Issue no 569 26th August 2011
Top Story
Tax on international inbound calls: Too good to miss… as more African countries are tempted to go this way
The list of African countries that have implemented, are planning to implement or have failed to implement a tax on international inbound calls is getting longer by the day. The non-exhaustive list of “shame” includes countries like Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mauritania, Madagascar, Ghana, Senegal and Liberia. Balancing Act has been following the story since the failed attempt of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire back in August 2009. Isabelle Gross looks at the latest twists in the Senegalese case and the attempt of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority to introduce a similar tax in one of the poorest countries…
Telecoms
Nigeria: NCC approves five operators to disconnect Zoom Mobile over interconnect debt
The Nigerian Communications Commission last week issued a disconnection notice to Zoom Mobile, a CDMA network operator, over interconnect indebtedness to five other rival telecoms operators in the country.At the…
Telecoms
Kenya: 4.4 Million fake handsets subscribers to be switched off
About 4.4 million mobile phone subscribers may lose their lines following a directive by the Communications Commission of Kenya to the operators to block handsets that are "unknown" on their…
Telecoms
Consumer watchdog takes on mobile operators in South Africa
National Consumer Comissioner Mohlala served the companies with compliance notices on Wednesday after they refused to sign consent orders acknowledging their contracts did not comply with the Consumer Protection Act…
Telecoms
Zambia waives duty tax on GSM equipment
The Government has passed a Statutory Instrument (SI) which suspends duty on taxes related to all active and passive Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) telecommunications equipment.The ministries of Finance…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive restraining telecommunication operators from sending alert messages to subscribers on account of the status of their SIM card registration. NCC…
Internet
MWeb loses court battle for equality with Telecom Namibia
The long running legal battle between MWeb and Telecom Namibia came to an end this week when the Supreme Court dismissed MWeb’s appeal with costs.MWeb had argued that while Article…
Internet
UK broadband provider to enter Rwandan market
London based emerging markets broadband provider, Augere, is set to expands its African operations with the launch of broadband services in Kigali. The UK firm announced its expansion plans to…
Internet
Kenya plans speedy Internet in counties
The government is planning to have all counties covered with fixed broadband in the next eight months. Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information and Communication said…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- According to internet intelligence company Renesys, broadband access was restored to war-torn Libya on Sunday 21 August, only for the country to be taken offline several hours later.- Mobile…
Computing
East Africa: Pastoralist's digital network wins global learning award
The pastoralist regions of East Africa have been variously described as vast, pristine swathes of land, teeming with wildlife and livestock amid nature's unspoiled beauty; or drought-prone hardship areas, marginalised…
Computing
Uganda: New software marks the end of paper medical forms
Wilson Kutegeka's health information management system software that stores and networks patients' medical records is another master piece from a young Ugandan breaking into the world of science innovation.Kutegaka's software…
Computing
Nigeria: Minister Supports Protection of ICT Infrastructure
The Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has declared support for the calls to make Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the country, a critical infrastructure protected by…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- In Zambia, the Government has launched a web-based spatial data infrastructure system embedded in the Zambia Preparedness and Response Information Management System (ZAPRIS) aimed at enhancing early detection of…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms Rates, Offers and Coverage (briefs)
- In Nigeria, CDMA operator Starcomms Plc has announced a partnership agreement with China Telecoms to provide affordable and quality GSM handsets for its customers. The chief executive also said…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
NetOne secures USD 60m funding to launch mobile broadband by year end in Zimbabwe
NewsDay, reports that state owned mobile network operator NetOne has secured US$ 60 million for mobile broadband services. According to the paper, the funds have been sourced from China Export-Import…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tanzania: TTCL needs USD 50m to regenerate
The Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) needs over USD 50 million to improve its services; company’s chief executive officer Said Amir Said has said.He revealed this in Dar es Salaam…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Kenya: Safaricom Wants Sh1.4 Billion 3G Refund Paid for 3G Licence
Safaricom, the leading mobile operator in Kenya, is seeking Sh1.4 billion refund from the government as part of a fee it paid in 2007 to acquire a high speed mobile…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South Africa: More workers now paid by mobile transfers
Since its launch in July 2010, First National Bank's corporate clients have used Pay Wallet to send over R42-million directly to the mobile phones of more than 19000 South Africans,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On the Money News - In Brief
- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted United Bank for Africa (UBA) the final licence to operate a mobile payment service known as U-MO. In a parallel news,…
Digital Content
South Africa launches first online audience measurement panel
The Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA) is launching South Africa's first online audience measurement panel.Implemented by Effective Measure, the DMMA's measurement supplier, the panel will be a recruited sample…
Digital Content
Kenyan shoppers embrace online stores to beat runaway inflation
Violet Njeri's shopping experience has become unbearable as trips to the local supermarket become more costly. The price of sugar, for instance, has hit the all-time high of Sh200 per…
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People
- The immediate past president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and Chief Executive Officer of PiNet Informatics, Lanre Ajayi, has been nominated into the Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO)…
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Events
Nigeria ComSeptember 20 - 21 September, 2011, Lagos, NigeriaThe 2nd annual Nigeria Com returns to Lagos. Gain unique market perspectives and insights from a 40 strong speaker-line up including 25+…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Management Information Reporting (MIR) Analyst – MTN NigeriaJob Description:•Assist in preparation of the Management Information Report (MIR) in line with local and international standards.•Assist in analysis of MTNN’s financial position•Recommend…
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Contracts
ARC Telecoms and Teraco - South AfricaARC Telecoms has partnered with Teraco to offer SMEs colocation in Teraco’s vendor neutral data centre in Isando. “Customers can now place their servers…
