News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 922 – 20 April 2018
Top Story
Togo: New LTE entrant Teolis wants to offer rural education opportunities and takes an optimistic view of the country’s frozen monopoly provider
20 April 2018
After years of talking about more competition, the two licensed newcomers – GVA and Teolis - have finally launched. Both will need to compete in a market where wholesale provision is still largely the monopoly of state incumbent Togo Telecom. Russell Southwood talked to Michel Bagnah, President du Conseil Administration, Teolis about his future plans and how he sees the market. According to Michel Bagnah, the idea for Teolis came out of three concerns:” Firstly, we wanted to put in place the best technology for the Togolese. The current actors do not offer high quality services to users. Secondly, we…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Court Halts Sale of 9Mobile, Shareholders Led By Mangal Demand $43.3M Refund
20 April 2018
Abuja — Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday stopped the planned sale of 9mobile (formerly Etisalat Nigeria) following the opposition to the transaction raised by some…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Telecoms Giant MTN Pays Half of Nigeria's Hefty Fine
20 April 2018
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that MTN has paid N165 billion out of the N330 billion fine imposed on it due to its inability to disconnect improperly registered SIM…
Telecoms
South Africa: Government redrafting telecoms bill
20 April 2018
The department of telecommunications & postal services is actively redrafting the controversial Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, with the minister, Siyabonga Cwele, set to outline more details in the department’s budget…
Telecoms
Benin announces second phase of PDI2T project; first phase 83% complete
20 April 2018
Government-owned wholesale network provider Benin Telecoms Infrastructures has reported that the first phase of the national ‘PDI2T’ telecoms development project, which began in December 2016, was 83% completed by 31…
Telecoms
In brief
20 April 2018
The government of Zimbabwe has announced plans to privatise a large number of state-backed firms, including its assets in the telcoms sector. Cellcos NetOne and Telecel and fixed line operator…
Internet
Ethiopia ends web blackout, raising hopes of reforms under new PM
20 April 2018
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Internet users in Ethiopia said on Monday the government appeared to have ended a three-month online blackout, raising hopes of a relaxation of restrictions after the…
Internet
SA sends Africa’s largest cube satellite to India
20 April 2018
Minister of Science and Technology Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane will participate in the send-off of Africa’s largest and most advanced cube satellite to India from where it will be launched. The…
Internet
In brief
20 April 2018
The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) has provisionally handed over the extended portion of the Eastern Corridor Fiber Optic Backbone project to the Government of Ghana. The 165 kilometers extended…
Computing
Datacentrix unveils fast, highly secure backup-as-a-service offering
20 April 2018
Datacentrix has launched a new backup and disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRAAS) offering, providing affordable off-site cloud backups with the highest level of data protection and redundancy. This innovative offering is aimed…
Computing
Ethiopia: Trio Tie Up to Digitise Judiciary, Executive
20 April 2018
A joint venture (JV) of the three technology companies won the right to integrate the systems of the Office of the Attorney General, regional and federal courts, police and prison…
Computing
Rack Centre Declared Finalist In The 2018 UK DCS Awards, Two Years in a Row
20 April 2018
Rack Centre, Africa’s premium Data Centre, for the second-year running has been announced as a finalist in two categories in this year’s Data Centre Solutions Awards in the United Kingdom.…
Computing
Africa Data Centres opens new floor at Nairobi data centre facility
20 April 2018
Additional rack space now available at East Africa Data Centre to host more business-critical data in Africa Africa Data Centres, part of the leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom,…
Money Transfer
AfroMillionsLotto and Paga join forces to offer payments for Nigeria’s Biggest Jackpot in Naira
20 April 2018
Following its launch in Nigeria last October, AfroMillionsLotto has linked up with leading Nigerian payments provider Paga to offer payments for lotto games in Naira, making it even easier to…
