Issue no 640 1st February 2013
Top Story
The new business model – Everything becomes data but what does it mean for operators in Africa?
No-one can tell you how long it’s going to be but at some point all services – voice in particular – will be data. This poses enormous challenges to existing operator business models. African markets are seen as somehow trailing rather than leading this shift. So operators comfort themselves that they only have to hold the line and things will go on more or less as usual. Russell Southwood argues that this change will be on them faster than they think and they ought to work out what they will do about it.The new business model envisages a world in…
Telecoms
KDN- End of an 'error' as Liquid Telecom takes over from Altech
This Friday will mark the handing over of Altech’s East Africa’s investment to Zimbabwe's Liquid Telecom, their new owner. This will mark the end to Altech’s troubled investment in Kenya…
Telecoms
Ethio Telecom launches 6-month SIM recycling life cycle
Ethio Telecom has announced that it will begin recycling prepaid SIM cards that have been inactive for six months. The telco says the prepaid mobile SIM lifecycle will be 6…
Telecoms
Five win cows, laptops in Airtel Birahebuje promotion
Sadheesh Kumar, a Kigali-based Asian businessman and Christian Kamanzi, a university student, were the latest winners of exotic cows in the ongoing Airtel Birahebuje promotion.“I am surprised with this win.…
Telecoms
Namibia: Leo Calls China for Help
Telecom Namibia, the new owner of Leo, plans to invest more than N$400 million in an infrastructure network as part of its strategy to compete "heads-on" with MTC and secure…
Telecoms
Zambia: Speed Up Rural Tower Installations, Zicta Urged
The Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Works, Supply and Communications has urged the Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) to speed up installation of telecommunication towers in rural areas to…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
- Orange Tunisia, the smallest of the nation’s trio of wireless operators by subscribers, has extended coverage to three new cities: Makthar, Bir Mcherga and Jebel Oust. The expansion increases…
Internet
Ghana’s K-NET launches ultrafast broadband in 16 African nations
Ghanaian telecom giant K-NET last week launched a range of broadband Internet service packages expected to offer businesses and consumers across 16 West and Central African countries “unrivalled levels of…
Internet
WITIN uses technology to empower Nigerian women and children
Women in Technology in Nigeria is busy opening doors for women. The non-for-profit NGO provides a diverse mix of resources to empower Nigerian women, youth, and children. Offerings include hosted…
Internet
Kenya: Google, Storyful Launch Kenyan Elections Youtube Channel
Google, in conjunction with Storyful have launched a YouTube channel for the upcoming Kenyan Elections. The move was announced Thursday afternoon in a Google Hangout that featured Kenyan Media, Ory…
Internet
Tanzania: Vodacom Conducts Trials On Ultra-Fast Internet Technology
Vodacom Tanzania is conducting trials on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology which will enable the firm's customers to enjoy ultra-fast internet speed.Speaking at a ceremony to launch the trials in…
Internet
Internet - In Brief
- A Japanese online car retailer, Carview Corporation, has extended its operations to include Kenya. Carview sells second hand cars online to buyers around the world. The company has now…
Computing
Morocco announces court ICT system upgrades
The Moroccan government has announced that it has launched a new ICT digital court project for all its judicial system at the court of cassation in Rabat. The move will…
Computing
South Africa’s hi-tech tour operator
Imagine being in a foreign country, sitting on a tour bus, and having the possibility of borrowing a tablet computer to get online and call home to tell your family…
Computing
Computer - In Brief
- In an effort to meet the growing demand for highly skilled IT professionals, three of Kenya's leading universities are teaming with IBM to create an advanced educational and training…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Nigerian Regulator Sets Price Cap on Off-Net Text Messages
Nigeria's telecoms regulator, the NCC has lowered the price cap for text messages sent to other networks by 60 percent. The new maximum rate has been set at N4.00 per…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Safaricom to raise M-Pesa tariffs 08 February after new tax
Kenyan operator Safaricom says the government's recent amendments to the Customs and Excise Duty Act, gazetted on 01 February, has effected an upward review of its M-Pesa tariffs, which will…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Tanzania - Regulator slashes call costs by 70pc
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has reduced call interconnection rates by 69 per cent – this will translate into a reduction to Sh34.92 from the previous…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
TERACO now certified to cater for electronic payment processing providers.
Teraco Data Environments, South Africa’s first vendor neutral data environment has successfully achieved the Level 1 Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification for its co-location data centres…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
16 Million M-Pesa users hit by new Government Tax
Pursuant to amendments to the Customs & Excise Duty Act gazetted on 1st February 2012, leading integrated communications service provider Safaricom has effected an upward review of its M-Pesa tariffs…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SOAS Launches Training Event For African Diaspora Entrepreneurs
The University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is launching a certification course for young African diaspora entrepreneurs, aimed at honing their abilities to build business links…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ghana: Airtel Money trains 350 agents
Airtel Ghana has held the first training session for 350 Mobile Money agents and given them a wide range of skills to make them efficient Airtel Money agents. The training…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zimbabwe: Econet Takes Ecocash to ZSE
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is working on setting up a payment system for small value shares bought on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange using its mobile phone- based money transfer facility, EcoCash.The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Money - In Brief
- Zimbabwe has launched its first real time online payment gateway service, Zimswitch vPayments, that enables the use of locally issued debit cards. The service is modelled around the internationally…
Digital Content
Mango Airlines Launches iPad, iPhone App
Following the launch of an airline mobi-site with a booking functionality last October; South African low cost airlines, Mango, has become the first domestic carrier to offer an App on…
Digital Content
Kenyan police deploy text message service to track crimes
Kenya's National Police Service Commission on Wednesday (January 30th) deployed a new mobile phone application that will allow people to report crimes by text message, Kenya's Daily Nation reported.Citizens can…
Digital Content
Uganda: Google to Offer Localised Data
Google is set to localise its content to fit the desires and needs of the Ugandan public. Through its latest search feature, Google Knowledge graphs, Google intends to give the…
Digital Content
FolUp Digital Healthcare Platform Launches In South Africa
As technology continues to play a major role in Africa’s healthcare system, mobile and web-based health communication platform, FolUp, was officially launched in South Africa to provide patients with a…
Digital Content
MTN Swazi launches Tawk2me social media voice tool
Swazi MTN has launched Tawk2me, which allows social network members to engage with and talk to clients, staff, supporters, the media and others. MTN Product and Innovative Manager Nomathamsanqa Shabalala…
Digital Content
Online Collaboration Software Set To Revolutionise The Property Transfer Process
Buying a property is something that most consumers will only go through a few times in their lives. As a result, would-be homeowners have come to grudgingly accept the arduous…
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Events
Young African Diaspora Entrepreneurs - Exploiting your USP 2 February 2013 Time: 9:30 AM -5.00 PM Venue: SOAS, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XGAn essential guide for Young African Diaspora Entrepreneurs…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Digital Creative LeadDotsavvy Limited (Dotsavvy) is a 10 year old award-winning Digital Agency with big ideas based in Nairobi, Kenya. We specialize in digital marketing meaning we do stuff like…
