News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 279 on 18 November 2005
Top Story
Zantel's new CEO Noel Herrity on expansion plans, IP networks and its investment in EASSY
When Tanzania recently signalled a new phase in liberalising its telecom markets, the Zanzibari operator Zantel was quick to announce its intention to operate in mainland Tanzania. It struck an infrastructure deal with Vodacom so that it could roll-out its services quickly, in effect operating as an MVNO. It has also been one of the moving forces behind the East African fibre consortium EASSy. It is also believed to be one of the operators favouring a more Open Access approach to the structure of ownership and sale of capacity. This week we interview its recently appointed CEO Noel Herrity who…
Telecoms
CAMEROON GOVT THROWS IN 3RD MOBILE LICENCE TO ATTRACT BUYER FOR AILING CAMTEL
Cameroon’s Finance Minister, Polycarpe Abah Abah, said last week that the country’s plans to privatise and restructure state-run telco CamTel are to be accelerated following approval by the international monetary…
Telecoms
LIBERIA: CONTRACT AND MONOPOLIES COMMISSION PUTS MONROVIA CONTRACT OUT TO TENDER
News media reports over the past week carried advertisements from the Contract & Monopolies Commission (CMC) inviting sealed bids from eligible bidders for a contract to supply and install telecommunications…
Telecoms
SOUTH AFRICA: MOBILE OPERATORS SELLING US$30 HANDSETS AND CONSIDERING LOW PRICE TARIFFS TO SEARCH OUT NEW MARKETS
Cell C, MTN and Vodacom have begun importing "a significant number" of cellphones costing less than R300 to make mobile telephony affordable to poorer citizens.The next batch of cheap handsets…
Telecoms
NIGERIA'S REGULATOR NCC GIVES OPERATORS INTERCONNECT RATE OPTIONS
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given telecom operators options in deciding on what to do with the interconnect rates. Private telecommunications operators (PTOs) have variously petitioned NCC asking that…
Telecoms
KENYA - CELTEL, ERICSSON SIGN SH4B NETWORK UPGRADE AGREEMENT TO CARRY DATA
Mobile telephone service provider Celtel Kenya unveiled a Sh4 billion project to upgrade its network countrywide. The project was launched during the signing of a contract between Celtel and Ericsson…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Richard Branson’s UK-based Virgin Mobile is expected to announce the details of its much-anticipated cut-price mobile venture in South Africa before the end of the year, according to Reuters.…
Telecoms
TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
- Nigeria - Fixed wireless operator, Starcomms has introduced a global Short Message Service (SMS) for all subscribers currently on its network. Under the scheme, Starcomms subscribers will not only…
Internet
BOTSWANA INTERNET EXCHANGE (BINX) LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE LOCAL WEB TRAFFIC
Internet Service Providers Association (BISPA) Secretary, Katlego Nkwe, says that the Botswana Internet Exchange (BINX) should help the country develop in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector and assist in…
Internet
CONGO-BRAZAVILLE DEPT OF POST + TELECOMS SIGNS R380M INTERNET AND VOIP DEAL
The Republic of Congo's Department of Post and Telecommunications has signed a deal with a South African consortium to provide satellite-based Internet services and a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)…
Internet
SOUTH AFRICA'S TELKOM GETS TOUCHY ABOUT CAPPING CRITICISMS SPURRED BY DOTCO CASE
Thin-skinned Telkom SA last week issued a press release in an attempt to halt what it saw as inaccurate media coverage of the Dotco case and the issue of it…
Internet
ISPS AT BENIN WORKSHOP AGREE TO SET UP ISPA AND IXP
The AfrISPA/CATIA workshop for Benin ISPs was launched last week in Cotonou, by Nelly Kwende, Director of DARIG at the Ministry of Communication for the Promotion of New Technologies. The…
Internet
RURALKENYA.COM HELPS REPLACE LOST CATTLE
A generator rumbles behind the two-roomed building, which looks like one of the maize mills that dot Kenya's rural landscape. But, you're not likely to find a harvest of any…
Internet
XANTIC FIRST WITH BETA-TEST BGANX
