Issue no 818 - 11th March 2016
Top Story
A4AI’s Internet Affordability Index – The African countries making progress towards affordability
The Alliance for Affordable Internet has published its 2015/2016 Affordability Report that contains two sets of stats that should be of interest to those working in Africa: a ranking of Internet affordability and an index of affordability drivers, both by country. Russell Southwood spoke to Dhanaraj Thakur, A4AI’s Research Manager about how the report is put together and what it shows. Anyone who has spent any time compiling Internet costs across multiple countries anywhere (but in Africa) knows what a complicated process it is. Also trying to capture the complex mix of things that create affordability is no simple task.…
Telecoms
ASA dismisses suit against Cell C over unlimited WhatsApp
The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) has dismissed a complaint against Cell C's Unlimited WhatsApp bundle, which has a fair use limit of 1GB. A consumer lodged a…
Telecoms
Mobinil becomes Orange Egypt
Orange SA on Tuesday announced the rebranding of its Egyptian operations from Mobinil to Orange Egypt. Chief Executive Officer Stephane Richard told a press conference Orange Egypt, which has some…
Telecoms
Smile is the first mobile operator in East Africa to develop and introduce Voice over LTE
Today Smile Communications Uganda (“Smile Uganda”) announced the introduction of two 4G LTE innovations to its customers in Uganda - SmileVoice and SmileUnlimited KAMPALA, Uganda, March 10, 2016/ -- Today…
Telecoms
Nigeria's Buhari says MTN fuelled Boko Haram insurgency
Mobile phone giant MTN fuelled the Islamist-led insurgency in Nigeria by failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards, the Nigerian president has said. Muhammadu Buhari made the comment during a visit…
Telecoms
Algeria: Djezzy change leadership
According to the website All information on Algeria (TSA), Ghada Gebara, is no longer the CEO of mobile operator Djezzy. In a statement issued March 9, 2016, the subsidiary of…
Telecoms
South Africa: Cell C drops call termination review against Icasa
Cell C has withdrawn its application to review the Call Termination Regulations of 2014, said Icasa. “Icasa welcomes Cell C’s decision to withdraw its application as it vindicates Icasa’s view…
Internet
Google Maps offers 'Discover South Africa'
Google South Africa has launched the Mzansi Experience – Discover South Africa on Google Maps. The Mzansi Experience is a Google Street View collection that will provide users with the…
Internet
Kenya: AfDB Partners With Facebook, Kenya Police to Stem Gender-Based Cyber Violence
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a partnership with Facebook, the Kenya ICT Authority, Judiciary and the Kenya Police to increase awareness on cyber-based gender violence. The partnership will…
Internet
Facebook deepens Nigerian partnerships at Social Media Week in Lagos
LAGOS, Nigeria — Facebook highlighted its commitment to Nigerian content partners and developers with a full calendar of workshops, masterclasses and events at Social Media Week in Lagos, held from…
Computing
IBM opens first South African cloud data centre for managing SAP workloads
IBM’s quest for cloudy world domination continues apace with the opening of its first cloud data centre in South Africa. The new data centre is geared towards running SAP applications…
Computing
"Routes Africa" hosting provides platform for Tenerife to promote its unrivalled connectivity
TENERIFE - The recent announcement that Tenerife has been chosen as the host destination for the Routes Africa forum has coincided with a recent uplift in connectivity to the island.…
Computing
Nigeria’s Eazyhire suffers cyberattacks, CEO wants ‘urgent action against cybercrime’
Josh Okpata, Chief Executive Officer of Eazyhire, has told Technology Times Nigeria needs urgent action to address cybercrime following cyberattacks suffered by the online leasing start-up company. Recounting his ordeal,…
Computing
EOH goes big with Cloudera
EOH has announced that it has partnered with Cloudera, the global provider of the fastest, easiest and most secure data management and analytics platform. The EOH offering, EOH Cloudera Services,…
Money Transfer
Nomanini vendors in Mozambique can now top up using MPesa
Enterprise payment platform provider Nomanini has integrated with M-Pesa in Mozambique to allow its merchants to use mobile money agents as a means of topping up their virtual vending accounts…
Money Transfer
DERMALOG Biometrics Contributes to Fraud Prevention in Nigeria
DERMALOG, the biometrics innovation leader, is providing its identification technology to make a successful contribution towards combating fraud in Nigeria. Recently, the West African country's government identified that more than…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zim government completes Telecel buy
The government of Zimbabwe has finalised its USD40 million acquisition of a 60% stake in mobile operator Telecel from the Netherlands-based VimpelCom group. The government says it has paid the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Towers consolidation in Africa as IHS buys rival
IHS Holding on Thursday announced that it has agreed to acquire Helios Towers Nigeria (HTN), in the process adding 1,211 tower sites in Nigeria to its portfolio. IHS, which owns…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Rwanda: Crystal Telecom to Disburse Over Rwf2.2 Billion in Dividends
Shareholders will receive a dividend payment of Rwf8.2 per share in coming days following a decision by the firm’s board. The total proposed dividend disbursement is Rwf2,215,454,024, which represents a…
Digital Content
New Smartphone App to Help Fight Poaching in Kenya
A new smartphone app developed in St Petersburg in Florida, USA is being used to fight poachers in northern Kenya. The app known as the Fulcrum app, has been used…
Digital Content
International-space-apps-challenge nHub to host NASA Space Apps Challenge 2016 in Northern Nigeria
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has opened entries for the 2016 edition of its Space Apps Challenge. The Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon that takes place…
Digital Content
MasterCard launches the Africa Women Leadership Network
MasterCard teamed up with African Women and Beyond (AWAB) in Kenya to launch the Africa Women Leadership Network (AWLN). In honour of International Women’s Day, MasterCard teamed up with African…
Digital Content
Andela looking for all-female Kenyan coding cohort
African programming accelerator Andela is looking for its first all-female cohort in Kenya, inviting applications to join its seventh fellowship cohort in the country in May. Launched in Nigeria in…
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People
Dark Fibre Africa CEO to step down Gustav Smit, founder and CEO of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), has revealed that he will be retiring from his position. The company revealed…
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Events
Education Innovation Summit17 March 2016 Protea Fire & Ice, Johannesburg. South Africa Education reform is essential to provide learners with what are commonly called 21st century skills — those competencies…
