Issue no 517 13th August 2010
Top Story
Geo-location – The what of the where is it begins to be the next apps wave in Africa
Lost your way in Accra or Abidjan? Want to know where your friends are? Need to track your truck fleet or disease outbreaks? A wave of recent announcements look set to be come the first signs of a growing apps wave (both personal and professional) that will begin to transform how certain things are done in Africa. No longer will directions include “go left at the flower seller” but GPS and maps may allow you to pinpoint your intended destination. Sylvain Beletre looks at the many geo-location applications that are just hitting the continent. Geolocation services are potentially a huge…
Telecoms
Bharti Airtel Acquires Telecom Seychelles
Zain Kenya's new owners, Bharti Airtel, is determined to expand their footprint in Africa by acquiring Telecom Seychelles Ltd at a cost of Sh4.9 billion. This means the Indian telecommunications…
Telecoms
Angola Telecom Fixed Network Digital System Inaugurated
The Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, José Carvalho da Rocha, Thursday in Sumbe, central Kwanza Sul province, inaugurated the digital system of Angola Telecom fixed network that will connect…
Telecoms
NetOne Intensifies Expansion in Zimbabwe
Incumbent NetOne has intensified its expansion drive in the past two months by installing base stations across the country, the company's Managing Director Reward Kangai has said. This will result…
Telecoms
MTN Seeks law to allow them to build critical national infrastructure
In order to secure telecommunications operations and infrastructure in the country, MTN Nigeria Limited has called on the National Assembly, to, as a matter of urgency, initiate laws that will…
Telecoms
Telecoms News: In Brief
* Malawi’s third mobile operator licensee, G-Mobile, has started deploying infrastructure for a wireless network, reports local newspaper The Nation. The news follows a move by the country’s regulator, the…
Internet
Kenya: ICT underpins a more transparent vote on the constitution
The technological revolution in Kenya's electoral process became abundantly clear as the final numbers came in from Wednesday's referendum. Analysts said the digital shift contributed to making the referendum a…
Internet
Africonnect Acquired by Vodacom Business Africa
AfriConnect Zambia announced that it has been acquired by Vodacom Business Africa (VBA) and thus becomes part of the Vodacom group of companies. Vodacom itself is majority-owned by Vodafone -…
Internet
Are planning to?
TechCentral has established from various parties that preliminary talks are already underway. Convergence Partners, which is already an investor in the undersea Seacom cable system, appears to have initiated talks…
Internet
Internet News: In Brief
* South African telco Neotel has launched pre-paid broadband services on its network, it has reported. Branded ‘NeoConnect Lite Pre-paid’, the service incorporates voice telephony, SMS and basic internet connectivity.…
Internet
Virgin Mobile SA to launch service over Cell C’s HSPA+ network while Cell C announces HSPA+ tests
Virgin Mobile South Africa is planning to launch its own mobile broadband service using Cell C’s HSPA+ network, Cell C has confirmed. Since launch, Virgin Mobile South Africa has been…
Computing
Kenya: Ericsson Raises the Stakes With New E-Learning Academy
Thousands of youths who have been locked out of IT institutions due to a lack of fees can now gain the skills they want free of charge thanks to an…
Computing
National University of Rwanda (NUR) Staff Train in IT
Cisco, in partnership with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) regional academy, has awarded certificates to 24 university staff who completed training in computer hardware and software management. Speaking to…
Computing
Computing News: In Brief
* Kampala — The Uganda Communications Commission has called for laws to ensure cyber security in East Africa. "As a region, we need to adopt appropriate legislation against the misuse…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage : In Brief
* Dar Es Salaam — Zantel has introduced a new product which will allow its customers to make off-net calls at 1.99/- per second, the existing rate of 5.5/- per…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Business Connexion Group in Deal to Boost BEE Status
Technology company Business Connexion Group said last week it would sell a 30% stake to black investors at a group level to enhance its empowerment status. The group said the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vimpelcom considering share-swap deal for stakes in Orascom, Wind
Reuters, quoting Russian newspaper Kommersant, reports that Russian cellco Vimpelcom is considering a potential deal to purchase 51% of Egyptian cellular group Orascom Telecom as well as take control of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Altech backs Technology Concepts to become a Tier One provider
JSE-listed technology group Altech is putting its muscle behind its Internet business, Technology Concepts, with plans to turn it into a tier-one service provider. Altech bought Technology Concepts last April,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Investment in Telecoms Sector Now $12 Billion, Says Nigerian President Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan last week said the liberalisation of telecommunication operations in the country has harvested a massive inflow of investment in the sector from $50 million in 2000 to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On the Money News: In Brief
*According to an unconfirmed report from the online journal Trade Finance, Standard Chartered Bank has signed a telecoms equipment deal with Ghanaian cellco Zain backed by Sweden’s credit agency EKN.…
Digital Content
New Technology finds Landmines in Angola Using Digital Photography
Luanda — A new Israeli technology that allows the location of anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines through digital photography of the land has been used in the demining process in Angola…
Digital Content
UNN Adopts Electronic Board for Teaching
Enugu — Traditional blackboards would soon be replaced by electronic boards in classrooms and laboratories at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as the institution prepares for full implementation of…
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People
* Brahima Sanou’s candidacy to become the Head of the ITU’s BDT department has been endorsed by the 15th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of 53 countries of…
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Events
*MOBIFEST 2010 NIGERIA Nigeria’s first and largest mobile application event will be in Lagos less than two weeks and a key focus for this inaugural event is not surprisingly –…
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Jobs & Opportunities
* Certified Linux Engineer (12 month contract) Kelly in Johannesburg This is a CONTRACT position, please indicate your rate p/h in your application. Certified RHCT/E Enterprise 5 Experience on SUSE/Fedora/CENTOS…
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Contracts
Last Talks Over the Disputed Contract of Gijima and Govt – South Africa JSE-listed technology services group Gijima is still in talks with government to resolve a dispute over the…
