| ||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday. ISSUE NO 331 Tunisie Telecom: Foley bought in to transform company’s cultureAt GSM>3G North Africa Forum which took place in Tunis this week, Isabelle Gross met Michael Foley who is currently attached to Tunisie Telecom as the Chief Entreprise Transformation Officer. As his title implies, his main task is to turn around the company and make it a profitable investment for Dubai Holding which so far owns 35% of Tunisie Telecom and is expected to obtain an additional 16% share of the company to reach the 51% required to gain control. Unlike Morocco, Tunisia hasn’t had yet fully entered the broadband revolution. There are less than 50,000 broadband connections at present, representing a penetration rate of a mere 2%. This slow take-up has its roots in the way in which the market has so far been organised. Although Tunisia has 5 private ISPs (and 7 public ISPs) that retail internet connection services, it remains a state-controlled distribution system headed by the Agence Tunisienne d’Internet (ATI). This agency was created in 1996 as a "société publique anonyme" (SPA), with the role of promoting the Internet to the wider public as a means of communication. One year later the ATI’s role was extended to include the wholesaling of connectivity (provided by Tunisie Telecom) to the two newly licensed private ISPs. In 2001, 3 additional licenses were granted. In this context, Isabelle Gross interviewed Michael Foley about Tunisie Telecom’s ambitions in the data market. Q: Do you want to stay a wholesaler of connectivity or do you want to enter the retail market? A: With regard to the situation of the Internet in Tunisia there are two things to look at. The country has a large infrastructure and most of this is digital. There are more than 10,000 km2 of fibre cables across the country. It is vital that we increase access to the Internet – especially to broadband connections. We have announced that over 100,000 broadband lines will be put in and made available by the beginning of 2007, and we are currently studying a programme to add about another 400,000 lines by 2008. I am confident that this number of broadband connections can be easily absorbed by the market. To answer your question Tunisie Telecom has not changed its view. The company is not allowed to be an ISP and at the moment we are not pushing in this direction. We will carry on providing a wholesale access and will help to build up the ISP market - we will supply connectivity to the 5 existing commercial ISPs. However, this will not stop us from following-up on other access technology through mobile phones for example. We were the first in North Africa to launch push through email. There are other technologies that we are considering, such as Wi-Fi and WIMAX. Q: What are your plans for Tunisie Telecom in the next six months? The key thing is the mandate that I have received to organise the transformation process of the company. The objective is to change Tunisie Telecom from a social public organisation into a commercial company with social responsibilities. We have identified over ten areas of activity where we want to introduce changes and make improvements. I would mention our enterprise service and our IP infrastructure. We are currently merging the teams that are in charge of the mobile and fixed business in the company. Tunisie Telecom has a great infrastructure but lacks commercial focus, in particular with regard to fulfilling the needs of its customers." Q: How will you for example tackle the mentality issue? A: At Tunisie Telecom, people understand the need for the change. They know that they need to be more customer-focused. Customer care is partly what accounts for the success of Tunisiana, the second mobile operator. A series of people have come to meet with the management of Tunisie Teleom. I can tell you that of the 12 leaders at the company all are local except for one. Their role is to work on introducing new HR policy, develop customer care and provide input on the commercial strategy for our mobile and Internet activities. It is essential to make Tunisie Telecom more commercially-oriented and I can tell you that this transformation can be achieved. As Foley puts it, the beast is of no mean size in terms of employees, infrastructure and over 5 million customers. But he seems confident that he can draw on his previous experience in Bulgaria when he headed ex-state owned M-Tel Bulgaria from March 2004 to July 2005 after the company was bought by Telekom Austria. "The challenge that we face is to build Tunisie Telecom into a telecom operator that will be recognised at international level. Dubai Holding has invested more than 2.5 billion US$ in the first phase. This is their largest investment abroad and they intend to get a return on it and at the same time provide a better service to the Tunisian people. Let’s consider the broadband data market again. We could generate 8 million dinars (US$6 million) per month with 400,000 active connections at 20 dinars each (US$15)." "With this level of broadband connections, e-commerce and e-government services will take up too and provide further revenue growth opportunities for Tunisie Telecom." Q: What about the status of censorship of the Internet in Tunisia? Look, I am a commercial guy and a phone operator. I can’t make any further comments in this. Q: What are Tunisie Telecom’s plans with regard to the issue of a 3G licence next year? Tunisie Telecom will look at it carefully before making any decision. Again, we will need to work on a business model to find out what revenues could be generated to cover the infrastructure investments that would be required. We will do it if there is a return on investment for us and if the services that could be offered meet the Tunisian needs. Even though Foley’s response was carefully worded, it reflects a broader scepticism about 3G and the high cost of licences expressed by a number of key operators at this week’s forum. All want lower licence fees because there is such a high level of uncertainty over potential revenues.
