News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no. 890 – 17 August 2017
Top Story
African Internet speeds and volumes increase but the bar just keeps getting higher
17 August 2017
Recent data shows African Internet speeds that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. But with the arrival of video content, the bar for the speeds required just keeps slipping beyond reach. A slew of recent data highlights the challenges and the increasing volume of data that Africa’s networks are carrying. Russell Southwood picks his way through the numbers. The World Broadband Speed League is a ranking put together from research carried out by New America’s Open Technology Institute, Google Open Source Research and Princeton University’s Planet Lab. Across a large number of countries globally, it measured overall speeds and…
Telecoms
Airtel Kenya sues CA at High Court over permit renewal
17 August 2017
Airtel Kenya has gone to the High Court over its attempts to renew is operating permit with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Business Daily reported. The matter has gone…
Telecoms
Namibia: CRAN grants permission for new mobile operators
17 August 2017
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has granted permission to new entrants to set up shop and compete with MTC and TN Mobile, Newera reported. Competition could come from…
Telecoms
Lycamobile Partners with Cell C in South Africa Roll Out
17 August 2017
Lycamobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), announced today that the company has partnered with Cell C and will begin rolling out its services in South Africa. With the South…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe: Potraz to Set Up 250 Base Stations
17 August 2017
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe will build 250 base stations under a multi-operator radio network extension project with capacity for 2 million users. Potraz will engage contractors…
Telecoms
Nigeria- Regulator Blocks Glo’s Free Data Day
17 August 2017
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has decided to intervene and prevent Nigerian telecommunications company, Globacom, from proceeding with its planned free data day promotion. Globacom’s planned promotion was to offer free…
Telecoms
Nigeria- NCC Threatens Telcos To Scrap Pre-Registered Sims or Face Punishment
17 August 2017
According to reports by the Nigerian Communications Week, the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) has demanded that all mobile telecommunications firms block the use of pre-registered sim cards. The use of these sim…
Telecoms
Vodacom Introduces Virtual CIO
17 August 2017
Vodacom Business has introduced Virtual CIO, a subscription service which proactively detects IT problems before they arise, safeguarding SMMEs which are vulnerable to prolonged IT outages. The solution provides full…
Telecoms
In brief
17 August 2017
-South Africa: Telkom is removing the SmartPlans, SmartSaver Plans, and Unlimited Lite contracts from its website encouraging users to try its FreeMe products instead. Telkom’s FreeMe plans were launched in 2016 and…
Internet
Vumatel Brings Fibre-to-the-Home in Johannesburg South
17 August 2017
The Vuma Fibre has started rolling out its high-speed fibre network in the southern areas of Johannesburg. The company is already rolling out its fibre network in Bassonia, Glenanda, Glenvista…
Internet
Djibouti Telecom peers at France-IX Paris and Marseille Internet Exchange
17 August 2017
Djibouti Telecom has signed a contract with France-IX to peer its IP traffic through France-IX’s IXPs in Paris and Marseille. With this agreement, the government-run network operator enhances its network…
Internet
Nigeria: EFCC Arrest 100 Students for Various Cybercrimes
17 August 2017
According to a report by Nigerian Communications Week, over 100 undergraduates of tertiary institutions across the Southwest of Nigeria have been detained for various cybercrimes by the Ibadan Zonal Office of…
Internet
In brief
17 August 2017
-Google is expanding its speech recognition capabilities to support dozens of new languages, particularly those in emerging markets in India and Africa. That means more people around the world will…
Computing
Digital Care Management Solution to showcase New Capabilities at HISA2017
17 August 2017
Care Software Solutions Ltd, the South African owned, UK based software company behind the innovative digital care management system, Zuri will showcase the software’s new features and abilities as part of…
Computing
South Africa: e-Commerce to boost economic growth
17 August 2017
Entrepreneurship and Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME’s) are the catalyst to achieving economic growth and development in South Africa. This is according to the South African Government which has…
Computing
In brief
17 August 2017
-The 2017 edition of Africa Code Week (ACW) arrived in Ghana this week with a series of Train-The-Trainer (TTT) workshops. Jointly organised by SAP, Dreamoval and the Ghana Education Service in…
Money Transfer
Will Blockchain Unshackle the Future of Payments in South Africa?
