News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 913 – 19th February 2018
Top Story
Senegal: Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy says new ISPs will “improve competition”, MVNO legislation on its way and Tigo sale? Nothing soon.
16 February 2018
The newly appointed Minister of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy Abdoulaye Bibi Baldé (formerly Minister of the Environment) opened the third edition of industry event SIPEN in Dakar. It was an opportunity for him to update the industry about what was happening in terms of the changes that have been proposed. Sad to say nothing moves very quickly in Senegal despite plentiful good intentions. The Minister said that the Government’s Digital Strategy (launched in 2016) “should soon enter its active phase,” with the interministerial decree for implementation being in the process of preparation. "We are in the process of updating…
Telecoms
Smartphones lost market share to feature phones in Africa last year
16 February 2018
Feature phones are making a comeback in Africa. But in truth, they never really went away. The market share of feature phones rose to 61% in 2017 from 55.4% in…
Telecoms
New disruptors offer stiff competition to African telcos
16 February 2018
African telecommunications providers have been alerted to the need to adapt to the challenges posed by a new breed of disruptors. SAP Africa executive responsible for Telco Industry Lead, Mariam…
Telecoms
Telecoms giant plans $500m financing from Nigeria’s stock market
16 February 2018
Stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have described the move by the telecommunications giant, MTN, to raise about N153 billion ($500 million) from the sale of shares in its Nigerian…
Telecoms
Malawi Govt suspends SIM card registration over fears of spying
16 February 2018
Malawi government has suspended the mandatory subscriber identity module (SIM) card registration over concerns of State spying and the long queues for verification, government spokesman Nicholous Dausi has told Parliament.…
Telecoms
In brief
16 February 2018
Zimbabwe's Minister of ICT and Cyber Security Supa Mandiwanzira and a lawmaker in the opposition have clashed over the government's decision to invest US$40 million in Telecel Zimbabwe, the country's…
Internet
Airtel Networks Kenya bags 4G licence
16 February 2018
Airtel Networks Kenya has finalised payment for its 4G LTE licence Kenya. The Communications Authority yesterday confirmed the reception of payment from Airtel Kenya , the $25 million licence fee…
Internet
Kenya's Bloggers Association takes on legal fraternity
16 February 2018
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) is going to court to challenge the validity of parts of the country's penal code that the organisation believes represent a threat to online…
Internet
Telecom firms giving Africans less digital rights than Europeans
16 February 2018
A new report published by advocacy group Internet Without Borders says that telecoms companies operating in Europe and Africa are affording their users different digital rights. The study compares Orange…
Internet
Zimbabwe leads Africa in Google's list of top searches for 2017
16 February 2018
Online search engine giant Google has revealed that the term ‘*What is happening in Zimbabwe‘ was one of the top searches in many African countries in 2017. The latter part…
Internet
African institutions to get a year’s free R&D publicity
16 February 2018
A global science information service is due to give African peer-reviewed journals one-year free access to disseminate news about the papers they publish. News about research conducted by African researchers…
Internet
South Africans Are the Second Rudest People Online, According to Microsoft
16 February 2018
It's clear by now, that we South Africans are a pretty hostile bunch online. When we're not slut-shaming Bonang for doing normal human-being stuff we're fat shaming Lesego Legobane (Thick…
Computing
PAIX completes West African Data Centres investment
16 February 2018
On 7 February 2018, PAIX data centres, a Pan-African provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral colocation data centre services, announced that it has completed its first African investment in West Africa…
Money Transfer
Tanzania: Govt Ponders Harmonisation of Mobile Money Transactions
16 February 2018
The government now wants all telecommunication companies to register their mobile money transactions with the National Switch as it seeks to rollout interoperability across all operators. This comes amid reports…
Money Transfer
Zambia: Airtel and Standard Chartered Bank launch mobile money platform
16 February 2018
Airtel Zambia has revealed that it has partnered with Standard Chartered Bank Zambia to launch a new mobile money wallet platform dubbed “Straight2Bank.” This newly launched mobile money wallet will,…
Money Transfer
Pay2 P2P app starts up in South Africa, backed by FNB, Investec and Nedbank
16 February 2018
South African businessman Henry McCarter has launched a mobile banking app called Pay2 which he says will help change the way people transact with one another, reports Pretoria News. The…
Money Transfer
In brief
16 February 2018
South Africa’s Standard Bank is building an MVNO, Tech Central reports, citing well-placed industry sources. The bank has hired Steve Bailey, the former CEO of both Virgin Mobile South Africa…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Afrimax Group announces sale of BusyInternet Ghana Ltd
16 February 2018
The Afrimax Group has successfully completed the sale of one of its African subsidiaries, BusyInternet Ghana Limited to AI Technologies Limited, a company incorporated in Ghana. A statement copied Citi…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Endeavor continues expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa as it launches in Nigeria
16 February 2018
Endeavor, a non-profit organisation that supports high-impact entrepreneurs around the world, has launched a new office in Lagos, Nigeria. The organisation announced the launch on Wednesday (7 February) in a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Angola - Oi claims EUR2.8bn from Unitel shareholders in international arbitration court
16 February 2018
An arbitration procedure has begun at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris between the feuding shareholders of Angolan mobile operator Unitel, Portuguese newspaper Publico reported. Brazilian telco Oi,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
16 February 2018
The Cape Verdean government has announced the creation of a new company to manage the state’s telecommunications network, which is currently the responsibility of Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT), Portuguese newspaper…
Digital Content
First Microsoft 4Afrika AppFactory launched in Kenya in Partnership with USIU-Africa
16 February 2018
The United States International University Africa (USIU-Africa), in collaboration with Microsoft 4Afrika, have launched Kenya’s first AppFactory in Nairobi. The 1st Microsoft 4Afrika AppFactory in Nairobi, Kenya, Incubation and Innovation…
Digital Content
Safaricom launches "Songa App" for music lovers
16 February 2018
Safaricom on Monday launched a new music streaming service dubbed 'Songa' which offers a variety of music to customers at a fee. The 'SONGA by Safaricom' also offers a platform…
Digital Content
UK plans video campaign to deter African migrants
16 February 2018
A viral video campaign using the testimonies of migrants in Libya to discourage others from making the perilous journey to the north African country – and then on to Europe…
Digital Content
Whatever happened to Afwerki’s comely face? Eritrean music in an age of YouTube
16 February 2018
Musicians in Eritrea used to have to sing the government’s praises to pass the censors. Now there are other ways to get heard. In 2005, Eritrean singer Ghirmay Andom had…
Digital Content
'Birthright Africa' Wants to Connect People of the African Diaspora to Their Heritage
16 February 2018
Birthright Africa is on a mission to reconnect Africa and the diaspora. Wouldn't it be amazing if African descendants around the globe could reconnect with the African continent in a…
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Opportunities
16 February 2018
Digital Lab Africa (DLA) is calling on African creatives working in the digital arts to submit projects under the Digital Music category. The call is open to artists, producers,…
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Events
16 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…
