News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 981 – 21 June 2019
Top Story
Dynamic spectrum likely to play a key role in African regulation V2.00 - Opening up opportunities to reach the parts others cannot reach
21 June 2019
Market changes are in danger of creating a situation where African regulation hits the buffers. With just over half of African countries having anything like true competition, now is the moment to ask: what will African regulation V2.00 look like? Russell Southwood looks at the contribution dynamic spectrum might make to opening up the market to those who are under-served or not served at all. African regulation V1.00 – which has lasted over two decades – is coming to a close. It has taken many forms but the basic assumptions have been nearly the same across all countries. One major…
Telecoms
Latest Safaricom feature allows you to place a call without airtime
21 June 2019
If you’ve ever wanted to place a call and have been hit with the ‘You do not have sufficient airtime to make this call’, then you will appreciate Safaricom’s late…
Telecoms
Cell C rolls out WhatsApp Boosta in SA
21 June 2019
Cell C has introduced Whatsapp Boosta, a promotional product available since 7 June to 31 August 2019. WhatsApp Boosta offers subscribers the opportunity to enhance their 1, 5 and 30-day…
Telecoms
The Nokia 3.2 launches in South Africa
21 June 2019
The home of Nokia phones, HMD Global, has announced that starting from the 19 June 2019 the Nokia 3.2 will be available for purchase from Vodacom stores and retail partners…
Telecoms
MTN, Vodacom eye opportunity in Ethiopia
21 June 2019
Both MTN and Vodacom see potential for growth in the Ethiopian market, which this week opened to foreign investment after decades of state control. "MTN has long held the view…
Telecoms
How to reduce the high cost of voice and data services in South Africa
21 June 2019
The high cost of voice and data services in South Africa is well publicised, notes Premeshin Naidoo, managing principal: telecommunications, media & technology, Absa. Both the regulator, Independent Communications Authority…
Telecoms
In brief
21 June 2019
Intercept IP Group today announces new plans to enter the South African usage-based insurance telematics market through a collaboration with Digicall. Digicall is to be the official distributor and reseller…
Internet
Globalstar Announces the Successful Completion of MSS and Terrestrial Authorizations Across Africa, Covering a Population in Excess of 100 Million
21 June 2019
Globalstar Inc. announced that it has received MSS (mobile satellite services) and terrestrial authorizations in South Africa, Mozambique, Gabon, and Rwanda. These countries join Botswana in representing over 1.1 million…
Internet
Tech firms to check suppliers after mining revelations in Tanzania
21 June 2019
Electronics companies, including Canon, Apple and Nokia, are re-evaluating their supply chains following reports they may be using gold extracted from a Tanzanian mine that has been criticised for environmental…
Internet
South Africa: Vast Networks’ Wi-Fi offload trial with Vodacom ‘faster than cellular’
21 June 2019
South Africa’s Vast Networks has been operating a trial Wi-Fi offload service for the country’s largest MNO Vodacom for some months and the results are now irrefutable: When cellular subscribers…
Internet
In brief
21 June 2019
The Nigerian Communications Commission has said that the Internet users in Nigeria increased marginally to 115,938,255 million in March 2019. The disclosure was made on Monday by NCC in its…
Computing
Ghana: Companies without data protection certificates risk losing license
21 June 2019
Commissioner of Data Protection, Patricia Edusei-Poku has warned that companies which refuse to register with the Ghana Data Protection Commission risk losing their business licenses. She told Adom News that…
Money Transfer
WorldRemit enables remittance receivers to manage their money on their phones
21 June 2019
Leading online money transfer service WorldRemit is introducing new app features to make it easier for remittance recipients in several countries, including Cameroon, to manage funds sent from loved ones…
Money Transfer
Mauritius: Paynet switches off banks
21 June 2019
Paynet, a subsidiary of Mauritian financial services provider Payserv Africa, has suspended all local financial institutions from its transacting platform after they refused to pay in foreign currency for its…
Money Transfer
In brief
21 June 2019
Barely 2 months after Equity Bank revealed its intentions to expand into the Ethiopian banking sector, the group has been granted a license to open a representative office in Addis…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Multinational clients to benefit from Vodacom Business Africa's strategic repositioning
21 June 2019
Vodacom Group ('the Group') today announced a strategic repositioning of its Vodacom Business Africa operations that will result in three separate share purchase agreements involving its enterprise businesses in Nigeria,…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Airtel targets £3.6B valuation for Africa unit
21 June 2019
Airtel finalised plans for the £595 million IPO of a stake of its Africa business, with shares scheduled for conditional trading on the London Stock Exchange from 28 June. In…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ghana tipped to be fastest growing mobile money market in Africa
21 June 2019
A World Bank report released over the weekend has tipped Ghana to be the fastest growing mobile money market in Africa. According to the report, the mobile phone penetration created…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Airtel Africa price range shows bullish outlook – but beware regulatory risks
21 June 2019
Airtel Africa’s strong operating performance means that the company’s IPOs in London and Nigeria are likely to succeed – raising new political and regulatory risks for the company. The price…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Orange and KaiOS Technologies reinforce their partnership to close Africa’s digital divide through Series B funding
21 June 2019
Paris, 21 June 2019 – Today, KaiOS Technologies maker of KaiOS, the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones, confirmed Orange’s participation in a recent Series B funding round…
Digital Content
MTN drives launch of award-winning literacy app
21 June 2019
East London - With calls growing louder for government, corporates and all citizens to step up to help solve a growing literacy crisis, the MTN SA Foundation has partnered with…
Digital Content
Sample Chief, a Go-To Platform for African Music Knowledge, Share 5 of Their Favorite Samples
21 June 2019
From highlighting vintage Guinean records in rap songs to Nollywood references in afropop, Sample Chief wants to be an "all-knowing wizard" that "shares African music intelligence on a deeper level."…
Digital Content
Social media goes blue for Sudan
21 June 2019
#BlueForSudan artwork by Roiya Khaled Abu Zied, used with her permission. Since April's military ouster of President Omar Al-Bashir after 30 years in power, pro-democracy protesters’ attempts to negotiate a…
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People
21 June 2019
Orange Business Services has announced the appointment of Sahem Azzam as Vice President Middle East and Africa. He is based in the regional headquarters at Dubai Silicon Oasis in the…
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Opportunities
21 June 2019
Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge launches Africa Google announced that the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge is open for application submissions in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.…
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Events
21 June 2019
SAFNOG-5 & iWeek 2019 We are proud to announce that for the 5th instalment of SAFNOG, we will be returning to Johannesburg, South Africa where it all began. SAFNOG and…
