Issue no 701 18th April 2014
Top Story
David takes on Goliath: South Africas Posix to offer Fibre-To-The-Home ahead of the big gorillas
South Africa is potentially a large market for home high-speed broadband but a number of factors have held up its implementation. Kenya got there three years ago so Russell Southwood looks at why and talks to Mark Elkins, Posix about what they've got planned.Jamii Telecom launched a public Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) network in Kenya in early 2011 but except for a few gated communities and pilots, nothing has happened in South Africa on this front. But 2014 might be the year of all change as the lumbering Telkom promises to turn its FTTH pilot into a public service and Posix goes…
Telecoms
Nashua Mobile calls it quits
Nashua Mobile is hiving off its MTN and Vodacom subscriber bases back to the mobile duopoly in a surprise move that will see it earn R2.26 billion, before eventually shutting…
Telecoms
Airtel first to be awarded 3G, 4G licence in Chad
Mobile operator Airtel has become the first company to be awarded a 3G and 4G licence in the African nation of Chad.Mobile devices, using either 3G or even 2.5G EDGE…
Telecoms
Kenya Mulls Mandatory National Roaming Between Mobile Networks
Kenya's telecoms regulator has proposed new rules that would mandate the sharing of facilities by the country's mobile networks. The intent is to strengthen the position of the smaller networks…
Telecoms
Spread of Smart continues
Smart Telecom Burundi re-launched its mobile network services under the unified Smart brand shared with its East African operators in Uganda and Tanzania.Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) Kenya backs the Smart…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe Allocates Spectrum for LTE Services
The Zimbabwean mobile networks have been allocated LTE radio spectrum the regulator Potraz has announced.Nicholas Muzhuzha, the manager for networks and standards at Potraz, confirmed that LTE spectrum has already…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
- Gambian 3G mobile network operator QCell has released details of its latest network expansion projects, with a new cell site deployed at Kunkujang village, providing wider coverage to Wellingara,…
Internet
XDSL inks fibre agreement with DFA
South Africa ISP XDSL entered into an agreement with Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Conduct, DFA's last-mile fibre network subsidiary. The agreement provides XDSL with access to DFA's 8,000km of…
Internet
Swaziland establishes domestic IXP
Swaziland has established the first domestic internet exchange point (IXP) in the country, which will result in the faster and more secure exchange of intra-country traffic and eliminate the countrys…
Computing
Cote d'Ivoires Tech Solutions to Local Problems
When Ivorian Thierry NDoufou saw local school kids suffering under the weight of their backpacks full of textbooks, it sparked an idea of how to close the digital gap where…
Computing
Computing - In Brief
- Cote D'Ivory's YooMee awarded the billing contract for its recently launched LTE network to Broadband Systems.
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
- Cameroon's MTN is now enabling purchases of flights from Kenya Airways through its mobile money service.- Vodacom South Africa has launched bundles to enable prepaid, TopUp, uChoose and contract…
Money Transfer
Kenya: Vivo Energy, Airtel Money Sign Pan African Partnership
Shell-branded fuels and lubricants distributor Vivo Energy and Airtel Money have partnered in 16 African markets in an African-wide agreement meant to strengthen both companies' footprint.Vivo Energy will be hoping…
Money Transfer
Etisalat Group transforms mobile banking service in Nigeria launches innovative smartphone app
Leading mobile telecommunications provider, Etisalat Group, through its subsidiary in Nigeria, announced the launch of a new and comprehensive smartphone app that will enable customers to access their mobile money…
Money Transfer
Orange mobile money customer base hits 10 mln
Orange announced it has signed up 10 million subscribers for its Orange money service in Africa, which is now available in 13 countries, including Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, and Egypt…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom Kenya to go under the hammer
France Telecom has put Telkom Kenya on sale, becoming the second mobile phone operator to exit the market this year.yuMobile is also up for sale.The French conglomerate that owns majority…
Digital Content
Google launches SA elections hub
Google has launched an online South African Elections Hub as the country gears up to go to the polls.Google has launched an online South African Elections Hub as the country…
Digital Content
#BBCtrending: Lessons from Nigeria on social media activism
It's sometimes said that social media lobbying is the ultimate in armchair activism, but are there lessons to be learnt from Nigeria?Nigeria is right now in the grip of a…
Digital Content
Taxi Tracker, African application that addresses the insecurity in public transport
Regis Bamba is a young Ivorian entrepreneur and engineer who spent 27 years in the IT department at the American University in Towson , Maryland. He is now the founder…
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People
Bharti Airtel's Ghana subsidiary has named a Vodafone executive as its new Managing Director. Lucy Quist is joining Airtel Ghana from Vodafone Ghana where she has been the Director for…
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Events
AITEC Banking & Mobile Money15 - 16 July 2014Eko Hotel, Lagos NigeriaDear Colleague,For a number of reasons, including the recent dismissal of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,…
