Issue no 440 6th February 2009
Top Story
Senegalese consumers called to boycott mobile phones to protest 2% tax increase on wide range of services
African politicians see the telecoms and Internet sector as the “golden goose” in terms of being able to tax its operators. In various countries a whole raft of different taxes have turned mobile operators into Government’s most effective tax collector. But this week saw the two main Senegalese consumer organisations organise a boycott of services to protest against a 2% tax called RUTEL that falls directly on consumers. Along with all the other taxes they pay (including TVA/VAT), Senegalese consumers are now being asked to stump up an additional 2% across a wide range of telecommunications and Internet services. The…
Telecoms
Wana awarded third 2G licence in Morocco
The prime minister of Morocco has approved the award of the country’s third 2G mobile licence to Wana, a subsidiary of domestic conglomerate Omnium Nord Afrique (ONA), after studying a…
Telecoms
Wireless Telephone Service to Be Installed in all of Eritrea’s Administrative Regions
Incumbent Eritrean Telecommunication Corporation Service is putting in place infrastructure facilities aimed at expanding wireless phone service in all the country's administrative regions, according to Tesfaslasie Berhane, manager of the…
Telecoms
NCC’s Ndukwe lays out his stall for 2009; broadband acceleration and reduced interconnect
Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, at the weekend refused to be perturbed by allegations levelled against him by a member of the House of Representatives, Dino…
Telecoms
Subscription Rates for Fixed lines Reduced in Cameroon
Incumbent Camtel has cut the price of installation and its monthly charges monthly charges by 25%. In a press statement issued in Yaounde last week, the General Manager of CAMTEL,…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- The local subsidiary of the UK’s BT Group has been awarded a full telecommunications licence in South Africa, allowing it to expand its existing range of business network services…
Internet
Zain Malawi Launches Hotspots to Access Internet
Malawi’s Zain announced the launch of a hotspot service that offers wireless Internet to enable its customers access the service where there is network coverage. Zain Malawi Marketing Drector, Enwell…
Internet
NigComsat Budgets $500 Million for New Satellites
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComsat) Managing Director, Ahmed Rufai, disclosed on Monday that the country would have to shell out $500 million to launch two satellites to replace NigComSat 1 that…
Internet
Uganda’s national data backbone makes good progress
The construction of Uganda's $106m national data transmission backbone has entered its second and third stages simultaneously and a fourth stage is being planned, the ICT minister Ham Mulira said…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Figures recently released by the Tunisian Ministry of communication technologies show that ADSL connections are expected to reach 400,000 by the end of 2009. The soaring rate of ADSL…
Computing
MTC offers subsidised laptops to Namibian Students
Mobile operator MTC is offering students and staff members at the University of Namibia and the Polytechnic laptops at highly subsidised rates inclusive of broadband Internet access through MTC’s 3G/HSDPA…
Computing
India’s £7 laptop project, a dream or reality for Africa?
Indians may soon be able to buy the ultimate in credit-crunch computing - a laptop that costs only 500 rupees (£7). The government-developed laptop is the latest in ultra-cheap engineering…
Computing
Sierra Leone IT centre complements Africa e-network plan
A proposal from India's new High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Shamma Jain, is paving the way for an Information Technology Centre for Excellence in the country in the wake of…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili has called on the government of India to extend its assistance to the people of Nigeria in the development of…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, has announced a budget proposal to reduce VAT on airtime from 22.5 % to 15%. - MTN Ghana (formerly Spacefon Areeba) launched its…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Mobinil Records Record Quarterly Profits in Egypt
Egyptian mobile operator, Mobinil has reported its highest every quarterly profit, but warned that growth would probably slow during 2009 as the economy remains sluggish. The firm reported fourth quarter…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Government taken to court over sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone
An Accra Commercial Court is to determine whether or not it has jurisdiction to hear the suit against the sale of Ghana Telecom (GT) to UK’s telecom giant, Vodafone International.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN announces domestic money transfer pilot in South Africa
MTN is piloting a domestic money transfer service in South Africa using its MobileMoney system, as an added value to its customers. Customers will be able to transfer and receive…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Good news and bad news from Altron group
Mixed expectations out of electronics and communications group Altron, and its major listed-subsidiary Altech, indicate the volatility of the current business environment and the need to generate cash, analysts say.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- Telecel Globe, a subsidiary of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, has announced its objectives to develop the mobile network of its newly acquired Namibian subsidiary Cell One by ‘investing hundreds of…
Digital Content
Writers Get New Website in Nigeria
A new website exclusively dedicated to Nigerian writers and their writings has been launched. The site, www.writerslodge-ng.com, which will contain news about writers, books, and new releases among other things,…
Digital Content
New gaming website launched in South Africa
A new gaming website, MyGaming was launched this week. The new website aims to serve the South African gaming community with news, reviews and multimedia, as well as a forum…
More
People
* Thierry Savonaroye Maléyombo has been appointed as the Minister of ICT for the Central African Republic following the inauguration of a new Government. * Econet Wireless Kenya has announced…
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Events
* TECHNOLOGY TIMES OUTLOOK 2009 BUSINESS SUMMIT 24 February 2009, Muson Centre, Lagos, Nigeria The 2009 edition of the forum under the theme, "See...very far ahead" is the second edition…
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Jobs and Opportunities
* EXPERT NEEDED FOR CREATION OF NEW NATIONAL NUMBERING PLAN AND FEASIBILITY STUDY OF NUMBER PORTABILITY IN SEYCHELLE The Danish Management company is presently searching for a team of 2…
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Contracts
* Africell and Nokia-Siemens - Gambia and Sierra Leone Nokia Siemens Networks says that it has won a follow on contract from Africell to deploy a 3GPP mobile softswitch in…