THE MALDIVES CONNECTION – A NEW FIBRE ROUTE TO AFRICAA new subsea cable connecting Sri Lanka with the Maldive Islands might turn out to be the the first leg of a new Africa-Asia cable. The US$20m, 850km cable owned by Sri Lanka Telecom and Dhiraagu Telecom of Maldives, is due to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2007. “This cable has a 10 Gigabit capacity, but it can be expanded to a terabit because there is a possibility that we can connect to the African side, via Maurtius, Seychelles, Madagascar and also South Africa,” said the chief executive of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Suhei Anan. Anan says such an expansion beyond the Maldives could be undertaken with Dhiraagu and African partners within five years. NEC of Japan is the lead contractor and KTS of Korea is laying the cable. Meanwhile, Reliance Communications has sold over half the capacity on its Falcon cable in the three months since it was launched. Reliance says it has sold over 45 gigabits of the 90 gigabits lit on the 10,000 km India-Middle East submarine . The cable ultimately can be upgraded to 2.56 terabits. Reliance’s two cable systems – Flag and Falcon – have recorded over $450m of sales in the year to date, and many of Falcon’s sales have come from incumbent operators in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. (source: TelecomTV) CCK ANNOUNCES SNO LICENCE WINNER IN KENYAVtel consortium, a Dubai based firm, has won the bid for the Second National telecommunications Operator (SNO) licence. The Commission declared the consortium the winner on October 27 after Vtel’s financial bid of US$169.6m emerged the highest out of the firms that had qualified at the technical stage. Vtel beat Mahanagar Telephone Kenya’ s bid of US$52.1m and Reliance K. consortium’s offer of US$111.03m to bag the SNO tender. Vtel consortium is made up of Unitel Kenya, Kirinyaga Construction Company, Paltel and Vtel Holdings. Vtel CEO Nour Atout commended the Commission for conducting the tender process above board, and assured Kenyans of quality services. Directors of the two other companies also hailed the Commission, saying they were satisfied with how the process had been conducted. CCK Director-General Eng John Waweru said the race for the licence was very competitive with the bidders determining their positions from their financial quotations. He said the winning bidder would be expected to submit a performance bond within the next 21 days. Vtel consortium is also expected to formally apply for the licence using the prescribed application form. “The application should be made by a locally registered company with the structure and composition being similar to what the consortium presented in the initial bid. The licensed company must also be in conformity with the policy direction on investing in the industry; at least 30 per cent shareholding should be Kenyan,” Eng. Waweru said. The licence will be issued in January 2007 after the consortium pays the entire bid amount. (SOURCE: CCK) VODAFONE INCREASES EGYPTIAN INVESTMENTVodafone has announced that it is planning to take management control of its Egyptian subsidiary, Vodafone Egypt. The company is buying just under five percent of Vodafone Egypt from Telecom Egypt, and will end up with a 55% stake in the company. Paul Donovan, CEO of Vodafone's EMAPA Region (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Affiliates), said: "We are very pleased to have agreed a strategic partnership with Telecom Egypt, which further strengthens the working relationship both companies have as Vodafone Egypt shareholders. "The purchase of additional equity in Vodafone Egypt shows Vodafone's commitment to the Egyptian market, which is further reinforced by our partnership with Telecom Egypt to develop and expand products and services." Akil Beshir, Chairman and CEO of Telecom Egypt added: "Today we have signed a strategic partnership which will ensure that the most cutting-edge products and services will be available in Egypt. This move will make it possible for Vodafone Egypt to take advantage of the products and services from TE Data and other parts of Telecom Egypt as well as increasing the opportunities for Vodafone Egypt to sell its services through Telecom Egypt. This agreement will also allow Telecom Egypt to maintain a substantial portion of the international voice services volumes from Vodafone Egypt after the liberalisation of international gateway services in Egypt". The two companies have also signed a new strategic partnership to increase cooperation between both parties and to jointly develop a range of products and services for the Egyptian market. Telecom Egypt will continue to provide exclusive international gateway services for Vodafone Egypt under an extension of the current agreement. Vodafone Egypt will also extend its distribution channels for Vodafone products and services through Telecom Egypt's outlets. Where appropriate, Vodafone Egypt and Telecom Egypt may consider regional joint initiatives to work together where the combination of fixed and mobile capability will add competitive advantage. (SOURCE: Cellular News) AREEBA LEGAL WAR ENTERS SECOND PHASE IN GHANABenson Nutsukpui-Secretary of GBA counsel for Scancom Ltd, operators of the Areeba cellular phone network, last Tuesday set the tone for the legal battles over claims for a twenty percent shares in the company by a Ghanaian entrepreneur, when he whipped up a copy of The Chronicle, brandished it before the judge and lawyers, and urged the Judge to counsel journalists to report accurately. He emphasised that the paper had put its own interpretation to what was said in court concerning the provision, which had been made by the new