News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 931 – 22 June 2018
Top Story
Africa’s Slowest Moving Fibre Project begins to fall into place –Congo-B tenders for links to Cameroon and Central African Republic
22 June 2018
Congo-Brazzaville should take the credit for being the most active country partner in the slow moving Central African Backbone project. It linked to neighboring Gabon in April and is now tendering for links to Cameroon and Central African Republic. Russell Southwood looks at how things are falling into place. In January 2018 I wrote a story on Africa’s slowest moving fibre project. Central Africa is probably the largest geographic area of the continent without a wide array of redundant fibre connecting its different countries. The Central African Backbone project was devised to change all that but it has been eight…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Lawyers to receive N500M in MTN’s N330Bn fine case
22 June 2018
The team of lawyers who participated in compelling MTN to pay the N330 billion fine slammed on it in 2015 by the Nigerian Communications Commission for SIM registration breaches will…
Telecoms
Ghana to go ahead with controversial telecoms revenue monitoring system
22 June 2018
Following a series of threats, consultations and modifications to the original tech specifications, Ghana's communication ministry has confirmed government's intention to implement the common telecoms revenue monitoring platform. In December…
Telecoms
South Africa: Court finds Vodacom, Transnet contract 'lawful'
22 June 2018
The South Gauteng High Court has ruled in favour of Vodacom in a battle between it and rival MTN over a contract with state-owned freight and logistics company, Transnet, worth…
Telecoms
itel Launches Three Smartphones on Android Oreo System in Africa
22 June 2018
itel, a mobile phone brand has announced the launch its first three smartphones, itel P32, A32F and A15, which run on the Android Oreo operating system (Go edition), into the…
Telecoms
Court tells Algerie Telecom to reinstate low-cost fixed LTE package
22 June 2018
Algerie Telecom (AT) has lost a court case brought by consumer protection association APOCE regarding the telco’s scrapping of a low-cost offer for fixed modem 4G LTE wireless broadband users,…
Telecoms
Zimbabwe: Potraz Slashes Mobile Internet Data Tariffs By 60 Percent
22 June 2018
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has concluded a cost modeling exercise for telecommunication network services in Zimbabwe covering mobile, fixed and Internet Access networks. In collaboration…
Telecoms
In brief
22 June 2018
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has published a determination setting the mobile termination rates (MTRs) that operators may charge from 1 July 2018. For ‘generic 2G/3G/4G operators’ – referring to…
Internet
Naspers's Spree and Media24's Superbalist to merge into new online fashion platform
22 June 2018
Cape Town – Media24 will be the 51% owner of a new venture which will arise from a merger between Naspers-owned online fashion retailers Spree and Superbalist, the media company…
Internet
Safaricom’s Songa poaches GM from Tecno’s Boomplay
22 June 2018
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 20 – In a move to grow music streaming services in Kenya, Safaricom’s music platform Songa has poached Chinasa Udeala from Boomplay and appointed him General Manager.…
Internet
Leading independent websites go dark as Tanzania’s ‘blogger tax’ deadline approaches
22 June 2018
Alongside scores of independent blogs and social media pages, Tanzania's most popular independent news and user comment site, Jamii Forum, have shut themselves down in anticipation of the country's soon-to-be-implemented…
Internet
Algeria shuts down internet to prevent cheating during high school exams
22 June 2018
The whole nation of Algeria went offline on Wednesday for the start of high school exams, the first in a series of internet blackouts to stop the possibility of students…
Internet
In brief
22 June 2018
On the 5th of April 2018, Kymeta and iDirect joined forces to successfully demonstrate the Kymeta KyWay Terminal Proof of Concept in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. The Kymeta KyWay Terminal demo…
Computing
Amazon Web Services sets up SA points of presence
22 June 2018
The world’s largest cloud computing provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has opened its first physical point of presence (PoP) in South Africa. The company, which is owned by online retail…
Computing
Special needs schools get a digital helping hand
22 June 2018
MiX Telematics, in partnership with iSchool Africa, have donated 50 Apple iPads and other technology equipment to both the Vera School for learners with autism and the Alta du Toit…
Computing
MTN SA launches new multimedia facility for disabled users
22 June 2018
MTN South Africa has launched a new multimedia tech facility and library for the benefit of local social welfare organisation Afrika Tikkun Centre, reports ITWeb.The company this week joined deputy…
Computing
Nigerian Cloud Accounting Platform Wins African Incubator Startup Challenge
22 June 2018
Nigerian cloud accounting platform, Accounteer, won the inaugural MEST Africa Challenge organized by the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, a training program, seed fund and Africa’s largest tech incubator based…
Computing
In brief
22 June 2018
The government of Rwanda has launched a new RWF25.4 billion (USD30 million) National Research and Innovation Fund aimed at boosting the country’s ICT sector.
