News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 944 28 September 2018
Top Story
Djibouti Data Centre’s John Melick III on two new international cable connections for the region and operating neutral, third party combined landing stations and data centres
28 September 2018
With the recent peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa, the region has suddenly become much more interesting: new fibre links may be built between old enemies. Also someone will eventually build a cross-continental fibre to West Africa and Djibouti would be a logical end point in East Africa. Russell Southwood interviewed John Melick III, Chairman, Djibouti Data Centre. Q: How did Djibouti Data Centre (DDC) came about as an idea and how did it get built? Why locate in Djibouti? A: Arguably, Africa is the fastest growing region in the world. Djibouti is a small country strategically located on…
Telecoms
RascomStar and InterSat announce new pan-continental partnership
28 September 2018
Dubai, UAE – African Regional VSAT services provider INTERSAT , which provides telecommunication services throughout Africa – and satellite operator RascomStar today announced a new partnership to offer affordable satellite…
Telecoms
South Africa: Twitter falls from its perch as MTN kills it for 13-million users
28 September 2018
'Free Twitter started out as a 90-day promotion in May 2014 and, over time‚ it has become part of the landscape of social media in SA' MTN customers have until…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Globacom Upgrades Network Infrastructure, Enhances Services
28 September 2018
Nigeria’s multinational telecommunications company, Globacom Limited has announced a major upgrade and overhaul of its network infrastructure which has culminated in a significant improvement in its services. The company, which…
Telecoms
In brief
28 September 2018
Alpha Telecom Mali (branded Telcel Mali), which became the country’s third cellular operator when it launched in December 2017, has reportedly finished the first phase of its network deployment. According…
Internet
In Ethiopia, mobile internet cut in the capital amid clashes and protests
28 September 2018
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 21, 2018/ -- The Committee to Protect Journalists today urged Ethiopian authorities to ensure internet is available, including during times of unrest when access to information provided…
Internet
Internet Society Partners with Facebook to Expand Internet Connectivity in Africa
28 September 2018
WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, September 25, 2018/ -- The Internet Society (https://www.InternetSociety.org/), a global non-profit organization dedicated to the open development, evolution and use of the Internet, today…
Internet
Paradigm Initiative condemns new internet tax in Kenya
28 September 2018
Online advocacy group Paradigm Initiative has lambasted Kenya's government for imposing a 15% excise duty on telephone and internet data services. In a statement, the organisation said President Uhuru Kenyatta…
Internet
Uganda Ranked Most Secure Country Against Cyber Attacks in Africa
28 September 2018
KAMPALA. Uganda has been ranked the most secure cyberspace (Country) in Africa in the recently announced Global National Cyber Security Index. The National Cyber Index is a global organization which…
Internet
Facebook introduces community leadership programme winners for Africa
28 September 2018
Facebook announced the names of nearly a dozen African community leaders selected to participate in its global community leadership programme. File Image: IOL JOHANNESBURG - Social media company Facebook on…
Internet
Asteroid and NAPAfrica sign MoU to cooperate in Africa
28 September 2018
Asteroid and NAPAfrica have announced that they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two organisations, and to collaborate on developing…
Internet
South Atlantic Cable System goes live
28 September 2018
The South Atlantic Cable System (SACS) is now on-stream and open for commercial traffic cable 26The SACS from Angola Cables is one of the most advanced submarine telecommunications systems. (Image…
Computing
Ghanaian company promoting gender equality in Africa’s ICT ecosystem gets awarded
28 September 2018
David Malone, Rector of United Nations University, presents the Research category award a the 2018 Equals in Tech Award ceremony. Women in Tech Africa, a Ghanaian group that focuses on…
Computing
Sterling Bank Transforms Internal Service Desk with cloud-based software
28 September 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria, September 24, 2018/ -- Freshworks Inc., a leading US-based provider of cloud-based business software, recently announced its partnership with Nigeria’s prestigious Sterling Bank Plc as a client. Being…
Computing
Alibaba to aid in Kenya’s quest to conserve its wildlife
28 September 2018
