News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 403 on 18 April 2008
Top Story
African Telecoms, Media and Technology Fund to invest US$75 million in its chosen sectors plus an SME fund
US Government investment agency OPIC recently agreed to put US$50 million into the African Telecoms, Media and Technology Fund, the first of its kind on the continent. This funding will be joined by US$25 million from private American and African investors. Within the Fund, some of the money will be allocated to an SME investment fund to encourage entrepreneurs. The Fund is talking boldly of creating the first non-Telco Triple Play offer and of creating a carriers’ carrier within the wider East African region. Russell Southwood spoke to Richard Essex, Chief Financial Officer, African Telecoms, Media and Technology Fund about…
Telecoms
Zain launches mobile network in Southern Sudan
Kuwaiti Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain) launched its new network in south Sudan, where it aims to spend up to $150 million expanding in the semi-autonomous region emerging from decades of…
Telecoms
MTN and Celtel Set to Pay N4bn Compensation to Subscribers in Nigeria
In a bid to escape the hammer of the regulator, NCC for poor quality of service on its network, Celtel Nigeria has concluded plans to pay billions of naira as…
Telecoms
Ghana Telecom strikes deal with Indian operator to offer IP-TV
Ghana’s telco incumbent Ghana telecom has struck a deal with Indian operator Wisenet to offer an IP-TV service to its broadband subscribers. Ghana Telecom provides the marketing and delivery and…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe Operators Seek to Share Network Infrastructure
Zimbabwe's telecoms trade body, the Telecommunications Operators Association of Zimbabwe (Toaz) has announced that it is working with the mobile operators to permit infrastructure sharing amongst their networks. Toaz chairman,…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- State-owned incumbent Botswana Telecoms Corporation (BTC) has launched mobile phone services, following a successful trial and evaluation period. BTC Mobile will compete with existing mobile operators, Mascom and Orange.…
Internet
Main One Cable System Project on track following the signing of the supply contract with Tyco
Main Street Technologies announced the award of the turnkey supply contract for its Main One Cable System to Tyco Telecommunications. The cable system will span 14,000 kilometers and provide the…
Internet
Gambia gets bandwidth boost from Senegal MoU
Gambian incumbent telco Gamtel, and Senegalese incumbent Sonatel have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a press release from the Department of State for Communications, Information and Information Technology…
Internet
63.4% of Egyptian households with ADSL
In a new survey of connectivity among Egyptian urban households, the analyst company found that 63.4% of Egyptian households share the connection with their neighbours. In 81.9% of households that…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Ugandans spends US$18m per year on Internet access, the executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Patrick Masambu, has said. "Uganda's Internet costs are the highest in the…
Computing
South Africa’s Communications Department is Recruiting 800 IT Graduates
The Department of Communications is looking for 800 Information Technology (IT) graduates to be enrolled for the E-Cadre Program to assist with IT technical support within their areas. The E-Cadre…
Computing
Kano State Partners with Malaysian Experts to build ICT Park
The State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau disclosed that government is working with Malaysian ICT Professionals toward setting up the proposed ICT Park in the state capital. Towards this end, he…
Computing
Computer Software Helping Users to Cut Costs in Kenya
The high cost of doing business has driven out a number of firms from the Central Business District in search of spacious but inexpensive offices outside the city centre. One…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- BMI-TechKnowledge, a South Africa ICT market analyst, has announced the publication of its latest report entitled: ’ICT in National Government’, which reveals that the total ICT spend of the…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- South Africa’s second national operator (SNO), Neotel, has launched its first voice and Internet services for residential users. The SNO is offering a CDMA-based fixed wireless service called NeoConnect…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Kenya Telecom to borrow over Sh 7 billon
Players in the capital market and banking industry are bracing for a windfall as national telecom operator, Telkom Kenya, prepares to borrow in excess of Sh7 billion from the local…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Celtel Africa to Launch IPO
Celtel Africa plans to sell over 20 billion shares in an Initial Public Offer (IPO) in Lusaka, Zambia. David Venn, the Celtel Zambia managing director, said the share sale follows…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Reltel Wireless to Raise N30billion Via Private Placement in Nigeria
Reltel Wireless, a CDMA operator in Nigeria, is set to raise N30 billion via private placement from investors. Executive Vice Chairman of the company, Kenneth Aigbinode, who disclosed this at…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ansys makes another buy in South Africa
AltX-listed railway and defence IT company Ansys has made another buy, the fourth in less than a year. The company advised shareholders that it entered into a heads of agreement…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- Burkina Faso’ Government has announced that it will sell a further 20% of its stake in privatised national incumbent Onatel during the course of 2008. Last year Maroc Telecom…
Digital Content
Turning your cellphone into a remote control
It is this year's science time again, and the universities and technical institutions have pitched tent at Kenyatta International Conference Centre to showcase their innovations. When the Nation team visited…
Digital Content
MTN Nigeria Partners with DSTV for TV On the Go
Nigeria's leading mobile provider, MTN and Multichoice Nigeria recently took telecommunications partnerships to new heights with the launch of Mobile Television on the MTN network. With the launch, MTN becomes…
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People
* Kenyan Internet consultant, Michuki Mwangi, has been appointed as Senior Education Manager at the Internet Society. - MWeb Nigeria announced recently that it has appointed Paul Ezenwa, MD/CEO Paulsco…
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Events
* THIRD AFRICAN BANKING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 6-7 May 2008, Lagos, Nigeria The event is being hosted by AITEC Africa and will focus on "Competing in a Borderless World". This conference…
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Jobs and Opportunities
* Core Project Manager – Western Africa The clien is requesting the services of a Core Project Manager to work in desirable location. It is imperative that the candidate has…
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Contracts
* MTN and Motorola - Nigeria Motorola has disclosed that it has won an MTN Nigeria network optimisation service contract. The value of the contract has not bee disclosed but…
