News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 953 - 30 November 2018
Top Story
The Digital Life of Kenya’s smallholder farmers – who’s using what phones to access information and loans
30 November 2018
Once upon time, Africa’s mobile users did only two things: they made voice calls or they sent SMS messages. Nowadays a large number of them have transitioned to something that might be called the digital life. Even those with the simplest patterns of digital behavior will WhatsApp their family and friends, read media items and make posts on their Facebook page. Understanding these emerging patterns of digital behavior is important for the development of a more digitally focused telecoms industry. Russell Southwood looks at smallholder farmers in Kenya, a key group with wider implications for many countries. Smallholder farmers make…
Telecoms
South Africa: Cell C to triple data on Smart Data deals
30 November 2018
Cell C is offering extra gigs on its SmartData Share 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and 50GB plans. Junaid Munshi, Cell C Chief Commercial Officer said, "Our SmartData Share plans are already…
Telecoms
Kenya: Telkom calls for relook at rivalry
30 November 2018
Telkom Kenya wants the market dominance of a single operator in the telecommunications industry broken as recommended by advisory firm Analysys Mason. Newly appointed chief executive Mugo Kibati said on…
Telecoms
Chinese brands dominate African market for mobile phones: survey
30 November 2018
Transsion Holdings, based in China, continued to dominate Africa's mobile phone shipments in the third quarter of 2018. Experts said its success is largely due to unique functions it provided,…
Telecoms
Nigeria: Smile offers customers all-in-one SIM
30 November 2018
Smile Nigeria has introduced the All-in-One SIM offer, providing free voice and video calls and what it claims are the best rates to call any local operator, alongside an affordable…
Telecoms
Nigeria’s mobile subscribers less than 100m – Report
30 November 2018
Despite a whopping 161 million subscriptions recorded as at the end of last September, number of persons using mobile phones in Nigeria is still less than 100 million, New Telegraph…
Telecoms
South Africa: All the MVNOs on Cell C’s network
30 November 2018
Standard Bank recently launched Standard Bank Mobile, running on Cell C’s network. In launching its mobile offering, Standard Bank became the 19th mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on the Cell…
Telecoms
In brief
30 November 2018
One of the biggest telecommunications operators in Africa, MTN Group has announced that it is joining the IoT World Alliance, making it the first African telecommunications company to do so.…
Internet
South Africa: Why Vumatel is unlikely to roll out fibre in Pretoria
30 November 2018
Fibre rollouts in Johannesburg and Cape Town are progressing well and both cities are almost completely covered by fibre routes. This is according to Vumatel CFO Kobus Viljoen, who was…
Internet
South Africa: Try supersonic’s speedy fibre before you buy it
30 November 2018
In a matter of years, the internet has transformed from an interesting gimmick into a necessity in our daily lives. It is important to have access to affordable, fast internet…
Internet
MTN achieves 90% 4G coverage in South Africa
30 November 2018
MTN said on Tuesday that it will reach 90% population coverage with 4G/LTE technology in South Africa before the end of the year, outpacing rival Vodacom. “We have crossed 11…
Internet
Frogfoot targets bigger fibre push in Cape Town
30 November 2018
Frogfoot Networks, an open access fibre network provider and subsidiary of Vox, says it is on track to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to an additional 14,000 homes in the Southern Peninsula,…
Internet
Telkom beats rivals to implement Icasa data rules
30 November 2018
Telkom has become the first mobile operator in South Africa to implement communications regulator Icasa’s end-user subscriber service charter, which governs data expiry. This means Telkom mobile customers can…
Internet
ATCON, DSA to organize TV white space workshop
30 November 2018
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has concluded arrangement with the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) to to jointly host a workshop on the TV White Space (TVWS) technology…
Internet
In brief
30 November 2018
Konnect Africa, an initiative of the satellite operator Eutelsat, announced the launch of its internet access offers throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Konnect Africa is providing a range…
Computing
SITA launches new government cloud infrastructure for South Africa
30 November 2018
The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has announced the launch of South Africa’s new government cloud infrastructure. The agency partnered with Gijima, Huawei, and IBM to launch the government’s private…
Computing
Microsoft to open an Azure Region in Africa “within weeks”
30 November 2018
More than a year ago Microsoft announced that it would deliver two new data centres based in South Africa, South Africa North in Johannesburg and South Africa West in Cape…
Computing
Uganda’s digital passport set for January 2019 launch, will cost $67
30 November 2018
Uganda's digital passport, which will be launched in January 2019, will cost Ush250,000 ($67), a 67 per cent increase from the current cost of Ush150,000 ($40), making the document one…
Money Transfer
Africa offers tremendous growth for e-commerce: Could it save retail businesses in the West?
