Issue no 687 10th January 2014
Top Story
Willstream Labs connects diaspora with merchants to ensure safe payment
M-money services are making steady inroads into how cash is transacted in countries across the continent. Far less progress has been made in enabling low transaction cost payments from the diaspora to individuals and families. Russell Southwood talked to Toffene Kama, Willstream Labs about the service it is pioneering in Senegal.Toffene Kama’s international mobile money transfer service started from a clear understanding of how money from diaspora Africans is used back home:”Diaspora migrants wanted to connect with local businesses to send what their families need. When you send it direct to the person, it doesn’t always go where you want.…
Telecoms
Nigeria: 63 Percent of Adult Nigerians Use More Than One Phone - Survey
The results of the annual special edition of the telecoms polls released by NOIPolls Limited has revealed that most adult Nigerians who use more than one phone, actually find it…
Telecoms
Algeria : Algerie Telecom allots DZD 430 mln to improve telecom services in Tamanrasset
For improving telecom services in the province of Tamanrasset, Algerie Telecom has allocated DZD 431 million, which forms part of the project to introduce fibre to a number of municipalities…
Telecoms
New cellular phone operator Altylis Seme Telecom coming soon to Cameroon
According to the La Nouvelle Expression, Cameroon will soon have a new cellular phone service provider. The newcomer will not be the Vietnamese company Viettel which had nabbed the third…
Telecoms
Uganda: MTN completed rollout programme for 2013
South African-backed cellco MTN Uganda completed its planned network rollout initiative for 2013, including the deployment of 115 new sites and the upgrade of 406 others, the operator confirmed yesterday.…
Telecoms
Unitel extends pre-paid roaming to Mali
Angolan mobile phone operator Unitel announced that it has extended its pre-paid Camel Roaming service to Mali, in partnership with Orange, reports Jornal de Angola. In November last year, the…
Telecoms
Telecel Zimbabwe defaults on licence payment
Telecel Zimbabwe, the country’s second largest mobile company by subscribers, is yet to make payments for the renewal of its telecommunication licence, despite making commitments to do so last year.The…
Telecoms
Tanzania: TTCL Misses Debt Collection Deadline – Government fails to pay its bills
Tanzania's state owned telco, TTCL has recovered just a third of the outstanding debt it is owned from public organisations and government departments, according to local media reports.The company was…
Telecoms
Zambia Delays SIM Card Registration Deadline
Zambia's government has agreed to extend the deadline for SIM Card registration after facing the potential for half the country's mobile phones to be cut-off.The deadline was due to have…
Telecoms
Safaricom Airs Displeasure At New Licence Renewal Terms
Safaricom, the dominant mobile service provider in Kenya has aired its displeasure at the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), after being labelled as “non-compliant” and told to pay Sh2.3 billion…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
- Nigeria's Airtel says that its subscriber base has passed the 25 million mark. The company has been operating for 12 years.-All three of Zambia's mobile networks have raised their…
Internet
Somalia: Alshabab Gives 15 Days to Telecommunication Companies to Stop Internet Connectivity.
Alshabab militia has given 15 days ultimatum to telecommunication companies in the country involved in internet connections to stop it or face serious consequences. "The mujahidin has ordered all telecommunication…
Internet
Djibouti Data Center (DDC) is Selected by MTN For Africa Gateway and Hubbing Services
The Djibouti Data Center (DDC) has announced that it has been selected by MTN, to serve as an Africa gateway point of presence in its global MPLS VPN network. MTN…
Internet
Internet - In Brief
- Corporate internet and IT solutions provider AccessKenya Group has acquired a fibre monitoring system for its 450 kilometre carrier ethernet fibre-optic network. The firm, which has over 595 buildings…
Computing
M2M communications will be a big focus in 2014, says TruTeq Devices
Mobile communications is going to grow from strength to strength in the coming years and one of the areas where we will see a lot of activity during 2014 is…
Computing
Innovation: A Solar Energy-Powered PC Made in Mali
As part of our series on innovation made in Africa, we recently showcased the 3D printer made from E-waste in Togo and a spell checker for Bambara language. Today, we…
Computing
Computing - In Brief
- Hewlett Packard (HP) recently hosted its elite partners across Africa in Dubai recently, where it announced Dataflex as its best sales partner of the year 2013.
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms Rates, Offers & Coverage
- Airtel Nigeria has launched a new campaign that aims to attract the youth population to its network. The company hopes to capture a big portion of Nigeria's 70 percent…
Money Transfer
Quash launches Mobile Money in Cote d Ivoire
Qash Services, a non-bank, non-GSM operator, announced today the launch of its mobile phone-based financial services in Cote d’Ivoire, under the name Qash Mobile Banking. Qash Services is one of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Brymedia revives NITEL interest
Brymedia has renewed its interest in acquiring the assets of fixed line incumbent Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) as the ailing telco undergoes liquidation, Brymedia’s CEO Adrian Wood told local newspaper This…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Matiang’i rules out Safaricom reprieve from licence terms
ICT secretary Fred Matiang’i has vowed to tie the renewal of Safaricom’s licence to the voice quality checks that show the mobile phone operator is non-compliant.Dr Matiang’i said the government…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Seacom hunts in Africa
Submarine cable operator, Seacom will be on the lookout for growth opportunities in Africa this year.The company says it anticipates strong growth in the African telecoms market as the impact…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Bank of Zambia revokes Celpay’s licence, ceases its operations
The Bank of Zambia has revoked an operating licence for Celpay Zambia Limited, a mobile banking and payment solution service provider for failure to sustain its operations.According to the bank,…
Digital Content
Digital Content Africa launches this week – subscribe now
This week Balancing Act’s web TV channel Smart Monkey TV launches a new e-letter called Digital Content Africa. On a fortnightly basis, it will cover online film, music, publishing and…
Digital Content
African Artists, Lifted by the Promises of Democracy and the Web
They built their reputation with wild music videos featuring a flying animated turtle and a campy urban hero often considered Kenya’s first Internet sensation.But when it came time to choose…
Digital Content
UN shows how mobile-phone data can map human need
Tracking people’s movements after the Haiti earthquake, mapping malaria spread in Kenya, evaluating Mexico’s government policies on flu outbreak, improving national census surveys in Latin America and Africa… These are…
Digital Content
Geeking Out: Uganda’s Women are Creating the Next Generation of Girl Geeks
Young women are learning to program computers far from Silicon Valley, developing apps that will help their neighbors—and themselves.If not for a view of the ornate Uganda National Mosque or…
Digital Content
Mobile app eases loan application and access for smallholder farmers
An innovative social enterprise firm empowering smallholder farmers in the country has developed a messaging mobile application in a bid to stem shortage of agricultural extension officers who link up…
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Events
The Social Media Week Lagos Team is excited to announce that our official schedule is now LIVE and registration is open! At present we have 84 events scheduled and will…
