Issue no 746 27th February 2015
Top Story
Africa's Online and Mobile Music Platforms – The Puzzle of Who Will Succeed in a Crowded Field
There are well over 100 runners in the race to succeed as Africa's best and biggest online and mobile music platform (see last market report). Even now there are new entrants waiting in the wings. Russell Southwood looks at why the race to the top is so hard to call.Only a few weeks ago a Malawian music platform called Mvelani (meaning "listen” in Chichewa) developed by Dumisani Kapanga launched to distribute and sell music from southern Africa. It has around 1,000 tracks from over 80 artists. It's relatively easy to set up a music platform but actually finding a business…
Telecoms
Congolese mobile duo given until June 2015 to complete network improvements
MTN Congo and Airtel Congo have invested USD50 million and USD20 million, respectively, on enhancing their networks with a view to improving coverage and quality of service, Biztech Africa reports.As…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe: Government Cancels Telecel's Operating License
Ministry of ICT, Zimbabwe has cancelled Telecel operating licence due to failure to clear an outstanding debt of USD 137.5 million, which was initially meant for the licence fee in…
Telecoms
Twitter comes to low-end phones
In a move that will increase its reach in Africa, social media site Twitter has partnered with MTN to allow cellphone users with feature phones to access the service.The use…
Telecoms
UNION of the Comoros - selection process for a second unified telecommunication license
In accordance with the process of telecommunication sector reform, the Government of the Union of the Comoros is pleased to announce a competitive selection process for a second unified telecommunication…
Telecoms
Mobile Number Portability in Ghana Passes 2 Million
Less than four years since launch, Ghana's Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service reached on February 19, 2015 the milestone of two million successful porting requests processed for Ghana consumers. MNP…
Telecoms
Orange says it has lost control over investment decisions in Telkom Kenya
France Telecom, the majority shareholder in Telkom Kenya, has reported to its owners the loss of control over the Kenyan operation, leaving its long planned exit in the hands of…
Telecoms
SPOT from Globalstar Selected to Provide Satellite Tracking and Safety for Marathon des Sables
Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. and a satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies company, has announced that its SPOT Gen3 safety device has…
Telecoms
Malawi's expensive mobile phone habit
One of the first things to strike a visitor to Malawi is the huge number of advertisements put up by mobile phone companies marketing their products."Muli bwanji? (How are you?)"…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
JSE-listed telecommunications utility Telkom has been designated by Cabinet as the lead agency for a countrywide broadband roll out, says Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele.
Internet
CEC Liquid Telecom launches Fibre To The Home service providing fastest broadband speeds in Zambia
CEC Liquid Telecommunications Limited (CEC Liquid Telecom) has launched its Fibre To The Home (FTTH) service, over which homes and businesses of all sizes can access superfast broadband with unlimited…
Internet
Bank Windhoek enhances internet banking platform
WINDHOEK – Bank Windhoek is scheduled to re-launch its internet banking services, iBank, in March 2015 to provide easy and convenient services to its clients when making internet banking transactions.The…
Internet
Wananchi Group raises budget internet prices by 20% in Kenya
Wananchi Group, the owners of pay-TV company Zuku, has increased its tariffs for light internet users by 20 percent to KES 1,199 per month, but almost halved the subscription fees…
Internet
ITU's first IPv6 Test Bed in Africa launched in Côte d'Ivoire
The International Telecommunication Union is partnering with L'Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications de Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI) for the implementation of an IPv6 test bed.The test bed allows engineers to undertake…
Computing
MTN plans innovation hub at Cape Town business school
The MTN Group and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) have announced a partnership to boost sustainable innovation in Africa. Under the new deal, MTN…
Money Transfer
Vodacom, Tigo claim ‘Africa's first mobile money interoperability deal'
Tanzanian cellcos Vodacom and Tigo have signed a mobile money interoperability agreement to enable their respective M-Pesa and Tigo Pesa subscribers to transfer money directly into each other's mobile wallets,…
Money Transfer
Paga launches Android customer transaction app
Paga, one of Nigeria's leading mobile payment companies, has announced the launch of a new customer transaction channel - Paga for Android in a bid to make payment more accessible…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Another Telecel blow for Mutasa
HARARE - Zimbabwe's High Court has dismissed businesswoman Jane Mutasa's bid to block the sale of Empowerment Corporation (Private) Limited (EC)'s 40 percent stake in Telecel Zimbabwe (Private) Limited (Telecel),…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
TNM completes Burco ISP acquisition
Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), the country's second largest mobile operator by subscribers, has completed the acquisition of the internet service provider (ISP) business and related assets of Burco Electronic Systems,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Multisource moves ahead with iBurst buy: report
Multisource has reportedly succeeded in its bid to acquire iBurst parent company, Wireless Business Solutions (WBS), according to a report.Convergence technology company Multisource has reportedly succeeded in its bid to…
Digital Content
Ethiopia's imprisoned bloggers have not been forgotten
In April 2014 BBC Trending covered the arrest of six bloggers and three journalists in Ethiopia. The bloggers are part of a group known as Zone 9, and are well…
Digital Content
Alcoblow Watch Developer takes it down to save lives
Brian Osoro was all happy after developing an App which assisted people evade alcoblow rated road blocks in Kenya.The app, dubbed Alcoblow Watch was a hit, he says. It got…
Digital Content
One Woman Challenges Perceptions of Somalia One Instagram Post at a Time
This article and radio report by Bradley Campbell for The World as part of the Across Women's Lives project originally appeared on PRI.org on February 18, 2015, and is republished…
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People
SimplePay's Chief Operating Officer Rich Tanksley has resigned from his role as COO. Rich, who joined SimplePay in June 2014 will retire into an advisory capacity as a member of…
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Opportunities
Anzisha Prize 2015 opens to give $75,000 to entrepreneurs in AfricaThe Anzisha Prize which has announced a call for applications today for Africa's youngest, most exciting social and business entrepreneurs…
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Events
Africa IT & Telecom Forum 201526 -27 March 2015 AbidjanHow Africa will manage its digital transformation?Share the experience and success of policy makers in the development sector.For further information click…