owners of Areeba, MTN of South Africa. The Chronicle headline had read ‘$400m set aside for Aggrey’, and Benson Nutsukpui, the only lawyer who spoke on the case, passionately took issue with the headline and its import because he said it was not what he meant when he referred to the insurance provided when he was arguing against the legal route adopted by the claimant and his lawyers in pursuing their alleged 20 percent claim. He referred to filings contained in sworn depositions that categorically said that some insurance and warranties had been provided for any contentious shareholder issues. Mr. Nutsukpui, who made this submission, announced to the court that he would be led by his senior partner, Nutifafa Kuenyehia, but ended up on his feet making all the arguments with not a word from Kuenyehia himself, who was in court. Neither were there arguments from the other senior lawyers representing the defendants and the claimants. William Fugar was absent but his junior, Larry Otoo, was there. Yonni Kulendi was absent but Messrs Puozing and Osei Tutu held his brief, while Thaddeus Sory, representing Grand View Management of Houston Texas was also present. None of them had anything to say about the issues raised by Nutsukpui, though the Judge asked all of them to comment or make any observation on the matter brought up by Benson. The Judge then asked all journalists in the room, which was half empty to exercise caution and avoid reporting inaccurately, stopping short of pronouncing on the accuracy of The Chronicle. MTN has circulated on its website, information to prospects preceding the listing of Investcom shares on the Dubai and London stock exchanges. Paragraph 2.2 of the document, DEED OF WARRANTY and UNDERTAKING (M1) has signed a deed of warranty and undertaking in favour of MTN Group and MTN Mauritius, the salient terms of which are: M1 has given certain warranties and undertakings in respect of Investcom Group and its shareholdings herein and has agreed to provide collateral (in the form of cash and /or shares) valued at $400m as security for potential liability under the agreement. (SOURCE: Ghana Review) BID TO CONTROL CELL-ROUTING STUMBLES IN ZIMBABWEZimbabwe's privately owned cellular companies last week won a court order against a government attempt to force them to route international calls through a state-controlled gateway. High Court judge President Rita Makarau granted the interdict to Econet Wireless and Telecel. Econet lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said the order covered both Econet, owned by SA-based Zimbabwean telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa, and Telecel, in which self-exiled local businessman James Makamba has a large shareholding. Telecel is 60% owned by Egyptian conglomerate Orascom and 40% by local investors. President Robert Mugabe's government recently introduced a "statutory instrument" to stop the cellphone firms using many routes for international traffic, claiming it wanted to "ensure accountability by private operators". The regulation was to take effect last Wednesday. Econet last week sought an interdict pending an application challenging the constitutionality of the new regulations. Justice Lavender Makoni on Friday postponed Econet's urgent application after it emerged that Telecel had made a similar application. Econet and Telecel argued the proposed law would cripple them financially. They said the legislation seemed aimed helping TelOne, their government-owned, fixed-line competitor, which was struggling. The new regulations prescribe minimum termination rates for fixed, mobile and mobile-via-fixed international voice traffic of $0.07, $0.20 and $0.15, respectively. Econet and Telecel say these would render their gateways redundant and drastically reduce their revenue from incoming traffic. Mtetwa argued Econet's licence was granted seven years ago in a court order which specifically authorised it to operate a gateway for both incoming and outgoing traffic. Telecel MD Rex Chibesa said the regulation was void because it contravened the Postal and Telecoms Act. He said the fixing of the rates fell outside the scope and power of the telecommunications minister under the law. The move by Econet Wireless and Telecel threatens to open a new legal battle that has the hallmarks of the protracted court struggle seven years ago between Econet and the government, which tried in vain to deny the company an operating licence. The refusal to license Econet was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1999, opening the way for Zimbabwe's biggest cellphone company to start operating. (SOURCE: Business Day) SIERRA LEONE: QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT ANNUAL RENEWAL FEES FOR MOBILE OPERATORSA columnist in Sierra Leone’s Leone’s Concord Times questioned whether it was wise for the Government to be charging mobile operators annual licence renewal fees:”The announcement recently by the Minister of Finance - MoF of the planned $500,000 licence (renewal) fees for mobile operators here in Sierra Leone may not be only wrong, but also out of place, counter-productive and backward. It goes against the grain in relation to best practices in the global marketplace. In no shape and form am I trying to pounce on the ministry for trying to source more funds for the funding of the state's ever needy consolidated fund. However, arbitrary taxation on the part of the government must not go unchecked. If you think donor fatigue is bad try tax payer fatigue. Tax payer fatigue from the business sector could turn out to be extremely disastrous for the overall economy. Look, we all know that the mobile operators collectively are making loads of money and it is possible that the state's 'bean collector' (NRA) may not be getting the true nature and picture of the revenue streams of these players. Nevertheless, bringing these licence fee structure without any