESE WEB SITE LOOKS AT ISLAM IN WEST AFRICA
Created by a group of Senegalese preachers and teachers, a site called "Islam in West Africa" proposes to popularise Islamic thought, philosophy and civilization. Among its creators is Khadim Mbacké…
Digital Content
African Web News - In Brief
- Two South African companies today launched an interactive, home-based HIV awareness site for families. The purpose of the site, ActionAIDS, is to educate subscribers about the HIV/AIDS threat, and…
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PEOPLE
* On the Move: Francois Jay has left Afrique Initiatives to join the French diplomatic service He is replaced by Pierre Charpentier...The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has appointed…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
NSS - Core network Engineer We are urgently looking for several Core Network Engineers for a mission in the Middle East. Tasks: - Design: competence on Cell planning and RF…
