Issue no 620 31st August 2012
Top Story
Tanzania’s NICTBB crashes national backbone wholesale prices for the second time in five months
Tanzania’s plans for a national fibre backbone and fibre connections to all of its neighbours is finally being realized. The Government-run NICTBB has completed Phase 2 of its roll-out plans and is connected to all of its neighbours.The second phase was the southern ring which connects Mtware, where oil has been discovered. The third phase is building the western side of the western ring from Tunduma to Biharamulo. The Phase 2 routes are DSM-Lindi – Mtwara- Songea – Makambako – Mbeya – Tunduma – Sumbawanga – Kigoma – Manyovu – Biharamulo –Bukoba – Mtukula and Nzega – Tabora. All regional…
Telecoms
Sierra Leone: U.S.$15 Million Chinese Loan to Complete Fibre Optic Connection
Sierra Leone has signed a US$15 million loan agreement with China to complete its connectivity to the Africa Coast to Europe ACE cable scheduled to be switched on by October.According…
Telecoms
Kenya’s competition regulator now charged with determining mobile voice rates
Kenya’s communications authority the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) has directed the Competition Authority(CA), country’s consumer protection and fair competition regulator, to make a ruling on the mobile termination rate…
Telecoms
Kenya: City Hall Begins Tests for Mobile Parking Fees
The City Council of Nairobi last week rolled out a pilot project that will see motorists in the city pay for parking using their mobile phones.The test run will be…
Telecoms
Millicom International Cellular: Settlement of License Dispute in Senegal
Millicom International Cellular S.A. and the government of the Republic of Senegal have reached an agreement in principle to settle amicably their dispute over the validity of Millicom’s license in…
Telecoms
Celcom top brass in mass resignation
The executive management of Celcom Limited has resigned throwing the company into uncertainty. The mass resignation also cast doubt about whether the company will roll out this October as per…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
- Speaking at a press conference in Kinshasa last week Vodacom Congo Director General Moza Godfrey announced that the Congolese mobile operator has commenced its USD25 million 3G network rollout.…
Internet
South Sudan aims to replace VSAT internet with fibre links
South Sudan plans to replace expensive satellite internet with connectivity to existing fibre optic cables in the region. All the country's ISPs currently use VSAT satellite, which is expensive for…
Internet
Google Aids Online Presence Of 250,000 Nigerian SMEs
Google Nigeria has commenced its inaugural “Succeed Online” educational series, which seeks to train (in phases) the 250,000 beneficiaries of its Get Nigerian Businesses Online (GNBO) program online skills to…
Internet
Minister orders Watchdog shut down
Zambian Tourism and Arts Minister Slyvia Masebo has publicly directed the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) to close an online media organisation, the Zambia Watchdog.Masebo said the Watchdog…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- Nigerian music streaming service iROKING has accumulated over 100,000 registered users since its launch in January this year. The service is part of the iROKO Partners group, and delivers…
Computing
Zambian government digitises NRCs
The Zambian government is planning to launch digitised National Registrations Cards (NRC) that will have details of individuals, including their educational qualifications, embedded in them next year.The Ministry of Home…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Angola - The minister of State for Economic Co-ordination, Manuel Vicente, has inagaurated the first stage of the Higher Institute for Information Technologies, located in Rangel Municipality. The infrastructure…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Cell C expands cut in international call ratesSouth Africa mobile operator Cell C will offer reduced call rates to more than 227 countries from 1 September. Following the launch of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telecom Namibia’s credit rating drops
The global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has downgraded Telecom Namibia’s credit worthiness from stable to negative. Last week Fitch announced that Telecom’s long-term local currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tanzania woos investors with online investment tool
Tanzania’s government has introduced an online tool to help investors and entrepreneurs have an easy access to information on investment procedures, and investment opportunities in the country. This is seen…
Digital Content
Rwanda: Volunteers Put Kigali On Google Map
The Private Sector Federation, in partnership with several youth groups, have come up with an initiative to extend various ICT innovations to communities.The initiative dubbed e-umuganda, will embark on mapping…
Digital Content
South Africa: Using Modern Technology to Combat Modern Slavery
Not For Sale, a California-based non-profit-organization, wants to bring again public attention to the issue of human trafficking.In partnership with Mxit, Africa's largest social networking service, it has created a…
Digital Content
Sudan: Twitter Activist Released After Two Months in Detention
The Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) launched a heavy-handed campaign in mid-June 2012, arresting thousands of protesters, activists, political party members and leaders and even law-abiding citizens from…
Digital Content
Zambia: Airtel, Sproxil's Seal Deal
Bharti Airtel, the owners of Airtel Zambia, has signed an agreement with Sproxil to combat the counterfeit drug market in Africa.Sproxil's Mobile Product Authentication (MPA) solution allows consumers to verify…
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People
Research ICT Africa Networks (RIA) has appointed the former head of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Ernest Ndukwe as a member of its board of directors.
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Events
Managed Services World Congress 201218 – 19 September 2012, Maritim Pro Arte Hotel, Berlin, GermanyWith Managed Service business models evolving in new and exciting directions, it’s time to reassess the…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Knight Foundation Mobile challenge now open for applicationsThe 2012 Knight News challenge on Mobile, a challenge seeking to accelerate media innovation by funding breakthrough ideas in news and information, is…
