Issue no 726 26th September 2014
Top Story
Nigeria’s Medallion Communications makes interconnection in a complex liberalised market much easier and will offer facilities in 4 more cities
Liberalised markets create competition and that creates more operators in the market. But all those voice and data operators don’t usually operate in isolation: nearly all of them have to connect together to deliver voice and data. Russell Southwood spoke to Ike Nnamani, CEO of Medallion Communications about the the “carrier hotel” he provides.The larger and more complex markets in Sub-Saharan Africa may have anything from 50 to several hundred companies providing voice and data services to different parts of the market. If you try and draw what it would be like if each one connected individually to each other,…
Telecoms
Onlime launches services on Yamal, increases KU capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Aerzen, 15 September 2014: Onlime announced signing of the contract during the IBC event in Amsterdam with Gazprom Space Systems taking capacity on Yamal-402 satellite to increase Ku offering addressing…
Telecoms
Vodacom superfast 4G is a first for SA
Vodacom has unveiled the next development in 4G technology, capable of downloading an entire 1Gb movie in less than a minute. This is the first time that this has been…
Telecoms
Zambia’s Zamtel Set to Roll Out LTE Nationwide by 2015
The Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) plans to roll out its LTE network countrywide next year following successful trials. The company said it is currently pre-testing the 4G network in readiness…
Telecoms
Orange Senegal launches LTE pilot trial in Saly
On 20 September 2014 Orange Senegal, the wholly owned subsidiary of Senegalese incumbent Sonatel, announced the latest phase of its on-going LTE deployment, launching a pilot trial in Saly, in…
Telecoms
PCCW Global and Telma collaborate to greatly improve connectivity into and out of Madagascar
PCCW Global, the international operating division of HKT, Hong Kong's premier telecommunications service provider, and Telma the number one national telecommunications operator in Madagascar, have signed the first international MPLS…
Telecoms
Smart Telecom Burundi launches SMART 3G network
Mobile network operator Smart Telecom Burundi (formerly Lacell SU) launched its new 3G service on 5 September in and around the capital Bujumburo, according to its website. The operator’s ‘Smart…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
Mobile operator Vodacom is preparing to extend its network coverage to two underserved central provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), BizTechAfrica reports. The cellco is set to deploy…
Internet
South Africa: Spectrum Policy Key to Achieving Objectives of SA Connect
The Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) has released a draft Position Paper on Spectrum, and last week hosted the second Future Wireless Technologies Forum, as part of iWeek, at the…
Internet
Coke machines in South Africa to dispense free Wi-Fi
South African consumers will soon be able to quench their thirst and check their e-mail at the same time. Coca-Cola and BT Global Services have announced plans to offer free…
Internet
Kenya hosts Sh13b high speed server
Kenya has been picked to host a public domain server, in a more than Sh13.2 billion ($150 million) ICT Infrastructure development project that promises faster and cheaper internet access to…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
Angolan cable TV operator TVCabo has sponsored the Angola Music Awards, an annual initiative that rewards local music. Besides being the general sponsor, TVCabo provided internet during the event, which…
Computing
Microsoft in deal with Zim government to “simplify & standardise systems”
A report by Finx tthis week says that Microsoft’s President for Microsoft Middle East & Africa (MEA), Ali Faramawy, is currently in Zimbabwe to forge a partnership with the government…
Computing
Flexenclosure Supplying Second Data Centre to MTN Ivory Coast
Prefabricated data centre specialist Flexenclosure says that it has received a second large order from MTN C te d'Ivoire for a customised eCentre. The two technical facilities are the first…
Computing
Kenya’s laptop project tender cancelled, again
Kenya’s Jubilee Coalition laptop project tender that had been issued has yet again dismissed by judges, now the tendering process will have to start all over again and will take…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Africom launches package with unlimited access to social media
Local internet access provider Africom has introduced a new product called the Africom MiChoice Package which gives users unlimited access to common social media and messaging platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp,…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Glo Prive premium club for launch Oct 1
GLO Prive, a unique club for premium subscribers on the Glo network, will be launched on Wednesday, October 1.The club will offer a unique bouquet of privileges for the top…
Money Transfer
MasterCard-Branded Cards Are Now at Ecobank Subsidiaries in 28 African Countries
Ecobank Transnational Inc. and MasterCard customers will now be able to use their MasterCard prepaid, debit and credit cards at Ecobank’s ATMs and Point of Sale terminals in 28 African…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Unitel signs ten-year USD1.9bn fibre, LTE investment contract with state agency
Angola’s largest mobile operator by subscribers Unitel plans to invest over USD1.9 billion in the expansion of next-generation fibre-optic and 4G LTE mobile access network infrastructure nationwide over the next…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Delta Partners Corporate Finance Advises Telecom Operators in Deals Totalling More Than $1 Billion in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Delta Partners Corporate Finance acted as sole strategic and financial advisor on transactions worth more than $1 billion (~€801 million) during the course of 2014 helping telecom operators on the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Dimension Data acquires MWEB’s Connect, Business and Optinet units; establishes new Wi-Fi offshoot WirelessCo
Internet Solutions, the wholly owned division of Dimension Data (Middle East & Africa), has signed a transaction agreement with South African internet service provider (ISP) MWEB to purchase its core…
Digital Content
Kenya: Music Platform for Rising Artistes Launched
Music recording firm Candy Records has launched an online channel that seeks to offer exposure and boost upcoming and underground talent.During its first day after the official launch on Monday,…
Digital Content
Nigerian Startup To Make Money By Paying You To Go To School
Talent accelerator, Andela has marked its official launch with a seed round of funding to train another set of developers in Africa.The bright developers chosen by the startup for the…
Digital Content
The Dark Side of the Internet – Digital thuggery rears its ugly head in Nigeria
In our series of letters from African journalists, writer and novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at the online battle hotting up ahead of next year's elections in Nigeria.When it comes…
Digital Content
Samsung adds SuperSport app to Smart Hub
Samsung Electronics South Africa has announced that it will be adding the SuperSport app to its Smart Hub solution on Samsung Smart TVs. This will allow users to stream and…
Digital Content
Millicom unveils digital music initiatives for Africa
Millicom has also formed a partnership with one of Africa’s digital music companies, Africori, to fund, acquire and manage music rights through “Africa Music Rights” (AMR) to which Millicom will…
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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 &…
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People
ZOL Zimbabwe gets new CEO, Denny MarandureZOL Zimbabwe, the Liquid Telecom owned ISP which is one of the largest locally, has just announced the coming in of a new CEO,…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Microsoft offers $15,000 bounty for software to help African tech hubsMembers of tech hubs and innovation centres across the African continent are being invited to take part in a $15,000…
