News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 911 – 2nd February 2018
Top Story
Kenya’s Surf reaches 1,000 Wi-Fi hot-spots and is looking to double or triple the number in the next 12 months
2 February 2018
The idea of a low-cost data provider is at last beginning to find its legs. This week we look at Surf in Kenya that has expanded to offer 1,000 Wi-Fi hot-spots across 20 towns and cities. Russell Southwood spoke to Mark Summer, one of Surf’s co-founders. We last spoke to Surf 10 months ago in April 2017 and since then it has implemented its partnership with Facebook and rolled out 1,000 Wi-Fi hot-spots: 150 are in Nairobi and the balance are in places like Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Naivasha. They probably cover more than 50% of Kenya’s population centres:”It’s now…
Telecoms
Bharti Airtel, Helios petition FG over sales of 9Mobile
2 February 2018
Bharti Airtel International, owners of Airtel Nigeria and UK private equity firm, Helios Investment Partners, have petitioned the Nigerian government over the ongoing process to sell 9mobile formerly Etisalat Nigeria.…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe - ‘No more space for mobile firms’
2 February 2018
Zimbabwe is unlikely to license new entrants in the mobile telecoms sector in the foreseeable future, with the regulator saying due to limited electro-magnetic spectrum, which carries sound and data,…
Telecoms
Namibia: MTC wants to deploy more than 500 telecom towers in rural areas during the year
2 February 2018
Telecommunications operator Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) wants to roll out more than 500 telecom towers in rural areas this year. The operation is part of its project called “081Every1”, officially…
Telecoms
Uganda to write off part of UTL debt
2 February 2018
Uganda’s President Museveni has ordered the government to write off debts of UGX200 billion (USD91.3 million) owed by the state-owned fixed line operator Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL). The company entered…
Telecoms
MTN issues one-time-pin scam warning to customers
2 February 2018
South African telecommunications company, MTN, issued a statement warning customers about a surge in scams asking customers for their one-time-pin (OTP) The statement in part read: “MTN wishes to advise…
Telecoms
In brief
2 February 2018
The government of South Sudan has implemented an increase in excise duty on telecoms services from 10% to 15%. APA News cites Ladu Wani, Director General of the National Communication…
Internet
Vodacom Siyakha reaches 7.5m South Africans in a year
2 February 2018
The Vodacom platform, Siyakha, which aims to lower the cost to communicate for customers at the base of the pyramid, has reached 7.5 million people in its first year. Siyakha,…
Internet
Chad restores internet access after shutdown
2 February 2018
Internet access has been restored in Chad after the government ordered a shutdown in response to national protest action backed by trade unions and civil society organisations using social media.…
Internet
First subsea cable linking Africa and South America nears completion
2 February 2018
The installation of the first direct link between Africa and South America is nearing completion, according to Angola Cables. The telco driving the project said that the wet-plant installation is…
Internet
Africa Data Centres opens newly expanded carrier-grade facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town
2 February 2018
South Africa Data Centre (SADC) Johannesburg and SADC Cape Town will support rising demand for cloud-based services in Southern Africa Africa Data Centres, part of the leading pan-African telecoms group…
Computing
A2X joins the Teraco ecosystem in a bid to disrupt South Africa’s Capital Markets
2 February 2018
A2X Markets (A2X), a new, independent stock exchange, has joined Africa’s largest and only vendor neutral data centre, Teraco, to bring its fast trading platform closer to clients. In a…
Computing
Huawei launches Cairo OpenLab
2 February 2018
Huawei, a leading global ICT and network energy solutions provider, recently launched its Cairo OpenLab during the Cairo ICT 2017 conference. Huawei, together with industry alliance and partners in Northern…
Money Transfer
Steward Bank offers Kwenga system for tiny mobile transactions in Zimbabwe
2 February 2018
Steward Bank has launched a mobile payment system in Zimbabwe that allows informal traders and small to medium-sized enterprises to carry out small transactions. Called Kwenga, it enables a sale…
Money Transfer
East Africa: Mahindra Receives Two Nominations for GSMA Glomo Awards 2018
2 February 2018
Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, received nomination in two categories at the GLOMO Awards 2018. Mahindra received the nominations for "Best Mobile Innovation for Payment" and…
Money Transfer
GHANA : GhIPSS shifts mobile money interoperability to February 2018
2 February 2018
The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), has rescheduled the implementation of the mobile money interoperability to February 2018. This comes after missing the initial November 2017 deadline. The…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom Sales Growth Accelerates on Data, Mobile-Money Take-Up
2 February 2018
Vodacom Group Ltd. said third-quarter revenue growth accelerated as Africa’s biggest phone company by market capitalization added customers and boosted sales from mobile-money. Revenue gained 6.7 percent to 22.6 billion…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Namibia - Competition commission rejects MTC merger
2 February 2018
Windhoek-The Namibia Competition Commission has rejected the merger bid between state-owned Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings (NPTH) and the Netherlands’ Samba DutchCo B.V., which together own the country’s largest mobile…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Virgin Group, Smollan Buys Stake in SA’s wiGroup
2 February 2018
Mobile software firm wiGroup announced yesterday that it has secured investment from two leading global companies to fast-track its entry into emerging and developed markets. The deal terms and stake…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
2 February 2018
Investment platform TPG Growth has signed an agreement to acquire a ‘majority stake’ in Afro-urban music and entertainment provider Trace, which operates a South African MVNO under the name Trace…
Digital Content
Prepare to see more local news stories on Facebook this year
2 February 2018
Earlier this month, Facebook reevaluated its image as a social network rather than a media company, quelling its long-time urge to clog your news feed with content that’s not created…
Digital Content
The 'ironic' question of Nigerian writing
2 February 2018
Thousands of people across social media have been posting about Nigeria's literary heritage after a journalist asked acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie if there were any bookshops in her country.…
Digital Content
Africa: Protecting Cassava From Disease? There's an App for That
2 February 2018
Cassava is one of the developing world's most important crops. Its starchy roots and leaves are a staple food for more than 500 million people in Africa each day. And…
Digital Content
Evidence patchy on value of mobile apps for farmers
2 February 2018
A review of research on how information services based on mobile phone technology can improve the lives of farmers has found only patchy evidence of success. The review, which looked…
Digital Content
WhatsApp is finally catching up to African entrepreneurs with a standalone business app
2 February 2018
Over the last two years, WhatsApp, has stood out as one of the fastest growing media platforms in Africa. For many people, WhatsApp is their primary social media platform, not…
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Opportunities
2 February 2018
Venture Incubation Programme opens applications for 2018 The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) officially opened applications for 2018 on Wednesday, 31 January 2018. The programme invites entrepreneurs seeking to launch digital…
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Events
2 February 2018
Africa Tech Summit Kigali - 2018Following the success of Africa Tech Summit London which will return in May 2018, we are delighted to welcome you to Africa Tech Summit Kigali…