Kenya’s Ministry of tourism and wildlife is set to partner with China-based Alibaba Group through its cloud-computing arm. The two entities will collaborate to develop a suitable strategy for the…
Computing
MoPT Liberia mulls creation of nationwide network for education and research
28 September 2018
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT) in Liberia has revealed plans to build a national network for education and research, Agence Ecofin reports, and to that end has discussed…
Computing
In brief
28 September 2018
'Friends of Yamoransa' and 'Helping Africa Foundation', both non-profit organisations based in the USA, have provided a model 48-seater computer laboratory for the people of Betenase in the Ejura/Sekyedumase Municipality…
Money Transfer
MTN Uganda and Mastercard diversify Mobile Money services in Uganda
28 September 2018
KAMPALA, Uganda, September 25, 2018/ -- MTN Uganda (www.MTN.co.ug) in partnership with Mastercard (www.Mastercard.com) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) (www.UBAGroup.com) have announced a new service that will enable quicker,…
Money Transfer
Togo: Government approves TogoPay’s creation to bolster e-payment
28 September 2018
Togo’s minister of posts and digital economy, Cina Lawson, got the approval to develop TogoPay, an e-payment interoperable platform. This was during the ministers’ council held on September 20. …
Money Transfer
Ghana: Operators want cap on global money transfers reviewed
28 September 2018
Some players operating in the mobile money sector are calling on the Bank of Ghana to review the limit of transactions that is currently permitted on remittances done via mobile…
Money Transfer
Dahabshiil welcomes World Bank proposal on decrease of mobile money vulnerabilities to stimulate growth - CEO Duale
28 September 2018
'A robust regulation that addresses de-risking issues to reduce vulnerabilities associated with the widespread use of mobile money transactions as put forward by the World Bank is a win-win proposal…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN is not in merger talks with Telkom
28 September 2018
Telkom has denied being in any merger discussion with MTN SA. However, MyBroadband has explored some challenges the telcos might face should they attempt a merger. The publication predicts a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Standard Bank withdraws MTN Nigeria-related cautionary
28 September 2018
Standard Bank Group has withdrawn a cautionary announcement to shareholders related to demands placed on it by Nigeria’s central bank (CBN) after receiving a letter from the CBN promising a…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Transport Tech Startup Buseet Secures Funding From Cairo Angels And 500 startups
28 September 2018
Cairo-based transport tech startup Buseet has successfully closed a seed investment round from a group of investors. The startup did not reveal the amount of funding it received. The…
Digital Content
MTN Cameroon launches zero-rated Yabadoo video streaming
28 September 2018
MTN Cameroon has announced the launch of a video streaming service called Yabadoo, which provides local TV stations of reference such as CRTV, Canal2 International, STV, Vision4, LTM. There are…
Digital Content
BBC breaks down investigation into a mass killing in viral Twitter thread
28 September 2018
The BBC has used a series of GIFs, videos, and images to break down its investigation into a video of two women and two children being shot by soldiers. The…
Digital Content
Liquid Telecom partners with Zindi to accelerate Africa’s data science ecosystem
28 September 2018
New platform will host data science competitions supported by Liquid Telecom across the region Cape Town, September 20, 2018 Leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom has announced a partnership with…
Digital Content
Reuters rolls out its news video service in Africa
28 September 2018
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is extending its African video offering with a mobile-first news video service, Africa Journal. Africa Journal is all about stories of…
Digital Content
WorldRemit integrates with the WhatsApp Business Solution
28 September 2018
Customers in over 145 countries can now receive WhatsApp notifications about their money transfers in real time Digital money transfer company WorldRemit has added WhatsApp notifications to its service. Through…
More
People
28 September 2018
These are the finalists for the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum Awards 2018 The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has officially announced the finalists for AWIEF Awards…
More
Opportunities
28 September 2018
She Leads Africa 5 beauty startups based in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa will be selected to join the 2018 Dark and Lovely x She Leads Africa…
More
Events
28 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…
