News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 914 – 23rd February 2018
Top Story
The Strange Case of the Dog that didn’t bark – Communications Authority of Kenya, Safaricom and the fall of Francis Wangusi
23 February 2018
One of Africa’s most interesting regulatory cases is the dominant market power study being conducted by Kenya’s regulator, CAK. This week Russell Southwood looks at the detailed findings of the report commissioned by CAK and what it might do about them. Let’s start at the beginning for those less familiar with the Kenyan telecoms market. Safaricom is the biggest player in the Kenyan market by revenues and is owned by the following shareholders and shareholder categories: Vodacom: 35%; Kenyan Government: 35%; Vodafone: 5%; and retail investors (largely locals through the Nairobi Stock Exchange): 25%. As the largest player in the…
Telecoms
Egypt Officially Launches Its 1st Smartphone 'SICO' Nationwide
23 February 2018
The first Egyptian-manufactured Smartphone 'SICO' came to light, as it will be available at the markets nationwide. That was at an event on Sunday18/2/2018, attended by Minister of Communications and…
Telecoms
GeoPoll Extends Research Services In Southern Africa With Botswana Launch
23 February 2018
U.S.-based mobile survey platform, GeoPoll has extended its presence in Southern Africa with a launch of operations in Botswana. The company was already working in South Africa, and now adds…
Telecoms
Orange Egypt Deploys NFV-based Mobile Traffic Management from Openwave Mobility to Deliver Exceptional Subscriber Experience
23 February 2018
February 21, 2018 – Openwave Mobility, the market leader in mobile data traffic management solutions, announced today that Orange Egypt, has selected Openwave Mobility’s NFV-based Traffic Management solutions to deliver…
Telecoms
Startup Interview - Emeka Akano, CEO, Jara Mobile Ltd, Nigeria
23 February 2018
Jara Mobile Limited, a Nigerian startup, runs an innovative bills payment platform that integrates various retailers into one loyalty programme, giving customers the leeway of doing more with less money.…
Internet
Nairobi losing millions in revenue due to internet, power outages
23 February 2018
Nairobi County loses millions in revenue every month due to recurrent network fluctuations, power outages and weak enforcement mechanism by the county staff. JamboPay CEO Danson Muchemi said that on…
Internet
Guinean government says IXP is ready
23 February 2018
Guinea's Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy Moustapha Mamy Diaby said the country's internet exchange point is ready, ITWeb reported. Diaby said the country will start deploying the IXP…
Internet
How SpaceX plans to bring speedy broadband to the whole world
23 February 2018
After a third delay, Thursday is now the day SpaceX plans to launch two small prototype satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the beginning of what Elon Musk and his…
Internet
In brief
23 February 2018
JSE-listed technology group Altron has secured a ZAR585 million (USD50.2 million) deal to roll out broadband in the Limpopo province
Computing
Ramaphosa to establish ICT commission
23 February 2018
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his maiden state-of-the-nation address, said government will soon establish a “digital industrial revolution commission” to ensure South Africa “is in a position to seize the opportunities…
Computing
‘China’s gift to Africa’: How China spied on the African Union via donated computers
23 February 2018
For a period of 5 years, China continued to spy on all electronic communications at the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Chinese spy operation continued throughout this…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
Telecoms policy becomes a tennis match
23 February 2018
ISPA opposes the endless 'to and fro' telecoms sector tennis match that it says never seems to end with the consumer as champion. ISPA opposes the endless 'to and fro'…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
MTN is Complying with the ICASA Number Regulation Plan
23 February 2018
MTN will be introducing new short codes in accordance with the new numbering guidelines gazetted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). From 24 March 2018 the short…
Money Transfer
UBA contactless cards hit three million
23 February 2018
United Bank for Africa Plc says it has issued over three million Near Field Communication technology-enabled contactless cards to its teeming customers. “UBA has revolutionised the payments landscape in Nigeria…
Money Transfer
Senegal: Expresso launches its “E-Money” service
23 February 2018
The mobile operator, Expresso, a subsidiary of the Sudanese telecom group, Sudatel, has finally invested in the Senegalese mobile money sector. The telecom company launched its ‘E-money’ dedicated to mobile…
Money Transfer
Zimbabwe and Kenya lead the way in Africa's dash from cash
23 February 2018
Efficiency and safety of mobile money has millions forgoing notes and coins “Drunks love paying by M-Pesa,” the owner of a bar in a low-income area of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi,…
Money Transfer
Announcing mCoin: The First Inclusive Cryptocurrency Accessible outside the Domain of the Internet
23 February 2018
mCoin is powered by ONEm's Global and scalable Platform, which has the ability to reach billions of people around the world even through traditional mobile without the Internet LONDON, United…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Barclays Confirms Teleology as Preferred Bidder of 9mobile
23 February 2018
Barclays Africa, the financial adviser handling the sale of 9mobile, Wednesday finally put to rest several media speculations about the actual sale of 9mobile. The financial adviser transmitted an official…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Cell C posts improved financials in 2017 following recapitalisation
23 February 2018
Cell C, South Africa’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers, has reported a net profit of ZAR4.1 billion (USD349.5 million) for 2017, compared to a net profit of ZAR541 million…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Orange increases dividend after rise in 2017 results
23 February 2018
Orange reported a second consecutive year of revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth in 2017 and increased its operating cash flow for the first time since 2009. The company forecast a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodafone Uganda enters bankruptcy
23 February 2018
Debt-burdened Afrimax Uganda, which trades under the Vodafone Uganda brand, has filed for bankruptcy at the country’s High Court. A three-month protection order has been granted, and a report from…
Digital Content
Chinese State TV Lambasted for ‘Racist’ Lunar New Year Sketch Featuring Blackface
23 February 2018
This post was written by Jun Pang and originally published on Hong Kong Free Press on February 17, 2018. The version below is published on Global Voices as part of…
Digital Content
Rwandan Makes a Prototype That Enables Whatsapp Users to Call Without
23 February 2018
Calling from Japan, China, United States of America or even from Europe to Africa, is one of the most expensive things one can do. Telecommunication firms charge a lot of…
Digital Content
In brief
23 February 2018
The recently launched news app developed by Opera, has broken the 1 million download milestone in less than four weeks since its release. Opera News, which provides users with easy…
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People
23 February 2018
Somalia appoints head of country’s first telecoms regulator The Somali Cabinet has approved the appointment of Abdi Sheikh Ahmed as the director-general of the country’s fledgling telecoms regulator, the National…
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Opportunities
23 February 2018
Nigeria: 9Mobile Prize for Literature Announces 2018 Shortlist The three shortlisted titles are: Stay with Me by Nigeria's Ayobami Adebayo; What it Means When a Man Falls Down From the…
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Events
23 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…
