News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 901 – 10 November 2017
Top Story
AfricaCom 2017: Challenging times ahead for satellite operators in Africa – the business model looks set to change
10 November 2017
At this year’s AfricaCom, a speaker on the Connectivity Stage nailed some of the dilemmas facing the satellite industry in Africa and elsewhere. The presentation was refreshingly honest and dealt with issues hardly ever raised by the larger operators. Russell Southwood listened to Tsachi Dahan, Owner, Baylink about whether VSAT will end up challenging or complementing terrestrial and reflects on the changes he talked about. Before the current spread of fibre across Africa to almost all capitals except Asmara and Conakry, satellite was the only way to distribute bandwidth. Now there is widespread fibre to and within urban areas (which…
Telecoms
Huawei’s new Mate 10 Pro and Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 arrive in South Africa
10 November 2017
JOHANNESBURG – 6 November 2017 – Following the global launch of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 last month, South Africans will now be able…
Telecoms
Vigitech launches Tinitell in SA
10 November 2017
South African start-up Vigitech has announced the availability of Tinitell, a wearable mobile phone and GPS tracker for kids to the local market. Vigitech is the official distributor of Tinitell…
Telecoms
BICS provides complete voice and data roaming connectivity for Swazi Mobile
10 November 2017
Swazi Mobile, Swaziland’s recently launched second mobile network, has tapped BICS for its complete range of voice and data roaming services. BICS has deployed its full roaming outfit to Swazi…
Telecoms
Nokia shapes the future of technology in Africa to transform human experiences
10 November 2017
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 6, 2017/ -- AfricaCom 2017 will have been a landmark event for Nokia (www.Nokia.com) as it showcased how the company is shaping the future of…
Telecoms
Spacecom’s Amos-17 satellite successfully completes Critical Design Review (CDR)
10 November 2017
AMOS-17 Multi-Band High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) To Service Africa from 17°E Orbital Position, Scheduled for Launch in 2019 via SpaceX Falcon-9 Tel Aviv/Cape Town – 6 November 2017: Spacecom (Tel Aviv…
Telecoms
In brief
10 November 2017
TD Mobile, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest mobile devices distributor, and Nokia have announced a partnership to offer smartphones in the West African nation of Ghana. Read more here.
Internet
Orange announces improved Internet and mobile services connectivity in Africa with the launch of two new IP and IPX Points of Presence in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa
10 November 2017
PARIS, France, November 6, 2017/ -- Today, Orange has opened two very large-capacity IP and IPX Points of Presence (PoP) in South Africa. The facilities, which are located in Cape…
Internet
Intelsat and Coca-Cola Partner to Promote Digital Access in Africa
10 November 2017
Luxembourg, 07 November 2017 – Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite communications, and The Coca-Cola Company are working together to…
Internet
Sub-Saharan Africa: InterSat ties up with ABS to launch iDirect platforms in Sub-Saharan Africa
10 November 2017
Satellite services provider InterSat and satellite operator ABS have announced the launch of iDirect platforms on ABS-3A C-band and Ku-band beams. These platforms will provide broadband internet in Sub-Saharan and…
Internet
Coollinks partners Konnect Africa, launches Asta satellite broadband
10 November 2017
Konnect Africa, set up in 2015 by Eutelsat, disclosed that apart from the Nigerian market, the services will extend to countries including Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,…
Internet
Nigeria announces N127 billion loss to cybercrime
10 November 2017
Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, on Monday 6 November 2017 revealed that Nigeria has lost about N127 billion to cybercrime. He made the revelation at Nigeria’s first Legislative…
Internet
South Atlantic Cable System begins the deep-water installation
10 November 2017
Luanda, Angola (November 7, 2017) – South Atlantic Cable System (SACS), the first submarine cable system across the South Atlantic is in the final stretch of its installation between Africa…
Computing
Data and Democracy: What Role Did Cambridge Analytica Play in Kenya's Elections?