Money Transfer
Kenya's Central Bank gives mobile money interoperability thumbs up
20 April 2018
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has welcomed the implementation of interoperability of mobile phone financial services in the country beginning Tuesday this week. Mobile money interoperability allows customers to…
Money Transfer
MFS Africa nets $4.5M cash injection
20 April 2018
Remittance provider MFS Africa secured $4.5 million in its latest funding round, an investment it will use to grow in existing markets, develop merchant services and provide facilities to ease…
Money Transfer
Kenya: Mobile Commerce Deals Pass U.S.$10 Billion Mark
20 April 2018
The value of mobile commerce transactions in Kenya has passed the Ksh1 trillion ($10 billion) mark for the first time. Data for the second quarter of 2017/18 from the Communications…
Money Transfer
Africa: GSMA Launches Global Mobile Money Certification Project
20 April 2018
At the Mobile 360 – West Africa event, the GSMA announced the launch of the GSMA Mobile Money Certification, a global scheme for mobile money providers to offer safer, more…
Money Transfer
Pick n Pay Has More Than 300 000 Money Transfer Users
20 April 2018
More than 300 000 people in South Africa are now transfering money without the need for a bank account through Pick n Pay, a sign that the service is becoming…
Money Transfer
MTN, aYo Ghana Introduce Insurance Product
20 April 2018
MTN Ghana, in partnership with aYo Ghana Intermediaries Limited and MetLife, has launched the “aYo Recharge with Care,” an insurance product for its subscribers. Speaking at the launch at Rawlings…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Konga, Yudala confirm merger
20 April 2018
Konga, Nigeria’s online mall, and Yudala, Africa’s pioneer composite e-commerce company, have officially announced a merger of their operations effective May 1, 2018. The merger will see both companies operate…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Maroc Telecom ups Onatel stake to 61%
20 April 2018
Morocco’s Maroc Telecom announced on its investor website today that it has completed the acquisition of an additional 10% of shares in its Burkina Faso subsidiary Onatel, taking its total…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telecom Egypt : confirms no immediate plans for Vodafone Egypt stake sale
20 April 2018
Telecom Egypt has no immediate plans to divest its stake in Vodafone Egypt, Bloomberg reports, citing the telco’s senior investor relations director. With Telecom Egypt reportedly focused on growing its…
Digital Content
Nigeria’s Jumia marketplace report 94% YoY growth
20 April 2018
The Jumia marketplaces and classifieds websites ware founded in Lagos, Nigeria in 2012 and now have a presence across 23 African countries. They have just reported GMV growth of 64.5%…
Digital Content
Google Go newly launched app in South Africa
20 April 2018
Google has announced the launch of Google Go, a new app that will allow users to search and browse using less data. “Users come to us to experience the web…
Digital Content
Senegalese classified app CoinAfrique secures $3 million funding to scale across French-speaking Africa
20 April 2018
CoinAfrique the classifieds app based in Senegal has raised $3.085 million funding round from a number of investors. The startup targets a monthly user base of 10 million by 2022…
Digital Content
Jumia identifies five trends in Ghanaian mobile industry
20 April 2018
Jumia's recent Ghana Mobile Report highlights some key elements in the country's mobile industry as well as a few challenges and ways to solve them. Ghana is one of Africa’s…
Digital Content
Will Tanzanian Bloggers Pay Up or Push Back Against ‘Blogger Tax'?
20 April 2018
Blogging has been popular in Tanzania for more than a decade, enabling writers and independent journalists to express views and report news that might not otherwise appear in mainstream media.…
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Opportunities
20 April 2018
Pitch AgriHack seeks to promote greater engagement of young women CTA has launched ‘Pitch AgriHack 2018’ a competition to support young agricultural entrepreneurs (agripreneurs) build viable businesses and boost innovation…
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People
20 April 2018
Zim tycoon wants to create 'digitally borderless Africa' Zimbabwean business tycoon Mutumwa Mawere is in an ambitious drive to create what he calls a "digitally borderless Africa". Last month, Mawere,…
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Events
20 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…
