Issue no 629 2nd November 2012
Top Story
South Africa’s Maboneng Project offers a clue to potential urban regeneration strategies for Africa using high speed broadband
This week’s TV content market DISCOP in Johannesburg saw Neotel and property developer, the Maboneng Project promoting their joint fibre-to-the-home service aimed at attracting high-end media users to this pioneering downtown development. South Africa has found it hard to bridge the cost gap between the curb and the premises and this joint development may yet spark an increase in the roll-out of high-end fibre connections. Russell Southwood looks at what this development might have to do with the rest of Africa.When Apartheid ended, the rigid rules about where people could live went with it and the downtown core of Johannesburg,…
Telecoms
Airtel wants national infrastructure priority for telecoms facilities in Nigeria
Nigeria’s government should declare telecommunications equipment in the nation as critical national infrastructure under the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) arrangement that confers priority and protected status to telecom facilities, according…
Telecoms
DRC firm successfully challenges distribution of 3G licences
According to an unconfirmed report by RadioOkapi.net, Netherland British Company (NBC) – a relatively unknown DRC-based firm which manufactures and distributes telecoms products – has successfully challenged the issuance of…
Telecoms
South African Govt considers possible partners for Telkom in fixed, mobile markets but will wait until March 2013 to decide
South African Minister of Communications Dina Pule has hinted that a revised strategy for Telkom South Africa could include possible partners in terms of both fixed line and mobile operations.…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe: Regulator Potraz to fund the building of 54 Base Stations
THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe plans to install 54 mobile phone base stations in under-served and remote areas across the country over the next two years. This…
Telecoms
South Africa: Vodacom claims progress in rural connectivity
Vodacom has announced that its pilot of satellite connectivity solutions aimed at providing coverage for rural users is returning positive results, as it looks to improve connectivity for businessmen and…
Telecoms
Tanzania: Sh48 Billion Set Aside for Rural Telecoms
THE government has set aside T48bn/- for low cost telecommunication connections in rural and underserved areas across the country where 152 wards and 1.6 million people have been targeted in…
Telecoms
72% of rural Nigerians lack access to telecoms services
Some 72 percent of Nigerians living in rural areas lack access to telephone services within a kilometre “in spite of the phantom successes recorded in the Nigerian telecoms sector”, a…
Telecoms
Telecoms News - In Brief
-Mobiserve Holding, an infrastructure company, has signed an agreement with Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) which allows it to provide shared network infrastructure for the country’s three cellcos, Vodafone…
Internet
SAEx cable system advancing despite funding problems
Plans for the South Atlantic Express (SAEx) undersea cable system are advancing despite funding difficulties, as eFive Telecoms announces the grant of a supply contract to TE SubCom.The cable system…
Internet
Telesis Tanzania partners with Alca-Lu to launch 4G LTE mobile broadband service
French-US equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent says it has been selected by Telesis Tanzania to help the company offer affordable 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband services in the east African…
Internet
Only a third of South Africa online
The census results released on Tuesday show South Africa has a great deal of work ahead if it is to achieve government’s goal of universal broadband access by 2020. Almost…
Internet
South Africa: MWEB Business satellite Internet service launched
MWEB Business has launched a new satellite Internet service aimed at rural communities, farmers and other areas where standard broadband access is not available.MWEB Business GM Andre Joubert said that…
Internet
Samsung empowers SA school with solar classroom
South African school Phomolong Secondary has recently been upgraded with a solar powered internet classroom courtesy of Samsung, empowering students to be educated in technology even in areas of poor…
Internet
Internet News - In Brief
- South Africa: Vodacom has announced that it will be extending its Mofaya 2GB + 2GB for R149 data promotion until 30 June 2013, and is also planning to let…
Computing
Dimension Data takes cloud services to Namibia
Dimension Data last week launched its cloud services in Namibia, expanding into yet another southern African nation hot on the heels of launching similar services in Botswana last week.Rowan Kleintjes,…
Computing
Uganda reveals e-government plan with South Korean assistance
The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) has completed an e-government master plan, designed in tandem with South Korea’s National IT Promotional Agency (NIPA) as part of a pact between…
Computing
New adapter to reduce annual e-waste by 300,000 tonnes
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations ICT regulatory agency, has approved a universal charging solution for mobile devices capable of reducing e-waste called the Universal Power Adapter (UPA).The…
Computing
Nokia partners with Kenya’s government to encourage creation of social apps
Finnish mobile phone-maker Nokia has partnered with the Government of Kenya through the Kenya ICT Board to work towards ensuring tech startups specialising in agricultural, health and educational apps benefit…
Computing
Computer News - In Brief
- Sasa Africa, one of DEMO Africa’s 2012 top five startups, has launched an e-commerce platform to connect offline artisans to buyers online using feature phones. The founders say they…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- Cell C is launching two new promotional data packages that offer customers Internet access at less than R9/GB of data, the mobile operator said on Wednesday. It is launching…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Eaton Towers secures $60m for Uganda expansion
Eaton Towers, the African tower ownership and management company, has secured $60 million in debt financing from Standard Bank Group, acting through Stanbic Uganda, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC),…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vimpelcom explores sale of African, Asian units
Amsterdam-headquartered, New York-listed international telecoms group Vimpelcom intends to sell several of its businesses in emerging markets across Africa and Asia, as part of a rationalisation of the group’s global…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Wendel to buy stake in IHS Holding
European investment firm Wendel and its subsidiary Oranje-Nassau Developpement have announced the signing of an agreement with IHS Holding to acquire an equity stake in the tower company. Wendel will…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SA’s Naspers rumoured to be buying Souq.com
South African media giant Naspers is rumoured to be acquiring a stake worth approximately US$40 million in Al Jabbar Internet Group's subsidiary Souq.com, in the largest investment in an e-commerce…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Bank of Africa deploys Clear2Pay mobile banking solution
The Bank of Africa is to provide customers in thirteen countries with further mobile financial services after inking an agreement to use of Mobile Internet Banking (MIB) solution provided by…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Money News – In Brief
- Gabon Telecom, part of the Maroc Telecom group, has reported that its total wireless, internet and wireline revenues grew by 28% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2012…
Digital Content
DSTV’s Mobile TV App now available for Windows Phone 7.5
Software giant Microsoft and Multichoice, the South Africa-based satellite television services provider, yesterday announced that the Drifta viewer app for Windows Phone is now available for Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5…
Digital Content
Tanzania: Demo Africa - Kivuko Brings Online Shopping to Tanzanians
Kivuko is an online shopping gateway that enables vendors to sell and deliver products directly to customers throughout Tanzania.How it began: "We Began by ordering products online and delivering to…
Digital Content
Nigeria: FRSC Acquires Toll-Free Emergency Line
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says it has acquired "122" from Airtel as its toll-free emergency line for public use.In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the commission's Deputy…
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People
- Rocket Internet’s e-commerce venture, Jumia Nigeria has reportedly fired one of its key staff, Uche Ajene who was the company’s Head of Marketing until last Wednesday,- Absa has lost…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Durbanville (Cape Town) based company looking for a Medium/Skilled level programmer with 4+ years programming experience with excellent written and verbal communication skills.Examples of Duties:• Performs computer programming development or…
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Events
AfricaCom 201213th-15th November 2012, CTICC, Cape Town, South AfricaThe digital ecosystem will take centre stage at AfricaCom 2012, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, 13 – 15 November 2012. …
