Issue no 743 6th February 2015
Top Story
TV White Spaces goes commercial in Africa – Microsoft seeks to calm the jitters of the mobile operators
The long-term shift in power between the OTT players and mobile operators is a bit like watching a Samuri wrestling bout. They move round each other threateningly, making loud grunts, then hang on to each other for a while before one falls over. As TV White Spaces goes commercial, some of the mobile operators have got the jitters again. Russell Southwood spoke this week to Fernando de Sousa, General Manager – Africa Initiatives about its TV White Spaces projects.Microsoft and Google have been pioneering TV White Spaces technology on an increasingly large-scale. Microsoft now has 27 different projects around the…
Telecoms
Intelsat and Kymeta Join Forces to Enable Next Generation Satellite Applications
Pairing the Intelsat EpicNG Global HTS satellite platform with Kymeta’s high performance metamaterials antennas will accelerate and simplify access tocost-effective satellite solutions for a range of applicationsIntelsat and Kymeta Corporation…
Telecoms
South Africa: Telkom may be planning tower sale
Telkom may be planning to sell its network of base stations as it looks to reduce costs, though it appears discussions are at a very early stage. According to news…
Telecoms
Mozambique cellcos ordered to complete SIM registration in 30 days
Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Carlos Mesquita, has ordered the country’s three mobile network operators to finally complete the SIM registration process which was begun more than four years…
Telecoms
Ghana: Buzztrick dominates MTN app challenge
MTN Ghana has revealed the overall winner of its latest Apps Challenge. According to the company, an application developed by myApp Inc, dubbed “Buzztrick”, dominated the challenge. According to myApp…
Telecoms
NetOne wins USD8 million court battle
Firstel Cellular, a Zimbabwean mobile retailer, has been ordered to pay USD8 million to state-owned cellular network operator NetOne for unpaid royalties. Firstel had inked an agreement to sign up…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
MTN Liberia (Lonestar Cell) has dismissed a ‘leaked’ Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) report which suggests that it is illegally receiving broadband data capacity from Cote d’Ivoire. The cellco, part of…
Internet
@NAPAfrica_IXP: the largest Internet Exchange Point in Africa
Since declaring its intentions to become one of Africa’s largest Internet exchanges with the help of its fast growing community of peers, NAPAfrica recently announced that it has indeed achieved…
Internet
Google plans to launch ISPs in DRC, Congo – report
Google will open an ISP in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thomas Luhaka, the country's deputy prime minister and postal and telecom minister, said at a meeting with the…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
First public square with free access Internet opens in Guinea-Bissau's capital. Full story here: Forgood, an Internet platform that seeks to boost charity work in SA, has gone live. The…
Computing
IBM Expands Global Research Network into South Africa
Johannesburg research lab to support South Africa's national priorities and drive innovation using big data, cloud and mobile technologiesIBM announced plans to expand IBM Research – Africa with a new…
Computing
UNESCO & Osun State to replicate e-Learning in Nigeria
Following Osun’s impressive e-learning project, UNESCO has requested to reproduce and adopt the educational learning resource material and content of Opon-imo so that it can be used to promote its…
Computing
Computing – In Brief
Tanzania: Community Development Parliamentary Committee has directed the government to review the electronic ticketing system to make it more viable. Reading the committee's report on Thursday in Parliament, Chairman Saidi…
Money Transfer
Wallettc adds SnapScan to its payment options | Considering African expansion
South Africa’s Wallettec, a SaaS platform that enables retailers to accept any type of mobile transaction or currency at their Point Of Sale has partnered with Snapscan, in a move…
Money Transfer
Africa: Moneygram Expands Reach to 25,000 Locations in Africa
MoneyGram has announced that its agent network in Africa has now reached 25,000 locations, following a strategic expansion initiative across the continent.Recent technology advances and new agent and sub-agent signings,…
Money Transfer
Bill Gates bets on mobile money as the future of financial services
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is betting on mobile money to transform the lives of over 2 Billion people who are outside the formal financial system. Gates illustrates the growing impact…
Money Transfer
PayGate launches developer support and rewards programme
Payment services provider PayGate has launched PayPartner, a support and rewards programme for the community of web developers using its services, general manager for business development Brendon Williamson has announced.“We…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Orange eyes Airtel's African assets - report
Orange has explored purchasing some assets in Africa including ones owned by Indian operator Bharti Airtel, as the company seeks to strengthen its business in Africa, Bloomberg reported, citing people…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Shortfalls catch up with ICASA
ICASA has been accused of being ill-equipped to properly manage major deals that could change the face of SA's telecoms sector. Two mega deals with the potential to alter SA's…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom Revenue Slides on Cuts to South African Mobile Fees
Vodacom Group Ltd., the mobile operator with the most subscribers in South Africa, said third-quarter revenue fell after the country’s regulator halved the fees it can charge rivals for using…
Digital Content
Twitter signs up Hill+Knowlton to handle its communication matters in Kenya
Social media platform Twitter has signed up Hill and Knowlton Strategies Kenya (H+K) to handle its communication needs in the country and help with its engagement with media as well…
Digital Content
Mugabe's tumble mocked in memes
When Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe stumbled at an event in the capital Harare, security personnel rushed to his side.They're also reported to have asked photographers to delete the images of…
Digital Content
Web poet's society: African poetry goes mobile
African Voices is a weekly show that highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. Follow the team…
Digital Content
Vigitabs Allow OAU’s Online Distance Learning Students Learn On-The-Go
Last week, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) officially welcomed the pioneer set of students for its Online Distance Learning Programme at its main campus in Ile-Ife, an ancient Yoruba city…
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People
MTN Group appoints new Group Chief Business Risk OfficerMTN Group has appointed Suren Sooklal to the role of Group Chief Business Risk Officer, effective immediately. He joins MTN from PricewaterhouseCoopers…
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Jobs & Opportunities
BBC hackathon aims to crack Africa's digital marketsThe Kenyan capital is home to a tech-savvy elite, but ideas formed at this week's hackathon could benefit the entire country.The World Service,…
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Events
AITEC East Africa ICT Summit 201518-19 February 2015Kenya School Of Monetary Studies Nairobi, KenyaThrough its range of in-depth specialist Forums, AITEC East Africa 2015 will provide a unique platform for…
