Issue no 396
Top Story
Sharing infrastructure to speed up roll-out – reaching the parts you can’t reach by yourselves
This week saw the ITU’s 8th Global Symposium for Regulators take as its theme infrastructure sharing as a means of speeding up broadband roll-out in developing countries. Sharing is one those warm, fuzzy words and as one delegate said:”My mother always told me to share.” But as those at the event discovered, some parts of sharing are fairly easy, whereas others require a greater understanding of the potential pitfalls. Somehow competition and sharing don’t seem to fit in the same sentence but competitors have been sharing for years. Russell Southwood looks at what is at issue. With the exception of…
Telecoms
Telecom Egypt Profits Rise Despite Algeria Impairment
Telecom Egypt reported a rise in 2007 profits, driven by higher Internet, data and wholesale revenue, and an increased contribution from Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications Company which offset an impairment for…
Telecoms
Only one cable allowed says South Africa’s Treasury
National Treasury's decision to decline funding for Infraco's West Coast undersea cable project has forced the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to throw its lot in with the Nepad Broadband…
Telecoms
Angola to Expand International Connections
Angola might expand the national submarine cable network in optical fibre to neighbouring countries, under the contract for the implementation of the Multi-Services Network - Phase II and of the…
Telecoms
Botswana Telecom’s privatisation back on the agenda
Presenting the 2008/09 budget proposals for her ministry, Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said after the transformation, BTC would become an ordinary company governed by the Companies Act. This bill will enable…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Engineer Ahmad A. Nahuche who last week resigned from the direction of Nitel said to local newspaper the Daily Trust that "If they (Transcorp) continue like this, I don't…
Internet
Kenya’s PS Ndemo confirms Fibre Optic Project to Begin in 2009
Work on an undersea optic fibre communication system will begin in January 2009 and should be complete by June of the same year. Information permanent secretary, Bitange Ndemo told envoys…
Internet
South African websites attract more and more visitors
With nearly one million broadband users in South Africa the Internet is fast becoming the medium of choice for information and news. While many people still think of the Internet…
Internet
Website Director Detained in Latest Wave of Media Repression in Egypt
"The systematic campaign launched by the Egyptian government against opposition candidates and the Muslim Brotherhood to prevent them from running in the next local elections in Egypt should not divert…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Regular connection failures on Togo Telecom’s fibre link with Côte d’Ivoire (via Burkina-Faso) is causing mayhem among Internet users. Sam Bikassam, a representative of Togo Telecom said that the…
Computing
Ghana soon to have an ICT Policy in place
The Minister for Communications, Dr. Benjamin Aggrey-Ntim has assured the nation that it would soon set a policy that would ensure the smooth penetration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into…
Computing
KDN to Embark on a Countrywide Digital Villages Roll Out in Kenya
The Kenya Data Networks (KDN) is embarking on a major roll out of a KShs. 210 million initiative to expand the reach of ICT and its benefits to the rural…
Computing
Is Microsoft Swahili Version Failing?
When Microsoft announced in 2003 that it had launched a Kiswahili version of their Microsoft Office applications, linguists saw it as a big triumph for the language - and a…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Dakar in Senegal will host next week the third annual conference on open source software with the support of the African Foundation for open source software. - PC-BSD, an…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- Celtel Nigeria has installed a new switch in Abuja. The addition of the new $6 million (about N702 million) switch to Celtel network will boost the company's ability to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Sell-Offs At NSE As Market Eyes Safaricom IPO in Kenya
Whispers that the landmark Safaricom IPOs offer date is expected sometime towards the end of March is already causing quiet ripples at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) with dealers noting…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
A Solution to Sentech Funding Crisis gets a political push in South Africa
Parliament's communications committee is determined to end the long-standing stalemate between the treasury and state-owned signal carrier Sentech over funding for its broadband wireless strategy. The committee has demanded that…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
R2bn GautengOnline tender questioned
A R2 billion GautengOnline education project is shrouded in controversy, amid speculation of irregularities during the evaluation and awarding of the tender. A source close to the process, who asked…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zain okays 125 percent capital increase to support expansion
Shareholders in Zain (Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications) gave their approval to a 125 percent increase in the group's capital to fund future global expansion. Zain will raise about 1.2 billion dinars…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- In South Africa, TeleMasters, announced that it has acquired Marketel with a view to expand in the communications management sector. Marketel has a licence to provide value-added network services…
Digital Content
Bicycle Phone Charger Launched in Uganda
The locally designed charging system is aimed at mostly helping people in villages, where there is no electricity, to have easy access to charging services. This is another innovation that…
Digital Content
Mobile advertising in Africa: a threat or an opportunity!
We carry it around with us wherever we go, it holds some of our most crucial and valuable information, it is our lifeline to the conveniences of constant connectivity --…
More
People
* Telkom Kenya has appointed Internet expert Njeri Rionge as chief marketing manager. * Hits Telecom Group has announced the appointment of Talaat El Lahham as the CEO of Hits…
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Events
* THE AFRICAN BANKING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE – “New dates” 28th March – 4th April 2008, Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya The conference theme is “sharing knowledge and best practices…
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Jobs and Opportunities
* Google is recruiting Account Managers, Account Strategists, Industry Leaders, Strategic Partner Business Development Managers, Associate Product Marketing, Office Leads, etc… in the following countries South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria,…
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Contracts
* KDN and Alvarion - Kenya Kenya Data Networks has announced the expansion of its nationwide WiMAX Network with Alvarion. It will be an integral part of the current KDN…
