News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 848 14 October 2016
Top Story
“People are more reliant on data services”, What’s App and Uber really making waves, say Ben Roberts, Liquid Telecom
14 October 2016
Kenya is one of Africa’s bellweather markets where you see early adoption and innovation. What’s App and Uber are making really large waves at the moment. Russell Southwood spoke to Ben Roberts CEO for Liquid Telecom’s Kenya operation and CTO for the group. Q: What have the big changes been in the Kenya market over the past few years? A: People are more reliant on data services and the quality of the service is absolutely key. If you mess up, your customer will go. There’s competition even though it’s still the same players. Consumer behavior has changed quite a lot…
Telecoms
MTN have created Regulatory Head Position After Record Fine
14 October 2016
MTN Group Ltd. appointed Felleng Sekha to the newly created position of head of regulatory affairs, part of a management shakeup at the wireless carrier following a record $1 billion…
Telecoms
South Africa - Transnet wants 1,800MHz spectrum
14 October 2016
ICASA has invited written comments on Transnet’s application for spectrum in the 1,800MHz band. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has revealed that Transnet has applied for an…
Telecoms
Vox plans long distance fibre project
14 October 2016
Most of the players have focused their fibre efforts on the large metros targeting the higher income groups, says Jacques du Toit, CEO of Vox. Most of the players have…
Telecoms
In brief
14 October 2016
LS telcom joins the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) as associate member.
Internet
Nigeria's Internet Users Stand At 94m in August - NCC
14 October 2016
Internet users on Nigeria's telecommunications networks increased to 93,591,174 as at August 2016, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said. The regulatory body made this known in its monthly Internet…
Internet
Wilderness Wi-Fi: the pioneering network linking Scotland with a Congolese island
14 October 2016
A Congolese king has introduced a specialised Wi-Fi network to a remote island after testing it in a similarly rugged and windswept environment: an estate in Scotland managed by a…
Internet
Afrihost to launch fibre broadband
14 October 2016
Afrihost, the Internet service provider best known for its aggressively priced digital subscriber line (DSL) and mobile data products, is belatedly entering the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband market. The company said…
Internet
First internet addiction rehab clinic opens in Algeria
14 October 2016
Algeria has joined a growing list of countries to open rehab centres helping those who suffer from a web obsession. In South Korea, home of the world's most connected population,…
Internet
Madagascar to deploy wireless broadband network for schools, hospitals and rural regions
14 October 2016
Madagascar’s Ministry of Posts, Telecoms and Digital Development (MPTDN) has announced a project under which wireless broadband infrastructure will be deployed to connect schools and hospitals, while also serving people…
Computing
Kenya begins distribution of 1.2 million Digischool devices.
14 October 2016
Kenya's Ministry of ICT and the country's ICT Authority plan to roll out 1.2 million digital devices to public primary schools by the end of December as part of the…
Computing
SatADSL Participates in the ECO Project with Avanti Communications and ESA
14 October 2016
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SatADSL proudly announces its participation in the public-private partnership between the European Space Agency (“ESA”) and leading provider of satellite data communications services, Avanti Communications (“Avanti”), for deployment of…
Computing
Partners join forces to address Cape ICT skills gap
14 October 2016
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – ORACLE Academy, The Western Cape Government, Cape Town Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) and other stakeholders have partnered to drive technology skills and job development…
Money Transfer
My Vodacom app now supports Mastercard’s Masterpass
14 October 2016
South African telecoms giant Vodacom has announced that its customers can now “buy airtime, data bundles and SMS bundles through the My Vodacom mobile application” using Mastercard’s mobile payment gateway…
Money Transfer
CBA sets sight on Rwanda with mobile money
14 October 2016
Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) is targeting to enter the Rwandan market as it seeks to grow its foothold in the region. The bank said on Tuesday that it will…
Money Transfer
Ubank partners WIZZIT to launch digital payment platform
14 October 2016
Ubank has serviced neglected and underserviced mine workers in the gold and platinum sectors who previously had difficulty accessing financial services. Ubank has serviced neglected and underserviced mine workers in…
Money Transfer
Ericsson & Vodafone's M-Pesa to Ease Safe Water Payments
14 October 2016
Swedish communication technology and services giant, Ericsson has tied up with Vodafone's M-Pesa in an initiative to make mobile money payments and cash collection easier and more straightforward. The integrated…
Money Transfer
Seedstars Nairobi winner announced
14 October 2016
Mobile credit and insurance startup iNukaPap has been named winner of the Nairobi leg of Seedstars World, and will represent Kenya at the global finals to be held in Switzerland…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN Plans Bond Sale to Raise Funds as Nigeria Payments Loom
14 October 2016
MTN Group Ltd. plans to gauge investor interest in a possible bond offering as Africa’s biggest mobile-phone company by sales seeks funds to pay for dividends, capital expenditure and a…
Digital Content
Tech in Africa: Google’s Allo messenger and a taxi app war
14 October 2016
Africa’s taxi app wars hit a new level during September, with major players adding to their offerings in a bid to woo customers. Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom launched Little Cabs…
Digital Content
Kenyan girls who code: Mentors spur African tech innovations
14 October 2016
Kenyan schoolgirls are building apps to end ticket queues and transform organ donation, with the help of new mentor programmes promoting women in tech, writes the BBC's Anthony Irungu. Sixteen-year…
Digital Content
Nigerian bloggers seek union amid government clampdown
14 October 2016
Nigerian bloggers are canvassing the creation of a union that could defend the interests of its members, after the arrests of several bloggers and journalists by the government. Federal and…
Digital Content
Blis partners with Mobiclicks to bring its location advertising tech to Africa
14 October 2016
Blis, the global pioneer in advanced location data technology, has formed a strategic partnership with leading African mobile marketing and media specialist, Mobiclicks. The partnership will enable Blis’ industry-leading, mobile…
Digital Content
The Plight of the Zambian Watchdog: Embattled Opposition News Site Goes Down
14 October 2016
Popular investigative news site the Zambian Watchdog has allegedly been shut down by the Zambian government. Both the website and Facebook page have been inaccessible since September 21. On September…
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People
14 October 2016
MTN SAfrica names Sekha as head of regulatory affairs MTN South Africa has appointed Felleng Sekha, a South African, as its new executive for regulatory affairs and public policy from…
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Events
14 October 2016
The African Heads of ICT Professionals Development Summit 2016 17 November 2016 Merit House, Abuja, Nigeria The summit is a professional event which has the theme: “ICT Proficiency & Corporate…
