Issue no 658 7th June 2013
Top Story
Music to the ears – African online mobile music platforms break out all over the continent
Music is not as bandwidth-heavy as video so there have been a significant number of online mobile music platforms launched in the last 12 months. Russell Southwood looks at the contenders in the field and how they might make out.The largest of the current online platforms (both on mobile and PC) is iROKING (which is part of iROKO Partners) that also runs a Nollywood film platform in parallel. It received investment from US private equity fund Tiger Global and has been expanding its reach and recently opened a South African office.To date, iROKING free music online platform has 35,000 tracks…
Telecoms
Telecom firms must switch off unregistered lines, UCC says
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has warned telecom operators against waiting for a directive to switch off unregistered lines, saying they risk breaching the law.UCC Executive Director Godffrey Mutabazi said, as…
Telecoms
Kenya: Mobile operators seek changes to planned levy
The four mobile telecoms operators are not keen towards contributing 0.5 per cent of their annual revenue for development in remote areas unless some changes are made to the Universal…
Telecoms
Airtel Zambia Called on to Improve Network Quality
A Zambian consumer rights organisation has called on Bharti Airtel to improve their network quality following a recent spate of complaints.The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) called on Airtel to improve…
Telecoms
Namibia: MTC completes second LTE phase
Namibian telecommunications operator Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC) has completed the second phase of long term evolution (LTE) products with further roll outs in eight major towns.Netman, an LTE technology product,…
Telecoms
Tanzania: Airtel Supports Millennium Villages Initiatives
Airtel Tanzania has provided telecommunication services and SIM cards to the Millennium Village in Tabora Region to enable people in the area access healthcare and education.It also provided toll-free emergency…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
- Cameroon’s telecoms watchdog, Agence de Regulation des Telecommunications (ART), has warned power company AES Sonel and internet service provider (ISP) Creolink for failing to obtain permission from the Ministry…
Internet
World Bank Approves Funds to Improve Broadband Connectivity in Mauritania and Togo
The World Bank has approved US$30 million each in loans and grants to support Mauritania and Togo's efforts to strengthen telecommunications connectivity through expansion of fiber-optic broadband networks and introduction…
Internet
Zimbabwe: Telone to Launch Broadband in Vic Falls
Fixed telephone services provider TelOne will in July this year commission the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls fibre optic cable ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in August.TelOne managing…
Internet
MainOne Connects Manufacturers with Highspeed Broadband
Main One recently announced its strategic entry into the nation’s manufacturing sector with bespoke connectivity offerings targeted at FMCGs, manufacturing companies and other businesses resident in the Ikeja, Agbara and…
Internet
Zimbabwe: Powertel moves to disconnect defaulters. Announces billing system migration
A notice sent out last week by government owned fibre wholeseller and mobile broadband provider, PowerTel, says the company will be disconnecting all unpaid mobile broadband accounts starting today. It’s…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
- Rohde & Schwarz Topex SA has delivered a state-of-the-art ATC communications system including the fully IP-based R&S VCS-4G voice communications system to Al Massira International Airport in Agadir, Morocco.…
Computing
Angola opens first solar school
The first mobile solar school has been launched in Angola in support of improving national education.Opened last week, the school establishment is a project of the Ministry of Science and…
Computing
Education in spotlight as MTN kicks-off annual staff volunteer programme
The education of girls was one of the focus areas of some MTN operations as they embarked on the annual staff volunteerism programme, 21 Days of Y’ello Care, this Saturday,…
Computing
Computing – In Brief
Microsoft Global president Jean-Philippe Courtois on Tuesday in Nairobi pledged support to the Kenyan government in implementing the computer to schools programme.This was after President Uhuru Kenyatta secured support of…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecom, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- Globacom, has launched a new Value Added Service called Muzik Greetings. With the service, subscribers on the Glo Mobile network can compose, customise and send musical dedications or greetings…
