News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 378 on 2 November 2007
Top Story
Rules of the game changing as DSL subs head for 1 million and international fibre prices fall to all-time low
Almost unnoticed the rules of the game are changing and the South African market shows key developments that will transform how markets operate. DSL subscribers there look set to break through the “critical mass” barrier and there are irresistible pressures building up for low prices and no caps. Alongside this development, SAT3 bandwidth prices are now nearly down to the critical US$1000 a meg for volume buyers. Russell Southwood looks at why this is a moment of change for South Africa and how it will also be something that affects the rest of the continent. Speaking at this week’s Media…
Telecoms
Sub-Saharan Cellular Networks to get US$50 investment boost
A combined $50bn will be invested in cellular networks in sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years, doubling an already rapid rate of investment. The figure has been calculated by…
Telecoms
MTN Group reveals strong 3Q subscriber growth
MTN's share price was climbing again yesterday in line with a relentless rise in subscriber numbers, with the cellular giant signing up 5.8-million more customers in the past three months.…
Telecoms
Senegal’s second mobile operator Tigo Bounces Back
Following the loss of 58k customers in Q2 as a result of the customer registration programme, the Senegalese mobile market recovered somewhat in Q3, posting a net gain of 115k…
Telecoms
Yar'Adua's Insistence on NigComSat Mobile Licence Throws Spanner on Free Enterprise
President Umar Yar'Adua, last week deepened the mobile licence row between the Nigeria Communication Satellite (NigComSat) Limited and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by ordering the regulatory agency to "immediately" grant…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- President Kibaki's re-election campaign team has unveiled an electronic fundraising drive using a mobile telephony. Contributors to the presidential kitty will have an option of sending their views on…
Telecoms
TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE
- In Rwanda, MTN has also promises to cut their tariff rates to more affordable levels after the government reduced the excise duty on airtime by 3 per cent. -…
Internet
MTN takes on Vodacom ISP in South Africa
MTN must reposition itself as an Internet service provider (ISP) in order to remain competitive, says Brian Seligmann, MTN's data and messaging executive. Speaking at the ITWeb Technology Roadmaps 2007…
Internet
Alink to offer VoIP in Tanzania
Alink Telecom (T) Ltd, launched recently after re-branding its trade name from Datel (T) Ltd, has given the market two new products enabling customers to call international destinations at relatively…
Internet
iBurst PC/Internet bundles stall in South Africa
iBurst has terminated its PC/Internet bundle offering while Sentech has ceased to actively market its bundled product. MTN previously said sales of its PC/Internet bundle were ”trickling in slowly”. iBurst…
Computing
Connect Africa ICT Summit Ends With Renewed Commitment
This week's 'Connect Africa' summit in Kigali ended on a high note with government and private sector delegates agreeing to work together to develop Africa's interconnectivity. President Paul Kagame said…
Computing
Timid ICT Evolution in Maghreb
Figures released by the United Nations Development Programme in Algiers show a timid evolution of ICTs in the Maghreb region with only 2.5% of Internet penetration. Algeria has reached 5,…
Computing
CPN Completes Design on National IT Education Blueprint in Nigeria
The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria has completed the design of a national blueprint for Information Technology education in Nigeria. Part of the blueprint includes syllabi for computer education…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Omatek Ventures Limited, an ICT company has started manufacturing computers, casing and speakers in Ghana. It is the second to be built in the West Africa sub-region after the…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Internet News - In Brief
- In South Africa, mobile operator MTN is planning to launch an Internet service operation in order to remain competitive. MTN is not the first cellular operator to elevate the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Nigeria’s Transcorp Targets N35b Revenue From SAT-3 Cable
Transcorp has projected a revenue of N35 billion from the underground Submarine Cable (SAT-3) it inherited through the acquisition of the Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL). Vice President, Corporate Communication of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
ODM Appeals Ruling on Safaricom in Kenya
The legal tussle over the planned sale of Safaricom shares to the public yesterday climbed a notch higher when opposition politicians moved to the Court of Appeal seeking orders to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Microsoft Contributes 47 Percent to Nigeria's IT and Economic Growth
The International Data Corporation, (IDC) last week released details of a global research study showcasing the information technology (IT) industry's impact on "job creation, company formation, local IT spending and…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Dynamic Visual Technologies Raises R12.5m Ahead of AltX Listing in South Africa
Software developer Dynamic Visual Technologies (DVT) has raised R12.5m through a private placement of its shares ahead of an AltX listing on November 6. It released 12,5-million ordinary shares at…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- China’s largest cellular operator, state owned China Mobile, is close to striking a deal which will see it take a stake in pan-African mobile group MTN, according to XFN-Asia…
Digital Content
Vodacom to Boost Data Revenue With Music Download Service
Vodacom expects a fillip to its data revenues when it becomes the world's fourth operator to launch a new music download service. MusicStation is a more sophisticated version of the…
Digital Content
Free Website to Promote African Businesses
A new website, www.africaopportunityfund.com, has been created to attract investment trade and business into the Africa and to equally promote African trade and business both internally and internationally. Supported by…
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PEOPLE
Telkom South Africa announced a new executive committee structure. Thami Msimango is returning to Telkom after briefly defecting to Vodacom, and will become the new chief of global operations and…
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JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Design of an e-government portal framework for the Government of Seychelles We are presently searching for individual for e-government portal development. Application deadline: As soon as possible and at the…
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EVENTS
- USING ICT FOR EFFECTIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT - AFRICA FORUM 2007 13th - 15th November 2007, Dar es Salaam International Conference Centre, Tanzania The use of ICTs in disaster management…
