News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 926 – 18 May 2018
Top Story
Mobile money start-up MFS wants to have 400 million mobile wallets by 2020 – it’s already nearly halfway there
18 May 2018
Mobile money in Africa started as a workaround with people exchanging airtime as a way of sending money. Out of this small seed of an idea has come a whole ecosystem that is both bigger than the traditional banking system but also increasingly integrated into it, both nationally and globally. Russell Southwood talks to Dare Okoudjou, CEO and founder of MFS. Mobile money start-up founder Dare Okoudjou comes from Benin but was educated in Morocco and Paris. He was a graduate of Telecom ParisTech and INSEAD. I last spoke to Okoudjou in 2012 back in the early days when MFS…
Telecoms
Vodacom Congo first operator to launch 4G in DRC
18 May 2018
Vodacom DRC, the country’s leading mobile network provider, has once again taken the lead and is the first to commercially launch 4G services with speeds in excess of 20Mb/s in…
Telecoms
MTN signs coverage, service obligation agreement, matching Orange
18 May 2018
Cameroon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Board (Agence de Regulation des Telecommunications – ART) has confirmed that cellco MTN Cameroon signed amendments to its existing concession renewal agreement with the government on 5…
Telecoms
Vodacom to implement mobile data rollover and transfers in South Africa
18 May 2018
Vodacom will abide by ICASA’s new regulations, which require operators to allow subscribers to roll over unused data or transfer it to another user on the same network. Additionally, the…
Telecoms
KT completes LTE network in Rwanda
18 May 2018
KT announced Sunday that it had installed a high-speed LTE network in Rwanda that covers 95 percent of the African country. Korea's No. 2 mobile carrier announced the completion of…
Telecoms
Cost of mobile data in SADC ...Zim ICT minister moots lowering tariffs
18 May 2018
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzira, has said government is undertaking research to ascertain the real cost of data in the country following an outcry…
Telecoms
In brief
18 May 2018
Turkey’s largest mobile operator by subscribers Turkcell has announced it is deploying ‘indoor gigabit connectivity’ using the Ericsson Radio Dot System, designed to offer higher quality coverage and capacity in…
Internet
Analyzing the Reach of South Africa’s Modern Mobile Speeds
18 May 2018
Though South Africa has the fastest average mobile download speed in Africa (22.42 Mbps in Q1 2018), the story is not that simple. Download speed in the country’s fastest province…
Internet
Safaricom deploys 5,000km of fibre to serve 141,000 homes
18 May 2018
Kenyan fixed and mobile operator Safaricom has announced that it has deployed more than 5,000km of fibre-optic cabling, passing some 141,000 Kenyan households in the process. The company, which established…
Internet
Ethio Telecom Takes Baby Step to Liberalise Services
18 May 2018
The government has moved one step forward in liberalising the service part of the telecom industry by outsourcing a local private company to sell fixed-line internet services. The government has…
Internet
Buoyed by growth of African peering communities, NAPAfrica reaches top 15 of the world's largest IXPs
18 May 2018
Teraco, Africa's only vendor neutral data centre, has announced that Africa's largest Internet Exchange Point (IXP), NAPAfrica is now ranked in the top 15 of the largest global IXPs. Teraco,…
Internet
Trace Mobile launches mobile data that never expires
18 May 2018
Media company Trace has announced the launch of Trace Mobile, which it said is a fully-fledged mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in South Africa. Trace Mobile will offer prepaid packages…
Internet
Somalia to set up internet exchange point to enhance digital services
18 May 2018
Somalia on Wednesday announced plans to establish the country’s first Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Mogadishu to help enhance digital services across the country. Abdi Ashur Hassan, the Minister of…
Computing
Zambia says appointment to Smart Africa Board to improve efficiency
18 May 2018
The Zambian government said on Thursday that the country’s appointment to the Smart Africa Board will go a long way in improving accountability, efficiency and openness through Information and Technology…
Computing
Uber launches Nairobi traffic data website
18 May 2018
Uber has launched a data-sharing portal that provides average zone-to-zone travel times based on historical data sets stored by the online taxi hailing company. The Uber Movement website is designed…
Computing
South Africa and Cuba ink deal to cooperate on ICT, and especially on security
18 May 2018
South Africa and Cuba governments have signed an ICT cooperation agreement. The agreement covers the exchange of technical skills and human resources development; sharing experiences in satellite and other communication…
