Issue no 607 1st June 2012
Top Story
Open Innovation Africa Summit – The end of the beginning offers new opportunities for entrepreneurs but roadblocks remain
Sponsored by Nokia, infoDev and the Government of Finland, this week’s Open Innovation Africa Summit (OIAS) in Nairobi focused on how to create the ecosystem that will help develop services and applications for the mobile Internet. Russell Southwood attended and used it as an opportunity to see where things have got to since that last event 18 months ago.Eighteen months is a long time in Africa in terms of Internet development.Eighteen months ago was almost the point that large-scale use of Internet began to become apparent, particularly social media. Facebook numbers began to grow rapidly from that point and continue…
Telecoms
More than one billion USD invested so far in Airtel’s network in the DRC, further investments of USD 615 million planned
Airtel, the largest telecom network in DRC, is the first operator to be visited by the new Telecommunications & ICT Minister in the country –Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba. The visit was…
Telecoms
Millennium Selects Airspan 4G Network for Central African Republic
Airspan Networks Inc., a provider of broadband wireless access networks, announced last week that it has been chosen by Millenium Telecom Centrafrique for a 4G Wireless deployment in Central African…
Telecoms
Ericsson, Tigo unveil free mobile network
Communications technology provider Ericsson has partnered up with TiGo Ghana to deploy a free voice and data network in that country using a hybrid power solution.Alan Triggs, Vice President &…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Nigeria's largest mobile networks have missed a deadline to pay fine for poor quality of service imposed by the telecoms regulator, citing a court order blocking the payment. A…
Telecoms
A need for stronger partnerships between broadcasters and telcos to stay competitive
Broadcast, Film and Music Africa, an conference international event will take place on 10-11 July 2012 at the Oshwal Centre Westlands, Nairobi, in Kenya. An estimated 400 delegates are expected…
Internet
Egypt activates high speed data link for researchers
Egypt has become the first African country to join a high-speed Internet network aimed at research institutions that will boost the speed of data transfer with thousands of universities and…
Internet
DRC Misses Deadline for High Speed Internet
Africa's Internet users had something to celebrate this month. A total of 13 West African countries have just hooked up to a new underwater fiber optic cable running from Cape…
Internet
South Africa's MWeb to Close Last Remnant of Old WiMAX Network
South African internet service provider, MWeb plans to shut-down its lingering wireless network at the end of this month, having already migrated customers over to alternative platforms.The wireless network was…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- According to a press release from the government of South Sudan (GoSS), the Kenyan authorities have invited the newly independent country to connect to fibre-optic cables in the East…
Computing
Rwanda: Digital Opportunity Trust Taking Computer Skills to Gakenke Villages
After training 150 people in 3 tranches, the nonprofit organization Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) has enrolled more 60 people in their basic ICT training courses.DOT Project Manager in Gakenke District,…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Huawei handed over a fully equipped ICT laboratory to the University of Ghana, Legon. The $200,000 laboratory built for the Faculty of Engineering Sciences is expected to enhance the…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Coverage and Offers
One Rwandan Mugabe Thomas has been announced the first subscriber to win a Turkish Airlines ticket to Europe in the on-going MTN Mobile Money promotion as of 25th May 2012…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Sierra Leone and MDIC of Lebanon Sign Sierratel Management Deal
Sierra Leone’s National Commission for Privatisation signed a three-year management contract with Management and Development International Co. of Beirut to run the state-owned telecommunications company, Sierratel.“Sierratel still remains 100 percent…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Kenya's ICT fund finally gets the go-ahead
A fund, which will raise money to promote access to telecommunications services in rural areas, is to be setup in Kenya..Kenya’s minister of information and communications, Samuel Poghisio, has confirmed…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Rwanda: MTN Mobile Money Now Extends to Diaspora
MTN Rwanda and MFS Africa today announced the launch of an online money transfer service that enables MTN Mobile Money customers to receive international remittances directly on their mobile phones.The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
On the Money News - In Brief
- MTN Group has acquired nearly ZAR1.36 billion (USD161.5 million) worth of its own shares during the past three months, in a move it says is meant to improve returns…
Digital Content
Tech hub unveiled in Rwanda
Rwanda is set to open its first innovation incubator to promote the development of technologies by the tech and entrepreneurial community in Kigali.kLab will be based in Rwanda’s ICT Park…
Digital Content
SA’s largest private medical scheme, Discovery Health, launches ipad app
Discovery Health has launched an iPad application called HealthID that it claims will ease the burden of paperwork and administration on SA doctors, making it easier for the medical aid…
Digital Content
RNP Launches African Women Are Gorgeous.com
Beverly Hills- River Naija Productions a division of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce-USA launches African Women Are Gorgeous International, an online lifestyle and entertainment platform that empowers everyday women of…
Digital Content
Safaricom partners with iHub on IPv6 testing
Safaricom has become the first mobile operator in Africa to open up its network for Internet Protocol version 6 testing through its partnership with iHub Nairobi, an initiative aimed at…
Digital Content
Ghana: K-Pad Ghana's Answer to Ipad?
Alltel Limited's flagship product, K-Pad tablet, is gaining worldwide attention due to its increased patronage, affordability and locally developed free web applications for users, according to its manufacturers.It runs on…
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People
Virgin Mobile SA CEO Steve Bailey, who resigned from the company this month, has been appointed as chief commercial officer at Glo, the second largest mobile operator in Nigeria after…
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Jobs & Opportunity
Call for Open Data’s Code4Kenya fellowsDo you want to help kickstart a media and civil society revolution in Kenya? Code4Kenya is offering four Code4Kenya fellowships for civic hackers who want…
