Issue no 710 13th June 2014
Top Story
Volo Broadband targets operators wanting to reach edge-of-network data markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
Except for new entry operators, the mobile companies have reached the edge of their addressable markets in most countries. If that’s true for voice, the situation is much worse for data where operators are primarily focused on the richer urban markets. But with the rise of Internet use in Africa, a new start-up – Volo Broadband – is determined to help operators address edge-of-network data markets. Russell Southwood spoke to one of the company’s co-founders Mark Summer about how they’re going to do this.Two of Volo Broadband’s co-founders, Mark Summer and Kristin Peterson came out of an NGO called Inveneo,…
Telecoms
Airtel signs group-wide framework agreement with Movirtu – service launched in Madagascar and DRC
Airtel has entered into a group-wide framework agreement with Movirtu, an innovator in Virtual SIM solutions. The group-wide agreement follows Airtel’s successful launch of the Movirtu Share service in Madagascar.…
Telecoms
Nigeria Set To Liquidate NITEL, MTEL
After several failed attempts at privatizing national telecom companies, Nigerian telecommunication Limited (NITEL) and Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTEL), the West African country has opted for a “guided liquidation” of…
Telecoms
Regulator NCA gets tough - Vodafone Banned from Signing Up New Customers in Ghana
Vodafone's Ghana subsidiary has been barred from signing up new customers until the end of July following a serious network outage.Vodafone suffered the network outage from around 10am on the…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
- Mobile phone users in the African nation of Comoros have overwhelmingly rejected the government’s decision to introduce a new tax – thought to be around 5% – on top-ups,…
Internet
Internet use on mobile phones in Africa predicted to increase 20-fold
By the end of 2014, it is forecast that there will be more than 635m mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa's claim to be the "mobile continent" is even stronger…
Internet
Internet Freedom in Rwanda – A State of Monitored Media
This year, Rwanda observed 20 years since the 1994 genocide. Many stories were shared online informing both local and global audiences of a time that almost brought the country to…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
- South Africa's Gautrain, the rapid rail network in Gauteng, says it aims to launch a Wi-Fi service before the end of the year. A spokesperson for the Gautrain Management…
Internet
Sudan Reporters Go Online to Challenge Crackdown on Press
When Abbaker Musa died at a University of Khartoum protest, Sudan’s newspapers carried a statement saying authorities had used tear gas.Upstart news website al-Tareeq, which means ‘the Way’ in Arabic,…
Computing
Etisalat Misr to deploy Huawei’s 400G core router
Huawei Technologies has announced that mobile network operator Etisalat Misr will deploy NE5000E, the vendor’s 400G core router, as core nodes for the national IP backbone network (IPBB) in Egypt.…
Computing
Laptop ‘tops other ICT tools important for e-learning’
The information and communication technology (ICT) device with greatest potential for education and training is laptop, whereas Facebook is the most popular social media, according to a new survey of…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Rwanda's MTN is offering free mobile data access to the Wikipedia mobile website.
Money Transfer
Kenyan Startup Aims to Speed Bitcoin to Africa
Bitcoin users have been compared to latter-day evangelists, steadfastly trying to persuade the masses to use a mysterious electronic currency hidden in the Internet. But one company is hoping their…
Money Transfer
Safaricom braces for opening of M-Pesa to rivals
Safaricom is bracing itself for an upcoming ruling by the competition watchdog, which could force it to open up its M-Pesa agency network to interconnect with rival m-money services.M-Pesa’s popularity,…
Money Transfer
Emerging Markets Payments enters Kenyan market
There is a new player in the electronic payments market in Kenya, the Emerging Markets Payments Company which will be offering consumers card schemes, cards, mobile and e-commerce not to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Millicom Acquires 88 per Cent Stake in Rwanda’s Rswitch
Tigo-RwandaMillicom, which runs Tigo Rwanda has said it has bought an 88 per cent stake, RSwitch, a national payment switch. The controlling stake was bought from Frankfurt-based African Development Corporation.RSwitch…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Altobridge Files for Bankruptcy - 130 Jobs at Risk
An Irish telecoms provider, Altobridge that specialized in rural network infrastructure has filed for bankruptcy.A short statement on the company's website confirmed the development. The news could put around 130…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tingo Eyes $25m Deal For 51% Stake In Nigerian Telco
Indigenous phone maker, Tingo Mobile has expressed interest in acquiring a 51 percent stake in Lagos-based Mass Telecom Innovation Nigeria Plc (MTI) for $25 million as it bids to develop…
Digital Content
Africa to get its own web encyclopedia
As a fourth-generation clan chief of a village in rural Cameroon, Gaston Donnat Bappa’s daily life is steeped in tradition.The 200 residents of the village have little if any access…
Digital Content
Hype around NGO-funded apps is stifling Africa's innovation
The Silicon Savannah brings to mind a hyper-tech innovation zone, a mini-city of mirrored buildings ringed by sandy sub-Saharan scrub. Closer to the truth is a handful of industrial-style offices…
Digital Content
Satellites, drones, or balloons…
Google has plans to invest at least $1 billion (more likely a few billion) on low-orbit satellites that will provide Internet access to underserved areas. The news comes after news…
Digital Content
Partnership between web developers and payment services key to e-commerce success
The quality of the relationship between a web developer and a payment services provider is one of the key ingredients of a successful e-commerce website, says Michael Richards of SiteMeUp…
Digital Content
East Africa: Microsoft, Homeboyz Launch Tukoworks Portal to Help Youth Access Jobs
Microsoft and Homeboyz Foundation have launched an online portal that will help youths acquire entrepreneurial and employability skills.Dubbed "TukoWorks", the portal aims at providing Kenyan youth with free resources, training,…
Digital Content
Ugandan lawyer revolutionises access to justice with just an iPhone and Facebook
Two years ago, Gerald Abila, while still at Kampala International University, wasn't paying attention to what his teachers were saying all of the time. “I’d be in class, but at…
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People
SA's ICT industry is still reeling in shock and sadness after news of the death of IT personality Benjamin Mophatlane broke yesterday.The Business Connexion (BCX) CEO and cofounder passed away…
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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,…