Computing
How Africa can bridge the gender digital divide
18 May 2018
Until now, only a few girls and women in Africa are dispelling the stereotypes associated with technology and science industries in general. There are still a small number of women…
Computing
US$1.5 billion fund launched to help build Africa's smart city ecosystem
18 May 2018
Multinational ICT firm Huawei has confirmed the introduction of a US$1.5 billion global financing program, with capital from IOT/ smart solutions focused funding company Smart City Solutions, to fuel the…
Computing
Mauritius launches first cloud camp
18 May 2018
WINDHOEK – Mauritius has rolled out its first cloud camp where people from all walks of life, who have interests in information technology trends, could learn from one another and…
Computing
ERP in Cloud and Big Data to Create $1,1 Billion in New Revenue Streams in the South African Technology Market
18 May 2018
LONDON, May 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan's latest analysis, South African ICT Outlook 2018, finds emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), Fintech, and the…
Money Transfer
South Africa’s Zapper introduces Masterpass service
18 May 2018
South African mobile payment company Zapper has formed a new partnership to introduce Mastercard’s digital payment service, Masterpass, at more than 20,000 of its merchants across the country. In addition,…
Money Transfer
Maxcom Africa inks mobile payment deal with Sanlam Life
18 May 2018
Tanzanian operator Maxcom Africa has signed a joint venture agreement with Sanlam Life Insurance that will allo customers make insurance payments through their mobile phones. Sanlam Life Insurance CEO…
Money Transfer
Could Blockchain Disrupt Corruption In African Land Registration? This Startup Hopes So
18 May 2018
Getting a title and deed registered for any piece of land in Africa is a thorny affair. The processes are painfully slow and ladened with corruption. Cases of double ownership…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
World Bank allocates USD20m to Burkina Faso for telecoms improvements
18 May 2018
The World Bank has approved a USD20 million International Development Association (IDA) credit in order for Burkina Faso to expand and improve the geographical coverage of its broadband networks and…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodacom said to be eyeing Vumatel stake
18 May 2018
Speculation is growing that Vodacom is poised to buy 49% of fibre-to-the-home provider Vumatel. Industry talk is that Dark Fibre Africa, in a deal possibly facilitated through its largest shareholder,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Zimbabwe looking for full control of Telecel
18 May 2018
Zimbabwe’s ICT minister Supa Mandiwanzira has confirmed that the government has no plans to sell off its 60% stake in the country’s third largest mobile network operator, Telecel, and is…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Vodafone's African Unit Seeking Deals to Fuel Tanzania Expansion
18 May 2018
Vodacom Group Ltd. is in talks with the Tanzanian government and other mobile-phone operators about possible deals that will help the company expand in one of its biggest markets. “Should…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
AYO delivers excellent interim results, setting a strong platform for growth
18 May 2018
JOHANNESBURG - JSE-listed AYO Technology Solutions Limited (AYO), one of South Africa’s largest black economic empowered ICT companies, today announced outstanding interim results to 28 February 2018, showing excellent revenue…
Digital Content
Jail term or Kshs 5m fine for spreading fake news in new law
18 May 2018
President Uhuru Kenyatta enacted Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017 citing a two year jail term or Kshs 5 million fine for spreading fake news. The President’s decision is facing protests…
Digital Content
South Africa - You can now open an FNB account by taking a selfie
18 May 2018
Banking group FNB has unveiled a host of new banking technologies being added to its platform, including a new ‘seamless and paperless’ process to opening a bank account – by…
Digital Content
Zambia's govt: 'we will not shut down social media'
18 May 2018
Under mounting pressure, Zambia's government has confirmed it will not shut down social media platforms as it readies three new internet regulation bills for possible introduction. The Cyber Security and…
Digital Content
Bloody taboos: new emoji could help to end period 'shame'
8 February 2019
Women and girls will be able to use an emoji to chat about their periods from next month, which will help to end the shame around menstruation, a child rights…
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Opportunities
18 May 2018
The 2018 Innovation Prize for Africa set to hold in Rwanda Rwanda has been picked to host the prestigious 2018 Innovation Prize for Africa event, which is in recognition of…
