Issue no 367
Top Story
The Nigerians are coming – investing in Benin and Ghana
Although sometimes chaotic, the Nigerian market has always seemed big enough to keep its local entrepreneurs occupied. However over the last twelve months, there have been significant moves by Nigerian companies looking to carve themselves a presence in other West African countries. With the announcement of two Nigerian investments this week in Benin and Ghana – one large and one small – Russell Southwood looks at how and why things are changing. South Africa is both an economic engine for the southern Africa sub-region and a platform for those wanting to do business across the continent. Although there are no…
Telecoms
Bureaucracy Threatens US$400m National Rural Telephony Project in Nigeria
After the Commissioning of the US$300 million phase 1 of the National Rural Telephony Project, (NRPT) last May by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, whose construction began in 2002 with about…
Telecoms
Government Cancels Telecel Licence in Zimbabwe over shareholding dispute
The state run Herald newspaper reported that the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) had cancelled Telecel Zimbabwe's license over a shareholding dispute.A statement issued by the Authority…
Telecoms
Sudan’s international telecoms players could get caught up in Darfur embargo
Bright yellow banners sprang up overnight along the banks of the Nile then spread along the ten-lane highways and crowded market streets of Sudan’s traffic-clogged capital, Khartoum. They were the…
Telecoms
AccessKenya about to strike ground-breaking interconnect deal with Safaricom
AccessKenya is on the brink of signing a ground-breaking interconnect agreement with mobile operator Safaricom. However, Celtel continues to drag its heels over connecting to the VoIP service provider.Ms Wanja…
Telecoms
IN BRIEF:
- Following the loss of its appeal at the administrative court (Conseil d’Etat) Sonatel, the national incumbent in Senegal will have to pay a fine of 3.2 billion CFA francs…
Internet
Arusha Launches Own Local Internet Exchange Point in Tanzania
Arusha has just become the first non-capital urban center in East and Central Africa to have its own Internet Exchange Point, a physical infrastructure that allows different Internet Service Providers…
Internet
Property Transfer Services to Go Online in Ethiopia but some banks doubtful
The Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia is to launch a web-based property transfer authentication service but at a recent meeting to announce its launch, local banks expressed scepticism that it…
Internet
Mauritius to get Fibre-to-the-Home by 2008 in US$318 million investment plan
According to reports from the African Press Agency, from 2008 all Mauritian homes will be able to connect to the internet via a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network being proposed by United…
Internet
IN BRIEF:
- A fibre-optic cable linking Ethiopia to Sudan has been officially launched. According to the Ethiopia Telecom Corporation (ETC), the Addis Abbaba-Metema link cost ETB118 million (USD13.2 million) and took…
Computing
Mauritius goes down six places in global ICT rankings
According to a global report on ICT, Mauritius is ranked 51st in the use of ICT for its development. Operators point at the need to go faster in implementing the…
Computing
Firm Launches New Low Cost Solar Computer in Uganda
UK based IT firm, Inveneo Inc has launched a low cost solar/battery powered computer onto the Ugandan market. The computers at Ush1.6 million (US$941) a piece are mainly targeting the…
Computing
South Africa’s Government Rejects Used UK Computers
A British charity that puts used computers into African schools slammed the South African Government for failing to support an initiative that would see all of South Africa’s 5 million…
Computing
IN BRIEF:
- Microsoft has launched software piracy awareness campaign in Cameroon which has a 84% piracy rate, coming second in Africa just behind Zimbabwe according to the Business Software Alliance. Local…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
- Celtel subscribers in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have a new service addition to their borderless voice service. With "One Office" they will soon enjoy access to unlimited high speed…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Treasury Opens Bids for Safaricom IPO in Kenya
The countdown to the Safaricom Initial Public Offer (IPO) began yesterday with the opening of the technical bids for consultancy services.The bids now go to the technical committee for evaluation.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Seacom hunts for investors in race to link EA to high speed Internet
A South African company last week raised the stakes in the race to connect East Africa to the global network of high speed Internet with an aggressive drive to recruit…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN to Buy UBA-Owned XS Broadband in N4 Billion Deal in Nigeria
South African mobile operator, MTN Nigeria has agreed to acquire XS Broadband Limited (Formerly UBA Capital & Trust Ltd), a fixed wireless access licensee owned by UBA PLC in a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
IN BRIEF:
- In Ghana, Kofi Kludjeson who was involved in the theft of money from mobile operator Kasapa and disqualified from being a director of company for four years in 2005…
Digital Content
IOL Launches Shopping Portal in South Africa
Independent Online (IOL) recently launched a shopping portal enabling access to over 600 South African e-retail sites at the click of the mouse. Hosted and maintained by Jump Shopping, one…
Digital Content
Phone Software to Save Users Who Lose Handsets in Uganda
SimpleSoft, a local software solutions company has introduced an electronic service that enables mobile phone users to keep a copy of information stored in their phones on a remote server.…
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PEOPLE
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has finally appointed a new CEO. Karabo Motlana which was head of regulatory affairs at Cell C will take up the job from…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
ICT training course in ComorosThe Danish Management A/S (http://www.danishmanagement.dk/) for the RICTSP/COMESA (and for this specific assignment IOC) are presently looking for experts who have an interest in providing training…
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EVENTS
Developing & Implementing National ICT Policies in Africa3 - 7 September 2007, Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja, NigeriaThe workshop will offer a pragmatic approach to the evaluation and assessment of national…
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CONTRACTS: WHO'S SELLING WHAT TO WHOM?
Telecom Egypt and Group 1 Software - EgyptTelecom Egypt has selected Group 1 Software, a Pitney Bowes Company, as its Customer Communications Management (CCM) solutions provider of choice to enhance…
