Issue no 812 - 29th January 2016
Top Story
BusyInternet launches LTE in with zero rated YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Joy Online and Ghana Web freebies
The battle for Africa’s generation of high-speed Internet users just hotted up in Ghana. BusyInternet launched its 4G offer to both its corporate customers and to new consumer customers. Russell Southwood spoke to its CEO Praveen Sadelage about how the first few days have gone. BusyInternet has launched its TD-LTE service covering most of Accra and Tema. It goes from Kasoa in the west to Prampram in the west and to Danfa in the north. It has been selling through eleven outlets spread out across the coverage area with a flagship store reporting heavy foot traffic. It’s been marketing itself…
Telecoms
Angola: Unitel to launch VoLTE with SRVCC in Angola
UNITEL in Angola has successfully completed the first call through the LTE network (VoLTE – Voice over LTE) with continuity of the call in case of handover, i.e. start the…
Telecoms
Court adjourns MTN Nigeria fine case for settlement talks
A judge at the Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned MTN Group’s legal challenge of a NGN780 billion (USD3.9 billion) fine its local unit received from the Nigerian Communications…
Telecoms
Vox Telecom and Intuitive alliance to fulfil growing demand for RightFax dashboards
PRESS RELEASE: South African-based Vox Telecom (Vox) has signed a partnership agreement with UK-based Intuitive Business Intelligence in response to growing customer demand for Opentext RightFax dashboards. Telecoms operator, Vox…
Telecoms
WiFi-Forum cautions against OTT regulation
The Wi-Fi Forum of South Africa (WFFSA) has urged the country's mobile networks to develop innovative ways to benefit from OTT (over-the-top) technologies or risk redundancy. WFFSA chair Andile Ngcaba…
Telecoms
Senegal: Macky Sall calls for sanctions against Sonatel Tigo and Expresso
According to sources quoted Dakar News, Macky Sall, President of Senegal, asked the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARTP) for sanctions against Sonatel mobile phone operators, Tigo and Expresso. The Head of…
Internet
Canal + will provide the Internet via the electrical wiring
Canal + in Benin has introduced a new way of providing the Internet. It will be done through the network of the Beninese Electric Power Company (SBEE). The partnership agreement…
Internet
South Africa: Fibre breaks down Seacom once again
Seacom services between Africa and Europe went offline again on Thursday after fresh cable breaks in Egypt cut off African Internet users in East Africa and Southern Africa. It’s the…
Internet
The UN wants 1.4 billion people connected to the Internet in the world by 2020
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, held January 21, 2016, a new global partnership was developed during a special session of the UN Commission: “The broadband service sustainable development …
Computing
She Will Connect: Intel Connecting Women to Bridge Africa's Gender Gap
Intel and its partners, NGOs working in the field of women and technology including CARE, ChangeCorp, Telecentre.org, World Pulse, and World Vision, will collaborate to transform women's and girls' lives…
Computing
Kenyan Cloud Infrastructure Provider Node Africa Launches In Nairobi
Cloud infrastructure provider Node Africa has launched in Nairobi, with former Angani CEO Phares Kariuki at the helm. Impressively, the company took six weeks from inception to launch, partnering with…
Computing
MTN Group selects ItsOn for digital experience delivery
ItsOn has signed a group agreement with MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator with more than 230 million customers throughout Africa and the Middle East. MTN will use ItsOn’s cloud-based…
Money Transfer
CBA Uganda unit seeks approval to replicate M-Shwari loans model
CBA Uganda has written to the Bank of Uganda (BoU) seeking the green light to launch a savings and loans mobile service by April in collaboration with MTN. The Commercial…
Money Transfer
Zimbabwe: Mobile Money Deposits Slump
Total deposits on the country’s mobile money platforms slumped 10,5 percent in the third quarter of 2015, to record $458 million from $512 million recorded prior quarter. According to a…
Money Transfer
MTN & WorldRemit ink Mobile Money partnership in Africa
WorldRemit has revealed that its customers can now send money instantly to MTN Mobile Money wallets in Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. WorldRemit has revealed that its customers can now send…
Money Transfer
Safaricom unveils M-Pesa statements service
The service is one of the enhancements made possible to the system following the relocation of the M-PESA servers from Germany to Kenya, which took place last year in April.…
Money Transfer
HELLO Group Scoops Award for BEST Mobile Remittance Service
Hello Group has again been recognised for innovation in the fintech environment, with the Kalahari Award for Best Mobile-centric Remittance Service in the lead up to the 6th Remittance &…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zimbabwe: Government raises telecoms operators’ Universal Service Fund contributions
Local telecommunications operators are going to have to make larger contributions to the State following the government’s resolution to raise the contributions to the Universal Service Fund from 0.5% to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ivory Coast: Morocco Telecom paid a deposit of 50 billion CFA francs for the granting of 4G license Moov
The mobile operator Moov has obtained January 25, 2016 the global telecommunications license enabling it to deploy 4G in Ivory Coast, reports the AIP agency. Its parent, Morocco Telecom group;…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
African mobile VoD platform Tuluntulu boasts user growth
New African Video on Demand (VoD) platform Tuluntulu is turning heads with its services. The company offers African-focusses content to a global audience and has received international recognition in the…
Digital Content
South Africa: Now Icasa to probe OTT market
Communications regulator Icasa said it plans to launch an inquiry in the next financial year to look at the impact of over-the-top (OTT) services such as WhatsApp and Skype on…
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Opportunities
Applications open for 6th Andela Kenyan cohort Global talent accelerator Andela has opened applications for its sixth Kenyan cohort, looking for talented, ambitious individuals with an interest in technology and…
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People
Konga founder Sim Shagaya steps down as CEO Nigerian tech entrepreneur Sim Shagaya has announced he is stepping down as the CEO of Konga, which is one of Africa’s leading…
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Events
Education Innovation Summit17 March 2016Protea Fire & Ice, Johannesburg. South Africa Education reform is essential to provide learners with what are commonly called 21st century skills — those competencies and…
