News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 932 – 29 June 2018
Top Story
Financial services a key battleground in Africa’s digital transformation: Ecobank offers the unbanked KYC-lite accounts, card-less ATM payments, signs agreement with MTN
29 June 2018
A key battleground in the digital transformation of Africa’s mobile industry is the flow of payments and financial services across the network and around the world. For all the success of mobile money payments, cash remains dominant and the potential for digital payments enormous. Russell Southwood spoke to Edward George, Head of Group Research, Ecobank earlier in the year and looks at how this might play out. There are estimated to be 2 million mobile money agents in Sub-Saharan Africa and only 100,000 bank accounts. But despite this initial disparity, there are three players in the ring: the mobile operators;…
Telecoms
South Africa's Plans for Digital TV Switch May Help Vodacom, MTN
29 June 2018
South Africa’s pledge to switch to digital TV by the end of next year may free up spectrum for wireless operators such as Vodacom Group Ltd. and MTN Group Ltd.,…
Telecoms
Tanzania's regulator issues two new spectrum licences
29 June 2018
Vodacom Tanzania and Azam Telecom have each secured a spectrum licence for the 700MHz band auctioned by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) in early June 2018. Market leader Vodacom…
Telecoms
Niger approves creation of new regulator ARCEP
29 June 2018
Niger’s Council of Ministers has adopted a draft law establishing a new telecoms watchdog known as the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Post (Autorite de Regulation des Communications Electroniques…
Telecoms
Nigeria’s regulator NCC: Why we engaged stakeholders on transfer of Visafone licence to MTN
29 June 2018
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has given given reasons why the Commission decided to hold a public inquiry on the on the…
Telecoms
Tanzania Operator Chiefs Hit With Fraud Charges
29 June 2018
The heads of two Tanzanian operators have reportedly been charged with fraud, along with four unnamed suspects. Halotel MD Le Van Dai and Zantel (Zanzibar Telecom) head Sherif El Barbary…
Telecoms
Nigerian telecom operators oppose spectrum transfer
29 June 2018
9 mobile and Airtel, Nigerian mobile network operators have opposed the transfer of an 800MHz license from Visafone Communications to MTN Nigeria. The operators argued that transferring Visafone’s 800 Megahertz…
Telecoms
In brief
29 June 2018
Mauritanian cellcos Mauritel, Chinguitel and Mattel are under threat of new sanctions for failing to provide adequate quality of service (QoS). According to a report from Agence Ecofin, local telecoms…
Internet
Paratus partners with Bank Gaborone to offer affordable Satellite Internet
29 June 2018
Paratus Botswana has partnered with Bank Gaborone to offer clients finance options for their affordable and reliable Internet via satellite (VSAT). Financing is now available through Bank Gaborone's Vehicle and…
Internet
Submarine cables in West Africa run less than 20% capacity, says Opeke
29 June 2018
The Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable, Ms. Funke Opeke has disclosed that all the submarine cables on the coast of West Africa are running less than 20 percent…
Internet
Shittu Calls for Partnership to Combat Cross-boarder Cyber Crime in Africa
29 June 2018
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Minister of Communication, Dr. Adebayo Shittu has called for collaboration between ECOWAS sub-region and African Union (AU) in combatting cross-border cyber-crime, this is also as he…
Internet
In brief
29 June 2018
Despite the assurances from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Ministry of Communications, stakeholders in the Nigerian telecom space have continued to doubt the 30 percent broadband target by…
Computing
Egypt's booming ICT sector calls for increased cybersecurity measures: Trend Micro Incorporated
29 June 2018
Egypt continues to face a growing threat from cyberattacks with malware detections in Q1 of 2018 reaching 253,995, the second highest figure in the North African region. Based on a…
Computing
T-Systems South Africa won ICT Award at Vision 2030 Awards
29 June 2018
T-Systems South Africa took home the prestigious ICT Award at the annual Vision 2030 Awards gala, held on 12 June at Emperor’s Palace. The awards ceremony honours organisations, enterprises and…
Computing
MTN Donates Interactive Training Centre for Nurses
29 June 2018
MTN South Africa has sponsored a multi-media centre worth R1.2 million for the training of nurses at the College of Nursing sub-campus of Grey’s Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Through its…
Computing
PICS: SA computer boffins claim third place at international high-performance computing contest
29 June 2018
South African computer boffins have claimed third place at an international high-performance computer competition in Germany. The team, made up of Meir Rosendorff, Joshua Bruton, Kimessha Paupamah, Katleho Mokoena, Nathan…
Computing
In brief
29 June 2018
[Cape Town], June 20, 2018 – Bluegrass Digital, a digital transformation specialist, announced on its 6 year anniversary as a Solution Partner of Episerver, the company transforming digital experiences,…
Money Transfer
Ghana: Mobile money ‘interoperability’ transactions hit nearly 100,000
29 June 2018
Some 96, 904 cross-network mobile money transactions took place in the first month of the launch of mobile money interoperability. The transactions are valued at over GH¢8.3 million. These transactions…
Money Transfer
NIGERIA: Mobile money firm bags ISO9001 certification
29 June 2018
Fets Limited, Nigeria’s mobile money transfer company, yesterday, said it has secured the International Standards Organisations (ISO) 9001 quality certificate. The feat is the first for a Nigerian mobile money…
Money Transfer
First Bank partners with WorldRemit for digital money transfers to Nigeria
29 June 2018
Leading digital money transfer service WorldRemit has joined forces with First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) for instant money transfers to First Bank accounts in Nigeria. The new strategic partnership…
Money Transfer
Rwanda: BK Makes Sweeping Tariff Changes to Promote Digital Banking
29 June 2018
Bank of Kigali has announced a series of tariff changes on its digital services and products, which according to the bank are aimed at making it easier for Rwandans to…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Algeria’s Mobilis confirms bid for Mali’s fourth mobile licence
29 June 2018
Algeria’s telecoms minister Houda Imane Faraoun has confirmed that Mobilis, the cellular division of state-backed Algerie Telecom, has lodged an application to compete for the fourth mobile operator licence in…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
9Mobile Acquisition: All Eyes on Teleology as Deadline Looms
29 June 2018
With less than a month to the 90 days window given to Teleology Holdings Limited to pay the balance of $251 million to acquire 9mobile, industry watchers are observing with…
Digital Content
Mobile app created in Tanzania to track epidemics
29 June 2018
[DAR-ES-SALAAM] Researchers in Tanzania have developed a digital application that empowers communities to use smartphones to detect and report the outbreak of diseases including Ebola and cholera. The digital app,…
Digital Content
Ugandan cellcos give further info on new social media tax
29 June 2018
Ugandan mobile operators MTN, Airtel and Africell have issued a joint statement to inform customers how to pay a controversial new social media tax to be implemented by the government…
Digital Content
US based Rwandans develop mobile app to promote local music
29 June 2018
The local music industry has for long struggled to find its footing on the international market due to lack of systematic exposure to the global community and very few artistes…
Digital Content
Safaricom sued for ‘stealing’ its music streaming app Songa from a Kenyan web developer
29 June 2018
In February, we reported that Kenya’s leading mobile service carrier – Safaricom – had launched new mobile music streaming app; Songa by Safaricom. Well, it turns out, Songa is not…
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People
29 June 2018
Cell C has appointed Junaid Munshi as its new chief commercial officer, effective from 2 July 2018. Munshi has 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and is returning…
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Opportunities
29 June 2018
Does your project have what it takes to be a 2018 Digi winner? We launched the 2018 Digital Development Awards with USAID last month, and since then, we've been inspired…
