News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 963 – 15 February 2019
Top Story
Hitting the low-spot in South Africa: TooMuchWifi’s Ian Thomson on delivery of better data deals for the “have-nots” and the scary margins of the MN0s
15 February 2019
Sub-Saharan Africa’s data prices for users are all over the place and bear no relation to individual wealth in different countries. As a result, there are a number of companies looking to find a business model at the lower end of the price range. Russell Southwood talked to CEO and Co-Founder of TooMuchWifi about why he launched the company and how it works. The idea for TooMuchWifi came from Thomson’s co-founder Jonathan Endersby. He started with the problem of trying to get his domestic worker’s daughter cost-effective access to the Internet. His own background included providing internet for high-end hotels…
Telecoms
Rwanda invests in first smartphone factory
15 February 2019
In October 2018, Rwanda-based technology company Mara Corporation said it was investing $100 million in South Africa to make affordable, high tech smartphones. Mara founder Ashish Thakkar noted that the…
Telecoms
Uganda deports MTN CEO over 'national security' concerns
15 February 2019
Uganda has deported the chief executive of MTN Uganda, the largest telecoms firm in Uganda which is part of South Africa’s MTN Group, over national security concerns. The move follows…
Internet
Google, UBA collaborate to provide free Wi-Fi to customers
15 February 2019
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s global bank, has collaborated with Google and ISP partner to launch Google Station in 11 key UBA branches in Lagos State as part…
Internet
Avanti partners MainOne to improve broadband penetration with converged solution
15 February 2019
The companies made this announcement on Friday at Nerds Unite, an annual IT conference hosted by MainOne Avanti Communications Group plc (Avanti) a leading provider of satellite data communications services…
Internet
Where does SA fit in global broadband speeds?
15 February 2019
South Africa has the fastest average download speed when compared to nine African peers but is middle of the pack in terms of cost. This is according to new research…
Internet
South Africa’s 5G reality revealed
15 February 2019
In SA, commercial rollout of 5G network technology will take a little longer than initially anticipated. This is according to Saurabh Verma, head of ICT for Frost & Sullivan Middle…
Internet
Telecom Egypt and Orange Egypt ink new bitstream services agreement
15 February 2019
Egyptian fixed line incumbent Telecom Egypt (TE) has announced the signing of a new agreement related to bitstream access services with Orange Egypt. In a press release regarding the development,…
Internet
African IXP Association targets 80% local Internet traffic by 2020
15 February 2019
The African IXP Association, a group of Internet exchange point operators from across Africa said it is targeting 80 percent localization of Internet traffic by 2020 in Africa. “Our target…
Computing
Ugandan Police strengthen the fight against crime with Gemalto Automated Biometric Identification System and LiveScan technology
15 February 2019
New solution enables rapid capture of suspects’ biometric data – and accurate matching against central database and watchlists; Electronic LiveScan technology deployed in police stations and courts across the country;…
Computing
Huawei to launch a data centre in South Africa in March
15 February 2019
Huawei Technologies Co plans to roll out services from its first data centre in South Africa in March, as the Chinese technology giant seeks to expand in Africa amid an…
Money Transfer
Société Générale selects HPS to develop its payment operations in Africa
15 February 2019
Société Générale, one of Europe’s largest banks with operations across the world, has selected HPS to improve the payment processing activities for ten African subsidiaries “Keeping up with the digital…
Money Transfer
Namibia: FNB Leading the Way in Digital Banking Adoption
15 February 2019
Windhoek — FNB says its customers are increasingly embracing digital banking channels in order to bank in a convenient and affordable manner. The bank revealed that over the last year…
Money Transfer
Kenyans Can Now Use Shilling On Amazon
15 February 2019
Cross-border currency movement company Western Union and US tech giant Amazon have entered into a partnership that will allow Kenyans to use local currency to pay for products sold on…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ethiopia’s privatization programme attracts major African telecom operators
15 February 2019
Following the progress of Ethiopia’s telecom privatization process, Pan-African telecom operators MTN, Orange and Vodacom are among those trying to enter the second most populated country in Africa. The state-owned…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN is said to prepare for share sale of African unicorn Jumia
15 February 2019
African online retailer Jumia is planning an initial public offering in New York this year that could value the business at about $1.5bn (about R20bn), according to people familiar with…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Telkom and Airtel agree to merge Kenyan operations
15 February 2019
Telkom Kenya and Airtel Kenya have announced the signing of an agreement to merge their mobile, enterprise and carrier services businesses to operate under a joint venture company to be…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
15 February 2019
Telkom Kenya confirmed news to merge with Airtel Kenya. The new joint venture Airtel-Telkom is expected to grow its market share, widen its distribution network and also creating awareness of…
Digital Content
Nigerians Rally Online to Demand Justice In the Rape of 23-Year-Old Woman
15 February 2019
#JusticeForRapeInNigeria is the online movement, demanding that the perpetrators of a recent rape case in Lagos be brought to justice. Several vocal Nigerians have taken to social media to demand…
Digital Content
Farmers Secure Land and Food Thanks to ‘Eyes in the Skies’
15 February 2019
Six years ago while wondering how best to use her engineering skills, Tanzanian ICT entrepreneur Rose Funja decided to enter an innovation competition. Years later she has turned a digital…
Digital Content
Egypt govt website adopts African languages: Swahili, Hausa, Amharic
15 February 2019
Egypt’s national information outlet, the State Information Service, SIS; has launched a new portal in six languages – three of which are traditional African languages. The three are; Swahili, Hausa…
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People
15 February 2019
SEACOM has appointed Tonny Tugee to be the company’s Managing Director of the Eastern North and East Africa region, in the latest managerial changes at the service provider. This is…
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Opportunities
15 February 2019
Young, African entrepreneurs can now apply for the Anzisha Prize The Anzisha Prize program which is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation has just launched the call…
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Events
15 February 2019
Africa Pay & ID ExpoMarrakech, Morocco29th - 30th March Africa’s largest payment and identification eventAPIDE 2019, through its 3000 m2 exhibition area, is a great opportunity to network, discover the…
