News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 920 – 6 April 2018
Top Story
Senegal: After a 20+ year wait, Arc finally gets to launch an LTE-TDD broadband service and build its own infrastructure
6 April 2018
At the end of last month, three new ISPs launched in Senegal. Arc Informatique’s Mohsen Chirara has waited over twenty years for this point and spoke to me about his long-term vision and current plans. Mohsen Chirara’s Arc Informatique has been around as a Senegalese ISP since 1996:”We started up with a dial-up service and then moved on to ADSL. Our licence didn’t allow us to build infrastructure so we worked with existing telcos like Sonatel.” In fact Arc Informatique ended up in the corporate niche and was Senegal’s only surviving ISP. In 2016, with a new President in power,…
Telecoms
Mint Connect seeks to penetrate African market with budget mobile phones
6 April 2018
Mint Connect plans to expand across Africa to meet the demand for its low-cost mobile devices, reports BusinessReport. CEO Sagran Pillay said the company plans to penetrate the African industry…
Telecoms
Vodacom opens new ‘Social Media Command Centre’ in Cape Town
6 April 2018
Vodacom is embracing social media as a valid way for user to submit queries, this after the company launched its “specialist Social Media Command Centre” in Cape Town on Wednesday.…
Telecoms
South Africans love their smartphones and mobile data
6 April 2018
ICASA has released its latest State of the ICT Sector in South Africa report, detailing the trends in the country’s mobile data sector. ICASA is responsible for the collection of…
Telecoms
President launches CAR’s national fibre-optic network
6 April 2018
President Faustin Archange Touadera has officially launched the construction of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) national fibre-optic network, writes Agence Ecofin. The project, worth XAF21.8 billion (USD40.9 million), is part…
Telecoms
In brief
6 April 2018
South Africa has with effect from Wednesday last week, banned the use of cellphones by travellers within the immigration halls. Sources at the border said the ban was a reaction…
Internet
Sierra Leone denies internet shutdown during election
6 April 2018
The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone has dismissed reports that it ordered the shutting down of internet connectivity for election day on 31 March, APA News reported. NATCOM…
Internet
AU mission reviews ICT strategy against al-Shabaab
6 April 2018
MOGADISHU, (CAJ News) – THE African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is reviewing its information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities to enhance effectiveness. A team of 39 ICT services executives…
Internet
Microsoft partners with Gauteng government to launch online learning platform
6 April 2018
Microsoft South Africa and the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) have launched Thint’iMillion, an online mass learning system. From a digital skills perspective, the training will include Word, Excel and PowerPoint…
Internet
Iflix launched in Morocco
6 April 2018
With diverse and varied content, ranging from the biggest Hollywood productions, to Korean content, to the best Egyptian and Bollywood films, not to mention the international cult series, iflix has…
Internet
The massive growth of international bandwidth in South Africa
6 April 2018
ICASA has released its latest State of the ICT Sector in South Africa report, detailing international bandwidth usage figures for South Africa. ICASA is responsible for the collection of statistics…
Internet
In brief
6 April 2018
BT says it has given 180,000 people in thirteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa access to the internet, e-learning and improved healthcare thanks to the completion of its Connecting Africa programme.…
Computing
Liquid Telecom Rwanda partners with Impact Hub Kigali to nurture digital innovation
6 April 2018
Liquid Telecom Rwanda, part of the leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom, has announced a partnership with Impact Hubs, a global network of innovation labs, business incubators and social enterprise…
Computing
Trade portal enables SA small businesses dream big
6 April 2018
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) have received a major boost after the country’s leading mobile network operator launched a portal to empower them…
Computing
How operator MTN is creating Africa’s version of Amazon, Netflix and Alibaba combined
6 April 2018
Africa is a world leader in areas like mobile banking and money, with new opportunities opening up in digital media and ecommerce. Speakers at IADS 2018 identified affordable access, shared…
Computing
Microsoft delivers dozens of computers to Ghana school that went viral
6 April 2018
Computer giants Microsoft have donated dozens of computers to the school where a Ghanaian ICT teacher stole the hearts of social media users when he drew features of a Microsoft…
Telecoms, Rates, Offers and Coverage
POTRAZ aims to revamp telecoms law
6 April 2018
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has drafted a new bill aimed at revamping the country’s ageing telecoms legislation, the Post and Telecommunications Act of 2000. TechZim…
Money Transfer
Cameroun: Societe Generale partners with YUP to run mobile money services
6 April 2018
According to an authorisation from the central bank, SGC bank and its partner YUP Cameroun can now offer digital finance services. The authorization states that the financial institutions have 12…
Money Transfer
Convenience versus cost of mobile apps borrowing
6 April 2018
Kenyans have never had it so good when it comes to sources of funds. With some personal self-discipline, Kenyans can finally live a life largely unencumbered by overwhelming debt and…
Money Transfer
Zimbabwe: RBZ Moves to Protect Mobile Money Users
6 April 2018
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has amended the National Payment Systems Act to prevent close to five million mobile money subscribers from losing their money should network operators (MNOs)…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
HPE expands AI capabilities with Cape Networks acquisition
6 April 2018
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has made a bid to buy South Africa-based Wi-Fi monitoring software-as-a-service (SaaS) and hardware provider, Cape Networks, for an undisclosed sum. The new acquisition will be…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
6 April 2018
MDXi, the Nigerian Data Centre company says it has closed a $20 million deal with British satellite operator, Avanti Communications Group Plc to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria. Read the…
Digital Content
Diamond Bank targets additional 1m customers with new digital platform
6 April 2018
Diamond Bank Plc has disclosed that it is currently targeting additional one million customers in its database in the next one year through the introduction of its new digital financial…
Digital Content
GameMine partners with Chop Up in Africa
6 April 2018
GameMine, a US-based mobile game publisher, has announced it is partnering with African mobile game development company, Chop Up to distribute the company’s African-themed mobile games worldwide, according to an…
Digital Content
Ecobank mobile app reaches 4 million users milestone in Africa
6 April 2018
The app builds on the core functionality that saw the original version applauded as a game changer for African banking LOME, Togo, April 3, 2018/ -- The upgraded version of…
Digital Content
Entrepreneur: 'Anyone Can Play a Role' in African Innovation
6 April 2018
While working for a big consulting firm in Lagos, Nigeria, Afua Osei repeatedly encountered women who wanted to advance professionally but didn't know how. They needed guidance and mentoring. So,…
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People
6 April 2018
ICT Authority replaces acting chief executive after two years The ICT Authority has replaced acting Chief Executive Robert Mugo with John Sergon who will also hold the post in the…
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Opportunities
6 April 2018
East Africa Com Awards – entries now open Are you at the forefront of digital transformation in the East African region? Celebrate your project’s successes by submitting an entry to…
