Issue no 703 2nd May 2014
Top Story
Cameroon gets itself into a dead end in the transition to 4G ' Granting a 3G monopoly is not the answer to the question
Cameroon's approach to increasing mobile data speeds for its citizens is wrong-headed and will lead it into a time-consuming dead-end. Cheap mobile data prices come from competition between operators, not from giving a single operator a monopoly. Russell Southwood looks at what's happening and remembers that Cameroon has previous form of this kind in the regulatory field.Cameroon offered Viettel a mobile operator concession with a year's monopoly on the operation of 3G. Viettel is no ordinary mobile operator as it is owned by the Vietnamese Government and operated by its Ministry of Defence.Readers with good memories will remember that we…
Telecoms
Gabon: ARCEP launches campaign against counterfeit phones
Bombo Lin, president of Gabonese telecoms regulator ARCEP has announced the upcoming launch of a campaign against low-priced counterfeit mobile phones in the country, reports Agence Ecofin. According to ARCEP,…
Telecoms
New functionality in Flexenclosure's remote telecom site management tool eManager ensures data is never lost
Flexenclosure, a specialist developer of intelligent power management systems and prefabricated data centres for the ICT industry, has added several new features to its eManager remote telecom management tool. One…
Telecoms
Globalstar Takes Satphone Market By Storm with 'Free Phones For All' Cash-Back Offer
Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd. has announced its 'Free Phones For All' campaign, an ambitious rebate programme offering cash-back of up to '500 on every new GSP-1700 satellite phone bought…
Telecoms
African Telecom Union drafts strategic plan for 2014-2018
The African Telecommunications Union has presented a draft strategic plan for 2014-2018, on which members states have until 6 May to express their opinions. Secretary general Adoulkarim Soumaila told Agence…
Telecoms
Deal paves the way for SA-made smartphone
Black-owned South African mining and energy company Sekoko Group has rebranded as 'Mint' after acquiring an electronics maker that is building SA's first-ever locally made smartphone.Sekoko Group, in a press…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
- Moroccan operator Medi Telecom (Meditel), an affiliate of French telecoms giant Orange Group, has revealed that the footprint of its 3G network has been extended to cover 100% of…
Internet
SEACOM cable landing in Mogadishu brings hope for SomaliREN
Earlier this month the SEACOM cable landed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu reviving talks about operationalizing the country's National Research and Education Network (NREN).'Greetings from Mogadishu, Somalia. I am writing…
Internet
South Africa: WAPA launches Future Wireless Technologies Forum
The Regulator, ICASA, has engaged the Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) to assist in bringing stakeholders from the regulatory field and industry together to discuss new and innovative technologies, products,…
Internet
Kenya: Residents disappointed as free Wi-Fi connection in Nakuru fails
The recent launch of free Wi-Fi for Nakuru town was spectacular. Residents' excitement was palpable as Nakuru was poised to join a club of a select few towns in the…
Computing
EcoSahel's Jelani Aliyu Develops Solar-powered Laptop
An indigenous Nigerian company, EcoSahel Global Ventures, has developed a solar-powered laptop that is powerful, rugged, versatile and durable, with the ability to take the harsh conditions of any environment.LEADERSHIP…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and coverage
- Vodafone Ghana has said it is going to make available on all social media platform the live streaming of the 3rd Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) slated for the…
Money Transfer
MFS Africa Launches Mjara Loans in Ghana
MFS Africa has announced the launch of mjara Loans, a mass-market mobile money-based loan product. mjara Loans builds on the company's existing KwikAdvance salary-advance loan product. The mjara Loans service…
Money Transfer
Uganda: Bank of Africa's Mobile Wallet looks to rival Mobile Money
In Uganda, Bank of Africa has unveiled a mobile banking platform in a bid to tap into the increasing use of mobile money services as a transaction medium.Dubbed Mobile Wallet,…
Money Transfer
GSMA: Operators Commit to Accelerate Interoperable Mobile Money Services across Africa and the Middle East
Region's Leading Operators to Expand Financial Inclusion through Collaboration in GSMA Mobile Money Interoperability ProgrammeThe GSMA has announced that nine mobile network operators, including Bharti Airtel, Etisalat Group, Millicom, MTN…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Senegalese government claims to have taken 'all measures' to retake control of Sonatel
The government of Senegal claims to have taken every step necessary to retake full control of the national incumbent PTO Sonatel (Orange) when the operating licnece held by the carrier…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom Completes Acquisition Of Vodacom Tanzania
JSE-listed mobile phone operator, Vodacom, late on Tuesday said the $236.5 million deal to acquire an additional 17.2 percent stake in Vodacom Tanzania had been approved.This means its interest in…
Digital Content
West Africa: Garmin Satellite Technology Targets West African
Garmin Satellite technology has announced that it is looking for prospective business partners in West Africa as it seeks to enter the West African market.According to the company its partners…
Digital Content
Nigeria's app hotline to God
In Nigeria, it's not uncommon to see people with a leather-bound Bible in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. But the Good Book's days could be numbered…
Digital Content
Munnovation aims to promote positive African news
A new digitally-based platform has been launched in Johannesburg to promote positive news in South Africa, Africa and beyond.Speaking on SA FM AM live on Wednesday morning founder of Munnovation,…
Digital Content
Togo, Woelab and the e-waste 3D Printer
'Technologie Democracy', 'low high tech', these are the mantras of Sename Agboginou the founder of L'Africaine D'Architecture. His initiatives have one uniting goal: making groundbreaking technology accessible to the common…
Digital Content
Nigeria: Easy Taxi app to come pre-installed on Galaxy S5
Easy Taxi, one of the world's largest taxi booking apps, has teamed up with Samsung to offer its services to even more customers across Nigeria, with the Easy Taxi app…
Digital Content
Egyptian blogger Bassem Sabry dies
Cairo - Bassem Sabry, one of Egypt's most respected bloggers who campaigned for civil rights and against repression, has died. He was 31.Sabry was a well-known columnist and fluent in…
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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,…
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Jobs & Oppotunities
R&R LtdDeadline: Monday 5th May 2014Location: NairobiJob DescriptionR&R is a dynamic company on the cutting edge of technical innovation. Our core business is the management of loyalty and incentive programs…
