Issue no 696 14th March 2014
Top Story
Unbundling the sacred SIM identity – Movirtu creates a service offering soft phone and low cost international dialling with your mobile number
When mobile carriers talk about owning the customer, it’s their SIM card that contains the “ownership” they’re thinking about. It contains both the customer’s identity and his or her ability to get on to the network. Movirtu’s new service unbundles this relationship a little and provides new possibilities. Russell Southwood spoke to its CEO Carsten Brinkshulte about what they have planned.At the moment, voice and data are two largely separate charging streams for mobile operators. One day everything will be data so the logic is that everything would be charged as data. In between those two points is a blurry…
Telecoms
Gabon Telecom (Libertis) gets 3G/4G licence via strategic agreements with Morocco
The Gabonese Minister of the digital economy, post and communication, Pastor Ngoua, and the CEO of Maroc Telecom, Abdeslam Ahizoune, on Friday signed an agreement to award a 3G/4G mobile…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Etisalat, Airtel Are Biggest Gainers of Number Porting in 2013
Steve Omanufeme Etisalat and Airtel were the biggest beneficiaries of the mobile number porting introduced in April 2013, according to industry data released this week by the regulator, the Nigerian…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In brief
- UAE-based telecoms group Etisalat is ‘interested’ in purchasing a stake in Beninese state-backed mobile operator Libercom, according to ‘a source familiar with the matter’ quoted by Agence Ecofin. The…
Internet
Smile Communications launches 4G/LTE network in Lagos, Nigeria
Smile Communications has announced the launch of a 4G/LTE network on 800 MHz spectrum in Ibadan and Lagos, both in Nigeria. In Ibadan, commercial services were launched in February 2013,…
Internet
DadaabNet: Wiring the World’s Largest Refugee Camp
High-speed Internet network supported by USAID during one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises delivers hope, connects aid agencies and refugees in eastern Kenya.Sayana Mohamed Hassan sits in front of…
Internet
Namibia’s first IXP a step forward
The Namibia Internet Exchange Point (IXP), which was officially launched on Friday in the capital, should result in more secure, affordable and faster internet services in the country. The government…
Internet
Internet - In brief
- Training sessions on best practices to set up internet exchange points (IXPs) are being conducted in the African island nation of Comoros. The African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership…
Internet
Peppermint introduces cloud-based open source desktop to Africa
Open source makes a lot of sense in rural areas and in third world countries. Lightweight and open source systems that are easy to use, and which allow normal users…
Computing
IBM's Master The Mainframe Contest Closes In Kenya, South Africa
Held for the first time in Africa, competition attracts record number of participants with four Africans selected for global contest in New York this AprilIBM has officially announced the close…
Computing
Samsung unveils solar-powered school in DRC
Samsung Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Vocational Education officially handed over a solar-powered Internet school (SPIS) in Kinshasa.According to Samsung, this forms…
Computing
Computing - In brief
- The national policy on Information and Communication Technology will contribute significantly to the newly adopted Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation as a principal driver of economic development, Senior…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers & Coverage
- Ooredoo Tunisia has signed a partnership with Google that will allow it to offer optimised services such as Google+, YouTube and Google AdWords, as well as the location of…
Money Transfer
Mahindra Comviva Launches mobiquity Digital Wallet Solution
Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, has announced the launch of its mobiquity Wallet, a cutting-edge digital wallet platform. This is amongst the first of its kind…
Money Transfer
Botswana police stations turn to e-payments.
Point of Sale (POS) machines are being rolled out to Botswana police stations.Christopher Mbulawa, Botswana Police Service (BPS) spokesperson, said the technology is expected to help ease payments for police…
Money Transfer
Airtel and Safaircom Seeking Settlement in Mobile Money Complaint
Two of Kenya's mobile networks have asked for more time to negotiate an out of court settlement in a dispute over market dominance on mobile money services.The Kenyan arm of…
Money Transfer
Money Transfer - In brief
- Tanzania's Vodacom is to resell credit scoring information provided by First Access for use by micro lending vendors.
digtool
Waabeh shows snapshot of Africa’s music streaming industry
Online music streaming has been booming ever since iTunes was released more than a decade ago. With African content for Africans in mind, services such as Nigeria’s iRoking and Kenya’s…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
88mph, L5Lab launch joint venture fund ’440′ for Nigerian tech startups
In an attempt to further boost the West African tech scene, seed fund and accelerator 88mph has recently announced the launch of its latest joint venture startup fund in Lagos,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
2.3GHz: Bitflux Pays NCC $23.25m After Deadline
Bitflux Communications, the preferred winner of the 30MHz slot in the recently concluded 2.3GHz spectrum auction conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on February 19, 2014 at Transcorp Hilton,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Uganda: MTN and Vodacom weigh-in for Orange takeover
South African telecoms groups Vodacom and MTN have indicated their interest in a potential acquisition of Orange Uganda, should the cellco’s French parent go ahead with rumoured plans to exit…
Digital Content
Nigeria seeks to conquer African video games market
It’s a common enough scenario in Nigeria and across Africa: how to get rid of pesky mosquitoes whose buzzing disturbs sleep and whose bites can carry malaria and other diseases.Two…
Digital Content
Jo’burg most active on Twitter
Johannesburg was the most active Twitter city in Africa in the last three months of 2013, according to a new study called How Africa Tweets.Johannesburg had 344 215 geo-located tweets,…
Digital Content
Intel to invest in African startups to spur app development
Intel mobile appIntel Corporation is planning to intensify its engagement in Africa by investing in local start-ups to encourage development of local applications and software. Intel’s Christian Morales, Vice President…
More
People
Uganda Telecom announces new chairmanFixed line, mobile and internet provider Uganda Telecom (UTL) has appointed a new chairman and three board members following years of uncertainty at the telecoms company.Former…
More
Events
eGov Kenya 20-21 March 2014Brackenhurst Conference CentreNairobi, KenyaeGov Kenya will provide an intensive two-day briefing for CFOs and CIOs from each county to empower them with the insights and knowledge…
