Issue no 222
Top Story
COMOROS SET TO PRIVATISE INCUMBENT TELCO AS POLITICAL DUST OF LAST DECADE SETTLES
The slow privatisation of Africa's incumbent telcos has finally reached one of its smaller nations, the Indian Ocean island state of the Comoros. The Island's military leaders have made telecoms and post two separate operations and put themselves in the top jobs. The search is now on for foreign investors who will want to buy into the island's hived off telecoms operation. Colonel Assoumani Azali, the President of the Comoran Union has decreed the implementation of the country's long awaited telecom reform, by splitting up the National Postal and Telecommunications Company (SNPT). The Post will become known as SNPC and…
Telecoms
ZAMBIAN REGULATOR BOSS CLAIMS ANTI-COMPETITIVE COLLUSION BY MOBILE COs
The Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has what it claims is collusion between existing mobile operators to block the entrance of a fourth mobile service provider. ZCC Executive Director George Lipimile…
Telecoms
ZIMBABWE'S TEL-ONE COMMISSIONS NEW RADIO LINK TO SOUTH AFRICA
Zimbabwean incumbent Tel-One last week announced the long-awaited commissioning of a USD33 billion state-of-the-art radio link on the Beitbridge-Gweru-Harare route. The new system replaces the analogue radio system which…
Telecoms
JUST LAUNCHED WATANIYA TELECOM ALGÉRIE SETS ITS SIGHTS ON 2M SUBSCRIBERS
Wataniya Telecom Algeria last wee launched its commercial network under the brand name Nedjma, making it the third mobile operator in the country. Wataniya plans to invest USD320 million in…
Telecoms
ETHIOPIA'S ETC SELECTS NOKIA FOR MOBILE NETWORK UPGRADE
Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation's mobile operation has selected Nokia to supply and deploy GSM network equipment, including the Nokia Connect GSM solution for optimized network coverage, in a deal valued at…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- SA's Telkom has bowed to pressure from the Government and unions to freeze its planned job cuts for a year, with CEO Sizwe Nxasana saying the company has no…
Telecoms
TELECOM RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
* Nigerian mobile operator M-tel has introduced N250 recharge card into the market to create better access for subscribers. Its market survey showed that most subscribers in the country could…
Internet
BENIN'S MANTIC TARGETS CORPORATE MARKET WITH WIRELESS ACCESS SERVICE
Benin-based company Mantic has recently installed its first wi-fi line in the country's capital Cotonou. Mantic's D-G Spero Ganse believes that the technology is ideal for the corporate market, particularly…
Internet
ISOC-ZA JOINS OPA IN CALLING FOR MEETING WITH GOVT ON HIGH COST OF BANDWIDTH
The Internet Society of SA (ISOC-ZA) has joined with the Online Publishers' Association's (OPA) in calling for an urgent meeting with government to discuss the high cost of bandwidth in…
Computing
EGYPT'S EAAT SIGNS TO RUN LE2.5 MILLION US TECH GRANT PROGRAMME
The Egyptian Association for Advanced Technologies (EAAT) has signed an agreement with the US-based General Dynamics Company, the US IT aid advisor to Egypt, to run L.E. 2.5 million…
Computing
FARIMED CONCLUDES FOUR NEW CONTRACTS IN KENYA, LESOTHO, MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA
First contracts outside SA have helped FariMed show growth of 250% since its launch in April 2003. FariMed has concluded its first contracts outside of SA, with a total value…
Computing
IBM TO OPEN LINUX COMPETENCY CENTRE IN SOUTH AFRICA
IBM South Africa is putting the final touches to plans for a South Africa based Linux competency centre and hopes to open for business before the end of the…
Computing
FRENCH COMPANY'S DECISION TO OFFSHORE TO MOROCCO SPARKS WAGE ROWIN FRANCE
The decision by Timing, a sub-contractor of Cegetel, to outsource some of its work to Morocco has stirred up a storm of protest from its French call-centre employees. Timing's main…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Printer company Oki has been launched into the Nigerian market, through Channel IT, Nigeria, Limited and IBM West Africa has opened a fully fledged service centre in Lagos. -…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SA MINISTER ANNOUNCES SNO DATE AND SHAREHOLDINGS...FOR NOW
The Minister of Communications, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, has finally announced that the companies which will comprise the SNO will be granted a licence on 17 September. In her announcement, made during…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
A WEEK OF MIXED NEWS FOR ECONET - TWO MONTHS TO PAY LICENCE FEE IN KENYA
Econet is a company about which there is never a shortage of news despite the fact that it is actually one of the smaller regional mobile players. The good news?…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- South African information technology group Datatec last Monday announced that it has acquired United States group Solution Technology for a maximum consideration of USD15,7-million.The $15,7-million consideration for the acquisition…
Digital Content
WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO SHOWCASE EAST AFRICA OPPORTUNITIES
A new website, www.EastAfricasBest.Biz, was launched last week to serve the region's companies. The website by Channels Concepts Ltd aims to deliver the best of East Africa's products to the…
Digital Content
CAMEROON - POLITICAL ALLIANCE PUTS UP WEB SITE
www.ffacameroun.net Le Quotidien Mutations LIRE EN FRANCAIS http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/french.html
Digital Content
African Web News - In Brief
http://www.wict.org.za - One of three major gay lifestyle portals in SA, mambaonline.com now claims around 40,000 unique visitors a month, each of whom spends an average of 21 minutes on…
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EVENTS
ICT: Business and Development The CTO Forum – The only annual Commonwealth ICT event 20-21 September 2004, Colombo, Sri Lanka http://www.cto.int/forum Speakers to include: Hon D. M. Jayaratne, Minister of…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
www.vodazone.co.za ceo@findajobinafrica.com 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…
