News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 943 21 September 2018
Top Story
Africa’s first major terrestrial cable takes ten years to complete and connects 660+ cities and towns – Liquid Telecom’s next pan continental route may be east-west
21 September 2018
The completion of Liquid Telecom’s One Africa network from the Cape to Cairo is a considerable achievement by any measure. In a continent that does not make it easy to build out terrestrial fibre this is probably the largest project completed to date. Russell Southwood spoke to Reshaad Sha, CEO, Liquid Telecom South Africa about how it will be used. The part of Liquid Telecom’s One Africa Network that goes from Cape Town to Cairo is over 10,000+ kms. It connects over 660 cities and towns and required more than forty national and regional licences. Before the Seacom and EASSy…
Telecoms
Uganda: Cabinet gives UCC nod to renew MTN licence
21 September 2018
Kampala. Cabinet has given Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) a go-ahead to renew MTN’s licence for another 10 years. The telecom giant’s 20-year licence is due to expire next month. However,…
Telecoms
Tigo introduced 4G+ in Tanzania
21 September 2018
Mobile operator Tigo Tanzania introduced the 4G+ network promising data customers “an ultra-fast digital experience”. The Chief Technical and Information Officer of Tigo, Jerome Albou, said, “The launch of 4G+…
Telecoms
Ghana govt ramps up rural mobile telephony deployment
21 September 2018
At the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Conference in Durban, South Africa, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful announced that her government has made significant progress in its rollout of…
Telecoms
Kenya: Mobile Firms Given 2 Days to Switch Off Illegal Subscribers
21 September 2018
Mobile operators have until Friday to remove unregistered subscribers and those listed using fraudulent documents from their networks or face fines of up to 0.2 per cent of their annual…
Internet
MainOne and Orange ink deal to boost internet access into Francophone West Africa
21 September 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria, September 17, 2018/ -- French Telecoms company, Orange (www.Orange.com) and leading West African Connectivity and Data Centre services provider, MainOne have struck a partnership that will see the…
Internet
Will data fall? Government inquiry set to probe high costs next month
21 September 2018
Johannesburg– September 19, 2017: Rights2Know protestors gathered outside the Vodacom head office on September 19, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Competition Commission will next month hold public hearings for…
Internet
First Subsea Cable Across South Atlantic Activated
21 September 2018
Yesterday marked the first time in recent Internet history that a new submarine cable carried live traffic across the South Atlantic, directly connecting South America to Sub-Saharan Africa. The South…
Internet
Kaspersky Lab’s latest Parental Control report reveals children’s online activities in Nigeria
21 September 2018
Kaspersky Lab has revealed the online activities of children across Nigeria, based on statistics from the company’s Parental Control modules. The research has revealed what children in the region watched,…
Internet
Nigerian start-up creates platform to submit your film to multiple festivals at once with Festivilia
21 September 2018
Screen Africa Exclusive: The process of submitting a film to a festival can prove to be an expensive, time-consuming and dubious task for filmmakers. Selecting the right festival for a…
Internet
Nigerian Solar-Powered Internet Provider Raises $3M Series-A To Fund Ghana Expansion
21 September 2018
Nigerian solar-powered internet service provider, Tizeti, has raised $3 million in a Series-A round of funding that will allow the startup to expand into Ghana. The Y Combinator-backed Nigerian ISP…
Computing
Rack Centre, Africa’s premium colocation Data Centre achieves the Business Continuity Management Certification, ISO 22301:2012
21 September 2018
After an exhaustive evaluation of its operations, Rack Centre, Africa’s premium colocation Data Centre has achieved the ISO 22301:2012, Business Continuity Management Certification, joining an elite number of Data Centre…
Computing
South Africa uses new tech to fight vicious gun violence
21 September 2018
As gunshots ring out in one of South Africa's most dangerous neighborhoods, a new technology detects the gun's location and immediately alerts police. South Africa is the first country outside…
Computing
Rwanda - Smart classroom project gathers momentum
21 September 2018
The Ministry of Education has challenged secondary schools to fast-track a new model of smart classroom in a fresh bid to raise the quality of education. The initiative, which seeks…
Computing
Meet the Libyan startup teaching women to code
21 September 2018
Running a tech startup in Libya is no easy business, given political instability, poor infrastructure and lack of capital. That has not put Najla Almissalati, co-founder of She Codes, from…
Money Transfer
Nigeria: CBN Announces Fines for Failed Transaction Reversals, Others
21 September 2018
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stated that any failed Nigerian Instant Payment (NIP) transaction not reversed into the customer’s account within 24 hours based on complaint of the…
Money Transfer
Somalia: Rapid Growth in Mobile Money
21 September 2018
Somalia’s economy is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3–4 percent, according to the third Somalia Economic Update (SEU) published by the World Bank. Titled “Rapid Growth in…
Money Transfer
in brief
21 September 2018
Cross network mobile money transactions continue to rise month in month out after it was introduced in May this year, reaching almost 800,000 at the end of August. Read the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Econet Wireless said to be discussing restructuring and an IPO
21 September 2018
Econet Wireless Group, which controls Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and pan-African network operator Liquid Telecom, is rumoured to be in talks over a possible restructuring of its business. A report from…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN shares surge on positive Nigeria news
21 September 2018
MTN Group’s shares rose the most in more than six months after the Nigerian central bank softened its stance over claims that Africa’s biggest wireless carrier illegally transferred US$8.1-billion out…
Digital Content
Africa’s ancient practices are being digitized for the future
21 September 2018
The digital revolution, often described as “leapfrogging,” has brought real change to Africa. In finance, communication, and entertainment, technology has allowed African innovators to skip a step, bypassing the West…
Digital Content
Ghana - Tony Elumelu Foundation to launch world’s largest digital platform
21 September 2018
Africa’s leading entrepreneurship focused philanthropy, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, is launching the world’s largest digital platform for African entrepreneurs and the African entrepreneurship ecosystem – TEFConnect. TEFConnect will officially be…
Digital Content
Kwesé iflix to beam boxing match on its mobile app
21 September 2018
Kwesé iflix, has announced to air live the World Heavyweight match between Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin to millions of boxing fans throughout Africa on its mobile app. Kwesé TV…
Digital Content
Seychelles: Project Fishguard - Seychelles to Monitor Illegal Fishing With Unmanned Drones
21 September 2018
Monitoring of illegal fishing activities in the waters of Seychelles will soon be conducted by drones as the island nation embarks on a trial project. The Seychelles Fishing Authority will…
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People
21 September 2018
This is the fourth edition of the Quartz Africa Innovators, our annual series identifying some of the most ambitious and imaginative minds on the continent. The 30 movers and thinkers…
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Opportunities
21 September 2018
Google’s Science Fair competition is now open for entry Google Science Fair is open for submissions until 12 December 2018 for those between 13 and 18 years of age. The…
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Events
21 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…
