News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 974 – 3 May 2019
Top Story
Orange makes a back-door entry into the Gambian market and causes much tongue wagging
3 May 2019
Orange has taken the unusual step of buying a Gambian company with an ISP license to its name in order to enter the market. The normal front door would be to buy an existing telecoms operator or simply pay for a license and invest. Russell Southwood looks at the implications of this move and takes the temperature of a small market under some pressure. On 4 April 2019, the owner and CEO of soon-to-be Gambian ISP Xoom Wireless announced on his Twitter feed: “I am pleased to announce that Xoom Wireless has been acquired by Sonatel operating the Orange brand…
Telecoms
Côte d’Ivoire: MainOne announces the extension of its submarine optical cable
3 May 2019
During its general annual meeting on April 28, 2019, in Côte d’Ivoire, MainOne announced the extension of its submarine optical cable and the opening of its data centre in the…
Telecoms
The best mobile networks in South Africa – according to South Africans
3 May 2019
BrandsEye has published its South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index for 2019, gauging how the South African public at large feel about the country’s biggest mobile networks. The index is based…
Telecoms
South Africa: Big fight over the “I” in ICASA
3 May 2019
The City Press has reported that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams are “at war”. According to the report, the minister is being…
Telecoms
Kenya: Safaricom clarifies reports on CEO exit
3 May 2019
Safaricom has denied media reports on the succession of its Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said to be stepping down in August, this year. The telco said it has not…
Telecoms
South Africa’s 5G battle – Winners and losers
3 May 2019
5G holds tremendous potential for South Africa as a fixed broadband solution and a fibre-to-the-home replacement. The technology promises real-world speeds of over 100Mbps and very low latency, which makes…
Telecoms
Sierra Leone signs free roaming MoU with Guinea, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire
3 May 2019
Sierra Leone's National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) has signed an MOU with telecommunications regulatory heads from Liberia, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire, aimed at fostering collaboration in implementing the One Area Network…
Telecoms
In brief
3 May 2019
Nexign, a leading Business Support System (BSS) and Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider, today announced a strategic reseller partnership with Dubai-based system integrator and solutions specialist, NETS International. The…
Internet
Benin Enforced an Internet Shutdown on the Same Day as Uncontested Elections
3 May 2019
As a result, voter turnout was low Sunday in a country with 5 million registered voters. Benin held parliamentary elections Sunday leaving citizens without access to opposition candidates and the…
Internet
The great SA rip-off: Costly data is not our mobile networks’ only sin
3 May 2019
The Competition Commission is the latest body to criticise South Africa’s cell phone giants, accusing them of charging far more for mobile locally than in other countries where they do…
Computing
Tanzania set to roll out biometric SIM registration
3 May 2019
Tanzania plans to launch biometric SIM registration nationwide on 1 May, in a bid to improve security in the country, reports The East African. The exercise follows a pilot project…
Money Transfer
Mauritius Telecom to soon launch mobile money service
3 May 2019
(Ecofin Agency) - Mauritius Telecom (MT) will soon launch the mobile money service, Sherry Singh, the incumbent operator’s CEO, announced on April 24, 2019. The announcement was made during the…
Money Transfer
MTN Ghana pays over GhC17.1m in interest to Mobile Money subscribers 2019 Q1
3 May 2019
MTN Ghana has commenced payment of GHC 17.1 million to 10,630 175 customers as interest earned for quarter 1, 2019. This brings to over GH? 156.2 Million in interest paid…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
MTN is selling half of its stake in loss-making Jumia in order to pay off its debt
3 May 2019
Africa’s biggest wireless carrier MTN group is looking to reduce its debt and enter into new markets by selling at least half of its stakes worth $655 million in Jumia…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Airtel's Africa operations post $89 million profit in January-March
3 May 2019
Airtel Africa, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel that provides services in Africa, Tuesday posted a net profit of USD 89 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, on account…
Digital Content
Nigerian ICT Guru Develops World’s First AI Platform for Language Translation
3 May 2019
In what will go down as a daring feat of innovation, a 41-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Gabriel has developed a global Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform, known as OBTranslate with the capacity…
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People
3 May 2019
Former Vodafone Global Enterprise Country Head East Africa Joins Internet Solutions Kenya Integrated ICT Services Provider, Internet Solutions (IS) has hired former Vodafone Global Enterprise, Country Head East AfricaSylvester Mboya…
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Opportunties
3 May 2019
Apply: The 2019 FIRE Africa Awards for Innovative ICT Projects in Africa (USD 3k Prize + Fully-Funded to Germany) The FIRE Africa Awards seek to acknowledge innovative initiatives in Africa…
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Events
3 May 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…
