Issue no 583 2nd December 2011
Top Story
Mobile data service in Africa: too much talk for very little revenue
At the presentation of Vodacom’s interim results for the six months ending 30 September 2011, Pieter Uys, Vodacom Group CEO commented on South Africa’s good data revenue performance adding that “the growth rate of smartphone data traffic is ten times higher than that of dongles and other modems”. There is no doubt that South Africa leads the way regarding mobile data service penetration and revenue but is it an isolated case or the early sign of a trend that will sooner rather that later spread across other countries in sub-Sahara Africa. Isabelle Gross looks at mobile data revenue in South…
Telecoms
Tanzania: Vodacom to spend Sh150bn on consolidation
Vodacom Tanzania plans to spend about Sh150 billion in the next year in expanding and upgrading its network infrastructure in the country.The additional capital investment is expected to consolidate network…
Telecoms
Zain yet to agree telco licence fee with South Sudan
Zain Sudan has spent $60 million splitting its operations in two following the succession of South Sudan, but has yet to agree a license fee with the newly independent country,…
Telecoms
Nigeria: MTN Decries Over N10 Billion Interconnect Debt
MTN Nigeria has decried the interconnect debt of N10 billion owed it by private telephone operators (PTOs) and Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (Nitel) and its mobile subsidiary , Mobile Telecommunications Limited…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Law Compelling Telecom Firms to Sell Shares to Citizens Underway
A bill seeking to make it compulsory for all service providers of Global System of Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) divest certain percentages of their shares to Nigerians will soon be presented…
Telecoms
Ghana: Government Threatens to Revoke Telecom Companies Licenses
Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu last week issued a 24-hour ultimatum to defrauding telecommunication service providers to pay up fines slapped on them by the National Communications Authority (NCA), or…
Telecoms
Telecom News – In Brief
- Kampala — Nokia has urged the government of Uganda and other players in the mobile communications business to fight counterfeits, which they fear could increase, following a ban in…
Internet
Rwanda: Internet Charges to Be Slashed
Internet users are set to enjoy cheaper rates as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) promised to slash interconnectivity fees during the first half of next year, a move that underlines the…
Internet
Kenya: 11,000 Small Businesses Get Access to Web Link
More than 11,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have benefited from an initiative by Google, Equity Bank and Safaricom to create own websites at no fee.Designing a simple website costs…
Internet
EA entities lag behind in internet security matters
Dar es Salaam. A financial consultancy firm has said East African organisations lag behind peers in the continent in information security breach preparedness due to lack of awareness creation and…
Internet
Pay TV slows, Internet grows at Naspers
Multinational media company Naspers released its interim results for the six months to 30 September on Tuesday. They show subsidiary MultiChoice has enjoyed far slower growth than in 2010 but…
Internet
Internet News – In Brief
- The City Council of Nairobi has set a January 12, 2012 deadline for migration to the online platform for submission of building plans proposals and processing of construction permits.…
Computing
Rwanda: 1000 Fake Laptops Sold to Minaloc
The laptops were destined for local leaders at the cell level, who needed to improve service delivery with the help of latest technologies. PAC heard that on November 16, 2009,…
Computing
South Africa: A Tablet Made for Locals
Local developer Wise Tablets, based in Centurion, has announced the imminent release of a new range of tablets that will cater specifically for the country's consumer and educational needs. The…
Computing
Computer News – In Brief
- Lagos has been ranked bottom of the world's largest 25 cities in use of information and communications technology (ICT) to transform the lives of its citizens according to the…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has indicated that it is yet to assign spectrum for 4G technologies. This comes as some telecommunications and information communication technology…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
outh Africa: First National Bank Expands Ewallet's Functionality
First National Bank (FNB) is to enhance its eWallet solution, which enables employers to pay salaries directly to their employees' mobile phones, by introducing features that enable users to pay…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Digicel eyes stake in Lap Green – Rumour denied
A rumour went round this week that Digicel in consortium with other investors was going to buy Lap Green Networks. The rumour was later denied by the Libyan investment agency…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Nigerian tower firm eyes East Africa
Safaricom and Telkom Kenya’s infrastructure sharing plan could get a boost following an announcement by Nigerian telecommunication towers company IHS that it is seeking Sh18 billion ($200 million) to finance…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Money News – In Brief
- Somalia based NationLink has launched a mobile wallet service, powered by Comviva.- Telkom Kenya is the latest mobile telephony firm to tap into the multi-billion electronic commerce industry after…
Digital Content
Ghana: Mobile Phone - an Effective Tool for Enhancing Community Health Systems
The OXFAM/ISODEC mobile phone distribution initiative forms part of a maternal and child health care project known as the Top Project which is funded by OXFAM and implemented by ISODEC…
Digital Content
ICT hitches hamper efficiency at border
ICT hiccups remain among the biggest challenges as the East African Community (EAC) eyes a full-fledged trans-boundary business in utilising the common market protocol.At least customs officers at Mutukula border…
Digital Content
South Africa: New Technology Created for Climate Change
NGOs will soon have the data capability that allows them to anticipate the climate changes taking place. The Group on Earth Observation is a global organisation that will allow data,…
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People
- Ghanaian information technology (IT) guru, Herman Chinery-Hesse is listed 62 among the top 100 global thinkers list published by the Foreign Policy magazine November 28, 2011. According to the…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Alcatel NMS Engineer, Location: CameroonPosted date: Fri, 2nd DecNMS Engineer – CameroonAlcatel Lucent, NMSMy client is a global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions are currently seeking an NMS…