30 November 2018
Marvel’s “Black Panther” film about an African prince with superpowers blindsided the movie industry in 2018 with its amazing run of success, proving the hitherto underappreciated appeal of the Africa…
Money Transfer
Orange and MTN partner to launch a mobile wallet Mowali
30 November 2018
Two of Africa’s largest mobile operators and mobile money providers, Orange Group (www.Orange.com) and MTN Group (www.MTN.com), has announced a joint venture, Mowali (mobile wallet interoperability), to enable interoperable payments…
Money Transfer
Family Bank partners with SimbaPay to launch instant transfers to China’s WeChat
30 November 2018
Family Bank Limited (FamilyBank.co.ke), a leading bank in Kenya, has partnered with London-based financial technology firm SimbaPay (www.SimbaPay.com) to launch an instant money transfer service from Kenya to China through…
Money Transfer
South Africa - Standard Bank allows customers to convert bank charges into airtime or data
30 November 2018
In a further development of its position as an integrated financial services organization offering exceptional value, Standard Bank is entering the market and data market with the first mobile virtual…
Money Transfer
MTN Uganda opens up mobile money platform to developers
30 November 2018
MTN Uganda has opened up its mobile money access programming interface (API) to third parties, allowing developers create payment options for their businesses. The open access to the mobile money…
Money Transfer
South Africa: Make Swift Money Transfers With Bitcoin or MTOs
30 November 2018
Just like with PayPal and other online payment services, people who use a bitcoin wallet can make payments from any location which offers access to the internet. Bitcoin and other…
Money Transfer
Visa, Banks Introduce Mobile Payments in Ghana
30 November 2018
Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, in partnership with leading Ghanaian banks, has announced the launch of Visa on mobile, an innovative mobile payment service in Ghana. The partnership…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom Kenya gets $40m loan from European Investment Bank
30 November 2018
JOHANNESBURG - Telkom Kenya, the country’s third biggest operator, has secured a loan worth $40 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the company said on Friday, as it tries…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Namibia: MTC pays N$5 billion dividends to shareholders
30 November 2018
MTC Namibia has paid over N$5 billion in dividends to its shareholders since inception in 1995. This was announced by the company's board chairperson, Elvis Nashilongo, at a gala dinner…
Digital Content
Egypt’s Al-Sisi launches Africa Games, Digital Applications Initiative in Cairo ICT 2018
30 November 2018
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi inaugurated the 22nd edition of the Cairo International Telecommunication and Information Technology Trade Fair and Forum (Cairo ICT) on Sunday, held under the title of “Leading…
Digital Content
Snapchat expands MENA video library
30 November 2018
New partners include TV broadcasters such as Dubai Media Inc, Abu Dhabi Media, and Vice Middle East, as well as local digital content producers and publishers such as Gulf News,…
Digital Content
South Africans React to Pearl Thusi's Comments on Colorism at 'The Next 100 Summit' on Social Media
30 November 2018
Thusi says her experience with colorism has impacted her career negatively—most South Africans beg to differ. OkayAfrica and Global Citizen held The Next 100 Summit Thursday—a consortium of thought leaders…
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People
30 November 2018
Eddy Daka, CEO of JSE AltX-listed Etion, has scooped the 2018 IT Personality of the Year title. This much-anticipated announcement was made tonight at the Institute of Information Technology…
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Opportunities
30 November 2018
MTN Uganda announces US0,000 start-up fund MTN Uganda has launched a Ugx1 billion (US$270,000) start-up fund for local tech start-ups, representing a financial boost for start-ups that participate in the…