consultation with industry stakeholders (operators, the regulator and the sector ministry and to some extent the trade ministry) is asinine at worst or misplaced at best. Actually, the NRA must get a reality check on this matter. It must try to exhaust currently outlaid tax avenues (sales and corporate taxes) within the sector and the mobile operators in particular. It might be possible to identify some leakages or holes on these revenue streams with the requisite expertise. Licensing telecom operators is definitely not within the purview of MoF or the NRA. Statutorily, that is stated in the job description of the independent telecom regulator (NTC - the national telecommunications commission) within the Telecommunications Act of 2006. In fact, the fees assessed for the licences (individual or general/class) form the financial backbone of the independent regulator. Indeed, the regulator gets parliamentary appropriation, however, that will make up a small percentage of the total budgetary requirement of the regulator. As a patriotic citizen, I am very curious to know where exactly MoF got the statutory power to act on behalf of the sector regulator. I painstakingly went through the Financial Act of 2006 and the NRA Act of 2002 without any evidence of such power. In fact, as a result of my examining these laws, I am of the unwavering conviction that something is seriously wrong with this decision and move by MoF. We must not encourage 'jurisdiction capture' (lacking statutory backing) by anyone MDA especially when the boundaries are statutorily drawn or demarcated. The invasion of jurisdiction boundaries definitely serves to retard good governance within the public sector and impugns legitimate authority. Telecommunications licensing must not be confused with that of mining where signature and royalty contracts are the rule of the day. Telecom licensing is more science than art and it has a whole body of knowledge that MoF might not be familiar with at this moment. The ministry does not have the bandwidth for the professional and effective regulation of our telecom space. There are so many intricacies involved in devising licensing regimes for the telecom sector and ours may not be any easier due to the lack of policy and regulatory leadership for the government's liberalization effort in the last five years. We now have a national law that vests finite power with an independent regulator in the name of the NTC for the regulation of the sector. The government and the country as a whole must rest with the regulator the complex tasks and duties of regulating, monitoring and serving the industry players along with protecting the interests the government and people as a whole. Again, I am in agreement with the need to revisit the licensing structures for the entire sector (all segments of the sector); however, arbitrary and discretionary decisions or actions will foster an uncertain environment for the industry players. It gets even worse when such decisions or directives are coming from an MDA that is technically and jurisdictionally outside the realm of setting sector policies. Our parliamentarians had been prudent in establishing the mandates of the regulatory authority through the Telecom Act of 2006. In preventing conflicts among the regulator and stakeholders and other institutions, the mandate clearly defines the role of the regulator. If anything, in 'fertilizing the nation's revenue streams (from a given sector), the ministry could work with a quasi-independent or autonomous regulatory body such as the NTC or the planned agency (securities market regulator) to be statutorily empowered to regulate our planned securities market or stock exchange. In this case, MoF must seriously consider the taxation rule of 'hypothecation'. There are so many things (universal service obligations, spectrum assessment and monitoring, etc.) that a telecom regulator must address financially that are cost intensive and directly connected to the regulatory fees or surcharges assessed to sector operatives or participants. My advice to the finance ministry, work with the industry 'overseers' when it comes to anything sector or industry related. In a free market economy like ours, the licensing of telecom industry players must be left with the agency mandated by statutory means to perform such function. Taking Sierra Leone into context (absence of anti-trust and competition laws), NTC (the industry's 'umpire-supremo'), which is a quasi-independent and autonomous body has been provided with the statutory and technical bandwidth required to devise industry licensing structures and license sector participants. Finally, MoF must see no pain in allowing the NTC to perform its fiduciary duty of regulating our growing telecom sector without any political interference or pressure. The ministry must work with the NTC to address this issue of cellular operator licensing immediately and effectively and the actual operators must not be forgotten in the mix”. (SOURCE: Concord Times) BACK TO SQUARE ONE AT ICASA AS APPOINTEE QUITS FOR TELKOM JOBThe Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has a lot on its plate. While it awaits the outcome of its disciplinary hearing into charges of irregular behaviour against CEO Jackie Manche, expected in the next few days, it is at the centre of a controversy over who will replace the newly appointed councillor who has decided not to take up his post. Manche returned to office in September after a 10-month suspension on full pay pending the outcome of the hearing on charges of alleged violations of the procurement provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, the Icasa Act and internal procedures. An independent hearing before an advocate took place last week. Last week Icasa was rocked again when one of the newly appointed councillors, Andrew Barendse, announced he would not be taking up the post as he had been