News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 250 on 18 February 2005
Top Story
ZAMBIA’S FIRST WIRELESS ISP OFFERS HIGH SPEED BROADBAND SOLUTION
Always-on broadband is largely a dream for most African internet users. And even what is usually described as broadband would not pass muster as a high speed service in other markets. Earlier this month AfriConnect announced the launch of its ‘iConnect’ wireless broadband internet service in Zambia, a service that they believe brings a whole new internet concept to the country by offering the first affordable, high-speed internet solution. The always-on service not only provides speeds up to twenty times faster than dial-up but does so for a fixed monthly fee. iConnect, which is the first wireless connectivity solution in…
Telecoms
MOVICEL TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO ALL PROVINCES BY AUGUST
Movicel, the second largest cellular operator in Angola, has committed to providing mobile coverage to all provinces in the country said Movicel’s Chief Technology Officer, José Luis de Lara, told…
Telecoms
SA'S TELKOM THREATENS EASSY FUNDING IF CHALLENGED ON SAT3 MONOPOLY
Telkom would think twice about investing in another project to boost Africa’s scarce bandwidth if it was forced to reduce the fees it charges rival operators to access international bandwidth,…
Telecoms
NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLAYER ENTERS KENYAN MARKET
A leading telecommunications systems and solutions manufacturer, Psitek, has entered the Kenyan market.In Kenya, Psitek's known products include Safaricom's Simu ya Jamii service which employs the firm's Adondo brand of…
Telecoms
NIGERIA'S M-TEL TO LAUNCH GPRS NEXT WEEK
Nigerian mobile operator M-Tel has concluded plans to launch GPRS for its subscribers next week. Disclosing this in Lagos, the CEO of M-tel, Edwin Moore Momife, said that the company…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- A stampede to gain a mobile phone line hit Ethiopia this week when incumbent cellco Ethiomobile, owned by Ethiopia Telecommuniations Corporation (ETC), put 200,000 mobile lines up for sales.…
Internet
MAURITIUS: CCID ARREST SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH INTERNET OUTAGE
The deposition made by Mauritius Telecom's legal team after an internal enquiry into an internet outage over two days is beginning to bear fruit. The IT Unit of the Central…
Internet
DIDATA LOCKS HORNS WITH TELKOM AS IT UNILATERALLY ENDS PEERING AGREEMENT
Hostilities have broken out again between Telkom and Dimension Data SA subsidiary Internet Solutions (IS). IS, which is SA's largest Internet service provider (ISP), has lodged an application in the…
Internet
NIGERIA'S FIRST BANK CLAIMS LEADS WITH 251 BRANCHES ONLINE
First Bank of Nigeria Plc claims to be the clear leader in the online real time banking services in Nigeria, and indeed, the West Africa sub-region with the coming on…
Internet
TUNISIAN RAILWAY COMPANY OFFERS INTERNET ACCESS ON LONG DISTANCE TRAINS
The Tunisian national railway company (SNCFT) is providing internet access on board its long distance trains, it was announced in Tunis. Passengers can now surf the web at a low…
Internet
CISCO PROMOTES INTEGRATED SECURITY SOLUTIONS IN ZAMBIA
Africa's network operators face considerable security challenges with a range of threats including massive worm driven attacks, infrastructure hacking and many more, writes News Update's Zambian correspondent Timothy Kasolo. In…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- SA's first Internet Fiesta attracted more than 2 000 first-time computer users and fostered a sense of community in one of Cape Town's poorest suburbs, organisers say. The event,…
Computing
DELL'S STRATEGY TO CLAIM EAST AFRICA MARKET
Giant computer maker, Dell, which recently announced a new distributorship deal in the East African market, is bullish about its prospects about the potential in this market. The firm's regional…
Computing
ISPON COMMENDS OBASANJO OVER TECHNOLOGY PARK
The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has commended the President of the federal republic, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for allowing the conversion of a part of the old Federal…
Computing
IBM'S ACQUISITION OF SA'S ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE ‘BENEFITS LOCAL MARKET'
Ascential Software's South African customers will benefit from IBM's acquisition of the company last week, says a local Ascential distributor. Centerfield Software MD Julian Field says the deal, in terms…
Computing
MICROSOFT TO TRAIN UGANDAN TEACHERS
The technology battle in Uganda is taking shape as global software company Microsoft clinches a partnership with the Government to train teacher-trainers to handle and teach using Microsoft software. A…
Computing
SPESCOM SUPPLIES BROADCAST EQUIPMENT TO NAMIBIA BROADCASTING CORPORTATION
Spescom MeasureGraph has supplied an Avid Media Solution to the value of R4.9 million to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). NBC is Namibia's public service broadcaster. Spescom MeasureGraph is the…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- The Central African Republic (CAR) government in conjunction with the French Foreign Affairs ministry, plans to set up three community-based internet centres in CAR provinces, official sources said in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SOUTH AFRICA’S TELKOM ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO BECOME A REGIONAL PLAYER THROUGH ACQUISITION
South Africa Telkom has set in motion a process that could see it acquire astake in Kenya’s fixed line telecoms service provider, Telkom Kenya. Mr Sizwe Nxasana, the Chief Executive…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- According to the Post, ZTE is tipped to be the favourite to take up the 20 per cent share stake in Zamtel. Currently, the bids are being evaluated. Sources…
Digital Content
CÔTE D'IVOIRE LAUNCHES ITS FIRST CLASSIFIED ADS SITE: ANNONÇONS.NET
The new classified ads site - Annonçons.net - is the work of Eureka Communication Multimédia. Speaking at its launch last Monday at the Hôtel Sofitel au Plateau D-G Eric Yao…
Digital Content
Web And Mobile Data News - In Brief
- Zimbabwe's www.kubatana.net has been updated. Over 150 new articles, reports, opinion pieces have been added since March 1st.
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AFRICAN FILMS GO DIGITAL TO BUCK SYSTEM
For African film makers, the future is digital. Cash-strapped, creative and keen to reach wider audiences, the continent's directors have been turning to digital technology as a low-cost, viable alternative…
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PEOPLE
-One time general manager of dealer sales for Globacom Limited, Okon Iyanam has been appointed as the new chief marketing officer for Vmobile Nigeria. Mr. Iyanam, whose appointment takes effect…
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EVENTS
WSIS THEMATIC MEETING 6-7 May 2005, Bamako, Mali UNESCO, in partnership with the 'Académie Africaine des Langues' (ACALAN), the 'Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie' (AIF) and the Government of Mali…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Kenya: Provision of services for Nairobi IP station. Deadline: 4/12/2005 Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Tender for the supply, delivery, installation, testing , commissioning & provision of services for 7.3M Standard…
