News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 865 - 24 February 2017
Top Story
A4AI’s latest Affordability Report shows that Sub-Saharan Africa has a long way to go – more affordable Internet a must
24 February 2017
The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has just published its 2017 Affordability Report: It provides a very clear way of assessing Africa’s progress towards affordable Internet. Although there is some good news, the main message is “must try harder”. Russell Southwood spoke to Dhanaraj Thakur, A4AI’s Research Manager about what the results mean for Africa. As the organization’s Executive Director Sonia Jorge notes in the report:” The consequences of this digital divide are real: as half the world reaps the opportunities provided by the digital revolution, the other half is falling further behind, undermining development and entrenching patterns of inequality”.…
Telecoms
“Bando HaliChachi”: Tigo Trailblazing Yet Another First For Tanzania
24 February 2017
Following the launch of “Megamix” - the first ever Data bundle with Free Minutes and SMS, in October 2016, Tigo Tanzania (www.Tigo.co.tz) has thrilled customers once again with the launch…
Telecoms
West Africa Mobile Awards opens entries to discover best in mobile
24 February 2017
The West Africa Mobile Awards (WAMAS) (www.wamas.com.ng), the leading industry awards that celebrate the best in mobile and technology across West Africa, are now accepting entries for their 2017 edition.…
Telecoms
Orange CI upgrades backbone network with 100G solution
24 February 2017
Fixed and mobile operator Orange Cote d’Ivoire has awarded a contract to Ekinops for the upgrade of its transmission network to meet the rising demand for data services in the…
Telecoms
Tanzania subscribers to switch lines without losing numbers
24 February 2017
Mobile phone users in Tanzania will from next month freely choose a mobile service operator from any of eight telecom companies in the country while keeping the same mobile number.…
Internet
DHL Express makes global online shopping easier with On Demand Delivery in Sub Saharan Africa
24 February 2017
DHL Express (www.dpDHL.com), the world’s leading international express services provider, has announced the launch of On Demand Delivery for the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) region. The new service allows shippers…
Internet
Paratus Telecom brings Radwin Jet Wireless Broadband to Zambia
24 February 2017
Paratus Telecom, the largest privately owned Pan-African telecoms operator and a leading service provider in Zambia, has installed cutting-edge wireless broadband technology that reduces signal interference and enables greater coverage…
Internet
Angola Cables to peer at NAPAfrica – Africa’s most connected Internet Exchange
24 February 2017
Angola Cables, a leading telecoms operator is expanding its network reach and peering capabilities across the globe. With an aim to become a major IP transit and MPLS player in…
Internet
Zimbabwe - Women network group partners Facebook to raise literacy
24 February 2017
Tech Women Zimbabwe (TWZ) has partnered with social media giant, Facebook to bring digital literacy to women in the country and create awareness on better safety practices on social media.…
Computing
National ID - NIMC 'captured 14 million Nigerians' by 2016
24 February 2017
Fewer than 14 million Nigerians were enrolled for National Identity Number (NIN) at the end of2016 , statistics obtained by Technology Times from National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)have revealed. …
Money Transfer
MTN South Africa Seeks New Mobile Money strategy
24 February 2017
MTN Group will look for new ways to bring banking services to its customers’ mobile phones in South Africa after severing ties with Australian-owned partner, Tyme, Bloomberg reported. Maxwell Nonge,…
Money Transfer
WorldRemit sees huge growth in money transfers to Tanzania
24 February 2017
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, February 20, 2017/ -- Digital money transfer service WorldRemit (www.WorldRemit.com/en/Cameroon) is consolidating its rapid expansion into Tanzania, supporting the growing demand for instant remittances to the…
Money Transfer
Kenya: CBK Sees Cyber Risks As Banks Eye Mobile Money Platform
24 February 2017
Nairobi — Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) chairman Mohammed Nyaoga has cautioned banks to be wary of cyber risks in mobile money as the lenders move towards establishing their own…
Money Transfer
Doubts raised over ?4.6bn BoG contract to allow 'across network' money transfer
24 February 2017
There is brewing discontent over ?4.6bn plan spearheaded by the Bank of Ghana to create one-stop shop for all electronic payments across different financial and non-financial institutions. For the layman,…
Money Transfer
TerraPay joins forces with MoneyTrans and Paga to make cross border remittance easy between Europe and Nigeria
24 February 2017
TerraPay, a mobile-first international payment network, today announced that it has partnered with MoneyTrans, a leading Money Transfer company established in Europe and Africa as well as Paga, Nigeria’s pioneering…
Money Transfer
MeaWallet partners with Crossgate to provide HCE/Cloud based mobile payments technology for their customers in Africa
24 February 2017
Crossgate’s Crosscore platform is an API-based integration hub that allow simplified and more cost-effective deployment of multiple services that would generally be complex for issuers to implement themselves. It provides…
Money Transfer
TransferWise launches international money transfers via Facebook
24 February 2017
Money transfer company TransferWise has launched a new service that allows users to send money internationally through Facebook Inc's chat application, as competition in the digital payments landscape intensifies. The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
UPDATE: No ICASA approval needed for Cell C deal, says Blue Label
24 February 2017
UPDATE What we reported in this story was based on the information received from Blue Label's head of investor and media relations. However, it has since been brought to our…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tanzania: Revealed - Manji Owns 99% of Tigo Tanzania
24 February 2017
Dar es Salaam — Lawyers representing a British registered company associated with Mr Yusuf Manji have claimed that the billionaire businessman owns 99 per cent of telecoms company, Tigo. Brick…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom Said to Consider $1 Billion Bid for South Africa's Cell C
24 February 2017
Telkom SA SOC Ltd. is considering a bid of as much as $1 billion for South African wireless operator Cell C Pty Ltd., which has missed debt payments and is…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South Africa received the bulk of investment into Africa's ICT industry
24 February 2017
Report on funding over the past year shows that SA received the lion's share of investment of more than US$129 million. South Africa has come out ahead of its counterparts…
Digital Content
“I get rejected for not being black enough and being too black to be white…I’m a #KasiMlungu and I’m proud.”
24 February 2017
This is one of many tweets by South African Anita Ronge, aka DJ DuchAz, that has had Black South Africans on Twitter up in arms. In case you’re wondering why—she’s…
Digital Content
African Animation Network and SSTREAMM to create mobile channel on MTN backbone
24 February 2017
The African Animation Network, which was piloted as The Animation Lounge at DISCOP Johannesburg 2016, is partnering with SSTREAMM to create an African Animation Network mobile channel. SSTREAMM offers mobile-driven…
Digital Content
5 Online Resources For Discussing African Sexuality
24 February 2017
Where do we go when we want to find African perspectives on love, sex and relationships? Podcasts and blogs, of course! Digital spaces are now the center for discussions of…
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People
24 February 2017
Puleng Kwele, CEO of Broadband Infraco, will be leaving her position when her contract comes to an end on 31 May. In an email to ITWeb, Broadband Infraco says Kwele's…
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Events
24 February 2017
eCommerce MoneyAfrica Confex 22 - 23 February 2017, Cape Town International Convention Centre The eCommerce Africa conference sessions will examine various aspects of development in the industry: how online and…
