Issue no 713 4th July 2014
Top Story
2014 may be the year Africa’s mobile operators start operating VoD platforms – This week Glo Nigeria joins the party
Operating VoD platforms is proving to be a tough call for Africa’s mobile operators. Many don’t have the network capacity to support video streaming by any great number of subscribers. The income from it in the short term looks less than compelling. Nevertheless, Russell Southwood believes 2014 may be year they finally start doing VoD platforms at scale.From our research, we have counted 73 VoD platforms operating in Africa either on the Internet, via satellite, through mobile apps and mostly these are Over-The-Top services (OTT). The vast majority of these platforms have been set up by independents and although they…
Telecoms
GSMA Announces mHealth Partnership across Sub-Saharan Africa
The GSMA has announced that its Mobile for Development mHealth programme has launched a new cross-ecosystem partnership designed to provide a range of mHealth services to women and children, with…
Telecoms
NCC declares Nitel, Starcomms ‘inactive’
Nigeria’s telecoms regulator NCC has declared NITEL and 13 other telecoms companies as “inactive operators”. According to Technology Times, NCC’s declaration of NITEL and its mobile business unit, MTEL Limited,…
Telecoms
Vodacom Becomes First Approved Samsung KNOX Reseller in South Africa
Samsung Electronics South Africa has announced the very first KNOX reseller in the country. Vodacom, entering into a KNOX reseller agreement with Samsung, which will enable the service provider to…
Telecoms
Telecel seeking $200m for network expansion
Mobile network operator Telecel Zimbabwe is seeking $200 million to increase its 3G network coverage and grow subscriber base to 5.5 million by year end.Telecel is the second largest operator…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
Kenya's Safaricom has secured a 10 year extension on its operating license after it agreed to the SH2.3 billion (USD25 million) license fee.
Internet
OkHi Wins Seedstars World Nairobi - Stands a Chance to Raise $500,000
OkHi, a startup that wants to solve the lack of physical address system in Kenya’ and beyond has emerged the best at Seedstars World Nairobi, winning itself a trip to…
Internet
Microsoft Launches Intellectual Property Hub For Innovators In Africa
Microsoft has launched the Microsoft 4Afrika intellectual property (IP) Hub to give local developers and independent software vendors in Africa the required tools to develop, protect and monetize their innovations.Microsoft…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
- South Africa’s Department of Public Enterprises will reportedly no longer have oversight over state-owned telecoms operator Broadband Infraco, with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (formerly known as…
Computing
Business Connexion unveils public cloud for SMEs
Business Connexion, has officially announced its latest public cloud offering, which is set to offer small, medium and large businesses with the sort of functionality usually reserved for huge enterprises.Business…
Computing
South African solar-powered tablet aims to enable e-learning in rural areas
There have been multiple attempts in the past couple of years by African companies to market African-designed tablets. VMK (Congo), Encipher (Nigeria), Nhava (Zimbabwe), and GIL (Ghana) all come to…
Computing
Huawei to Deploy ELTE Urban Railway Communications System in Ethiopia
Huawei says that it has been selected as the sole provider of Ethiopia's light rail communication system in the capital city, Addis Ababa. The integrated telecommunications system will be Africa's…
Computing
Computing – In Brief
Telkom is investigating the feasibility of turning its network of public pay telephones into Wi-Fi hotspots. Chief of marketing at Telkom, Enzo Scarcella told SABC News that the idea was…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe based Unitel T+ has ordered a ringback tone service from Jinny Software.Kenya's Airtel is offering 25 percent airtime bonuses to prepay customers topping…
Money Transfer
Kenya's mobile innovation brings digital money closer
Mobile banking from Equity Bank could give the popular M-Pesa payments platform a run for its moneyKenyan financial services heavyweight Equity Bank is planning to roll out mobile banking services…
Money Transfer
Uganda: MTN raises mobile money charges
Telecom operator MTN has announced it will raise mobile money withdrawal charges effective August 1. “Due to a 10% Excise tax raised by government on Mobile Money withdrawal fees, we…
Money Transfer
Tanzania Ahead of Kenya in Use of Mobile Money
Tanzania is ahead of Kenya when it comes to mobile money use, despite the fact that Kenyans have been using mobile money solutions for 7 years.Tanzania was ranked ahead of…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Togo to kick off third mobile licence tender this month
The government of Togo will this month begin the process of auctioning off a third mobile licence via an international tender. In a press release, the Ministere des Postes et…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Kenyan Treasury to probe Safaricom surveillance contract
The security surveillance contract awarded to leading Kenyan operator Safaricom will undergo a Treasury probe before the contract is signed, in accordance with the law, which requires the Public Procurement…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vox Telecom plans exit for private equity owners
South African voice and data provider Vox Telecom is preparing an exit for its private equity shareholders, according to Bloomberg. Vox will explore options including a trade sale or investment…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
TNM expects significant rise in H1 net profit
Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), the country’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers, has issued a trading statement in which it says that net profit after tax will total over MWK1.8…
Digital Content
MTN Nigeria to unveil Online Music App in July
MTN Nigeria has perfected plans to unveil music App. which is expected to hold this July. The App when launh would be the biggest in the music industry in the…
Digital Content
Ugandan App Lets Citizens Blow Whistle on Local Corruption
Until recently, spotting corruption in Uganda required intimate knowledge of a public institution’s finances. But now — in theory, at least — you need nothing more than an Internet connection.Ugandan…
Digital Content
Microsoft-backed VetAfrica app helps EA farmers in disease diagnosis
Microsoft has partnered Glasgow-based tech company Cojengo to develop software seeking to provide East African farmers with innovative diagnostic tools and disease surveillance data.The VetAfrica app aims to help farmers…
Digital Content
Senegal: Mobile Phone App Helps Diabetics During Ramadan in Senegal
Senegal has become the first Francophone country to pilot a mobile phone platform, called mRamadan, which helps people with diabetes safely manage their health while fasting. Diabetics who are testing…
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People
AU urges Nigeria, Mauritania to present consensus candidate for ITU postNigeria and Mauritania have been urged by the African Union (AU) Ministerial Candidature Committee to hold consultations and agree on…
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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 & Opportunities
Graphics Design & Website Development Internship Opportunities 2 Company: Farwell Consultants Limited Deadline: Monday 1st September 2014 Location: NairobiJob DescriptionFarwell Consultants is currently looking for interns interested in developing their…
