News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 869 – 24 March 2017
Top Story
Sliide’s Free Data App set to roll out in South Africa with expansion plans later
24 March 2017
Sliide’s uses content to acquire a mobile audience that it sells to advertisers. It then passes back some of the advertising revenues as free data and airtime for users. Russell Southwood spoke to its Sliide’s founder and CEO Corbyn Munnik about the forthcoming launch in South Africa and its wider expansion plans. The Sliide app appears on the lock screen of the phone and offers users relevant content:” We’re still aggregating news from all the biggest local and largest international providers (in Nigeria) to cover things like the Premiership”. Since I last spoke to Sliide in April 2016, it has…
Telecoms
Firm demands N2 billion from Etisalat for alleged copyrights infringement
24 March 2017
A mobile finance technology firm, V-Exchange Limited, has demanded for N2 billion from Etisalat as compensation for an alleged infringement on its product’s copyright. V-Exchange, which specialises in providing instant…
Telecoms
Tanzania: Vodacom Says IPO Still Underway
24 March 2017
Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company (VCT) has said they will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the sale of shares is completed successfully despite of attachment orders sought…
Telecoms
Nigeria: NCC Develops NNP for Telephone Networks
24 March 2017
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) says it has developed National Numbering Plan (NNP) to set up uniform numbering scheme for telephone networks for easy calls to subscribers and operators. The…
Telecoms
In brief
24 March 2017
K-based Lycamobile Group is poised to launch a new MVNO in South Africa, over the Cell C network, it has been revealed. The development was shared by Cell C CEO…
Internet
BBC Academy launches content in five more languages
24 March 2017
16 March 2017. The BBC Academy has further expanded its global outreach, adding content in five languages. Free resources, dedicated to journalism and language use in Bangla, Kyrgyz, Somali, Spanish…
Internet
South Africa: Students benefit from Euphoria SABEN partnership
24 March 2017
Euphoria Telecom has announced that it has partnered with South African Broadband Education Networks (SABEN) to offer affordable VoIP to South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges…
Internet
Avanti Communications Group to provide schools in Kenya with broadband
24 March 2017
Shares in Avanti Communications Group climbed on Wednesday after the provider of satellite data communications services announced it had won a two-year contract to provide 500 schools in Kenya with…
Internet
Somalia: Somnet Launches Somalia's First 4G Internet After Alshabaab Ban
24 March 2017
Somalia: Telecommunication company Somnet launched the first 4G network in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Internet
SES and Intersat to Provide Internet Connectivity Across Africa
24 March 2017
LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE/ME NewsWire)-- SES and Intersat announced today that they have signed a multi-year agreement to deliver internet services across Africa. Intersat, one of the largest providers of internet solutions…
Internet
In brief
24 March 2017
Internet service provider, ZOL Zimbabwe has launched a product whose speed, chief executive Denny Marandure, said brings internet speed that equals "a cheetah driving a Ferrari". The cheapest package which…
Computing
East Africa PC market shrinks by 8.6% in Q4 2016
24 March 2017
The personal computer (PC) market for East Africa, comprising Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, declined by 8.6 percent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the…
Computing
Africa: Maize Breeders Benefit From Using Drones
24 March 2017
Harare — Using drone technology could cut labour and costs spent in collecting data for maize breeding by at least ten per cent, preliminary findings of a project shows. …
Computing
Kenya: Sh4bn Hacking Suspect Lives Large and Brags Big
24 March 2017
On January 20, Alex Mutuku boarded the Lady of Zanzibar, the 554-passenger ferry that operated between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and Pemba islands. Before that, he took a picture…
Money Transfer
Nigeria Government Launches Accounting Software for Financial Discipline
24 March 2017
As part of ongoing measures to improve Public Financial management across all levels of government, the federal government has developed an IPSAS Compliant accounting software suite “OneBook”, aimed at enhancing…
Money Transfer
JamboPay acquires Nutanix to improve service delivery
24 March 2017
JamboPay, a service provider that helps Nairobi County in revenue collection, has acquired Nutanix Computing Platform. JamboPay which allows customers to make electronic payments through eJiji, entered into a contract…
Money Transfer
Kenya sells bond over mobile phones in world first
24 March 2017
NAIROBI, March 23 (Reuters) - Kenya began selling a government bond exclusively via mobile phones on Thursday, a world first aimed at expanding the pool of investors in a country…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Mara Social Media Acquires Global Instant Messaging & Communications Platform “Nimbuzz”
24 March 2017
Mara Social Media, an African multi-channel platform of online and mobile tech innovations that are designed to connect people across emerging markets, has announced this week that it has acquired…
Digital Content
A Yoruba Text-to-Speech App Is Being Brought to Life Through This New Tech Initiative
24 March 2017
I’d never admit this to my parents, but I blame them for the fact that I barely speak Yoruba (if you’re reading this, mom and dad, know that I still…
Digital Content
Social Media Campaign Warns African Migrants: Don’t Leave
24 March 2017
Many migrants who make it to Italy don’t tell their friends and families about the hardships they endured, and a campaign that highlights the harsh realities is now targeting potential…
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Opportunities
24 March 2017
North African fintech startups can apply for this $15k challenge Applications have opened for the first Fincluders Startup Challenge to be held outside of Europe, with fintech entrepreneurs from the…
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People
24 March 2017
Top 9 women tech innovators in Africa Women in Africa continue to make their mark in the ICT industry. As the nation celebrated International Women’s Day earlier this month it…
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Events
24 March 2017
Wi-Fi NOW Africa9-11 May 2017 Meet the Wi-Fi Alliance & many more industry leaders We're also delighted that Liquid Telecom, VAST, and AlwaysOn will be sharing their insights with…
