Issue no 480 13th November 2009
Top Story
World Bank financing approved for Central African Backbone and completion date set for 2011
With the arrival of the Glo One cable in Ghana and Nigeria, the two biggest bandwidth markets in West Africa, both countries will have two landing stations and by the end of 2011, a staggering 5 landing stations each.This plethora of landing stations and the bandwidth they bring will remain under-utilised and only be able to serve the coastal areas (including the majority of African capital cities in West Africa). The construction and strengthening of national and cross-border networks is the order of day of this massive amount of bandwidth is to be used. The recent decision of the World…
Telecoms
Globacom gets mobile licence in Côte d'Ivoire
Nigerian operator, Globacom has taken another major step towards its vision to be the biggest and best telecoms operator in Africa by obtaining an operating licence in Cote d'Ivoire. The…
Telecoms
Telkom Kenya Gets Nod to Resume Portable 'Fixed' Line Service
The telecoms regulator has given Telkom Kenya the go-ahead to reintroduce its portable "fixed" line service on a national scale, a move that is expected to breathe new life into…
Telecoms
MACRA awards ZAIN Malawi 3G licence
MACRA has awarded a 3G licence to Zain Malawi, which is expected to enhance high-speed wireless Internet access. Zain marketing director, Enwell Kadango confirmed that discussions that started between the…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Zimbabwe’s telecoms operator, TelOne, has warned customers with outstanding bills that they risk losing their lines to those on the waiting list if they fail to settle their debts…
Internet
Nigerian State and Zinox Disagree Over Internet Contract
Enugu State Government and Zinox Technologies Limited have disagreed over the city wi-fi wireless Internet service for Enugu, the capital city. While the government has commenced court action against Zinox…
Internet
Kenya’s AccessKenya and UUNet Secure international routes for redundancy
AccessKenya and UUNet have secured five international routes to guard against downtime due to fibre connectivity disruptions. Providing multiple paths for redundancy purposes means that their clients' links with the…
Internet
East Africa’s Health Sector Goes Digital, With Next Epidemic Alert a Click Away
East African Community member states are closer to having an integrated e-health regional information network to identify, confirm and respond rapidly to outbreaks of international ramifications. Following the Bujumbura Ministerial…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Telkom Kenya has raised the competitive stakes in the home Internet market with a new service that allows access through existing landlines, saving users substantial money in installation costs.…
Computing
Nigeria’s House of Representatives Shelves Electronic Voting
The House of Representatives said Nigeria cannot afford to adopt the electronic voting system now because of the high level of illiteracy amongst the electorate, the challenge of epileptic power…
Computing
Milestone for Stop-Start Gauteng School Computer Lab Project
An eight-year-old project to install computer labs in all Gauteng schools has finally reached 1300 classrooms, after an initial R500m scheme was abandoned and a fresh R2bn tender issued. Gauteng…
Computing
First Taste of Success for a Young Software Developer in Rwanda
A senior-six student in Essa Nyarungunga, has made a name for himself by creating computer software that is already being used by some companies. Yves Kamanzi does not just study…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Kebbi state in Nigeria will introduce e-payment system in order to fish out ghost workers in the government pay-roll. To achieve the set objective of the e-payment system, a…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- The fifth Global System for Mobile communications operator in Nigeria, Etisalat Nigeria in collaboration with the Research In Motion (RIM), have launched the BlackBerry solution into the nation's market.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Cellcom Goes Public in Liberia
Cellcom Telecommunication Incorporated, the privately-owned American cell phone and Internet Company in Liberia is offering opportunities to Liberians, other residents and business houses to participate in profit-sharing rights of the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zain Pours Sh2 Billion Into Tanzania’s Government Coffers but forecasts flat revenue for 2009
Mobile phone network operator Zain Tanzania has paid over Sh2 billion as its dividend to the Government for 2007. Speaking at a brief function where a symbolic cheque for Sh2.4…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tower sharing offers opportunities for emerging markets
While the large operators in Western Europe like Telefonica or Vodafone have instigated advanced active infrastructure sharing and outsourcing, telecom operators in developing markets are now beginning to look into…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom hurt by Gateway acquisition
Since becoming a subsidiary of the Vodafone group in May this year, Vodacom has undertaken a number of initiatives to boost profitability. Through leveraging Vodafone's international presence and experience, the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On The Money - In Brief
- The debt of ailing Nigerian incumbent operator Nitel will be shared between the telco’s new buyer and the federal government according to the chairman of the Senate Committee on…
Digital Content
South African Government Using SMS to Distribute Free Electricity Vouchers
Sybase 365 says that it is providing the messaging platform for an SMS based electricity voucher scheme being rolled out in South Africa. The initial service provides real-time electricity pre-pay…
Digital Content
Google Earth Comes to Uganda
Google Earth, a software application that enables people and organisations to map their own surroundings and to beam to the world issues that affect them has been launched in Uganda.…
More
Events
CUSTOMER SERVICE & CONTACT CENTRE WEST AFRICA 24-25 November 2009, Oriental Hotel, Lagos This year’s theme is “Achieving excellence in Customer Service & Increasing Market Share during an Economic Downturn”,…
More
Jobs and Opportunities
* Tender for long-distance trenches for nationwide fibre cable project - Zimbabwe artwellmt@gmail.com * Pre-incubation phase pogramme to assist early stage entrepreneurs – South Africa CITI and the Bandwidth Barn…
More
Contracts
* BTC and Ceragon Networks - Botswana Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has selected wireless backhaul solutions provider Ceragon Networks to upgrade its nationwide wireless backbone and the backhaul network of…