offered a higher-paid job at Telkom. Barendse was appointed after a selection process finalised by Parliament's communications committee in July along with four others -- Mamodupi Mohlala (reappointed), Robert Nkuna (former communications ministry spokesman), Brenda Ntombela (former chief director in the communications department) and Jacobus van Rooyen (chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission). Barendse's in-depth experience of the industry was considered crucial for the economic regulation of the Electronic Communications Act. The question of his replacement caused a furore at a committee meeting with Icasa on Friday. Democratic Alliance communications spokeswoman Dene Smuts argued that a new advertisement and selection process should be started so a person with the critically needed skills in economic regulation could be found to complement the Icasa team. The selected councillors were chosen, she said, against a list of qualifications itemised by the Icasa Act. African National Congress (ANC) MPs, however, said the next person on the shortlist from the previous process should be used. ANC MP Khotso Khumalo said the ANC would have to use its majority to defeat the opposition. "We are in charge, we are running this country." he said. He said he was confident the existing team of councillors could do the job. Inkatha Freedom Party communications spokeswoman Suzanne Vos urged against this suggestion, saying it was "very clear" what skills were required. Smuts deplored the "quite unbelievable" picture of financial chaos in the organisation drawn by auditor-general Shauket Fakie in his last audit of the authority. This included the lack of a performance management system, the distribution of R2,4m in bonuses-for-all on an equal basis regardless of performance and irregular procurement. Khumalo agreed there were financial problems in the organisation, which he attributed to the lack of proper corporate governance. Icasa chairman Paris Mashile said the authority had uncovered problems but had taken action to deal with them. He stressed that while Icasa had experienced administrative problems, it had delivered on its objectives. Mashile confirmed that number portability for mobile phones would come into effect on Friday. (SOURCE: Business Day)
IN BRIEF:- In the face of energy challenges, Ghana Telecom (GT) plans to use solar as the main source of power to drive the over 300 cell sites it operates in the country. “The conversion would also the company millions of dollars in fuel and equipment “ said Dickson Oduro-Nyaning, GT's deputy CEO. - It emerged at the GSM>3G forum held in Tunis this week that mobile virtual network operators are not a top priority on the regulators planning list. Except for the Egyptian regulators, North African regulators do not seem to be considering MVNOs to provide mobile services. - Cell C, Virgin Mobile and Vodacom announced in the run up to the deadline of 10th November for mobile number portability (MNP), that they would not charge porting fees to customers looking to move to other operators. TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE- MTN Uganda's subscribers have increased by 14% in the last quarter of the year. The number of subscribers rose to 1,403 ,000 while the average revenue per user dropped from $15 (sh27,450) to $12 (sh21,960). - South African Satisfaction Index rating has just released good figures for the telcom industry. Vodacom came up tops with the highest levels of overall satisfaction. They received a score of 86% up from 83% in 2005. MTN was not far behind with a satisfaction rating of 84%, also an increase from the 82% rating received last year. CellC was next and the only company to fall from 80% in 2005 to 79% this year. Telkom came last with a rating of 76%, up from 71% last year. - Ghana Telecom's mobile arm GT-OneTouch has announced the launch of its GPRS network, which it says will deliver a range of new mobile internet and multimedia offerings to its users, including Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). OneTouch MMS is free from now to the end of November. In addition to the GPRS network, the cellco says it has EDGE available on 15 cell sites in the capital, Accra.
TELECOM EGYPT LAUNCHES IP-TV SERVICETelecom Egypt has become the latest African telco to launch a dedicated IPTV service, joining Senegal’s Sonatel and Mauritius Telecom. TE Data, Telecom Egypt's internet subsidiary, has launched the country's first IPTV service under the banner TE-VU, and provides streaming and on-demand content to both TE Data's existing customers and new ADSL subscribers. "The internet and data business is one of the fastest growing segments in the TE Group and the launch of the new IPTV-based service by our internet subsidiary TE Data is part of the group's strategy to provide tailored full-service solutions to our customers," said Akil Beshir, chairman of Telecom Egypt. (source: C21 Media) RSF LISTS EGYPT AND TUNISIA AS TWO OF 13 'ENEMIES OF THE INTERNET' BUT LIBYA REMOVED FROM LISTThe campaigning group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Monday listed 13 countries that it labeled as "enemies of the Internet" ahead of a 24-hour campaign in favor of free access to the Web. The 13 countries are: Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Myanmar, China, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. Three countries were removed from RSF's 2005 list - Libya, the Maldives, and Nepal. However, the inclusion of Egypt was because "President Hosni Mubarak is displaying an authoritarianism toward the Internet that is particularly worrying," RSF said - noting the recent imprisonment of three pro-democracy bloggers. From Tuesday at 1000 GMT, RSF is asking the public to register on its Internet site in "defense of online free expression and the fate of bloggers in repressive countries." (SOURCE: AFP) WIRELESS ISPS UNDER FIRE IN