Issue no 633 30th November 2012
Top Story
Cameroon: Seemoh Networks launches a data and voice MVNO with former incumbent Camtel
MVNOs have been slow to take off in Africa as mobile operators have been reluctant to let go of any income. They would argue that many markets have not matured to the point where the kind of segmentation MVNOs provide might work. Therefore what’s happening in Cameroon may yet set a precedent for the rest of the continent. This week sees the launch of SMS Mobility which is pitching itself as primarily a data MVNO and it joins voice MVNO Eto’o Telecom. Russell Southwood spoke to Manfred Tubman, CEO of SMS Mobility about the launch.It’s been a long and winding…
Telecoms
With 800 sites installed, Afrique Telecom lists on Euronext Paris
On Thursday 22 November 2012, French-headquartered African VSAT operator Afrique Telecom officially announced that it has listed on the Euronext Paris "Marche Libre" unregulated market during a ceremony held in Paris…
Telecoms
Telecoms News in Brief
- According to unconfirmed local press reports, South Africa’s Vodacom Group has been ‘secretly’ awarded the country’s fourth mobile licence. However, communications minister Chris Yaluma has cast doubts over the…
Telecoms
Telecom Namibia acquires Leo after final CRAN clearance
Telecom Namibia last week announced that the Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has formally cleared its acquisition of the country’s financially struggling second-placed mobile operator Powercom (trading as Leo).…
Telecoms
Tender for second telecoms licence and for capacity on ACE landing station in Sao Tome
The complete file of the invitation to tender is made available to investors from November 21, 2012 10 AM (Sao Tome and Principe time) to January 17, 2013 5 PM…
Internet
Burkina Faso: SES to Provide Satellite Services for Connected Elections
Satellite equipment provider, Newtec has supplied a VSAT system and IP satellite modems to Burkina Faso, enabling flexible satellite connectivity for the upcoming municipal and legislative elections set to take…
Internet
EC-funded AfricaConnect project launches UbuntuNet
The operator of GÉANT, the pan-European research and education network; and UbuntuNet Alliance,the regional research and education network for Southern and Eastern Africa, today announce the launch of the UbuntuNet…
Internet
K-NET unveils services in rural Ghana
Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, has inaugurated ten mobile communication towers in rural areas in Ghana, built by K-NET Ltd and providing service on the Tigo network.Speaking at one…
Internet
NAPAfrica brings content giants to Africa
Free and public peering facility NAPAfrica last week announced open access for peering members to major international content providers. Lex van Wyk, managing director of Teraco Data Environments says that…
Internet
Congo M23 rebels build Facebook following in face of UN pressure
The Facebook following of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) rebel group M23 continues to grow as the government struggles to regain control of its eastern regions in the face…
Internet
North Africa: Facebook Campaign Reveals Arab Women Struggle
A Facebook page that goes by the name "The Uprising of Women in the Arab World" launched a two-week campaign on Sunday to expose the suffering of women."The campaign was…
Internet
Yahsat prepares satellite broadband launch in South Sudan
United Arab Emirates-based satellite operator Yahsat is gearing up for the launch of its ‘YahClick’ satellite broadband service to unserved and underserved locations and communities in South Sudan over the…
Internet
Ethiopia: Government Introduces E-Service With 3.8 Million Br
The Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MoCIT) launched 49 e-service portals developed in order to enable seven governmental institutions give online services at a ceremony held at Churchill Hotel…
Internet
Nigeria: Main One, Phase3 Telecom partner for broadband delivery
Two leading Nigerian telecommunications infrastructure companies, Main One Cable Company and Phase3 Telecom, have formed a business pact to increase broadband Internet penetration in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.Main…
Internet
Internet News in Brief
- As war is resuming in the Eastern part of Congo, with the takeover of Goma by M23 rebels, several Congolese artists decided to unite and sing against the war.…
Computing
Amref using e-learning to train Ugandan midwives
The African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref) is rolling out e-learning to train midwives to diploma level in Uganda.According to the organisation, without more sufficiently skilled nurses, healthcare in the…
Computing
Kenyan company rolls out 'Solar Classroom in a Box'
Kenyan technology company, Stonehouse, plans to roll out a new system called 'Solar Classroom in a Box' for rural schools with no access to electricity in Kenya.Learners will have access…
Computing
Seacom brings ICT training to South African slum
Seacom has partnered with Change the World Trust (CTW), a non-profit organisation, to create a technology training centre serving the informal settlement of Zandspruit in Gauteng in South Africa. This…
Computing
Government to Fund youth Polytechnics’ ICT labs
The Kenya Government through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is rolling out a master plan to equip youth polytechnics across the country with ICT and Agribusiness facilities for…
Computing
Senegalese caravan aims to boost ICT youth training
Senegal’s Rufisque Municipal Council has set up a caravan to train youth on new media tools, in a move aimed at bridging the region’s digital divide.The exercise, scheduled to run…
Computing
Computer News in Brief
- Police Bureau of Changzhou City in China has donated ten laptops worth 15m/- to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police to facilitate activities by the force to combat crime.-…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Liberia: Cellcom Reduces Internet Service
Cellcom GSM Company has announced a drop in its tariff for the GPRS/ Edge internet service as the provider of the lowest rate in the internet service compared to other…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telecom Italia down after Sawiris proposed $3.8 bln cap hike
Shares in Telecom Italia fall 1 per cent in early trading after Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris put on the table a 3-billion-euro ($3.89 billion) capital hike.Sawiris told Reuters that he…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Affordable healthcare insurance product for Kenyans launched
Leading integrated communications provider Safaricom Limited has partnered with leading insurer Britam, Changamka Microhealth - one of Kenya’s pioneering mobile Health Financing technology providers and PSI, a leading global health…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Kenya: Safaricom Takes Battle to Banking Halls With M-Shwari
Vodacom director of Financial Services Micheal Joseph pose with models during the launch of M-Shwari money services at Windsor yesterdayThe thin line between Mobile money services and banking services has…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Money News in Brief
- South African investment firm Shanduka Group has bought a minority stake in MTN Nigeria from three private investors, reports Reuters. Without disclosing the size of the stake, Shanduka said…
Digital Content
South Africa: HIVSA Reaches Two Million People Via Cellphone Messaging This World Aids Day
HIVSA in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health, Gauteng, will be sending out two million health-related mobile phone messages to the general public, in support of this year’s WAD…
Digital Content
Nigeria: Team University of Lagos Wins Google Application Contest
Three University of Lagos (UNILAG) students, have won the Google Apps Developer Challenge for the Enterprise/Small Business Solutions category in sub-Saharan Africa.The students: Bolutife Ogunsola, Michael Adeyeri and Willie Aniebiet,…
Digital Content
Winners of the Africa News Innovation Challenge announced
Countries around the African continent have a chance to do something really special when it comes to news innovation. With a highly mobile literate population and growing middle classes, these…
Digital Content
African Media Initiative’s Code4Kenya Launches GotToVote!
GotToVote! a project of Code4Kenya is a concrete example of how open data can contribute towards enhancing the quality of life of ordinary citizens.Code4Kenya was launched in July 2012 by…
Digital Content
Namibia endorses ZACR bid for .africa
Namibia has become the fortieth African country to formally endorse the ZA Central Registry (ZACR) bid for the rights to administer the proposed .africa generic Top Level Domain (gTLD).South Africa’s…
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Jobs & Opportunities
App challenge targets increased socio-economic inclusionITU calls for apps supporting e-health, e-learning and e-governmentA cash prize of USD 5,000 is offered to the winner of a new ITU Application Challenge…
