Issue no 540 4th February 2011
Top Story
Kenya’s Jamii Telecom to launch Sub-Saharan Africa’s first Fibre-To-The-Home offering
Jamii Telecom is breaking the mould by launching a GPON network that will deliver Fibre-To-The-Home for the first time in Sub-Saharan African. It plans to deliver a host of services on it including, VoIP, Internet, video and security applications. This will give the Kenyan market two players at the high-bandwidth end of the market: Jamii Telecom and Wananchi. On a recent trip Russell Southwood spoke to Jamii’s General Manager John Kamau and Wananchi’s CEO Richard Bell about their respective ambitions.Five years ago it would have been hard to imagine that there would be two high-bandwidth players vying for consumers attention…
Telecoms
African Union plans for single standardized SIM card
The African Union (AU) has unveiled its plans for a single standardized SIM card for all African mobile phone operators. According to AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Elham Ibrahim,…
Telecoms
MTN Denied 3G License in Swaziland
MTN has had its application for a 3G license in Swaziland rejected by the incumbent telco, the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC), which also managed the regulatory regime in…
Telecoms
Egyptian operators stuck in the middle
Forced to comply with a government order to disrupt their own services, mobile operators have looked far from comfortable in Egypt. Last Friday, the Egyptian government ordered the country’s three…
Telecoms
Cameroon: MINPOSTEL Mobilises to Boost Telecommunications
Jean Pierre Biyiti-bi Essam unveiled his 2011 plan of action Friday while receiving New Year Wishes. Government during the ongoing fiscal year plans to set up 120 community telecommunication centres…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
According to local newspaper, the Ghanaian Chronicle, Minister for Communications, Haruna Iddrisu said that the project for the monitoring of international inbound calls had come to a standstill as a…
Internet
WACS cable reaches the shore of Namibia
The US$600-million West African Cable System (WACS) linking parts of Africa to Europe has reached the shores of Namibia. Local telecommunications operator, Telecom Namibia, partner in the intercontinental project through…
Internet
Nigeria: Glo Crashes Internet Modem price to US$32, Offers Cheaper Packages, More Data Volume
Glo has announced a reduction in the price of its 3G Internet modem from N8,500 to N5,000 (US$32), making it the most affordable product of its kind in the market.…
Internet
Somalia denies selling Internet domain to Japanese firm
After public outrage over the sell of Somalia’s domain to a Japanese firm by Somali officials, the Ministry of Information denied recent reports saying that a Japanese company has purchased…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
Africa will continue using Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) after the global supply is exhausted in coming weeks. AfriNIC, the African Region Internet Registry (RIR) responsible for allocating IP addresses…
Computing
Kenya: Financial Services Automation Spurs Tech Firms' Growth
Local technology firms are cashing in on demand from the financial sector as banks move to automate their processes and streamline operations.While the development has seen a number of institutions…
Computing
Poor Software Responsible for DDC Machines Malfunction in Nigeria
Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body for IT professionals in the country, has blamed the observed irregularities and difficulties encountered by Nigerians in the ongoing voter registration exercise, on…
Computing
Uganda: Multinational Firms Partner to Improve ICT
Technology firms, Computer Point and IBM, have signed an agreement aimed at improving Uganda's information and communication technology (ICT) to transform the country's business operations."This partnership is a positive step…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
Kenya’s government will convert guidelines on electronic waste management into law in July, a move that is expected to attract more investors to the recycling business and increase the cost…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms Rates, Offers and Coverage
Subscribers with Airtel Africa in Tanzania will soon be able to make online purchases from MasterCard merchants around the world, thanks to an initiative by the mobile communication firm in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom Group revenues increase 3.9%; South Africa leads the charge
South Africa-based Vodacom Group has reported consolidated revenues of ZAR16.03 billion (USD2.24 billion) for the three months ended 31 December 2010. This figure represents an increase of 3.9% year-on-year. Vodacom’s…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Uganda: Telecom Sector Dictating Inflation Trends, Says Ubos
The pattern of consumption in Uganda is increasingly being dictated by mobile phone usage, shifting emphasis away from food. As a result, the consumer price index was restructured to accommodate…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South Africa: Vox mimics Stuff for annual report
Vox Telecom, listed on the JSE’s AltX exchange, is becoming well known for its inventive annual reports, which each year resemble a popular magazine. The 2010 annual report, released this…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Money – In Brief
The initial IPO of incumbent telco Tunisie Télécom has been suspended, pending a final decision to be taken within days with the strategic partner, Secretary of State in charge of…
Digital Content
Mobile Banking Usage Jumps in South Africa
Cellphone banking has surged in the past year, as South African consumers gain confidence in their handheld devices as a tool for both communications and efficiency.Among urban cellphone users, 44%…
Digital Content
Cut Transfer Costs, Central Bank Tells Mobile Phone Firms in Kenya
Mobile phone firms offering money transfer services will be required to lower their charges as a pre-condition for being allowed to send higher amounts in a single transaction, the banking…
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Events
5th Africa Economic Forum 20117-9 March 2011, Cape Town, South Africa Venue BMW Pavilion, V&A WaterfrontOur 5th Africa Economic Forum 2011 (AEF-2011) in Cape Town at the BMW-Imax Theatre, with…
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People
The President of Information Technology Association of Nigeria, (ITAN), Dr Jimson Olufuye has been appointed by United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) as a representative to…
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Jobs & Opportunities
ITU: HIPSSA CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Opened positions and requests for proposal: - G-3.1 (d) [WA]: Spectrum management expert specialized in cross-border coordination [EN] (Deadline February 11, 2011) click on the link…
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Contracts
SEA-ME-WE and Alcatel-Lucent – North AfricaThe co-owners of the South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 (SEA-ME-WE 4) international submarine cable system have selected Alcatel-Lucent and Ciena Corporation for a network…
