News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 934 – 13 July 2018
Top Story
West Africa Com 2018: The end of the beginning for operator digital transformation and so much more
13 July 2018
This year’s West Africa Com was better attended and the low hum of networking hung over the event. In his report below Russell Southwood picks out some of the highlights from the event below. Overall I had a sense that operators have now got on board for what is now described as digital transformation. There was less complaining about OTTs and more practical discussions about how to make things happen. Several sessions identified pain points in doing business with operators and getting things done but interestingly, there was very little pushback from operators on these points. In the welcoming address,…
Telecoms
NetOne problems hit Zimbabwe mobile user total
13 July 2018
The latest quarterly report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) shows a dramatic decline in active mobile subscriptions in the three months to 31 March 2018.…
Telecoms
Eritirea, Ethiopia restore direct phone connections
13 July 2018
Direct international telephone connection was restored on 7 July between Ethiopia and Eritrea for the first time in two decades, Reuters reported, citing an Ethiopian official. The Ethiopian Prime…
Telecoms
Senegal slams new tax on telecoms operators
13 July 2018
Telecoms operators in Senegal will have to pay 5% of their turnover, excluding taxes and net interconnection charges, to the government as Telecommunications Special Contribution (CST) at the end of…
Telecoms
Uganda social media tax to be reviewed
13 July 2018
Uganda is reviewing its decision to impose taxes on the use of social media and on money transactions by mobile phone, following a public backlash. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda made…
Telecoms
LG Q7 launches in South Africa: here’s how much it’ll cost
13 July 2018
Gunning for the South African mid-range segment, Korean firm LG has today launched its Q7 smartphone. The phone itself was launched globally in May, but arrives in South Africa just…
Internet
Teraco is the Amazon Cloud on-ramp for sub-Saharan Africa
13 July 2018
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Direct Connect is now live in South Africa and located at Africa’s only vendor neutral data centre, Teraco. AWS Direct Connect enables clients to directly connect…
Internet
Amazon Cloud Services goes live in South Africa
13 July 2018
In addition to launching AWS Direct Connect, Amazon also announced the availability of Amazon CloudFront in South Africa. Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) offered by Amazon Web…
Internet
Kenya to use Google's balloons for rural internet
13 July 2018
Kenya will use Alphabet Inc’s system of balloons to beam high-speed Internet access in hopes of connecting more of its rural population to the web, its ICT minister said. Known…
Internet
South Africa, South Sudan cement ICT ties
13 July 2018
South Africa and South Sudan have agreed to a renewed MoU governing ICT investment and sector development between the two countries. South Africa's Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services…
Internet
AfricaOnline Launches JET-Powered Wireless Network to Deliver Fast Broadband in Namibia
13 July 2018
AfricaOnline, one of the largest ISPs in Namibia, has launched a wireless broadband network powered by RADWIN’s JET 5GHz Point-to-Multipoint (PtMP) smart Beamforming solutions. AfricaOnline has complemented its’ long-standing WiMAX…
Internet
Honeywell International Inc. Confirms Its First High-Speed, In-Flight Wi-Fi Installations In Africa
13 July 2018
JOHANNESBURG, July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) has confirmed the first installations of its JetWave™ satellite communications hardware in Africa, bringing a high-speed, global and consistent…
Internet
In brief
13 July 2018
The Congolese government has reiterated its previous order that ISPs and VSAT providers should make themselves known to the regulator in order to continue offering services, Agence Ecofin reports
Computing
Kenya: CS Mucheru Joins Richard Branson, Sergey Brin at Blockchain Forum in Morocco
13 July 2018
Marrakech — Over 20 of the globe's most renown technology thought leaders are gathered in Marrakech, Morroco for an exclusive forum discussing how to build Blockchain Technology in Africa. …
Money Transfer
MTN Rwanda opens Mobile Money Remittance corridor to Tanzania
13 July 2018
Users of MTN Rwanda will now be able to send money to Tanzania via Mobile Money as the telco has opened the mobile-to-mobile remittance service between Rwanda and Tanzania. MTN…
Money Transfer
9mobile partners Bango to introduce mobile payment service in Nigeria
13 July 2018
9mobile has gone one step towards reaffirming itself as one of the most innovative telco with the launch of 9pay. This is an operator-billed payment platform for Google Play store…
Money Transfer
Truecaller Partners with Paystack to Enable More African Businesses to Accept Online Payments
13 July 2018
We’ve partnered with Paystack to allow more merchants across Africa to accept payments online in a frictionless and secure manner by leveraging Truecaller’s mobile identity product, Truecaller SDK. Paystack is…
Money Transfer
TelOne hosts fintech solutions hackathon
13 July 2018
TELONE Centre for Learning (TCFL), a subdivision of rising fixed telecommunications firm, TelOne, will this week host a OneMoney mobile financial services hackathon, with the aim of promoting product innovations.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN yet to file application for Nigerian IPO
13 July 2018
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revealed that MTN Nigeria has yet to file an application for its planned initial public offering (IPO), reports Reuters. ‘Neither MTN Nigeria Limited…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Gamtel top brass cross-examined by Mobicell lawyer
13 July 2018
Top officials of the National Telecommunication Company (GAMTEL) were yesterday cross-examined by Malick Mba’I, attorney for Mr. Balla Jassey, Mobicell Blue Ocean Wireless and the Multimedia Gateway Incorporation (MGI). Testifying…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Tunisia: Vodafone and Tunisie Telecom Announce Partnership Agreement
13 July 2018
Tunis/Tunisia — Vodafone and Tunisie Telecom jointly announced on Wednesday a new Partner Market agreement for Tunisia. This will be Vodafone's first such partnership in North Africa. Under the non-equity…
Digital Content
Uganda's tax on social media will widen the digital gender gap
13 July 2018
On July 1, Uganda implemented a new daily tax on the use of social media and messaging platforms, on the grounds that — in the words of President Museveni —…
Digital Content
MultiChoice calls for Netflix to be regulated
13 July 2018
MultiChoice, the pay-TV operator that continues to bleed subscribers, is fighting tooth and nail to remain relevant amid tough competition from online streaming services. The pay-TV operator lost more than…
Digital Content
AFD to invest R14.5m in Tshimologong’s new Digital Content Hub
13 July 2018
In its first investment in digital innovation in South Africa, the French Development Agency (AFD) will next week sign a three-year €950 000 (R14.5-million) grant to fund Tshimologong Digital Innovation…
Digital Content
Opera Most Popular News App In Major African Markets With Over 10M Downloads
13 July 2018
Opera News, Norwegian web browser developer Opera Software‘s mobile application, is the most downloaded news app in several major African markets, having reached 10 million downloads only six months after…
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Opportunities
13 July 2018
SA’s Digital Venture Build programme opens call for proposals South African entrepreneurs looking to start an online business have been invited to apply for the Digital Venture Build programme, a…
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Events
13 July 2018
AWIT Kenya 2018July 19 -21Nairobi KenyaThe African Women in Tech (AWIT) Conference will be the one of its kind to provide attendees a unique combination of deep-dive, hands-on tech workshops,…
