News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 888 – 4 August 2017
Top Story
Four-country study of African Internet users shines light on how they use it and the barriers to greater use
4 August 2017
A four-country study backed by Mozilla and carried out by Research ICT Africa provides a much-needed refresh of what African Internet users are doing; what influences their access behavior; and how greater access might be provided. Russell Southwood looks at the results from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. In each case the country studies have used focus groups to explore user and non-user behavior in detail. These are not representative sample surveys but they give a far more nuanced picture than these kinds of surveys are able to. In each country, the groups were held in urban, peri urban…
Telecoms
Vodacom phasing out “VIP” contracts for high-profile South Africans
4 August 2017
Vodacom has started phasing out “VIP” contracts for high-profile South Africans, replacing them with a loyalty programme. The statement from Vodacom follows a report by the Sunday World that the…
Telecoms
Cell Phones Bring Power to Africans Living Off the Grid
4 August 2017
Fenix International, a San Francisco startup making solar-power systems for people with no access to electricity grids, is expanding in Africa through a partnership with the continent’s largest wireless carrier.…
Telecoms
Swazi Mobile launches services in 28 towns
4 August 2017
Newly-licensed wireless operator Swazi Mobile, which is headed by local tycoon Victor Gamedze, has launched 2G/3G/4G mobile services in the country. The new operator advertises services in 28 towns at…
Telecoms
There’s Trouble Brewing Again for MTN in Nigeria
4 August 2017
The report, presented to the Nigerian Senate was almost immediately sent back for further work because it did not capture possible infractions by all stakeholders. The Nigerian Senate has withdrawn…
Telecoms
In brief
4 August 2017
Paratus Telecommunications South Africa, through its subsidiary Maxwell Technology, has partnered with Rain to provide a range of LTE products called Max-LTE. Customers can expect the best internet quality at…
Internet
SA Govt looks to Brics to meet Internet goals
4 August 2017
The South African delegation made up of the minister, senior government officials, leaders of state-owned companies and ICT SMMMEs was joined by leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China to…
Internet
Nigeria: Court Grants Bail to Two Journalists Arraigned for Cyber Stalking
4 August 2017
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to two journalists arraigned by the police for alleged cyber stalking. Salisu Abdullai, who is the publisher of The Post-Nigeria,…
Internet
Africa: Mobile Broadband Subscriptions On Track to Hit 4.3 Billion in 2017 - UN Report
4 August 2017
Mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to reach 4.3 billion globally by the end of 2017, according to a new report released by the United Nations telecommunications agency. New data from…
Internet
Man beams in his internet from satellite over Africa because his broadband in Wales is too slow
4 August 2017
A man from rural Wales has been forced to get his internet from a satellite above Africa because his broadband speed is so slow. Professor Christopher Spry, 79, who lives…
Internet
Vodacom unable to expand rural 4G footprint due to lack of spectrum
4 August 2017
Vodacom South Africa is struggling to expand its 4G LTE network in rural areas due to a lack of spectrum, according to Vodacom Group’s Chief Technology Officer Andries Delport. TechCentral…
Internet
In brief
4 August 2017
Between 2013 and now, no fewer than 92 internet service providers (ISPs) have closed shop in Nigeria. The development is being linked to a number of reasons, including the unfriendly…
Computing
Kenya election official tortured, murdered before vote, officials say
4 August 2017
NAIROBI (Reuters) - A senior Kenyan election official was found murdered on Monday, three days after he went missing, poll officials said, as opposition leaders warned the killing could plunge…
Computing
South Africa: German Software Giant SAP Accused of Paying Bribes to Gupta Family
4 August 2017
The practices of Indian business family Gupta have been a hot topic in South Africa for years. Investigative journalists now say German software giant SAP also paid bribes to a…
Money Transfer
Western Union to go fully digital in three years
4 August 2017
Global payments firm Western Union is betting on its global footprint to go fully digital in Africa in the next three years. The company is looking to copy the mobile…
Money Transfer
MFS Africa, Vodacom Mozambique launch mobile remittance service
4 August 2017
Pan-African fintech company MFS Africa announced today the launch of mobile remittance services to the Mozambique market, with the addition of Vodafone M-Pesa, a subsidiary of Vodacom Mozambique, to its…
Money Transfer
New Bitcoin Exchange launched in Kenya
4 August 2017
Belfrics Global, a Malaysia based, bitcoin technology provider has launched its Bitcoin Exchange in Kenya to allow traders and Bitcoin users to trade at a much lower cost. The cost…
Money Transfer
Inbound technology deals stagnate in Africa this quarter
4 August 2017
Baker McKenzie’s latest quarterly Cross-border M&A Index showed that there were no inbound technology deals in Africa in the second quarter of 2017. This is in comparison to global results,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Senate withdraws report acquitting MTN of forex scam
4 August 2017
The Senate has withdrawn a report that largely exonerated South African telecoms giant, MTN, of accusations of illegally repatriating $14 billion and rebuked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Blue Label gets shareholder approval for Cell C recapitalisation
4 August 2017
JSE-listed Blue Label says it has received approval by majority of its shareholders for the recapitalisation of mobile operator, Cell C, and its acquisition of 3G Mobile. The matter relates…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
African Rainbow Capital buys 20% stake in Rain
4 August 2017
Johannesburg - African Rainbow Capital (ARC), a South African financial-services firm started by Patrice Motsepe, on Friday announced that it had invested 20 percent of fixed and mobile data network…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Millicom International Cellular SWE : cancels sale of Tigo Senegal to Wari Group, finds new buyer
4 August 2017
Millicom International Cellular (MIC) has announced that it has terminated its agreement to sell Tigo Senegal to local financial services company Wari Group. An agreement was made in February this…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Wari Group contests Millicom’s decision to back out of sale agreement
4 August 2017
Senegal’s Wari Group has said this week that it will pursue legal action against Millicom International Cellular (MIC) after the Luxembourgish company cancelled the sale of its Tigo Senegal operation…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Convergence Partners Has Exited Its Investment In Dimension Data
4 August 2017
Convergence Partners, an investment company focused on the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector in Afrika, has revealed that it has exited its investment in IT services and solutions company,…
Digital Content
Cell C's interactive Hangman to soon start streaming online
4 August 2017
Online reality show Hangman, which aims to uncover South Africa’s greatest innovator, will start streaming online, from 9 October to 11 December, reports IT-Online, saying the show will award ZAR…
Digital Content
Google Makes Offline Version Of YouTube Available For Nigerians With Slow Internet
4 August 2017
Google CEO Sundar Pichai takes a selfie with Nigerians during his visit to the country. Photo - TechDemiGoogle CEO Sundar Pichai takes a selfie with Nigerians during his visit to…
Digital Content
Tanzania: Over 1.7m Women Now Access Nutrition Info Through SMS Service
4 August 2017
A mobile service dubbed 'Wazazi Nipendeni SMS Service' aimed at promoting knowledge and behaviour change in nutrition practices has been launched. The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elders and…
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Opportunities
4 August 2017
Applications open for Miss.Africa Seed programme Applications have opened for third Round of Miss.Africa Seed Funding, which offers US$7,000 in grant money to women in and girls working in STEM…
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Events
4 August 2017
2017 FTTH COUNCIL AFRICA CONFERENCE!3 October 2017Join the biggest Fibre Optic Event in Africa. OPERATORS ATTEND FREE! Lively discussions by some of the best speakers in the industry on the…
