Issue no 720 22nd August 2014
Top Story
Broadband in Gulu and 4G in Accra – Two sides of the same coin for Africa’s new generation local roll-outs
A new ISP set up in Uganda’s remote north and 4G became available in Ghana from a new operator. Neither of these developments involved mobile operators and how they came about may set the pattern of Africa’s new roll-outs. Russell Southwood spoke to people at the heart of both initiatives this week.Gulu’s Zoom Wireless has been set up by long-time Kenyan ISP activist Brian Longwe in partnership with Inveneo’s commercial spin-off Volo Broadband (see here in Issue no 710 ). Zoom Wireless is part of Sinfa Uganda Ltd, a social enterprise which has Oxfam as its lead partner.At the bottom…
Telecoms
South Africa: Lampposts to become broadband towers
MTN has begun replacing Johannesburg’s streetlight infrastructure with lampposts that double as cellular base stations, with hundreds of deployments planned before Christmas.MTN South Africa has secured a tender from City…
Telecoms
Mobilis is a leader in 3G in Algeria, says GSMA report
The World Association of mobile operators (GSMA) has released its report on telecommunications in Algeria. It reveals that the Mobilis branch mobile operator Algeria Telecom is the leader in 3G…
Telecoms
Smartphones to make 32% of all Egyptian mobile sales by 2016, says Sony
Outlining the strides made in the Egyptian market, Sony Marketing Manager in the Middle East and Africa Younes Cherkaoui disucsses the company’s influence on the smart phone market and Egyptian…
Telecoms
Sudatel posts H1 net profit of USD24m; agrees sale of Ghanaian unit
Sudatel Telecom Group (STG) has announced its preliminary results for the first half of 2014, reporting consolidated EBITDA of USD75 million, an increase of 17% year-on-year and reflecting an improved…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
- Fears have emerged regarding the future of Aircom (Cafe Mobile), the Cote d’Ivoire’s sixth mobile operator, with Ivorian telecoms watchdog L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications/TIC de Cote d’Ivoire (ARTCI)…
Internet
Huawei Uganda officially launches the Mobile Broadband Demo truck show
Kampala, Uganda, August 18th, 2014: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, officially launched the Mobile Broadband demo truck show at Kampala Serena Hotel.The five day…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
- South Africa operator Telkom announced that its ISPs will enforce its Fair Usage Policy (FUP) in the spirit of enhancing the internet experience of all its users. Telkom has…
Computing
Cargo clearance in Kenya goes digital
Cargo clearance in Kenya has been digitalised, with importers of cargo required to apply for their Import Declaration Forms (IDFs) through the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System (Kenya TradeNet).The…
Computing
SAP to Accelerate Innovation and Growth in Africa With Up to US $500 Million Investment
SAP has announced a seven-year plan to up-skill local African talent and drive sustainable innovation and growth in Africa. With more than 1,300 customers across the continent, SAP is already…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Tanzania’s Daily News reports that mobile operator Airtel Tanzania has expanded its GSM network coverage with the launch of a new communication tower in the village of Sigunga, in Uvinza…
Money Transfer
South Africa becomes the first African country to get a Bitcoin vending machine
South Africa has installed its first Bitcoin vending machine, which gives users the ability to receive Bitcoin in exchange for rand.The Bitcoin vending machine is located in Kyalami, north of…
Money Transfer
Nomanini mobile POS reaches a million transactions
Nomanini has announced that informal vendors and micro-entrepreneurs across Africa have made a million cash transactions using its tough terminal.The South African-based mobile Point of Sale platform was created to…
Money Transfer
Nigeria: Coremobile launches ‘Quick Airtime’ recharge platform
Coremobile has released its latest creation, www.quickairtime.com, a simple, secure and smart online application for airtime recharge, mobile top-up and prepaid re-up. Designed on the basis of simplicity, Quick Airtime…
Money Transfer
Zain launches mobile financial service in Sudan
Kuwait-based Zain Group, which provides telecoms services in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has announced that its Sudanese wireless unit has launched the country’s first mobile financial…
Money Transfer
Safaricom Slashes M-PESA Transaction Fees by 67% As Competition Looms
When M-PESA was introduced in 2007, there was no contender, no better service and it was all new to Kenyans. The service has garnered over 19.3 million customers, over 88,000…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Unitel valued at USD7bn; PT stake USD1.31bn
Angola’s leading cellco Unitel has been valued at USD7 billion, and Portugal Telecom’s (PT’s) minority stake at USD1.31 billion, according to a report released by Brazilian operator Oi, which is…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Airtel inks Tramigo partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa
Tramigo has announced a new partnership with Airtel for the Congo Brazzaville market. The partnership is intended to offer real time vehicle tracking to Airtel Congo Brazzaville customers.Arto Tiitinen, Tramigo…
Digital Content
M4JAM and Webfluentual: Local technology, international potential
The internet is full of get-rich-quick schemes. Just like the secrets to magical weight loss, these schemes are exactly what they appear to be – too good to be true.…
Digital Content
Ethiopia’s Tech Industry Emerges
As people go online to meet and interact with friends and relatives or put up their latest photos, young homegrown entrepreneurs are creating money making opportunities and getting their share…
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People
Vodafone’s Michael Joseph receives PICMET Technology Management AwardVodafone director of mobile money and former Safaricom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Joseph has received the prestigious Leadership in Technology Management Award…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Orange Uganda Reiterates Commitment to Supporting Local InnovationAs Orange Uganda presented five mobile applications developed by students at last year’s Community Innovations Awards, the company reiterated its commitment to supporting…
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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 &…