Money Transfer
Uganda: New charges to impact mobile money market
Airtel has set the stage for increased competition in the mobile money arena following an announcement that the telecom will cut fees on its transactions across all networks.This comes on…
Money Transfer
Absa and MTN scramble to tackle SIM-swap fraud
South African bank Absa and mobile operator MTN have formed a task-force to tackle ‘SIM-swap fraud’ after a spate of cases saw customer accounts emptied.The two-stage scam sees criminals first…
Money Transfer
M-payment transaction value to grow 44% in 2013 - study
Worldwide mobile payment transaction values will reach USD 235.4 billion in 2013, a 44 percent increase from 2012 values of USD 163.1 billion, according to Gartner. The number of mobile…
Money Transfer
Liberia: Mobile Money Eases School Fees Payment
Standing in long queues has always been proven difficult, time-consuming and rather expensive for many parents and guardians wishing to pay their children's school fees. Some stand in long lines…
Money Transfer
Money - In Brief
- Local Kenyan electronic payment firm JamboPay has won the Google innovation award in financial services. The five-year old company provides a payment service that integrates mobile money and payment…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Rwanda: Liquid Telecom Acquires Rwandatel Assets
Liquid Telecom today announced it has acquired the assets of Rwandatel, Rwanda’s fixed line network operator.The deal includes Rwandatel’s copper and fibre network and its customer base but excludes most…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom considers non-cash impairment of legacy assets
For considerable time the price at which Telkom shares have been trading has been significantly lower than their net asset value (“NAV”). At the last reporting date, 30 September 2012,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
KDN says in financial crisis after tax refund failure
Kenya Data Networks (KDN) said it is facing a financial crisis after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) failed to refund KES 912.7 million as ordered by the High Court in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom Tanzania invested USD125m in 2012/13; tax bill tops USD22.5m
Mobile network operator Vodacom Tanzania invested over TZS200 billion (USD125.3 million) in infrastructure in the financial year ended 31 March 2013, allowing the carrier to double the size of its…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
LAP Green to boost investments in Cote d’Ivoire
Shater Wafik Khalifa, the head of Libya’s LAP Green Network, has revealed that the company intends to demonstrate its support of Ivorian subsidiary GreenN Cote d’Ivoire ahead of a comprehensive…
Digital Content
Google navigation eases travel for Kenyans
Owners of smart phones in Kenya will now be able to enjoy an advanced version of Google Maps following the launch of the application’s turn-by-turn navigation feature.The turn-by-turn navigation feature,…
Digital Content
Nepad launches web-based African development tracker
The New Partnership for Africa Development (Nepad) has launched a web-based portal called Virtual PIDA Information Centre (VPiC) to disseminate information about the AU’s regional infrastructure programmes.VPiC will allow easy…
Digital Content
Most Nigerian job sites are not mobile friendly – Tayo Olufuwa
The co-founder of the Jobs In Nigeria website and apps, Tayo Olufuwa, has told HumanIPO most job sites in the country are not well optimised for mobile users. Olufuwa said this…
Digital Content
Google asks Nigerians to upload more local content
The Country Manager, Google Nigeria, Juliet Chiazor, on Tuesday urged Nigerian Internet users to upload more local content that would be useful and beneficial to business growth.Chiazor made the call…
Digital Content
Afrinolly pre-installed Infinix smartphones to be released in June – FCO
Afrinolly app will now come pre-installed on Infinix smartphones, designed for a young audience. FansConnectOnline (FCO) Limited, the company behind Africa’s biggest entertainment app, announced the news last week.FCO said:…
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Events
Card, ATM & Mobile Expo Africa 201311 – 13 June 2013Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, NigeriaCard, ATM & Mobile Expo 2013 will showcase innovation and new differentiated products, bring about…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Blogging and Social Media Interns1 Company: Creative ICT Inc Deadline: Sunday 30th June 2013 Location: NairobiJob DescriptionThe Blogging and Social Media will implement the Company’s Social Media Strategy, developing brand…