10 November 2017
The powerful reach of Cambridge Analytica — the data analysis company that helped Donald Trump's campaign claim victory in the US — has become a source of concern in Kenya's…
Computing
Oando Foundation, Sumitomo create solar-powered ICT centres
10 November 2017
Oando Foundation and Sumitomo Chemical, a Japanese Chemical Company, have partnered to support Information and Communications Technology education through the establishment of three solar-powered ICT centres in public primary schools…
Computing
Angola Cables collaborates with Microsoft to drive digital transformation in Africa
10 November 2017
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 2, 2017/ -- Angola Cables (www.AngolaCables.co.ao) announced today that it has become a Microsoft ExpressRoute partner to meet the needs of Africa-based organisations migrating business…
Computing
In brief
10 November 2017
To boost girl-child education, a rights and development-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), has established a Girl ICT Centre in Lagos. The…
Money Transfer
MTN seeks to triple its clients within three years in challenge to rival
10 November 2017
JOHANNESBURG - MTN Group is seeking to challenge rival Vodacom Group as Africa’s biggest digital bank by tripling its customer numbers within three years. Already the continent’s biggest mobile phone…
Money Transfer
Uganda: Barclays, Jumia partner on card payment sales
10 November 2017
Barclays bank and online retailer Jumia have signed a deal that will enable people purchasing items from the latter’s store pay using cards. The deal named ‘Card-on-Delivery payment option’ applies…
Money Transfer
Liberia: LoneStar MTN Launches Total Mobile Money Service
10 November 2017
Buyers of Total petroleum products, who are subscribers of LoneStar Mobile Money promotion, have been provided the opportunity by their GSM service provider, to purchase without using direct cash. These…
Money Transfer
TerraPay and Wari enter a strategic partnership for cross-border money transfers to mobile wallets and bank accounts
10 November 2017
London, UK – 6th November 2017: TerraPay, the world’s first mobile payments switch, and Wari, a global platform offering digital financial services have signed a strategic partnership agreement that will…
Money Transfer
Jumo Wins Third Annual Mastercard Foundation Clients at the Centre Prize
10 November 2017
The Mastercard Foundation today presented its third annual Clients at the Centre Prize to Jumo. The US$150,000 prize recognizes the innovative work of the South African-based company as a large-scale,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zamtel investing USD280m in network upgrade
10 November 2017
Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) is investing USD280 million in the upgrade of its network infrastructure, with a view to improving coverage and service quality. Tech Trends quotes the state-owned firm’s…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Swaziland - UPC acquires networks in Genthod and Mellingen
10 November 2017
Cableco UPC Switzerland has announced that it has completed the takeover of the cable network in the municipality of Mellingen and the fibre-optic network in the municipality of Genthod in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
10 November 2017
MTN Group has said that the mobile phone group is not interested in buying 9Moblie, the Nigerian mobile operator formerly called Eitsalat Nigeria. Read the full article on Technology Times…
Digital Content
VOOV TV mobile streaming application coming to DStv
10 November 2017
VOOV the social live streaming mobile application launched in South Africa in July this year allowing users the opportunity to live stream themselves to other VOOVers. VOOV TV launched on…
Digital Content
Swedish Mobile App Truecaller Launches Developer Program For African Coders
10 November 2017
Truecaller, a Swedish mobile app that provides the identity of unknown callers, has launched its developer program at an event in Nigeria. Having recently signalled its intention to expand across…
Digital Content
Nigerian Social Media Influencer Bobrisky Has Likely Been Arrested For Being Gay
10 November 2017
Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky on social media, was arrested in Lagos—and it's unclear why. Bobrisky, Nigeria's self-proclaimed male Barbie and social media influencer, has been arrested in Lagos,…
Digital Content
Uganda: Sign Language App Will Ease Communication
10 November 2017
The Uganda National association of the Deaf last week launched a mobile application to ease communication for people with hearing impairment. The Shs400 million App - dubbed UGsign Mobile -…
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Events
10 November 2017
Africa Tech Summit Kigali - 2018 Following the success of Africa Tech Summit London which will return in May 2018, we are delighted to welcome you to Africa Tech Summit…
