Issue no 754 24th April 2015
Top Story
Access launches first LTE voice data network in Malawi aimed at high-end niche customers, leaving CDMA for lower end customers
Access Communications has launched Malawi’s first LTE voice and data network using its valuable 800 MHz spectrum. It wants to develop a high-end product for its existing niche customers. Russell Southwood spoke to Faizal Okhai, CEO of Access about what he’s got planned.Access launched its EVDO Rev A CDMA network in December 2009 and covered 4 Malawian cities. The licence was for fixed voice and data but the handsets allowed a significant coverage area from the base stations. Since its launch, it has gathered 48,000 subscribers which makes it much bigger than the average independent ISP but a niche player…
Telecoms
Me&you mobile is South Africa’s first lean ecommerce mobile network
If you’ve been taking the Gautrain in Jozi recently or followed the #BeUnordinary hashtag, you’d have come across these orange banners with the winking cartoon face, tempting you to reconsider…
Telecoms
Tanzanian operators approved for USD9.1m rural contracts
Four of Tanzania’s main telcos have been approved to provide services to 112 underserved districts, according to local website Daily News. Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo and Tanzania Telecommunication Company Ltd (TTCL)…
Telecoms
Malawi: Telecommunications War - TNM Blocks MTL Lines, Threats Airtel
A telecommunication war has broken out between two telecommunication service providers in the country: TNM and MTL.Information that Malawi24 has indicates that over some misunderstandings as regards network platform prices…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In Brief
Zimbabwe: The local deal to buy 40% of Telecel for US$20 million by Brainworks Capital has fallen through. Its local shareholders asked Brainworks to become part of a bidding process…
Internet
South Africa: MTN-owned Afrihost launches fixed mobile LTE
Afrihost is now offering fixed LTE routers to its subscribers, with various data package options.Afrihost has unveiled its “Fixed Mobile LTE” solution, which is basically an LTE router with the…
Internet
Ivoire IP deploying FTTH for neighbourhoods via franchise model
Cote d’Ivoire-based start-up company Ivoire IP, established in November 2013, has announced that it will be deploying fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband access services via a commercial franchise distribution system under the…
Internet
Tanzania: Bloggers Urged to Push Gender Agenda
Blog and social media owners have been urged to use their forums in pushing the gender agenda by bringing changes to various issues that have been affecting women.The call was…
Internet
Sierra Leone's government envisions full fibre coverage by 2017
Chinese vendor Huawei Technologies has begun construction work on a 400km fibre-optic network in Sierra Leone, which will link the towns of Lungi, Port Loko, Makeni, Koidu, Ferengbeya, Bumbuna and…
Internet
Moovah! gets SA taxi commuters surfing the net
Taxi commuters will have greater access to Wi-Fi through a new app called Moovah! which will give commuters free internet connectivity and mobile content in a network of select minibus…
Internet
Internet – In Brief
Zimbabwe’s state-owned cellular operator NetOne has completed the first phase of its USD200 million 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network expansion project in conjunction with equipment partner Huawei Technologies. The…
Computing
Brothers for All: the inspiring school teaching underprivileged people how to code
This week, Brothers For All is starting its first pilot project in two of South Africa’s Western Cape prisons, equipping underprivileged people with valuable coding and entrepreneurial skills.A first of…
Computing
Ghana's new tech flavoured development Hope City – Two years on and construction has not yet begun
ACCRA, Ghana — It began with a groundbreaking ceremony led by the president, followed by a lavish launch party at the national stadium that featured a performance by American R&B…
Computing
Pamoja offers local and internationally hosted cloud service
Seacom's cloud services business unit Pamoja is establishing a hybrid cloud services marketplace, which consist of locally hosted and internationally hosted services, BusinessTech reported. For the locally hosted services, Pamoja…
Computing
Computing - In Brief
USAID invites organizations and individuals to submit innovative science and technology solutions to help combat the illegal trade in marine and terrestrial wildlife. Successful applicants could win up to $500,000…
Money Transfer
MTN and Vodafone agree to interconnect Mobile Money Services
Customers of MTN Mobile Money and M-Pesa in East Africa will be able to transfer money to each other following an agreement between MTN Group and Vodafone Group to interconnect…
Money Transfer
Mobile wallets more popular in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else
In Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile wallets are a huge deal. While it's been that way for years, the World Bank's latest Global Financial Inclusion database gives us solid details on just…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Nigeria Privatises State-Owned Telco - Again
Nigeria's government has again privatised the state owned Nitel Mtel networks, and handed over ownership to the NATCOM consortium for a payment of USD252 million.Deputy Chairman, National Council on Privatisation…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN Rwandacell to Be Listed on Local Stock Exchange
A 20 percent stake in MTN Rwandacell is to be listed on the local stock exchange, its private owner has announced.Crystal Ventures has been a shareholder in MTN Rwandacell since…
Digital Content
Google offers virtual tour of prison where Nelson Mandela was held
The island prison where Nelson Mandela was held for nearly two decades during South African apartheid is now open for online tourists.Google has launched a virtual tour of the infamous…
Digital Content
BBC World Service, Connected studio look to SA for new ways of distributing audio content
The BBC’s World Service, together with the BBC’s digital innovations team — BBC Connected Studio, today kicked off its Development Studio event in Cape Town, South Africa.The event, held in…
Digital Content
New media could topple ‘helicopter journalism’ in Africa
When first I heard the term “helicopter journalism” I thought it referred to the trend of reporting using drones.Actually it refers to a completely different practice, albeit one that shares…
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Opportunities
Africa: USAID Launches Technology Competition to Combat Wildlife CrimeToday, on the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge to…
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Events
Connected Africa26–27 May 2015The Sandton Convention CentreJohannesburg, South AfricaAfrica’s telecommunications sector is booming!Enterprises, ISP’s telcos and partners are under huge pressure to capitalise on the vast opportunities in the African…
