News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 864 - 17 February 2017
Top Story
Senegal: Big changes hit Sonatel-dominated market but new challengers need strategy to win
17 February 2017
Senegal would see itself as a competitive market but is actually dominated by Sonatel. Recently there have been two changes that may yet shake it up. Russell Southwood looks at the implications of these two changes and what they might mean for other markets. For years, Sonatel has been the de-facto dominant player in Senegal. The Government had a significant shareholding in it and sat on its board. Any attempt to open the market failed. The ISP sector withered on the vine, pushed out by a fairly aggressive pricing policy by Sonatel. Electricity utility SENELEC was not allowed to wholesale…
Telecoms
Uganda’s MPS to visit Libya over Uganda Telecom mismanagement
17 February 2017
Uganda’s parliamentary select committee, which is investigating mismanagement at Uganda Telecom (UTL), will soon travel to Libya in line with the inquiry. LAP-Green, a subsidiary of Libyan Post, Telecommunication and…
Telecoms
South Africa: Vodacom, Makate to revive talks
17 February 2017
Nkosana Makate and telecommunications company Vodacom will now have to revive in good faith negotiations after a deadlock in talks to determine reasonable compensation for the “please call me” service.…
Telecoms
Airtel invests K15.2 bn to upgrade network quality in Malawi
17 February 2017
Multinational telecommunications company Airtel has disclosed its MK15.2 billion investment project is to modernize quality and coverage of its voice and Internet services in Malawi. This intensive upgrade exercise is…
Telecoms
2,600 Telkom Kenya retirees to get Sh7.2bn payout
17 February 2017
More than 2,600 former employees of Telkom Kenya are set to be paid an additional Sh7.2 billion in terminal dues following a court ruling in their favour. A four-member Retirement…
Internet
Internet Solutions and Accuris Networks Introduce Pan-African Wi-Fi Network
17 February 2017
Internet Solutions (IS), a leading pan-African telecommunications service provider, and Dublin-based Accuris Networks Limited, have partnered to introduce a seamless continent-wide Wi-Fi network to global carriers, multinational companies and local…
Internet
Urbanise acquires Intelligen, Wattkeeper
17 February 2017
ICT services company, Infotech has announced that its acquisition deal with Urbanise, a globally renowned provider of Internet of things (IOT) and service delivery platform for buildings, is going ahead.…
Internet
BoFiNet signs new Wi-Fi partner
17 February 2017
State-owned Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet) has unveiled a partnership with local ISP CENE Media which will allow CENE customers to gain access at BoFiNet’s network of Wi-Fi hotspots around the…
Internet
Cameroon: Internet Shutdown Latest Violation On English Cameroonians
17 February 2017
Yaounde — CAMEROON is under international pressure to restore internet services to predominantly English-speaking parts of the country cut off since January following anti-government protests. Police have reacted with brutality…
Internet
Cameroon: 17-Year-Old Beats Internet Ban to Win Coding Competition
17 February 2017
A 17-year-old Cameroonian has won Google's annual coding award, despite the partial shutdown of internet in his country. Nji Collins Gbah is the first African to win the competition. The…
Computing
Microsoft backs Mauritian online teaching resource project
17 February 2017
The Mauritius Institute of Education's (MIE) Massively Empowered Classroom or the Virtual Campus, known as Mo Klas, is aiming to build up a Mauritian network of digital learning resource creators…
Computing
Kenya: Digital driving licences plan gets Sh300m allocation
17 February 2017
The push to introduce digital driving licences this year to curb corruption and boost road safety received a lift after the Treasury allocated Sh300 million in the proposed national budget.…
Computing
Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa offers resellers Azure on its BlueSky platform
17 February 2017
Local customers now able to benefit from the full benefits of the Microsoft cloud services. Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa is, effective immediately, enabling local reseller partners the opportunity to purchase Azure…
Computing
In brief
17 February 2017
PUBLIC safety and efficiency in the transport sector are set for a major improvement following the introduction of the intelligent transportation system (ITS) solution for buses. Huawei, a leading global…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
New ICT sector codes to prompt new era for BEE
17 February 2017
In the State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma highlighted that radical economic transformation remains at the core of South Africa’s economic strategy and the new BEE ICT sector…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Number portability regulations get public hearings
17 February 2017
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa will hold public hearings on number portability regulations on 16 February. The hearings will be held at ICASA’s offices in Sandton from 09:00.…
Money Transfer
Mastercard commits to financially including over 150,000 Kenyan merchants with Masterpass QR
17 February 2017
NAIROBI, Kenya, 14 February 2017, -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Mastercard commits to empowering over 150,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Kenya within 2017 by giving them access to Masterpass…
Money Transfer
MTN, CBA Bank Launch MoKash; a Mobile Loans & Savings Product
17 February 2017
Rwanda’s leading telecommunication provider, MTN Rwanda, in partnership with Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) today launched a ground breaking savings and loans product dubbed ‘MoKash’, which will enable registered MTN…
Money Transfer
In brief
17 February 2017
The Cameroonian subsidiary of South African telecoms operator MTN just bettered its mobile money service by now offering mini-statement on mobile transactions. This new service follows the one enabling users…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Huge Telecom eyes approval of Connectnet and Sainet acquisition
17 February 2017
Huge Telecom is hoping to get approval for its acquisition of Connectnet, and its subsidiary Sainet, very soon, non-executive director Zunaid Bulbulia told MyBroadband. It announced its agreement with shareholders…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Econet owed USD25m by state-run operators
17 February 2017
Zimbabwe’s mobile market leader Econet Wireless is owed more than USD25 million in interconnect fees by state-owned operators NetOne and TelOne, according to a report from The Sunday Mail. The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Econet considers listing Liquid Telecom in Europe in 2018
17 February 2017
Econet Group founder Strive Masiyiwa has said he is considering a separate listing next year for subsidiary Liquid Telecom, which currently is probably the largest operator of fibre and business…
Digital Content
Kenyan President's #DabChallenge Backfires After Critics Create #DabOfShame
17 February 2017
A campaign by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, #UhuruDabChallenge, to motivate young people to register to vote went awry after social media users took the opportunity to point out misplaced priorities…
Digital Content
Zain, iflix to launch regional Internet TV service
17 February 2017
Zain, a leading mobile and data services operator listed in Kuwait, has joined hands with leading Internet TV service group iflix to launch its operations in the Middle East and…
Digital Content
Africa: ICT Signals the Cradle of Radio's Rebirth
17 February 2017
Nairobi — Over the last few decades, radio has played an important role in the realm of development. It has enabled the distribution of information on new policies, technology, products,…
Digital Content
Kenya’s Little to launch mobile Sacco for drivers
17 February 2017
Kenyan taxi hailing service, Little is set to launch a mobile phone-based Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (Sacco) for its drivers, according to reports. Known as Little Sacco, it would…
Digital Content
These 10 Nollywood Love Stories on YouTube Will Make You Feel Good About Your Love Life
17 February 2017
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Events
17 February 2017
27 Feb. to 2 March, 2017 Mobile World Congress Barcelona, SpainMobile World Congress is the world's largest gathering for the mobile industry, organised by the GSMA and held in the Mobile…
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People
17 February 2017
Millicom says Africa CFO Mohamed Dabbour will be CEO after Cynthia Gordon moves on. Millicom has promoted Mohamed Dabbour to be CEO of its African operations, replacing Cynthia Gordon, who…
