Issue no 465 31st July 2009
Top Story
Central African Backbone project looks set to connect Africa’s fibre free triangle
Whilst there have been announcements about an increasing number of African countries building cross-border fibre links being built, politically-troubled countries like Chad and Central African Republic have missed out on the party. This week Central African Republic announced that it would be implementing the World Bank-backed Central African Backbone. Russell Southwood looks at what’s planned. Central African Republic was the one of the few countries which seemed to have no plans to create a fibre link to its nearest international landing station (SAT3) in Cameroon. That all changed this week with an announcement by the Secretary-General of the country’s Ministry…
Telecoms
Africell buys Tigo in Sierra Leone
Millicom International has sold its Sierra Leone subsidiary to Africell Holding for an undisclosed amount, according to a report in Cellular World. Source at Millicom (Tigo) in Sierra Leone disclosed…
Telecoms
Neotel weighs up its role in retail and wholesale markets
While the prospect of better interconnection rates is on offer, there has been little response from the rest of industry, says Mukul Sharma, Neotel's head of consumer and channel sales.…
Telecoms
Tanzania: Mobile operators Register 800,000 New Subscribers in First Quarter
Mobile companies registered 837,883 subscribers in the first quarter of this year, bringing to 13.885 million the number of cellular phone users compared with the previous quarter. The Tanzania Communications…
Telecoms
Vodacom Slashes its Budgets in Tanzania and Congo DRC
Vodacom has cut back its budgets in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo after its international operations suffered an 8.,1% slump in revenue in its past trading quarter. The…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- The Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) has incurred a loss of Sh762 million as a result of vandalism to its equipment. Its officials said equipment vandalised includes telephone cables…
Internet
Damage to Sat3 Cable Cripples business in Nigeria, Benin and Niger
The damage to the mainstay of Nigeria's terrestrial internet service provision, SAT3, has disrupted businesses in the private and public sectors across the country. The unavailability of Internet services disrupted…
Internet
Cheap Internet Far From Reality Despite Seacom Roll-Out in East Africa
Two fibre optic cables, Seacom and TEAMs, landed in the country this month, with Seacom activating its network in five countries in Africa, Kenya included. An article in Business Daily…
Internet
China Blocks Namibia on Internet to cut off news of Hu Jintao corruption case
Namibia has disappeared off the face of the earth as far as the Chinese government is concerned, at least. People in China keen to read about the fate of fellow…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Nigeria’s mobile operator MTN has a new mobile broadband service dubbed HyConnect Wireless Internet. MTN Hy-Connect Wire-less Internet is a pre-paid high speed internet service that combines the speed…
Computing
Ghana promotes itself as Africa’s premier BPO destination
Ghana wants to positions itself as one of the premier BPO destinations in Africa. The 1st GASSCOM International BPO Conference And Exhibition was held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel…
Computing
Buses Ferry ICT to Rural Areas in Rwanda
In a much-publicized move to take information technology to ordinary citizens, Rwanda Development Board (RDB/IT) has finally introduced two models of ICT buses with Telecentres. Two of these buses arrived…
Computing
NREN to be formed by April 2010 in Senegal
On 20-21 July 2009, a national policy dialogue meeting was held in Dakar, Senegal to discuss ways and means of establishing an NREN, a university networking organisation that will help…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) plans to open a science and information technology (ICT) industrial park at Busitema University in Busia district. The UIA executive director, Maggie Kigozi, said…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- MTN is set to launch a 3G service in Rwanda. - Plans for Dangote Telecommunication Company to roll out its 3G network in Nigeria have run into trouble. According…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South Africa is Sitting On R1 Billion Telecoms Fund
A fund of R1bn that telecoms operators have contributed to the government to take voice and data services to rural areas is still sitting idle when it could be used…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Egyptian Mobinil Revenues Up 11% - Profits Up 9%
Egypt's Mobinil has reported an 11% rise in its first half revenues of EGP 5.2 billion (US$943 million), with with 2Q revenues of EGP 2.73 billion representing 9% growth over…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
BEE Partner wanted for Cell One in Namibia
Cell One's state-required hunt for black economic empowerment (BEE) partners, which will transfer some of the shareholding of sole owner Telecel Globe back into Namibian hands, starts today. One hundred…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
'Telecel Stake Not Up for Grabs' in Zimbabwe
Telecel Zimbabwe is not prepared to sell part of its stake to MTN of South Africa, at least for now, as the country's third mobile phone operator embarks on a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
France Telecom says that it would consider bidding for some of the assets owned by Kuwait based Zain should the company look at breaking up its African division. Zain…
Digital Content
TradeNet changes its name to Esoko and looks for investors
While attending the Gasscom conference on July 22-23 2009, Balancing Act’s Sylvain Beletre interviewed entrepreneur Mark Davies of BusyInternet in Accra. He set up TradeNet back in 2005 with the…
Digital Content
SMS Media Introduces Bulk SMS Advertising for businesses in Rwanda
SMS Media, an SMS content and wireless application service provider has introduced bulk SMS advertising to facilitate businesses in the country. "This service will help improve the way the business…
More
People
Praveen Sadalage is the new Managing Director of BusyInternet. He was formerly Vice President (Operations) for Wicenet, an IPTV and IP based multimedia delivery technology company. Praveen has over 18…
More
Events
* 11th EAST AFRICAN POWER INDUSTRY CONVENTION 11-13 August 2009, Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tanzania is proud host of the 11th EAPIC, which is the strategic regional…
More
Jobs and Opportunities
Certified Localisation Professional (CLP) Course - South Africa Translate.org.za, Wits Language School and The Institute of Localisation Professionals (TILP) are proud to host the Certified Localisation Professional (CLP) Course in…
More
Contracts
Zain and Nokia Siemens – Nigeria Zain has extended its contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to handle implementation of the additional 600 km on its existing fiber network. "Our aim…
