Issue no 719 14th August 2014
Top Story
Fibre-To-The-Home – South Africa’s big gorillas “wait-and-see” while consumers break the logjam
South Africa’s stately progress towards implementing Fibre-To-The Home seems to have taken a turn for the better in the shape of two residents’ associations who have taken matters into their own hands. One has appointed a supplier and the other is asking for quotes on delivering fibre-to-the-home to its area. Russell Southwood spoke to Indra de Lanerolle who is heading up the Parkview Residents’ Association’s fibre project.The big gorillas of South Africa – MTN, Telkom and Vodacom – are all hovering at the edges of Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) implementation. MTN launched a pilot at the relatively small Monaghan Estate just outside…
Telecoms
Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda And South Sudan Agree To Cut Roaming Charges By 60 Percent, Reports KT Press
Northern Corridor countries have agreed on a regional telecommunications framework to establish a "One-Network-Area" by 31st December 2014. When fully operational, charges on phones calls within the region could drop…
Telecoms
Senegal’s ARTP reports 14.273m mobile users at end-June
Senegal’s Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP) last Friday published its summary market report for the three months ended 30 June 2014,…
Telecoms
Namibia - Govt strives to narrow digital divide
The Minister of Information and Communication Technology Joël Kaapanda says government is in the process of passing the Universal Access Service and Content Policy that would oblige Namibia to provide…
Telecoms
Tanzanian villages to benefit from $6m telecoms upgrade
Fixed network operator Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) has announced US$6 million worth of investment for telecom equipment in 202 villages targeted at improving telecommunication services.The upgrade will benefit 300,000…
Telecoms
Etisalat Nigeria Sells Towers to IHS Holding
Etisalat Nigeria is selling a large portion of its tower assets to IHS Holding for an undisclosed amount. The transaction, the first by a major GSM operator in Nigeria, is…
Telecoms
Viettel Cameroon to operate under Nexttel brand
Viettel Cameroon, which was announced as the winner of the country’s third mobile licence in December 2012, will operate under the brand name Nexttel when it launches commercial services next…
Telecoms
Telecoms - In Brief
- Airtel Malawi has launched a new thematic campaign dubbed 'Muli Bwanji?', a local language greeting meaning 'How are you?'. Isabel Kachinjika, Airtel's Brands and Communication Manager said this is…
Internet
Samsung launches Solar-powered Internet School in Ghana
Akuapim South District, Ghana – 12 Augusts 2014 – Samsung Electronics West Africa and the Korean Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), in collaboration with the government of Ghana, this…
Internet
MSTelcom Extends Agreement with Intelsat to Expand Satellite Broadband Services in Angola
Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, announced today it has entered into a new, multi-year agreement with MSTelcom, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Angolan national oil…
Internet
OSN launches VoD, DVR in Egypt
OSN has introduced a new kind of internet-enabled satellite receiver and recorder with full 3D and high definition (HD) capabilities in Egypt, in an investment that it hopes will help…
Internet
Tanzania: Twiga Bank to Start Using Mobile Banking
Twiga Bancorp has announced plans to fully incorporate internet and mobile banking before end of this year to widen access and convenience to customers.The Bank's Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr…
Internet
South Africa: MTN SA Launches LTE Prepaid SIMs
MTN South Africa has launched Long Term Evolution (LTE) PayAsYouGo SIM cards for prepaid customers.The company said the move was designed to give them access to high-speed internet access that…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
- NetHope supporter Intel announced a new public-private partnership called the Women and the Web Alliance during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The partnership aims to introduce more than 600,000 Kenyan…
Computing
Kenya Govt Procurement Finally Moves Online
The IFMIS Department, National Treasury has launched electronic procurement (e-Procurement) with the aim of promoting openness and accountability in the use of public money, thereby easing the cost of doing…
Computing
Computing – In Brief
- The federal government and Anambra State government have signed an agreement to accelerate the rollout of critical information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure across the state necessary for development. The…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Cheapest ADSL data in South AfricaMWEB has announced that it is increasing the data limits for its capped ADSL customers at no extra charge.The ISP said that most of its…
Money Transfer
Western Union, MTN launch mobile money transfer service in Ivory Coast
The Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services, announced the launch of a new mobile money transfer service in the Ivory Coast in conjunction with the MTN Group.The…
Money Transfer
Zain Sudan teams up with Bank of Khartoum for mobile banking
Zain Sudan has launched the country's first ever mobile mobile financial service, called 'Hassa', in partnership with the Bank of Khartoum. The easy, instant and secure service allows Zain customers…
Money Transfer
Diamond Bank, partners with MTN to unveil Diamond Yello Account
DIAMOND Bank Plc and MTN Nigeria have launched a mobile money product, which they jointly developed, for the advancement of the cash-less initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom-BCX deal gets thumbs up from shareholders
Business Connexion (BCX) shareholders voted in favour of a merger deal with Telkom on Monday (11 August).Telkom announced in May 2013 that it had entered into an agreement to acquire…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Orange continues Libercom negotiations
French telecoms group Orange has resumed its on-off private negotiations with the Beninese authorities on the planned privatisation of state-run cellco Libercom, according to Agence Ecofin, which writes that Orange…
Digital Content
App Makes Ebooks Available in African Languages
To many, the fact that literacy in African countries often leaves a lot to be desired comes as no surprise. A lot of organisations, however, are looking for ways to…
Digital Content
Built in Africa: Cipher256 is solving one of Africa’s biggest problems with an app
Built in Africa focuses on entrepreneurs, startups and technologies that hail from the continent and empower its citizens.The miracle of birth is still a miracle, considering all that can go…
Digital Content
Facebook Takes A Stand With Free Access To Women’s Rights Info In Africa
No one should be denied understanding of their human rights just because they can’t afford a mobile data plan. Now women in Zambia won’t be, as Facebook and Internet.org’s new…
More
People
Suspended Telkom CFO hearing set for AugustSuspended Telkom CFO Jacques Schindehütte will face a disciplinary hearing on a matter of personal misconduct on 6 August 2014.This follows a long adjournment…
More
Jobs & Opportunities
Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2015 now openInnovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2015 now open – USD 150,000 in prizes for continent’s brightest innovators to accelerate Africa’s developmentWith 2000 innovators…
More
Events
The 7th edition of DCD Converged Johannesburg Monday, 13th October 2014Join us for this engaging learning opportunity and the chance to network with over 250 data center professionals.- IT &…
