News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 966 – 11 March 2019
Top Story
New report identifies the heroes and villains of Africa’s mobile data pricing and why women are being excluded from Africa’s digital life
11 March 2019
Sub-Saharan Africa desperately needs mobile data pricing that matches the pockets of the mass market that should be using it. The latest annual release from research company Cable looks at worldwide mobile data prices. Russell Southwood looks at what it tells us about current Sub-Saharan African prices. Every year research company Cable releases an annual comparison of broadband prices. Until this year, these comparisons have been for fixed broadband. This year’s looks at mobile data prices and examined 6,313 plans in late 2018. The resulting Excel spreadsheet provides an average price for a country and most and least expensive. The…
Telecoms
Airtel-Telkom Kenya merger under fire from Kenyan authorities
11 March 2019
A committee in the Kenyan National Assembly has refused to approve the merger of Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya until more information is revealed about the proposal. Claiming that “the…
Telecoms
Nigeria: PAT Limited signs $20 million infrastructure deal with Watt Renewable Corp
11 March 2019
Nigerian firm Pan African Towers (PAT) Limited has signed a US$20 million infrastructure investment deal with Canadian firm, Watt Renewable Corporation. The Partnership will see Watt Renewable provide alternative energy…
Telecoms
Global Voice Group (GVG) positioned for expansion with new European headquarters
11 March 2019
Global Voice Group (GVG)– a provider of IT solutions to governments and regulatory authorities – this week announced the launch of its new headquarters in Madrid, Spain. This development supports…
Telecoms
Orange Niger Considers All Available Options In the Face Of Market Difficulties
11 March 2019
Mobile operator Orange Niger is reported to be exploring all options, including partnerships and restructuring as it continues to be affected by regulatory pressure from socio-economic and political instability. According…
Telecoms
Liquid Telecom mulling what to do with its prime 5G spectrum
11 March 2019
Liquid Telecom is giving serious thought to leveraging its spectrum asset in the 3.5GHz band, which happens to be ideally suited to the roll-out of next-generation 5G mobile broadband technology.…
Telecoms
Helios to Build 1,000 Towers in South Africa 5G Networks Push
11 March 2019
Helios Towers Plc wants to build 1,000 telecommunication towers in South Africa in the next three years as it tries to capitalize on rapid growth in mobile services and shape…
Telecoms
In brief
11 March 2019
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has joined forces with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), together with other government agencies, to fight fraud and cybercrime which officials believe…
Telecoms
The very latest detailed analysis of 4G and 5G connectivity across Africa
11 March 2019
The very latest detailed analysis of 4G and 5G connectivity across Africa 4G & 5G in Africa: Launches, subscribers, data prices and trends report is set to be published by…
Internet
Data costs still too high in South Africa
11 March 2019
Cape Town - The cost of data in South Africa is exorbitant compared to other African countries although mobile network operators moved to implement regulations related to the use of…
Internet
Successful mating of Eutelsat's KONNECT satellite payload with its all-electric platform to cover Western Europe and Africa’
11 March 2019
Eutelsat Communications has announced the successful mating of the platform and payload of the KONNECT satellite, conducted this week at Thales Alenia Space's facilities in Cannes. This operation is a…
Internet
Heficed launches world's first global self-service IP address management platform
11 March 2019
The launch of the world's first global self-service IP (Internet Protocol) address management platform, Switch, will help automate a time-consuming manual process saving companies and government organisations critical time and…
Internet
How President Museveni’s social media tax is negatively affecting Uganda’s economy
11 March 2019
Uganda has experienced a decline in the number of internet users since the introduction of a daily Over-The-Top (OTT) tax of UGX200 shilling($0.05) for social media tax last July. At…
Internet
DFA branches out to Zimbabwe
11 March 2019
DFA (Dark Fibre Africa), specialists in Open Access Network and physical infrastructure for the Business, have opened an office in Zimbabwe. DFA opened a new office in Harare, Zimbabwe, this…
Internet
Paratus Africa expands its data highway through Africa
11 March 2019
Paratus Africa has announced that it recently activated additional capacity between West Africa Undersea Cable System (WACS) and Lusaka, Zambia. This follows the recent Paratus Trans Kalahari Fiber project that…
Computing
Microsoft opens first datacentres in Africa with general availability of Microsoft Azure
11 March 2019
Microsoft has announced the opening of its first datacentres in Africa, with the general availability of Azure from the new cloud regions in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. This…
Computing
Leading African FMCG manufacturer gets future-fit with speedy HANA Database migration
11 March 2019
Bidco Africa, the largest manufacturer of FMCG in East Africa, migrates to SAP HANA Database to gain real-time, in-memory computing capabilities and improve its delivery to customers. With two of…
Computing
Huawei Cloud Starts Offering Commercial Services In South Africa
11 March 2019
Huawei Cloud plans to gradually operate more data centres in Kenya, Nigeria and other countries in Africa to provide localised, safe and reliable services. Huawei Cloud has started offering commercial…
Money Transfer
Orange promotes Africa money collaboration
11 March 2019
Orange deputy CEO for mobile financial services Paul de Leusse (pictured) urged Africa’s mobile money providers to get around the table to discuss interoperability if they are to successfully expand…
Money Transfer
EcoCash launches remittance service in South Africa
11 March 2019
Harare- EcoCash, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s mobile money Fintech business, has partnered with Cassava Fintech South Africa to provide an enhanced cross-border money transfer service from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Announcing…
Money Transfer
Nigeria: FG boosts financial inclusion with TraderMoni
11 March 2019
With over 23 million Nigerians financially excluded, the introduction of TraderMoni by the Federal Government in conjunction with Bank of Industry could not have come at a better time. According…
Money Transfer
Kenya: MPs want mobile lenders to be regulated and sharing of mobile money agents
11 March 2019
The Central Bank of Kenya and the Communications Authority will be required to formulate and publish regulations on mobile money transaction fees for all mobile money operators within six months…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN looks to sell off Mascom Wireless Botswana
11 March 2019
According to people who are familiar with the matter, MTN might be toying with the idea of dropping its business venture with Mascom Wireless in Botswana as CEO Rob Shuter…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
SEACOM completes 100% acquisition of FibreCo
11 March 2019
SEACOM announced that it has completed the 100% acquisition of FibreCo Telecommunications. “FibreCo owns and operates a national fibre network providing infrastructure and connectivity services across South Africa. The acquisition…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Huawei, MTN Strengthen Strategic Partnership To Expand Digital Services In Africa
11 March 2019
Both parties have agreed to expand Active Data Growth, Rich Media Services, Mobile Financial Services, Enterprise, and Wholesale businesses from the traditional voice and data service cooperation. Huawei and MTN…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
In brief
11 March 2019
An arbitration tribunal of the Paris International Chamber of Commerce has settled a dispute between shareholders of Angola’s leading mobile operator Unitel by ordering its local owners to pay fellow…
Digital Content
PCCW launches Viu in South Africa
11 March 2019
PCCW has launched Viu in South Africa, marking the over-the-top service’s seventeenth country launch. Viu South Africa is available as a freemium service and offers local and regional content from…
Digital Content
MTN Set To Launch Messenger Service To Rival WhatsApp
11 March 2019
At MTN’s recent financial year-end results presentation for 2018, the Group’s CEO, Rob Shuter announced that the giant mobile operator would be launching a new instant messaging service. Shuter said…
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People
11 March 2019
Logicalis strengthens Pan-African capabilities with senior appointments Logicalis South Africa (Logicalis), a subsidiary of Datatec Limited, has made three senior appointments to significantly strengthen its regional management team and build…
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Events
11 March 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…
