News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 921 – 13 April 2018
Top Story
Sudatel bullish after the lifting of US sanctions and wants to keep being an international operator in Africa
13 April 2018
Sudatel is starting to talk more confidently and explore new international partnerships. The lifting of US sanctions has removed a barrier that has in the past held it back. Russell Southwood spoke to Nazar Gard Kareem Ali Arabi, Chief Strategy Officer, Sudatel about its MoU with Liquid Telecom, its fibre link to Chad and the state of its international operations. Earlier this year Sudatel signed an MoU with Liquid Telecom to roll-out Fibre-To-The-Home across Sudan:”Basically we’ve signed an MOU and this is the first stage of the project. We need to do an exercise together (to look at how we…
Telecoms
Orange looks to the skies to boost connectivity
13 April 2018
Orange has announced a deal with Eutelsat to act as one of two distribution partners on the satellite operator’s Konnect VHTS asset, expected to be operational in 2021. Satellite is…
Telecoms
Infinix, Tecno phones maker tops sales charts in Kenya
13 April 2018
Chinese firm Transsion Holdings is the Kenyan market leader in the number of mobile phones sold. Three of its brands including Tecno, itel and Infinix are among the top five…
Telecoms
Dynamic Spectrum Alliance congratulates the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa for publishing its TV White Space regulations
13 April 2018
Johannesburg, South Africa, 11 April 2018: The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) congratulates the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for publishing its regulations on the use of Television White…
Telecoms
In brief
13 April 2018
Nigerian wholesale fibre provider BCN has been awarded the North West Zone Infraco licence for a period of 20 years by the regulator NCC. This gives the company authorization to…
Internet
Teraco surpasses 12,000 interconnects and predicts more growth across Africa
13 April 2018
Africa’s only vendor neutral colocation data centre, Teraco, is Africa’s most densely interconnected Data Centre with over 12,000 interconnects and growing at an impressive rate of ±500 interconnects per quarter.…
Internet
Togolese govt launches network of national public Wi-Fi hotspots
13 April 2018
Agence Ecofin writes that the government of Togo this week launched a network of public Wi-Fi hotspots with the ultimate aim of blanketing the nation with high-quality internet connectivity, as…
Internet
Google releases new Africa app to beat sluggish internet speeds
13 April 2018
Johannesburg - Google is releasing an app in Africa that will help internet users overcome obstacles such as the lack of high-speed connectivity and the cost of data on the…
Internet
African Businesses to License ONEm's Internet-like Service Technology
13 April 2018
ONEm has also developed a blockchain technology accessible over SMS to support unique applications LONDON, United Kingdom, April 11, 2018/ -- ONEm Communications (www.ONEm.com) is bringing internet-like services to millions…
Internet
Liquid Telecom Is Helping East Africa Become A Gaming Powerhouse:
13 April 2018
Yesterday, Liquid Telecom Kenya provided free high-speed internet connection (250mbps) for the Pro Series Gaming Tournament in Nairobi, Kenya. The tournament saw players pitted against each other in the popular…
Internet
Africa to US subsea cable coming soon
13 April 2018
The first direct subsea fibre-optic cable system that will connect SA to Brazil, and eventually to the US, is set for commercial launch in 2020, according to Seaborn Networks COO…
Computing
Gear of the Year 2017 SME Winners: Cloud
13 April 2018
The over-arching messaging from cloud providers the world over has long been “Ditch capex for opex by kicking your own tin to the curb and adopting cloud instead!” and “Deploy…
Computing
Cyber crimes soaring in Africa amid weak defenses
13 April 2018
Nairobi, Sub-Saharan African region could be the next epicentre of the space-tracing government installations, private businesses and ordinary citizens thanks to weak deterrent measures, says a report launched in Nairobi…
Computing
In brief
13 April 2018
The local government of Lagos state has announced plans to set up 5,000 new coding centres in 2018. The government is creating the new centers in primary and secondary schools…
Money Transfer
Fintech start-up Zoto gets massive growth in user base and order volumes in 2017-18
13 April 2018
Lagos, Nigeria – 09 April 2018: Zoto, a product of Hedonmark Management Services Limited and Nigeria’s fastest growing payment solution, today announced that its transacting user base and order volume…
Money Transfer
Ecobank Group partners with MTN to deepen financial inclusion across Africa
13 April 2018
LOME, Togo, April 10, 2018/ -- MTN (www.MTN.com) has announced a collaboration with Africa’s leading independent banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) (www.Ecobank.com), enabling both companies to leverage each other’s…
Money Transfer
PayGate re-brands and extends reach into Africa
13 April 2018
Payments company, DPO Group has announced the rollout of its Southern African payment service providers (PSPs) into the consolidated brand of DPO PayGate. In August 2017, DPO Group announced its…
Money Transfer
$1 billion in transactions processed on Ecobank Mobile App in Africa
13 April 2018
With over 4 million users, the Ecobank Mobile App is available to all, enabling users to open an Ecobank Xpress™ Account instantly on their mobile device LOME, Togo, April…
Money Transfer
PayPal, Safaricom and TransferTo Announce Collaboration in Kenya
13 April 2018
The new service enables global eCommerce on the African continent and allows M-PESA users in Kenya to shop with PayPal merchants globally, and local Kenyan online businesses and freelancers to…
Money Transfer
In brief
13 April 2018
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) and money remittance firm WorldRemit have announced a partnership to enable Kenyans in the diaspora to make instant money transfers to the bank's local branches, reports…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom Kenya and Airtel seek merger to take on Safaricom
13 April 2018
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Telkom Kenya plans to merge operations with Indian-owned Bharti Airtel’s (BRTI.NS) local unit as a first step to acquiring all of Airtel’s assets, sources said on Tuesday,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Maroc Telecom : to launch share buyback on 10 May
13 April 2018
Maroc Telecom (IAM) will launch a share buyback programme for 1.5 million shares on 10 May, bourse regulator L'Autorite Marocaine du Marche des Capitaux (AMMC) reports. The maximum purchasing price…
Digital Content
Mobiclicks, Silverpush start automated multiscreen advertising service Magnifi in South Africa
13 April 2018
Mobiclicks and Silverpush launched the Magnifi television advertising synchronisation platform in South Africa in 2017 and are now starting an automated system, Maginfi will aid in delivering campaigns, with mobile…
Digital Content
SA e-health app Vula Mobile picks up R1 million in funding
13 April 2018
Vula Mobile, an app that makes it easy to refer patients to specialists, has picked up R1 million in funding from HAVAÍC, an investment and advisory firm that specialises in…
Digital Content
How RootIO Broadcasts Radio in Uganda Using a Bucket
13 April 2018
The open-source toolkit allows users to broadcast using just a smartphone and a transmitter Radio is still and continues to be a powerful medium across most of the African continent.…
Digital Content
In brief
13 April 2018
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni wants social media users to suffer the consequences of their gossip — and to bolster the national budget at the same time. In early April 2018,…
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People
13 April 2018
Safaricom’s Sylvia Mulinge to head Tanzania Vodacom Telecoms operator Safaricom announced the appointment of its director for consumer business, Sylvia Mulinge, to the position of managing director at Vodacom, Tanzania.…
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Opportunties
13 April 2018
Zambia’s BongoHive opens applications for Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Zambian innovation hub BongoHive has opened applications for its Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, which provides entrepreneurs to turn their ideas in the retail and e-commerce…
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Events
13 April 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…