SOUTH AFRICAISPs delivering broadband access to end users without the proper ECA licensing may soon get a visit from ICASA. This is according to an iBurst warning against unlicensed WiFi use. According to iBurst the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA ) is cracking down on those wireless ISPs who do not hold an Electronic Communications Service license and are using the public 2.4 GHz frequency band for commercial purposes. iBurst spells doom and gloom, warning that “many of us may face information black-outs because some wireless Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are providing illegal Internet access to consumers”. No such licenses have however been issued yet, and under current legislation the Telecommunications Act still applies until ICASA has converted current Telco/VANS/PTN licenses to their new form under the ECA. This leaves the issue of self-provisioning in a state of flux. ICASA has issued a warning, saying that “The Authority wishes to point out that this technology [WiFi] can only be used without the required telecommunications licenses if specific conditions are adhered to, beyond which it will amount to a number of contraventions of the Telecommunications Act, some of which are criminal offences.” ICASA further said that they are anxious to ensure that the rule of law is respected and that the rights of licensees are protected. Some Wireless ISPs and VANS may be in trouble when it comes to using WiFi to supply services to end users without any valid licenses, but there are cases where this is in fact most likely completely legal. One such example is when the organization or company is in possession of a PTN license, as is the case with the Knysna WiFi Project or the Tshwane open access WiFi network. Antony McKechnie, iBurst’s Head of Product Development, warns that many consumers who didn’t carefully “choose wireless ISPs with solid regulatory track records now face disconnection as ICASA cracks down on illegal operators.” Internationally the free use of WiFi has resulted in many innovative developments to bring affordable telecoms services to consumers. One such development is Metropolitan WiFi Mesh Networks, like the one developed by Neology in Tshwane. The over-regulated local telecoms environment is however stifling such developments, effectively prohibiting the use of this freely available resource to bring down costs. (SOURCE: MyADSL) EGYPT ARRESTS BLOGGER WHO CRITICIZED AL AZHAREgyptian police have arrested a blogger who posted comments critical of the country's Islamic authorities, a security official said Tuesday, a day after a leading media watchdog ranked Egypt as one of the world's top "enemies of the Internet." Abdel Karim Nabil Suleiman, 22, was detained Monday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria after being summoned for questioning by state security, the official said on condition of anonymity. In his latest entry posted October 28, the blogger lashed out at Al Azhar University - the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning in the region - from which he was expelled earlier this year. "I went to study in Al Azhar at the request of my parents, despite my outright rejection of Al Azhar and its religious ideas, and despite all that I have written which harshly criticizes the rise of religion in daily life and its effect on people's behavior," he wrote. "I was expelled from Al Azhar for my writing on the Net, a free space not under their jurisdiction," he charged. "I say to Al Azhar and its university and its professors and preachers who stand against anyone who thinks differently to them: 'You are destined for the rubbish bin of history, where you will find no one to cry for you, and your regime will end like others have'," he went on. Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the grand imam of Al Azhar mosque, is considered the most senior Muslim cleric in the country, together with Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa. The blogger was already arrested in October 2005 after posting a vitriolic comment condemning the Muslim reaction to a Coptic Christian play that sparked violent clashes after some Muslims deemed it offensive to their religion. The arrest took place on the same day that Paris-based international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders published a new list of 13 countries that it describes as "enemies of the Internet." Egypt was a new entry on the blacklist, finding a place alongside the likes of Burma, Belarus, Iran, and North Korea. The other countries on Reporters Without Borders' list were China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The watchdog removed countries such as Libya and Nepal from the list as an acknowledgement of their decision to lift restrictions on the Internet. "Many bloggers were harassed and imprisoned this year in Egypt, so it has been added to the roll of shame reserved for countries that systematically violate online free expression," the group said. "President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power since 1981, displays an extremely disturbing authoritarianism as regards the Internet," the watchdog said, listing a number of recent cases in which bloggers were harassed. Blogs became a key forum for dissidents in 2005, when popular protest movements briefly flourished and political organizations mounted an unprecedented challenge to Mubarak during the presidential campaign. (SOURCE: Middle East Times) MORE WIMAX LICENCE ALLOCATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICAICASA is inviting comments regarding the procedures and criteria for awarding radio frequency spectrum in the ‘crowded’ WiMax range. ICASA issued a notice in the Government Gazette No. 29351 published on the 2nd of November asking for comments about the awarding of spectrum where there is insufficient spectrum to satisfy demand. According to ICASA the 3.