Issue no 781 12th June 2015
Top Story
High Throughput Satellite capacity in Africa may at last enable mobile operators to find a sustainable model for remote base stations
For a long time it looked as if satellite operators and resellers serving Africa were out of tune with their customers. When fibre arrived in quantity, customers were resentful for all those years of paying for satellite capacity at what seemed like top dollar. Finally, finally under some competitive pressure from new operators they seem to be tuning into new markets. Russell Southwood spoke to Eran Shapiro is Director, Business and Technology Ventures at Spacecom, operators of AMOS satellites.At the core of High Throughput Satellite (HTS) is its frequencies re-use technology made possible by small spot beams with high throughput…
Telecoms
Meditel Brings Free LTE Services in Casablanca
Medi Telecom (Meditel), a Moroccan telecoms operator and affiliate of Paris-based Orange Group, has launched free 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services in Casablanca, following the award of its 4G…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe could get fourth mobile operator also offering Pay TV
A group of telecoms entrepreneurs is looking to set up the fourth national mobile network in Zimbabwe, using 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. According to a report from local…
Telecoms
Malawi: Chinese Telecomms Firm Dates President Mutharika - Plans to Roll Out in Malawi
A Chinese telecommunication firm, Beijing Xinwei Telecom Technology Inc., will soon roll out in Malawi to offer cost-effective communication technologies to the rural masses according to the company's Chief Scientist,…
Telecoms
President Sall gives Senegal’s ARTP more powers to get data from mobile operators
The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has signed a decree that will give the country’s telecoms industry regulator, L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecoms et des Postes (ARTP), full powers to…
Telecoms
Nigerians can now top up their UK mobile phone through Quickteller
Leading integrated payments processing and transaction switching business focused on Africa, Interswitch, has announced that its business-to-consumer value exchange platform, Quickteller, can now be used to add top up credit…
Telecoms
Telecoms – In brief
MTN Cameroon, the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has signed a syndicated term loan and a five-year revolving credit facility to help fund the deployment and development of its…
Internet
Internet service provider acquires new spectrum
SWIFT has concluded plans to roll out 1,000 4G LTE base stations in Lagos State to boost broadband speed delivery.Industry watchers say the acquisition of the spectrum of Chromecom, a…
Internet
Sex worker film banned - but widely available on social media
A risqué film about prostitution hit a raw nerve in Morocco and - despite being banned - leaked raw footage has been viewed by millions online."Much Loved" tells the story…
Internet
Facebook’s Internet.org now in Senegal
Internet.org, a service launched by Facebook to bring Internet access to growing nations has launched in Senegal.According to Facebook, the service will be made available in partnership with Tigo, so…
Internet
Telkom ‘uncapped’ LTE suburbs named
Telkom on Wednesday launched its “uncapped” 4G/LTE fixed-wireless broadband service, offering “unlimited” broadband Internet access for prices starting at R599/month.An online sale on the Telkom website is offering the packages…
Internet
Internet – In brief
Vodacom Business Nigeria has revealed that it has provided The Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, in Lagos with Wi-Fi services for students and teachers in classrooms, laboratories, workshops and…
Computing
Intel’s ‘She Will Connect’ Plans to Train 5 Million More African Females in ICT by 2020
The US-based chipsets-maker, Intel, has reiterated its commitment to closing the gender gap in technology participation in Africa through its digital literacy programme for young women in developing countries, ‘She…
Computing
Samsung provides Smart School tech to Kenyan boys' school
Samsung East Africa has partnered with Starehe Boys' Centre and School in Kenya to launch the Samsung Smart School Solution, as part of an initiative to promote the use of…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
South African mobile operator Cell C has concluded the renegotiation of its roaming agreement with Vodacom, which includes access to 3G services. Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos said this…
Money Transfer
FNB makes steady tap-and-go progress
First National Bank (FNB) has converted 20% of its credit card customer base to contactless – or near-field communication (NFC) – technology.This is according to Chris Labuschagne, CEO of FNB…
Money Transfer
SimbaPay launches world’s first international access to M-Pesa PayBill
SimbaPay– a leading digital money transfer provider – has announced the launch of the first product in the world that allows Kenyans living abroad to make M-Pesa PayBill payments. This…
Money Transfer
Uber launches cash pilot test in Nairobi
On-line taxi service provider Uber on Thursday launched a cash test pilot in Kenyan capital Nairobi in a bid to offer consumers more payment options.The move makes Nairobi the first…
Money Transfer
Microensure Wins Kalahari Award 2015
At the recent 2015 Kalahari Awards, MicroEnsure collected the “Best Low Income Group Product” which recognises all mobile financial service products across Africa.This award is testament to the phenomenal hard…
Money Transfer
Kenya - Uhuru rejects changes to mobile T-bill investment law
President Uhuru Kenyatta has rejected changes to the law that would have allowed retail buyers to invest small amounts in State securities, including through mobile phones.He said the changes suggested…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Africa-focused Seed Fund 88mph takes a 2 Year Sabbatical from Investing in Startups
Africa-focused startup accelerator 88mph has announced it will take a break in investing in startups in Africa for the next 18-24 months to help it focus on helping the companies…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Microfunding platform Fundz launches to assist African, Asian startups
Israel-based startup Fundz has launched a platform focusing on microfunding and guiding startups in emerging markets in Africa and Asia, with startups invited to sign up now head of the…
Digital Content
Ghana’s student app startup Flippy Campus is going to DEMO Africa 2015
Flippy Campus, a made-in-Ghana product that aims to improve students’ campus experience has become one of the first startups that will be pitching to investors at the one of the…
Digital Content
Free movies, calls coming to Tshwane Wi-Fi
Project Isizwe, the nonprofit behind the roll-out of free Wi-Fi in greater Pretoria, has revealed plans to offer users free on-network phone calls and free streaming movies, including the latest…
Digital Content
Airtel Africa seeks regulation of free call apps
Airtel Africa has called for the regulation of companies offering free call apps, to protect the revenue of mobile phone operators. Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria said the over-the-top-…
Digital Content
Dumsor On Instagram: Amid Chronic Power Outages, A Space For Creativity Opens In Ghana
Power outages in Ghana have become so well-recognized that they have been given a local name: dumsor (a combination of the Twi words for “off” and “on”). Since December 2014,…
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People
Hamilton Ratshefola has been named as the new country manager at IBM South Africa. He replaces Abraham Thomas, who has been in the role for the past three years.Ratshefola is…
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Opportunities
MTN South Africa Opens Applications for the 2015 App of the Year AwardThis year, the organisers says entries will now be submitted in various corresponding categories compared to the year…
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Events
Nairobi Innovation Week5 -7 August 2015 University of NairobiThe Nairobi Innovation Week Committee has announced the official commencement of the registration process for the event in August, which will bring…
