Issue no 439 30th January 2009
Top Story
Nigeria – shaping up to become the next big M-money market
This week saw Orange announce the roll-out of its M-money service into Mali (Orange Money) and Zain saying that it will soon launch a service (Zap) to compete with Safaricom’s m-Pesa. But the really huge market for M-money will be Nigeria if operators can get it right. Although Nigerian banks are among the more energetic on the continent, there is still plenty of potential writes Emmanuel Okoegwale. The ability to pay for goods and services without having to carry cash or cards has universal appeal. In Africa it is being driven by the need to reduce the risk of theft.…
Telecoms
New Government to review Ghana Telecom sale?
In a move that has shades of what happened to the mobile operators in Benin when a new Government came to power, Ghana’s new Government has decided that it will…
Telecoms
Zambia to deregulate international telecom gateway
The Zambian government has finally bowed to pressure to deregulate the country's international telecommunications gateway in order to promote competition and foreign investment in the sector and lower the high…
Telecoms
Vodacom wants to sell data like it did prepaid customers in South Africa
Vodacom has plans to start aggressively attacking the mobile data market, starting with a tariff cut. According to the group's commercial director, Romeo Khumalo, the company wants to start doing…
Telecoms
LTC Ready For Operations in Liberia
Whatever their circumstances, telco incumbents rarely seem to die but they do come back from having had a near death experience. After years of nothing much happening, the Liberia Telecommunication…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Zimbabwe’s mobile market leader Econet Wireless has resumed offering its post-paid services, which were suspended last November because of a shortage of foreign currency and lack of funding to…
Internet
Libya's wireless web access leap
Libya's only Internet service provider is launching its first commercial wireless network which it says is one of the most advanced in the world. The state-owned firm said only a…
Internet
Google Earth reveals hidden environment treasure in Mozambique
A team of environmental scientists and bird experts have discovered a remote treasure in Mozambique's hidden Mount Mabu. Using Google Earth to identify a remote patch of pristine forest, the…
Internet
Are Internet scammers above the law in Cameroon?
The residents of Bamenda in Cameroon are up in arms about Internet scamming, according to a report in the Cameroon Tribune. Last week, two young men, Mathias Sam Ngonain and…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Andrew Mthembu, chairman of South Africa’s a state-owned firm Infraco that owns a stake in the group building the WACS cable, confirmed local media reports that the cable would…
Computing
Ethiopian Airlines Unalarmed by Satyam Scandal
Following the Satyam Scandal in India, there were fears in many quarters that the development would affect the multi-million dollar IT transformation project of Ethiopian Airlines since Satyam, with partner…
Computing
Uganda ICT users create ICT consumer lobby
A group of Uganda ICT enthusiasts have moved to create a consumer lobby that will help address concerns of dissatisfied users of computer products and services. Members of the private…
Computing
Open heritage project launches in South Africa
A new project to make South African heritage available to a broader audience was launched in Johannesburg today. The OpenSA! pilot project aims to “nurture creativity by making it easier…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Just three weeks ahead of its final voter registration drive, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa has made good on its promise to make its website accessible…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- No fewer than ten financial institutions in Nigeria have started to roll out, InterSwitch, an electronic transaction switching and payment processing platform in order to deliver Nigeria's first Virtual…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Main One Signs Pioneer Consulting to Supervise Undersea Cable Project in West Africa
Engineering and research company Pioneer Consulting has been appointed by Main One to supervise the design, engineering and implementation of the project. Phase one of the Main One undersea cable…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom South Africa completes take-over of Nigeria’s Multi-Links
The share which was traded for $130 million has given Telkom 100 per cent ownership of the company having acquired 75 per cent of the company earlier in 2007. The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Subscriber Surge Lifts Vodacom's Revenue in South Africa
Mobile operator Vodacom has pumped up its revenue 13.7% for the nine months to December 31, generating R40.5bn for the period. The growth was spurred by an even more robust…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
ICTs' contribution to Tunisia’s GDP set to reach 13% by end of 11th plan
Minister of Communication Technologies El Hadj Gley announced that the share of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector in the GDP will exceed 13% by the end of the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- Bahrain-based Bintel plans to invest $250m to increase its presence in Africa and at least three new markets over the next two years as part of its future expansion.…
Digital Content
SMS company to expand in Africa
Mobile instant messaging service Mxit is to expand aggressively into Africa and Asia, as its growing subscriber base and financial stability allows it to flex its marketing muscle, founder and…
Digital Content
Zain to expand reach with mobile cash transfer service in Kenya
A new race for supremacy is shaping up among Kenya’s mobile service providers as they seek to boost revenues through mobile money transfers. Following on the successes of Safaricom’s M-Pesa,…
More
People
* The General Manager of the Cameroon Telecommunications CAMTEL, David Nkoto Emane, has appeared before the Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde on January 22, to answer charges of corruption, favouritism,…
More
Events
* TELECOMS FRAUD AND RISK 23rd-26th March 2009 Hilton London Tower Bridge, London, UK http://www.iir-events.com/IIR-Conf/page.aspx?id=17135 * 3RD ANNUAL AFRICAN E-GOV FORUM 24-26 March 2009, Kigali, Rwanda The CTO is honoured…
More
Jobs and Opportunities
* EXPERT FOR STUDY ON FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFWARE FOR THE COMESA REGION The Danish Management are presently searching for a FOSS expert for the ToR: A study on…
More
Contracts
* Ghana Telecom and Huawei - Ghana Ghanaian fixed line and mobile operator Ghana Telecom (GT) has signed a USD120 million contract with China’s Huawei Technologies to upgrade its existing…
