News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 942 14 September 2018
Top Story
Three Kenyan operators seeking to extend the Internet to new groups of people: home customers using 35GB a month
14 September 2018
Africa’s ISPs are not well known for innovating in data markets dominated by mobile operators. Most survive on a diet of corporates and high-end household users. But now Kenya has three operators – Surf, POA! Internet and Moja Wi-Fi – all of whom are looking to find new user markets in places and at price points that are currently underserved. Africa’s ISPs have stayed in a narrow market niche: companies wanting connectivity and household connections for wealthier clients. There have been challengers who have stepped out of the niche, companies like Afrimax and Smile. They have expanded their subscriber base…
Telecoms
MTN confident of resolving its Nigeria dispute as it heads to court
14 September 2018
SA telecoms firm MTN Group said on Monday it is confident a multibillion-dollar dispute with the Nigerian government will be resolved even as it applied for a court injunction to…
Telecoms
How TVWS is helping bridge the digital divide in Africa
14 September 2018
Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2018: With over 45% of the world still without internet access, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) today called for the increased utilization of TV Whitespace…
Telecoms
Sonatel takes the next step by launching its 4G + in Senegal
14 September 2018
Sonatel has recently launched 4G +, an innovation it says responds to the commitment of the State of Senegal to the implementation of ts “Digital Agenda 2025”. According to the…
Telecoms
Liquid Telecom defends stock shortages and sales commission delays
14 September 2018
Liquid Telecom says its currently transitioning the company. This has resulted in stock shortages and delays in paying sales commission to resellers, reports MyBroadband. Sales commissions have not been…
Telecoms
China Telecom Global selects Teraco Data Environments, as location for its inter-connection hub
14 September 2018
China Telecom (Africa and Middle East) Limited (CTMEA), the Middle East and Africa subsidiary of China Telecom Global (CTG), one of the world’s largest providers of integrated telecommunication services, has…
Telecoms
Twitter’s #LockscreenChallenge reveals so much about people online
14 September 2018
2018 will be remembered as the year that anything could be an internet “challenge”. Case in point? The #LockscreenChallenge. The hashtag was found trending across South Africa on Friday, as…
Internet
Benin is the latest African nation taxing the internet
14 September 2018
Benin has joined a growing list of African states imposing levies for using the internet. The government passed a decree in late August taxing its citizens for accessing the internet…
Internet
Internet Solutions pilots consumption-based bandwidth service in Kenya
14 September 2018
Nairobi, Kenya, Sep 10 – Internet Solutions is in the process of piloting a consumption-based billing service for its connectivity business. The company’s Managing Director Richard Hechle, says the company…
Internet
YahClick launches in Ghana with Comsys, Teledata ICT
14 September 2018
UAE-based satellite firm Yahsat has officially launched its YahClick service in Ghana, in association with local partner firms Comsys and Teledata ICT, which are expected to sell the product to…
Internet
Comsol launches 5G network in Soweto
14 September 2018
Comsol Networks, a telecommunications business backed by Andile Ngcaba’s Convergence Partners, has launched the first 5G network in Soweto. Using the company’s spectrum in the 28GHz radio spectrum frequency band,…
Internet
In brief
14 September 2018
The Federal Government of Nigeria has obtained a credit of USD328 million from the China Exim Bank for the deployment of the NIPTI 2 national backbone network, Agence Ecofin writes.…
Computing
Nigeria creates website to help vulnerable groups get legal assistance
14 September 2018
The Nigerian government in collaboration with human right groups has created an electronic platform to reach vulnerable people in need of legal assistance. The platform, www.probono.ng, was unveiled during a…
Computing
Youth devise technology to support Kenya’s economic blueprint
14 September 2018
Nairobi, (CAJ News) – Kenyan youths, with the support of technology firm, Huawei, are showcasing ideas on how technology solutions based on mobile applications, databases and web portals can support…
Money Transfer
Ghana - Internet banking fraud cases rise 44.6%
14 September 2018
The number of internet fraud cases reported by commercial banks operating in Ghana to the Central Bank in 2017 increased to 1,418 from 1,001 in 2016. Grace Akrofi, advisor at…
Money Transfer
Uganda: Mobile Money Tax Shores Up URA Collection and It Could Be Here to Stay
14 September 2018
More than 45 days after the government of Uganda gave in to public pressure and introduced a Bill in parliament to remove the one per cent excise duty on receiving…
Money Transfer
In brief
14 September 2018
Two African fintech startups: Amplified Payment System from Nigeria and PaySky from Egypt have been selected to join FinTech Hive’s 2018 accelerator programme. The Dubai-based accelerator claims to be one…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
South African executives disagree over need for open tender for Eastern Cape broadband contract
14 September 2018
South African Treasury chiefs are at odds over a ZAR 3 billion broadband tender for the Eastern Cape, Mybroadband reported. There have been two letters, one rejecting and the other…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ayo Technology Trading Statement
14 September 2018
10 September 2018, Cape Town – JSE-listed AYO Technology Solutions Limited, in an initial trading statement released on Monday, said that it expected a significant increase in its headline earnings…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
TNM posts 17% rise in H1 revenue
14 September 2018
Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) has reported revenue of MWK41.7 billion (USD56.8 million) for the six months ended 30 June 2018, an increase of 16.5% from MWK35.8 billion in the year-ago…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Nigeria: Govt Woos Investors to Telecoms Sector With 30% Cut in Company Income Tax
14 September 2018
Investors coming into Nigeria, especially the telecommunications sector, have been guaranteed a 30 per cent cut in company income tax payment payable to the government. Besides, there will be relaxation…
Digital Content
Snapchat just invested R2 million in a South African social media startup
14 September 2018
Snapchat has selected South African social media startup Hashtag Our Stories to be part of its inaugural startup accelerator, giving the 11-month old company $150,000 (or roughly R2.2 million) in…
Digital Content
Econet and Snapplify Forge New Partnership
14 September 2018
Econet Wireless and Snapplify have forged a partnership that could change the face of education and literacy on the continent. The partnership will bring thousands of e-books to African readers…
Digital Content
Roar Nigeria – a platform for students to develop apps that help meet local needs
14 September 2018
Nigeria is gradually taking the lead in setting up incubation and tech hubs where startups and young people develop software programmes and apps. Roar Nigeria, the first fully fledged university-embedded…
Digital Content
NGO Launches Mobile App on Governance
14 September 2018
In a fresh move to galvanise Nigerian youths towards participating in process of governance, a non-governmental organisation, Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) has launched a mobile game, which seeks to help…
Digital Content
DStv Now app is now available for LG Smart TVs
14 September 2018
The DStv now app is now available for LG smart TVs It is specifically available for 2017 and 2018 models running webOS 3.5 and 4.0. DStv Now is an internet…
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People
14 September 2018
Corporate governance consultant Susan Mudhune has stepped down as an independent director on the board of mobile operator Safaricom after serving for nine years. Mudhune was among top shareholders with…
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Opportunities
14 September 2018
The 4th Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Announces Opening Keynote Speakers AWIEF, a highly anticipated two-day event that brings together the best and most relevant players in the…
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Events
14 September 2018
Wits JCSE and LINK Centre present: Cybsecurity Professional Practice and Leadership Managing high value or high volume electronic transactions? Managing e-identity? Managing personal data in the cloud? Then this course…
