Issue no 829 - 27th May 2016
Top Story
Nigeria’s BeepTool offers a home-grown Skype, WhatsApp and Viber rolled into one plus money transfer, claims 500,000 users
With increased smartphone use, voice apps are becoming increasingly popular among African users. Nigeria’s BeepTool is a local voice app that claims to have passed the half million user mark. Russell Southwood spoke to its CEO and Founder John Enoh about this home grown product. Founder John Enoh had the idea for BeepTool several years ago when he was working for Ericsson as an engineer and started the company in 2014. He was struck by how expensive international voice calls were and wanted to find ways of reducing the cost of communicating. ”If I’m paying for data, technically I can…
Telecoms
Nigeria’s 2600MHz spectrum auction attracts one qualified bidder
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that its proposed auction of spectrum in the 2600MHz frequency band attracted one qualified bidder. The regulator offered up 14 lots of 2×5MHz…
Telecoms
Ghana: Tigo wins big at 2016 IT & Telecoms Awards
Mobile operator Tigo has walked away with multiple awards at the 6th Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards. At the event, Tigo walked away with the title of Brand of…
Telecoms
Nigeria: MTN Group's Revenue Increased 15 Percent, Subscriber Base 1 Percent in Q1 2016
The MTN Group, Wednesday announced a slight increase in its revenue and subscriber base for the first quarter of 2016, attributing the slow rise to the decline in the number…
Telecoms
Senegal regulator ARTP: mobile net adds accelerate to 395k in Q1 2016
Senegal’s Regulation Authority of Post and Telecoms (Autorite de Regulation des Telecoms et des Postes, ARTP) has published its market observatory for the first three months of 2016, illustrating that…
Telecoms
Mobile operators faced over 10 million fraudulent call attempts during the first quarter of 2016
BICS’ fraud prevention solution proactively prevented criminal activitytargeted at its customers’ networks across the globe BICS, a global wholesale carrier for voice, mobile data and capacity services, today announced its…
Internet
Chad: O3b, Presta Bist Demonstrate High Performance, Cost Effective 4G/LTE Solution for the Sahel
O3b Networks, in partnership with Presta Bist, has proven via live demonstration that its satellite enabled services deliver crystal clear voice, live HD video and high speed downloads. The live…
Internet
Ghana to open up DNS industry
Ministry of Communication will soon start a process of including more private sector companies in the Ghanaian DNS industry to sell '.gh' names and expand the rather low uptake of…
Internet
Microsoft Awards First Grants to Help Expand Global Internet Access
Microsoft has largely stood by as other technology giants like Facebook and Google have begun work on grand plans for balloons, satellites, drones, simplified apps and even bicycle hot spots…
Internet
Cameroon: CamTel secures 20,000km fibre financing
CamTel, Cameroon’s state-owned incumbent telecoms operator, has secured a financing arrangement with US lender William F Clark & Co to extend the country’s fibre-optic cable network from 6,000km to 20,000km.…
Internet
Creating a Space for Guinea's National Languages on the Internet
2015 and 2016 have been crucial in terms of elections in Africa. Over the course of these two years, there have been 14 elections to date. Internet users have developed…
Internet
Internet News - In brief
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened its African regional office in Kenya. ICANN Senior Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement Sally Costerton said Kenya was chosen…
Computing
Mobile computer lab for Pretoria school
Pretoria – A Pretoria school has received a mobile computer lab which will be used to access educational content, provide connectivity to the internet and assist with facilitating training for…
Money Transfer
Africa: Rural E-Commerce Model Pitched for Africa
Geneva — The operator of an e-commerce program which reaches deep into rural China believes that its business model could help Africans in areas far from cities. Sun Lijun is…
Money Transfer
SMEs: VoguePay Emerges Best e-Payment Platform In Africa
A leading e-payment platform that serves hundreds of thousands of small businesses in four continents, VoguePay.com, has won the best emerging online payment platform in Africa at the African Information…
Money Transfer
UBA and Konga Boost E-Commerce with Mobile POS
Pan African banking group, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has partnered Konga, Nigeria’s leading e-commerce company and Innovectives Nigeria Limited to create a seamless delivery and payment system by…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Helios takeover of Telkom Kenya delayed by lack of cabinet approval
UK based private equity firm Helios’ acquisition of a 60 percent stake in Telkom Kenya has been delayed further by failure of cabinet to approve the sale. The Government, which…
Digital Content
No plans to block mobile ads in SA
Local mobile operators say they are not investigating network level ad blocking services, at least for now. About 20% of data traffic on a smartphone is intrusive advertising, according to…
Digital Content
Kenya: NTV Options After YouTube Shuts Down Channel
Two weeks ago, YouTube closed NTV's account for violating terms of use, specifically copyright infringement. A notice on the station's YouTube channel reads: "NTV Kenya has been terminated because we…
Digital Content
WEF meet in Kigali reminder to African government’s technological responsibility
The 26th World Economic Forum on Africa in Kigali ended yesterday and, building on the previous continental forums, it aimed to discuss and agree on strategic transformative technological actions that…
Digital Content
Meet The Social Media Star Changing The Way We See Africa
If you don’t know who Yagazie Emezi is, it’s time to catch up — she’s on the verge of blowing up. The social media star is making it her personal…
Digital Content
5 South African Web Series You Should Be Watching
Young South Africans have used the web series format to create eclectic and authentic South African stories. From animated hip-hop tales and food, to spirituality and discussions on modern African…
Digital Content
Absa offers free app banking – no data required
Absa Bank customers will no longer have to ensure that they have an active data bundle to transact via the online application, the bank announced on Thursday. The Barclays-owned group…
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People
MTN to name new CEO in June MTN Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko is expected to step down as acting CEO by the end of June 2016 “at the latest”, the…
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Opportunities
African Innovation Foundation announces finalists of its Innovation Prize for Africa The African Innovation Foundation, an organization which works to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalysing the innovation spirit…
