Issue no 442 20th February 2009
Top Story
Financial tide goes out on incumbent telco privatisations - who will buy Africa’s “problem children”?
When the Cameroonian Government tried to sell its telco incumbent Camtel only two Indian buyers - Reliance and Essar - turned up and it called off the sale. Was this just a little local difficulty with a Government-owned “problem child” or part of a broader set of difficulties? With the global financial system in a holding pattern, it has become significantly harder for potential buyers to find the money to buy these “problem children”. Many buyers really want access to mobile licences and in times like these maybe it’s simpler to find “green field” licences. Russell Southwood checks the privatisation…
Telecoms
Libya Invites Bids For Private Telecommunications Licenses
Libya announced last Wednesday the launch of an international tender for the North African country's first private licenses for a mobile and landline operator. A spokesman for the state-owned General…
Telecoms
Bahrain-based Bintel wins Gabon mobile licence
Bahrain-based Bintel has been awarded a 15-year mobile licence by Artel, the telecommunications regulatory authority of Gabon. The company, which becomes the fourth mobile telecom operator in the country, is…
Telecoms
Liberian Telecommunications Agency mired in corruption allegations
The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the regulatory body of telecommunication companies in Liberia is mired in corruption allegations centred on its Commissioner Albert Bropleh. Investigation conducted by FrontPageAfrica have unearthed…
Telecoms
Gambia: Telephone Subscribers in four districts still without service, may take another year to repair
Gamtel telephone subscribers in the Kanifing, Banjul, Lamin and Brikama administrative areas continue to express concern about the lack of service on their telephone lines over the past months. People…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
-The management of Vodafone Ghana, which owns 70 percent of Ghana Telecom has offered mouth-watering disengagement packages to its workers. The package consists of three month salary for every year…
Internet
Seacom's Cable Reaches Two Ocean Floors on its way to Africa
Seacom has announced that the first portions of deepwater cable are now resting on the seabed of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. The cable has been laid from the…
Internet
Teams cable secures operating permit in Kenya
The East Africa Marine Systems (Teams) has been given the first submarine cable landing operator licence, opening the way for the country to tap cheaper high speed Internet connection. The…
Internet
What’s the market share of South Africa’s Leading ADSL ISPs ?
The number of ADSL subscribers in South Africa recently surpassed the 500,000 mark and is expected to continue its steady growth during 2009. One of the aspects making ADSL an…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Tunisie Telecom has signed a contract for a submarine fibre-optic cable linking Tunisia to Europe. British wholesale operator Interoute, Global Marine and Chinese equipment vendor Huawei, will be involved…
Computing
US$20 Million needed for ICT Task Force in Sierra Leone
The national information and communication technology (ICT) task force and E-readiness survey officially launched last week by Sierra Leone’s vice president needs a whooping US$20 million for its implementation. Alhaji…
Computing
National Smart Cards to Be Issued This Year in Rwanda
Beginning this year, all Rwandans will be able to access and coordinate various services automatically using the new smart card electronic system. This was announced last week by Pascal Nyamulinda,…
Computing
Botswana’s National Archives Goes Electronic to Boost Service Delivery
The Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS) is embarking on a project that will see all government ministries and departments using an electronic archiving and record management system. At…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- The long-awaited bill for Namibia's information communication technology (ICT) sector will be tabled in Parliament soon, a Cabinet Minister said. The new ICT bill is expected to open up…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- As part of its corporate social responsibility, Africell Lintel Sierra Leone limited has provided free toll lines to the national fire force (NFF) to be used by members of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN South Africa Shelves Discount Share Scheme
MTN's huge black empowerment plan to spread its shares among ordinary citizens has been shelved as most people are too cash-strapped to buy into the business. The cellular network hopes…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Monitise Gets Mobile Banking Grant to Expand in East Africa
UK based Mobile Banking provider, Monitise says that it has been awarded US$1.5 million by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) to help fund the launch of its mobile banking…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
K3bn for telecoms and finance sectors in Malawi
A World Bank financing group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has earmarked some US$20 million (K2.8 billion) for the improvement of Malawi’s telecommunication and financial sectors. The IFC vice president…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Pinnacle expects mixed results in South Africa
JSE-listed Pinnacle Micro's trading statement this week shows the company expects to crack just over R1 billion in turnover in its interim results. The projection for the interims (six months…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- According to the local newspaper, Daily Trust, the House of Representatives in Nigeria went through a second read of a bill that would require GSM Telecommunications services providers to…
Digital Content
Zain dials up mobile banking in Africa with Zap
Leading mobile telecommunications provider Zain today announced plans to bring mobile banking to over 100 million people in East Africa with the launch of its new service, Zap. Zap will…
Digital Content
French Company to launch voice activated mobile payment in Nigeria
Tagattitude France, multiple award winners at the international (GSMA) Global System for Mobile Communication Association event, is set to launch its payment solution in Nigeria. The chief operating officer of…
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People
* Messaging company Acision has appointed Tony Morrish as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Russia and Africa. Morrish joins Acision from Sonus Networks, where he was Vice…
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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
PROVISION OF CONSOLIDATED ICT REGULATORY MANAGEMENT SERVICES - MALAWI Malawi’s Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has published a request for proposal for the provision of Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management Services. MACRA…
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Contracts
Cielux and Alvarion - Congo DRC Alvarion has announced it has been chosen by Cielux Telecom for a full turnkey WiMAX project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Using…