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum bands are where demand exceeds the available spectrum. This is not particularly surprising as these are generally associated with WiMax roll-outs. Telkom, Neotel and Sentech have already been allocated 3.5 GHz spectrum, with Telkom and Neotel receiving 2 x 28 MHz each and Sentech receiving 2 x 14 MHz. A total of 60 MHz is now available for further assignment. In the 2.6 GHz band Sentech has an assignment of 50 MHz and WBS/iBurst has been allocated 14 MHz. This leaves a total of 126 MHz spectrum available for further distribution. All the cellular providers are eagerly looking to snap up WiMax spectrum, but the limited availability of spectrum in the ‘WiMax range’ may mean that they will not be the recipients of spectrum this time around. If ICASA decides not to award any spectrum to Vodacom, MTN and CellC we may see companies like iBurst and Sentech becoming attractive business partners. (SOURCE: MyADSL) IN BRIEF:- An online tourism conference is coming to Nairobi later this month. The Tourism Trust Fund will host the event that seeks among other things to raise awareness on the opportunities available through online tourism and the risk of Kenya losing its market to other emerging and competing destinations. Kenya is the sixth most popular destination in Africa, behind South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Egypt and Morocco. - In South Africa, UniNet and Ilizwi Telecommunications (ITel) recently concluded a deal that will see the rollout of a broadband network in the Eastern Cape. ITel is a licenced "Under Serviced Area Licencee" (USAL) for the OR Tambo district, which includes the towns of Umtata, Mqanduli, Libode, Tsolo, Qumbu, Ngqeleni, Tabankulu, Port St Johns, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Bizana.
OFFSHORING PROVIDED OVER 7,000 JOBS IN MOROCCOThe Offshoring professions in Morocco have generated a turnover of about USD 110Mn, and created some 7,200 job opportunities in 2004 alone, wrote Jeune Afrique Magazine. In its latest issue, the French-language weekly said these professions, which include call and phone information centers, hotlines, software companies, back-offices..., made it possible for ICT to achieve takings totaling some USD 3Bn during the same period. Noting that 300 state-of-the-art technology companies are working in the Casablanca Technopart, inaugurated in 2001, the publication said that the 900 employees recruited by these companies are part of those who hold one of the 60,000 jobs offered by the Offshoring-ICT-Telecoms trilogy in Morocco this year. Jeune Afrique also wrote that Morocco's e-Maroc strategy eyes, for example, creating 33,000 jobs in IT by 2012 (excluding telecoms), and jumping from a turnover of USD 3Bn in 2004 to about USD 7Bn by 2012. To reach this objective, Morocco, it said, has launched a computerization program of no less than 50,000 small and medium-size businesses in six years. The program also includes spreading the use of desktops and Internet in schools. The kingdom aims at creating up to 100,000 jobs in the offshoring professions thanks to the implementation of a “voluntarist policy” to stimulate the field, wrote the publication. (SOURCE: MAP) LANGUAGE CHOICE DRIVES ACCESS TO COMPUTER PROFICIENCYTranslate.org says that it has enabled the teaching of computer proficiency in all 11 official languages, with the implementation of translation software developed on an open source platform. “Our work has a parallel impact on language pride in that people now see their languages as modern and relevant. Nothing on the PC changes, except that the user views it in a familiar language,” says Dwayne Bailey, director at Translate.org. Bailey adds that by overcoming the language barrier, more than 20% of South Africans who do not speak English now have the possibility of using a computer in their own language. “Translate.org believes firmly that ICTs are simply tools that enable productivity. When you use Word Processing application, it is not about the product but about the document you wish to create. When you send e-mail you simply want to communicate. It is much simpler to teach a computer to speak isiZulu than to teach someone to speak English,” he says. “We have also developed a keyboard and fonts for typing and viewing Tshivenda as well as spell checkers in various languages making the use of computer technology accessible, affordable and useful to those who do not speak English.” Bailey adds: “We experienced about R1m worth of downloads of the software last month. Our software allows anyone who has implemented a Linux operating system to download it. It can be used anywhere and by anyone, yet it is mostly used by schools. When speaking of bridging the digital divide globally, we talk about cost-effective hardware, connectivity and software.” Although English is a universal language and is used largely to conduct business in SA, people still underestimate the power of indigenous languages, says Bailey. “By removing the language barrier and using a language you understand, the computer and the information it provides access to, becomes accessible,” he concludes. (SOURCE: ICT World) COMPUTERISED STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM EXTENDED IN BOTSWANAThe Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently extending their computerised Student Loan Management System (SLMS) to users and administrators at foreign missions and embassies. Representatives from South Africa, Australia, the UK and the USA have joined their colleagues from MoE in Gaborone for technical training at RPC Data Ltd headquarters at Gaborone International Commerce Park. The group, led by the Director of Student Placement and Welfare, Bosele Radipotsane, studied the use of Oracle Discoverer over a three-day course last week. Oracle Discoverer is an ad-hoc query and report writing tool that will give the