Issue no 605 18th May 2012
Top Story
A new business model being born – Exit, stage left some of the Masters of the Universe
Prices for wholesale bandwidth are dropping across the continent but particularly in the more competitive markets. These price drops will shake up how wholesale bandwidth is delivered and undermine some existing business models and no-one will be exempt from this process. The price falls are necessary to deliver the cheapest possible prices to households and individual consumers but current business models may need to be sacrificed to achieve this goal. Russell Southwood looks at how these changes will affect the business.The logic of some changes is absolutely straightforward. If it costs more to send a meg of bandwidth from Lagos…
Telecoms
Viettel launches mobile network in Mozambique
On May 15, 2012, Viettel announced the official launch of Movitel – the group’s first mobile network in Africa to join its already flourishing networks in Asia and Latin America.In…
Telecoms
Gateway Communications steps up African terrestrial network initiative
The Pan-African telecoms service supplier, Gateway Communications, announced Wednesday that it had brought additional capacity from submarine cable SAT-3 to landlocked Botswana via South Africa, under its Southern Africa Development…
Telecoms
Nigeria fines 4 mobile phone carriers $7.3M
Regulators in Nigeria have fined four mobile phone carriers a total of $7.3 million over poor service in a nation that depends on cellular phones for communications, a spokesman said.The…
Telecoms
SPTC finally ceases sale of Fixedfone, ONE offerings
The Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) has stopped selling its contentious fixed-wireless and mobile products. In March 2012 the SPTC reportedly made an offer to withdraw its ‘ONE’ mobile…
Telecoms
Madamobil SA liscence revoked
Madamobil Holdings Mauritius Limited (“MHML”) announced on 15th May, that OMERT, the telecom regulatory agency of Madagascar, has issued a decision to revoke the license of Madamobil SA, its subsidiary…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Gambia’s Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) has confirmed that it will block all unregistered mobile SIM cards which remain at the 15 June deadline which it has set for…
Internet
Africa: Research Coalition to Boost Internet Access in Rural Africa
An international group of research organisations are collaborating on a project to boost Internet access in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.The project was discussed at a meeting of the board of the…
Internet
West Africa Cable System (WACS) technically goes live, benefits soon to follow
Millions of Africans are one step closer to being connected to the global Internet following the May 11th launch of the 14,000km long West Africa Cable System (WACS) in Cape…
Internet
Africa: New Threat to Internet Freedom
Out of public view, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN agency, is working on proposal to give governments more control over the internet. The effort is supported by a…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Namibia - MTC has become the second operator in Africa to launch Fourth Generation (4G) LTE technology, promising much faster internet. "Customers will definitely have a much better experience…
Computing
Barnstone helps Zimbabwe’s Accountant General get back on track
Modern states require sophisticated financial systems to manage complex state finances and ensure that revenues are collected and expenditure is well managed. Zimbabwe’s drive to rebuild its finances was thus…
Computing
Rwanda: 100,000 More Laptops for Schools
The Ministry of Education aims to have distributed 200,000 computers to primary school children across the country by the end of the year. The exercise is under the One Laptop…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Prof John Nkoma, the director general for the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), says that the government has approved regulations to allow mobile number portability (MNP) in the country. Further,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Djezzy sees 7% increase in sales in Q1 2012
The Algerian telco Djezzy, which is backed by the Russia-based telecoms group Vimpelcom, has reported a 7% rise in sales for the first three months of 2012 to DZD34.3 billion…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Orascom posts Q1 net profit of EGP995m
Without providing comparative figures for the year-ago period, Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT) reported net profit of EGP994.7 million (USD164.3 million) and revenues of EGP235 million for the first…
Digital Content
Fibre investment on the way in Algeria
With a fixed-line penetration of around 8% and mobile penetration close to 100%, Algeria has one of the highest teledensities in Africa, according to Research & Markets. Its relatively well…
Digital Content
Kenya: Technology Could Bridge Healthcare Gap
Nairobi, Kenya — The government has been urged to scale up use of E-health in provision of healthcare.World Bank Lead Health Specialist Khama Rogo said with technological advancements, provision of…
Digital Content
Rwanda: Smartphones to the Rescue in Disaster Management
Rwanda's Ministry of Disaster and Refugee Management (Midimar) last week launched an ambitious campaign of distributing internet-equipped cell phones to all sector leaders with the aim to enhance communication on…
Digital Content
Rwanda: Smartphones to the Rescue in Disaster Management
Rwanda's Ministry of Disaster and Refugee Management (Midimar) last week launched an ambitious campaign of distributing internet-equipped cell phones to all sector leaders with the aim to enhance communication on…
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People
The Director General of the Telecommunication Agency of Côte d'Ivoire (ATCI), Arthur Alloco, has been dismissed. The decision was taken by the Board at its meeting on "transitional measures for…
