Issue no 575 7th October 2011
Top Story
Africa and TV White Spaces: The ghosts in the machine could provide additional spectrum at low cost
This week saw a workshop on TV White Spaces sponsored by APC, the Open Spectrum Alliance of South Africa, the Wireless Access Providers Association in South Africa and Google Africa take place in Johannesburg. White spaces technology promises what one regulatory contributor dubbed the nirvana of more efficient spectrum use and the possibility of significantly lower costs to deliver it to the customer. Russell Southwood seeks to explain what TV White Spaces are and how they can be used to deliver wider wireless access.As Steve Song, CEO, The Village Telco explained it, TV White Spaces exist because in the old…
Telecoms
Cote d'Ivoire: UN Launches Phone-Based Scheme to Help Poor Buy Food
The United Nations has launched a pilot programme that uses mobile telephone technology to facilitate cash transfers to help thousands of poor people that were badly affected by the post-election…
Telecoms
Congo, ARPCE confirms 92% of mobile subscribers have registered their details
The Republic of Congo’s Regulatory Agency Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) has announced the closure of a campaign aimed at registering mobile subscriber data. According to the watchdog, at the…
Telecoms
South Sudan’s dialing code goes live
The International Telecommunication Union has to announced that the world’s newest country, South Sudan, has joined the ITU to become the Union’s 193rd Member State, effective from 3 October 2011.The…
Telecoms
Lagos Assembly summons Airtel over alleged sack of Nigerians
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday summoned the management of Airtel, a telecommunication company, to appear before it on October 11 to explain the alleged sack of about…
Telecoms
Sub-Sahara Africa’s fast growing telecoms industry driven by private sector – World Bank
The telecommunications industry in the sub-Sahara African region is said to growing at a faster pace with significant investment from the private sector. These investments are primarily focused on network…
Telecoms
SA’s Cell C unveils new data products
South Africa’s third largest mobile network, Cell C, has unveiled another new range of competitive data products, a development that would make millions access data on their mobile phones.The introduction…
Telecoms
Minister gives policy directive NCA to withdraw licenses of dormant frequencies
Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications on Monday said government would continue to ensure that the frequency spectrum, which was a scarce national resource, was efficiently managed by the National Communications…
Telecoms
Orange gains as Airtel loses in market share war
Telkom Kenya has emerged as the biggest gainer of the ongoing price war in the mobile telephony market that has seen operators freeze employment and cut investments by a third.Data…
Telecoms
Investor sues Telkom Kenya over Sh1.52 billion land dispute
An investor has taken Telkom Kenya to court over alleged breach of an agreement involving the sale of 79 acres of prime land in Karen, Nairobi for Sh1.52 billion.Aftraco Limited…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Twelve weeks since its commencement, the National Communications Authority (NCA) says a total of 105,678 mobile phone subscribers in Ghana have ported to other networks under the Mobile Number…
Internet
Angola - Alvarion upgrades MSTelcom’s WiMAX capabilities
Angola Communications Systems (ACS), a unit of Angolan telco MSTelcom, has chosen Alvarion’s BreezeMAX Extreme WiMAX solution to upgrade and expand its wireless broadband network, with a WiMAX 802.16e (mobile-ready)…
Internet
World Bank backs ACE fibre cable for Sierra Leone
Intensive discussions between the government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank followed, leading to the approval of $31m for the Sierra Leone component of West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure…
Internet
Google puts South Sudan on maps
Google has updated its maps to include the newly independent nation of South Sudan. The move follows a campaign by a South Sudanese journalist, who posted an online petition calling…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- A new sales and advertisement website has been launched. www. salonetiday.com is a locally unique owned Sierra Leonean website aimed at boosting sales for both businesses and private individuals…
Computing
Toshiba has eye on African market
Toshiba has taken a focused approach to the East and West African markets, says Africa channel manager Nelo Neves. Hi-tech computing giant Toshiba is predicting “considerable growth” in sub-Saharan Africa,…
Computing
Microsoft recognizes innovative teachers, school leaders - In Education, Technology
The global software giant, Microsoft has announced the winners of its annual Microsoft Partners in Learning Middle East and Africa forum, an event that recognises innovative teachers who creatively and…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- The Rwanda Education Board (REB) will, this month, launch an ICT-based training programme, to guide teachers in integrating basic ICT into their lessons. Primary school teachers will be the…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms Rates, Offers and Coverage
- MTN and Vodacom are looking at launching flat-rated data solutions for Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad) smartphones and tablet PC’s. BlackBerry’s success in South Africa is partly thanks…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zambian president looks into Zamtel sale to Libya Controversy surrounds sale of stake to Libyan company LAP Green
Zambia's new president, Michael Sata, has formed a committee to investigate the controversial sale of the Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) to Libya's LAP Green Networks.The previous Zambia government sold Zamtel…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
HDS wants Africa stake
Hitachi Data Systems' proposed purchase of Shoden is a “natural next step”, says Niels Svenningsen, senior VP and GM of Hitachi Data Systems in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Japanese-based…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Valor IT escapes liquidation
A contract canned by trade and industry minister Rob Davies is at the heart of a legal wrangle between Valor IT and Blue Turtle.Valor IT has agreed to pay Blue…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On the Money News - In Brief
- Mobile operator Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has posted a 16% increase in net income in the first six months of its fiscal year 2011/12. After-tax profit reached USD74 million in…
Digital Content
South Africa: Lack of Exhibitors Leads to Expo's Cancellation
As the number and variety of exhibitors secured for the proposed DigitalLife Expo was not sufficient to guarantee a successful event, its organisers, ITWeb, have cancelled the show, scheduled for…
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People
- Craige Fleischer, regional director for Southern Africa at Research In Motion (RIM), has officially jumped ship to Samsung Electronics as of 1 October. Fleischer follows closely in the footsteps…
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Jobs & Opportunities
- Mobile operator Cell C is searching for a CTO and a CIO, after splitting the function of the head of its technical group. Until the end of September, Ronald…
