News update Telecoms and ICT in Africa - Issue no 998 – 18 October 2019
Top Story
The transition to eSIMs has arrived in Africa – digitalizing the customer experience and getting rid of multiple plastic SIMs
18 October 2019
eSIMs are beginning to arrive in Africa and it may not be long before they start to displace traditional plastic SIMs. It will probably start on high-end phones and other non phone devices like tablets and watches but eventually find it’s way into the market right across the price range. Russell Southwood talks to Mark Humphreys, Chief Marketing Officer, Workz about its recent entry into the continent with its GSMA certified eSIMs. Everyone’s familiar with plastic, analogue SIMs. You either have a pocket full of them or they live in the multiple handsets you carry round. Then came the micro…
Telecoms
Africa: Mara Opens South Africa Smartphone Factory to Serve Tech-Crazy Africa, and Beyond
18 October 2019
Mara Group's CEO Ashish Thakkar has invited South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to cut the ribbon at the company's smartphone factory in Durban this Thursday, ten days after he flanked…
Telecoms
South Africas: MTN’s BEE share fracas goes to court
18 October 2019
A group of 382 MTN employees are taking the mobile telecommunications giant to court over payouts from a multibillion-rand black economic empowerment (BEE) share scheme. The case — relating to…
Telecoms
Ugandan agency denies mismanaging network rollout
18 October 2019
The National Information Technology Authority of Uganda (NITA-U) has defended itself against accusations that it is wasting public funds with its rollout of a national backbone network. Recent press reports…
Telecoms
Rwanda: President Concerned About Low Smartphone Penetration Rate
18 October 2019
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has expressed concerns about the country’s low smartphone penetration rate and said that more would be done to fix the issues of quality and cost. In…
Telecoms
Seacom and Vodacom expand reach across Africa
18 October 2019
Seacom has partnered with Vodacom Business Africa to initiate the next chapter of both companies’ African network connectivity ventures. Since the launch of its business division, Seacom has substantially grown…
Telecoms
Gabon and Congo sign mobile roaming MoU
18 October 2019
The heads of Gabon’s Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Posts (l’Agence de Regulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes, ARCEP) and the Republic of Congo’s Regulatory Agency for Electronic…
Internet
Mobile firm sponsored the first Africa-China internet economy summit
18 October 2019
The Chinese mobile firm, Tecno, was among the three sponsors of the summit that saw over 200 representatives from top organizations in the field of technology and telecommunications converge to…
Internet
Microsoft Wants To Become Africa’s Internet Plug
18 October 2019
For the past 2 years Microsoft’s Airband initiative has been providing internet access to rural households in the U.S. and is now expanding internationally by focusing on Africa and Latin…
Computing
The hidden secrets of Egypt. Beyond the pyramids lies a multi-billion Dollar data centre oasis
18 October 2019
The current Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expects its economy to grow by an annual rate of 8% by 2022 directly linked to the government’s “continued efforts to improve the…
Computing
Nokia collaborates with two leading universities in Ethiopia to promote digital skills and innovation
18 October 2019
Nokia will collaborate with two of the most recognized universities for science and engineering in Ethiopia, the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) and the Addis Ababa Institute of…
Computing
In brief
18 October 2019
The state of Nigeria’s lack of accurate data is such that even the president does not know the country’s population size. Sure, there are estimates (180 million or 200 million,…
Money Transfer
Malawi Govt Withdraws Mobile Money Tax
18 October 2019
Joseph Mwanamvekha, Malawi's honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development has confirmed the Malawian government's withdrawal of the 1%withholding tax that had been imposed on mobile money transactions. …
Money Transfer
Malawian Technology Company Sets Whatsapp Service for Rural Village Bank Groups
18 October 2019
Malawian technology startup company, Angle Dimension, has set up a digital platform that allows those that registered their village bank groups to view their account details and transactions at the…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Safaricom Mulls Buying Stake in Ethiopia’s State-Owned Ethio Telecom
18 October 2019
Kenya’s giant telecommunications company, Safaricom is planning to buy a stake in Ethiopia’s State-owned Ethio Telecom. Acting Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph indicated the company is considering buying shares in Ethio…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Ethiopia considers giving up majority holding in Ethio Telecom
18 October 2019
The government of Ethiopia could release additional shares in Ethio Telecom following the planned sale of an initial 49% stake scheduled in 2020. Read the full article on Developing Telecoms…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Cell C puts fibre network, spectrum and customer base up for sale - report
18 October 2019
South Africa’s mobile operator Cell C has put core parts of the business up for sale as it struggles with ZAR 9 billion of debt and deepening losses, Bloomberg reported.…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Fight for control of Mascom rumbles on, heads for mediation
18 October 2019
The ownership battle over Botswana’s largest cellco, Mascom Wireless, is set to go to mediation. In March this year South Africa-based MTN Group confirmed plans to sell its 53% interest…
Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results
Helios Towers raises GBP 250 mln in London IPO
18 October 2019
The African operator Helios Towers has raised a total of GBP 250 million in its initial public offering of shares in London. The company sold 86.4 million new shares for…
Digital Content
Wizkid plans to roll out music streaming app
18 October 2019
Nigerian artist Wizkid has recently announced he would soon roll out a new music streaming app. The Afrobeats sensation will collaborate with Nigeria-based United Bank for Africa on the new…
Digital Content
Boomplay To Venture Into Francophone Africa
18 October 2019
Riding on its massive success in Nigeria and other Anglophone regions across Africa, Boomplay Music has announced that it will be expanding its music-streaming services to French-speaking countries on the…
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People
18 October 2019
The former ZOL CCO and CEO Denny Marandure has left the company to start on a new journey at Liquid Telecom South Africa. Mr Marandure has been appointed as Liquid…
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Opportunities
18 October 2019
SA tech startups invited to apply for Cell C Innovation Challenge South African mobile operator Cell C has opened applications for an innovation challenge that offers tech startups access to…
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Events
18 October 2019
AfricaCom, featuring AfricaTech12 – 14 November 2019, CTICC AfricaCom is the place to meet everybody who’s anybody in African telecoms and technology; bringing together 15,000 attendees, 450 speakers and…