Xantic is the first satcom provider to start beta testing with a customer for the BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service. For the purposes of this test, Xantic is working…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Following the failure to reach a consensus at the third Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom-3) held in Geneva, last month, Internet Governance would still be a burning issue at the…
Computing
EUROPE AND USA DUMPING TOXIC COMPUTER WASTE ON AFRICA, ALLEGES NGO
Up to three-quarters of the computers and other electronic equipment being sent to African countries under re-use and repair programmes are effectively waste, according to the Basel Action Network. The…
Computing
UGANDA'S CRYSTAL CLEAR SOFTWARE WINS AFRICAN SMME 2005 AWARD
A Ugandan based computer company, Crystal Clear Software Limited that has over 200 Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) using its Loan Performer software in 50 countries all over the world has…
Computing
SOUTH AFRICA - IBM DISASTER FACILITY TO KEEP FIRMS AFLOAT
IBM is investing US$15m to build a business continuity centre that will let its clients relocate their operations and keep working if a disaster strikes. The new centre in Randburg,…
Computing
AFTER TWO YEAR WAIT, ZAMBIAN ICT POLICY LOOKS SET TO ARRIVE IN NOVEMBER
It's taken over two years for Zambia to issue an ICT policy document. That might sound a long time but it took Ghana over four years and Florence Etta, formerly…
Computing
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT'S DEBT RECORDING AND MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE REACHES 20
The Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording and Management Software (CS-DRMS) recently clocked 20 years of successful recording and evolving expertise in the management of debt-related crisis among its member nations and…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Malawi, Nico Technologies (NT) a local information technology service provider has gone into partnership with AcceTech Alliance, an American firm which is the regional distributor of Accpac and SAGE…
digtool
ARUBA NETWORKS ANNOUNCES ENTERPRISE MOBILE INTERNET ACCESS
Aruba Networks announced this week an enterprise-class mobile access point that will put users at the edge of their corporate network no matter where they are located. When it becomes…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
PRIVATIZATION OF NITEL - VODACOM SAYS THE RISKS ARE TOO HIGH FOR IT
So many things are happening all at once. Government is insisting that it would remove the SAT 3 Trans-Atlantic cable from NITEL before the sale takes place. Vodacom has come…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SOUTH AFRICA:BRYANT ALTERS COURSE, SEEKS LOAN WRITE-OFFS
Two shareholders of failed technology company Bryant are being asked to write off their loans of R2m so that the shell of the group can make another acquisition in an…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
AFRICAN MOBILE INVESTMENT CAPEX WILL TOTAL US$46 BILLION IN 2009
The combined fixed and mobile investment or capex for the African continent is expected to reach $65 billion for the period 2000 to 2009. Mobile investment is expected to take…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- Thirteen telecoms operators from Europe and the Middle East have until 31 January 2006 to place a bid for a 35% stake in Tunisia’s national operator Tunisie Télécom. The…
Digital Content
UGANDA - FARMERS TO GET UPDATE OF WORLD COFFEE PRICES DAILY
In Uganda farmers will access world coffee prices twice a day from Uganda Coffee Development Authority under the warehouse receipt system. Apollo Kamugisha, the assistant coordinator of the system, said…
Digital Content
Web And Mobile Data News - In Brief
- The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) has launched a new Internet portal for and about the NGO sector in South Africa. This portal is primed to become the gateway…
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PEOPLE
* Yossi Barkan (formerly with IP Planet, now merged with Gilat) has been put in charge of PCCW Global Group's sales effort in Africa. PCCW Global Group is the result…
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EVENTS
- West African Satellite Communications Conference & Exhibition, 23-25 November 2005, Meridien Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria. This NewCom event will be dedicated to the deployment of satellite and satellite hybrid-based communications…
