News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 971 – 11 April 2019
Top Story
Central African fibre links beginning to fall into place with the soon-to-be realised Congo-Brazzaville to Central African Republic connection
11 April 2019
What was once Africa’s slowest cross-border project is finally beginning to gather some pace. If recent announcements by politicians turn into reality, there could soon be a new fibre link in place to the Central African Republic. Russell Southwood looks at what might be about to happen. Near the end of March Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso met the Central African Minister of Posts and Telecommunication Justin Sirnasakou , in Brazzaville. Congo-Brazzaville has become the most active partner in this sub-regional fibre project. Justin Sirnasakou was Central African President Faustin Archange Touadera’s special envoy to present to Congo-Brazzaville’s President the…
Telecoms
Telkom Kenya Will Retain Its Debt Post-Merger With Airtel
11 April 2019
Airtel Kenya will not be assuming responsibility for Telkom Kenya’s debt after the completion of their merger. The two telcos announced in February that ownership of Telkom Kenya’s enterprise, carrier…
Telecoms
Sierra Leone's telco regulator under fire for alleged mismanagement
11 April 2019
Following a technical audit, it is alleged that Sierra Leone's telecom regulator NATCOM promoted favouritism and unfair competition within the telecommunications industry between January 2015 and July 2018. This is…
Telecoms
Uganda: UCC consults on new licensing laws
11 April 2019
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has opened a public consultation into its planned review of the country’s Telecommunications Licensing Framework. The current framework has been in place since 2006 and…
Telecoms
In brief
11 April 2019
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has released its second quarter sector statistics for the financial year 2018/2019. The quarter has been marked by many positives, including a notable increase…
Internet
StarTimes and MTN partnered for mobile internet
11 April 2019
StarTimes Nigeria and MTN has partnered together to offer mobile internet to its subscribers on the network a special data bundle known as ‘StarTimes ON mobile app.’ With the video…
Internet
Facebook wants to build underwater cable dubbed ‘Simba’ around Africa
11 April 2019
Facebook Inc. is circling Africa. Literally. The company is in talks to develop an underwater data cable that would encircle the continent, according to people familiar with the plans, an…
Internet
ZephyrTel signs agreement with Amazon Web Services for telco customer services platform
11 April 2019
South Africa's ZephyrTel has signed a telecom-focused collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), less than a year after ZephyrTel's formation. It said this is a testament to the company's…
Internet
'We're ahead in 5G' says Huawei
11 April 2019
The core value of digital transformation lies in balancing IT efficiency and cost optimisation with business competitiveness, and the key to successful transformation is the convergence of OT and IT.…
Computing
Facebook Researchers Map Africa’s Population Density Using AI
11 April 2019
Work around Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been growing by the day and it has been front lined by big tech companies. Facebook too has been experimenting with AI in a…
Computing
Cisco Launches a KES 60M Incubation Hub in Nairobi
11 April 2019
American telecoms equipment manufacturer Cisco that also conducts its business operations in Kenya has announced the launch of a KES 69 million incubation hub in Kenya. The Hub will combine…
Computing
All-female African Coding training launches in Nigeria
11 April 2019
AfDB and Microsoft Philanthropies have organised the Coding for Employment programme prioritising young women sidelined in the technology ecosystem. Some 160 young women have begun a month-long coding class on…
Money Transfer
FNB’s banking app is now also a virtual eBucks shopping mall
11 April 2019
FNB on Monday announced a new feature on its banking app that allows its customers to shop within its app. In addition to banking, the FNB app now also features…
Money Transfer
Visa, Branch collaborate to expand financial access across Sub-Saharan Africa
11 April 2019
Visa, the global payments technology company and Branch, the most downloaded finance app in Africa, have announced a partnership that will see virtual Visa prepaid debit cards offered to over…
Money Transfer
Nigeria’s digital lender Paylater re-brands as “Carbon” to reflect its new digital banking services
11 April 2019
Nigeria’s leading digital lending platform, Paylater has expanded its services by becoming a full-service digital financial platform. In line with this transition, the company has introduced a range of products…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Liquid Telecom Signs $180-Million Investment Deal With UK’s CDC Group
11 April 2019
Liquid Telecom recently concluded a $180-million investment deal from UK development finance institution CDC Group. The network operator issued a statement saying that the new investment would enable Liquid Telecom…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Partners sought for Guinea Telecom launch; 27.5% GUILAB stake for sale
11 April 2019
The Government of the Republic of Guinea is continuing to seek ‘technically reliable and financially robust’ partners for the planned launch of a new mobile/broadband/fixed telecoms operator under the Guinea…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
U.S. Agency to Double Africa Spending to Counter China’s Reach
11 April 2019
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government’s development finance agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corp., aims to double investment in Africa to $12.4 billion to counter growing Chinese economic and political influence…
Digital Content
Boomplay, a Spotify-style music and video streaming service for African music and Africa, raises $20M
11 April 2019
While Spotify dukes it out with Apple and other big tech names to target high-end users in mostly developed markets, a startup out of China has raised some money to…
Digital Content
The mobile phone app that discovers disease and saves lives in Africa
11 April 2019
What if a mobile phone could prevent a health epidemic? It may sound like science fiction, but the World Health Organization's (WHO) Polio Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology is doing…
Digital Content
Facebook Enlists Africa Check, AFP To Fight False News
11 April 2019
False news has become a serious issue in recent years, with misleading content posted on social media allegedly influencing political elections and swaying public opinions. Late last year, Facebook introduced…
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People
11 April 2019
WASPA names new board members South Africa's Wireless Application Service Providers' Association (WASPA) said it has amended its constitution to better equip the non-profit industry association to represent the interests…
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Oportunities
11 April 2019
Applications now open for Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa Applications have opened for the ninth edition of the annual Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle…
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Events
11 April 2019
The 4th edition of Nextv CEO Africa14th to 16th May 2019African Pride Arabella Hotel & Spa in KleinmondSouth Africa. The 3-day conference annually hosts over 200 attendees where industry leaders…