Money Transfer
Truecaller eyes Sub-Saharan Africa's fintech market after acquiring Chillr, an Indian payment company
22 June 2018
Truecaller said it is looking at ways to enter the Sub-Saharan Africa's fintech market after the success of Truecaller Pay 2.0 in India. Last year in March, the company announced…
Money Transfer
EcoCash launches dedicated wallet for business payments
22 June 2018
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s leading mobile money service EcoCash on Wednesday unveiled a dedicated wallet for business payments. The business wallet, which represents the first time in Africa that an enterprise…
Money Transfer
South Africa: Net1 buys informal market prepaid airtime distributor
22 June 2018
The Competition Tribunal has approved the merger between Net1 Applied Technologies South Africa and DNI-4PL Contracts without conditions. Net1 is owned by Net1 UEPS Technologies Inc, an American company. In…
Money Transfer
Tanzania: Mobile Money Transactions Up
22 June 2018
Dar es Salaam — Sh3.3 trillion was transacted through mobile money interoperability during the first 10 months of the 2017/18 financial year, the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Monetary Policy Statement…
Money Transfer
Akon’s building a Senegalese ‘Smart City’ with his cryptocurrency ‘Akoin’
22 June 2018
There’s a new cryptocurrency soon to be launched, but it won’t be taking its name from any memes or computer jargon. Instead, it’ll be launched by Senegalese musician Akon. Not…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ethiopian PM outlines plans to split Ethio Telecom in two, sell shares in both companies
22 June 2018
Ethiopia’s government is planning to break state-run monopoly provider Ethio Telecom in two and then sell a 30%-40% stake in both of the companies created by this move, with a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Investec and RMB eyes Vox sale – report
22 June 2018
Vox Telecom shareholders are looking to sell the South African fiber-network provider for about R3 billion ($228 million) to take advantage of consolidation in the industry, according to two people…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
22 June 2018
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to hold a public inquiry on an application by Visafone Communications to transfer its licence and resources, including spectrum in the 800MHz…
Digital Content
Meet Tracking the Wild: the social tool using crowdsourcing to help Africa’s wildlife
22 June 2018
One of the biggest tourist attractions in South Africa — and Africa as a whole — is its sprawling wildlife. However valuable this attraction may be, its sustainability is questionable.…
Digital Content
Kwesé’ Iflix allies with 9Mobile to launch the premier digital entertainment platform in Nigeria
22 June 2018
Kwesé iflix, the Joint Venture of Econet Media, Africa’s pan-regional media company and broadcast network has announced the launch of its premier digital entertainment platform in Nigeria with Telecom Company,…
Digital Content
5 Episodes from Siya Beyile's Podcast #TheThreadedExchange You Should Listen To
22 June 2018
The South African creative's engaging podcast explores the lives of young African entrepreneurs. "African entrepreneurship" is a topic that has become inescapable in the last few years, from panels at…
Digital Content
Vodacom launches SmartCitizen app
22 June 2018
Vodacom has launched a SmartCitizen app to support service delivery and active citizenry in South Africa. The new Thetha Nathi – Vodacom’s SmartCitizen app for the OR Tambo District Municipality…
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People
22 June 2018
Kenya: Songa appoints new general managerSafaricom's music streaming service, Songa, has announced the appointment of Chinasa Udeala as its new general manager. The music streaming expert was the East Africa…
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Opportunities
22 June 2018
TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield heads to Lagos in December TechCrunch will host its second Startup Battlefield Africa event in Lagos, Nigeria, in December following last year’s inaugural competition in Nairobi. Nairobi-based…