17 August 2017
South African consumers are eager users of new payments technologies, which means that bitcoin and the blockchain may soon be on the radar for some of the country’s early adopters.…
Money Transfer
Nigeria: Interswitch, Quickteller, Verve Showcase New Payment Tech
17 August 2017
Interswitch in collaboration with Quickteller and Verve has unveiled a new media campaign to showcase new technology capability that guarantees customers safer, faster and smarter transactions through any payment channel.…
Money Transfer
NBK, WorldRemit partner to offer instant money transfers to Kenya
17 August 2017
Digital money transfer service, WorldRemit and the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) have launched a partnership to enable Kenyans living abroad to make instant transfers home. WorldRemit users can now make instant bank…
Money Transfer
Group Nduom starts mobile money service in Ghana
17 August 2017
The Group Nduom (GN) conglomerate has introduced GN Mobile Money in Ghana, Ghanaweb reported. General Manager of GN Micro Enterprise, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw said GN Mobile Money is available on every…
Money Transfer
Uganda: Shs 30bn Lent Out Through Mokash
17 August 2017
MTN Uganda says it gave out Shs 30bn in loans through MoKash, a product where customers can save and borrow through their phones. MoKash was launched in August 2016 in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom shares begins trading in Tanzania
17 August 2017
Vodacom Tanzania completed the largest initial public offering (IPO) in the 19-year history of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), the company announced on Tuesday. Vodacom Tanzania raised R2.9…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Broadband service uptake drives increase in revenue for Telecom Egypt
17 August 2017
Telecom Egypt has reported a 41% year-on-year increase in revenues for the quarter ended 30 June 2017, pointing to the uptake of its fixed broadband services as the key driver…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
TPay acquires carrier billing provider DCBEgypt
17 August 2017
MENA region mobile payments specialist TPay has acquired DCBEgypt, the second-largest provider of direct carrier billing in Egypt, for an undisclosed amount. This is TPay's first acquisition after launching three…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Mauritius Telecom, ICTA ordered to pay Emtel following unfair competition ruling
17 August 2017
The Supreme Court of Mauritius has this week issued a ruling in favour of mobile network operator (MNO) Emtel in a case dating back 20 years, Agence Ecofin reports. Emtel…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Helios Towers Tanzania acquires Zantel’s mainland tower portfolio
17 August 2017
Helios Towers Tanzania (HTT) has reached an agreement with Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel) for the acquisition of all unique sites in their mainland tower portfolio. A subsidiary of Helios Towers Africa,…
Digital Content
Tanzania: TWA Launches Portal for Girls' Economic Growth
17 August 2017
THE Tanzania Women of Achievement (TWA) yesterday launched an online portal and mobile app, 'twaa,' designed to provide mentorship and learning on the go for girls and women in Africa.…
Digital Content
POWA app wants to fight women abuse
17 August 2017
South African women's rights organisation People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) today unveiled an app it hopes will help survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The app is launched in association with…
Digital Content
African Streaming Market Faces Shakeup as US-based Firm Seeks Local Partners
17 August 2017
The African streaming industry could be in for an even greater shake up as US-based streaming player MatrixStream seeks to collaborate with Telcos and Internet service providers (ISPs). The US-based…
Digital Content
Tanzania: New TB Detection Technology Boosts Treatment Rate
17 August 2017
TREATMENT initiation rate for Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosed patients rose by 20 per cent by last March, thanks to opening of a new detection facility in Dar es Salaam. The detection…
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People
17 August 2017
MTN appoints new Corporate Relations Executive MTN Nigeria has announced the appointment of Tobechukwu Nkemdilim Okigbo as its new Corporate Relations Executive. Okigbo will lead MTN’s strategic approach towards enhancing…
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Opportunities
17 August 2017
Job Title: Group ICT Manager Reference Code: REQ-0283 Location: Kenya Required Experience: 15-20 yrs Category: IT/ Industrial Security Jobs in Africa Job Description: To coordinate the functions of a…