participants access to essential data faster and more easily than before. The Department of Student Placement and Welfare (DSP&W) within MoE is mandated with offering scholarships to deserving Batswana students. The SLMS was originally developed by RPC Data for the government in 2001, and was designed to support the administration of student loans, offered under the new Grant/Loan Scheme established in April 1995 mainly for Tertiary Education. The loan portion of the scholarships is recoverable as soon as the beneficiary becomes employed. Executive director and general manager Mompati Nwako had this to say, "This course for DSP&W staff follows closely on one provided by RPC Data covering Oracle Financials Super User Training to officials from the Government of Uganda's Ministry of Finance that ran from August 8 to September 9, 2006. There is clearly confidence in the market place in our ability to offer a quality product. One must also note that as an OAEP, RPC Data must ensure our instructors are trained at the levels required to provide any of the training courses offered through Oracle University." (SOURCE: Mmegi/The Reporter) MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LAUNCHES KHAYELITSHA PILOTSIMPill, a locally developed product that uses GSM technology to ensure that patients with chronic diseases take their medication regularly, has launched its largest pilot to date at the Michael Mopongwane clinic in Khayelitsha. The launch is intended to highlight early results from the 150-person pilot project using SIMPill for medication compliance management of TB patients. “TB treatment requires patients to take daily medication for months on end, even when they are feeling well,” explains Lloyd Marshall of SIMPill, a Tellumat-owned company. “Many people do not follow their treatment, and resistant strains of TB are emerging as a result. The number of TB cases in the Western Cape has been rising rapidly in recent years, and there has been a steady increase in the number of multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases. We have been losing the battle.” The SIMPill is an ordinary pill bottle with an attached device that includes a SIM card and transmitter. Every time the bottle is opened, it sends an SMS to a central server. If the bottle is not opened on time, the SIMPill server sends a reminder message to the patient, a family member or a caregiver. If patients do not take their medication for more than a day or two, health workers are alerted and can call the patient or visit at home. “Sometimes all it takes is one phone call from a patient care manager to ask how the patient is feeling and explain the importance of continuing to take the medication,” says Marshall. “We are seeing compliance rates of up to 95% so far, where they can be as low as 30% normally.” The Western Cape pilot was launched at three clinics in August, and will continue until the end of March next year. “The Western Cape is really leading the way with this,” says Marshall. “We are confident that the pilot will demonstrate much greater compliance and a better cure rate for TB.” (SOURCE: ICT World) LOCAL EFFECT OF HP DEAL TO BE FELT NEXT YEARThe local impact of HP's buyout of Mercury is only likely to be felt during the first quarter of next year. HP said this week it had completed its $4.5 billion takeover of Mercury, which it says is the largest software acquisition in its history. The acquisition is expected to increase the size of HP's software business to more than $2 billion in annual revenue, the company previously said in a media statement. Mercury alliance director of sub-Saharan Africa, Lenore Kerrigan, says it will be business as usual at the company until about February. The nuts and bolts of the integration process are likely to unfold over the next few months. Kerrigan says a series of meetings will be held to set out the process going forward, and by February, all the players will have a clearer view. The South African division of Mercury, because of its streamlined structure, is unlikely to pose any challenges in terms of integration, she adds. Kerrigan says software is a huge growth area and there is a multitude of opportunities in terms of cross-pollination of skills between Mercury and HP's Open View. In a statement released this week, HP CEO and chairman Mark Hurd said: “Software is an important driver of growth for HP, and we are delighted that Mercury's products, people and customers are joining the new HP Software organisation.” The deal, said the company, integrates Mercury's application management and delivery and IT governance capabilities with HP's portfolio of management solutions to create a new HP Software organisation that it hopes will lead the industry in business technology optimisation. HP SA declined to comment further this week, saying it was premature to remark on the local changes. However, at the time of the initial announcement, Claude Ibalanky, head of corporate communications for HP SA, noted that previous experience with HP acquisitions showed the integration of HP SA and Mercury would likely result in increased opportunities, instead of job losses. (SOURCE: ITWeb) IN BRIEF:- Nigeria's computer manufacturers, Zinox Computers, has started rolling out computers produced under the Computers for All Nigerians Initiative (CANi). Zinox in a statement disclosed that the systems include laptops and desktops built under the world-class quality systems that have become the hallmark of the Zinox brand over the years. - Computer Associates is opening a new operation in Morocco. The Casablanca-based office is also set to be used to serve Tunisia and Algeria in addition to lending support to CA’s business in several West African markets.
GATEWAY RAISES $100 MILLION TO EXPAND IN AFRICAICT firm Gateway Communications said last week it had raised $100m through a bond issue, which would allow it to make further inroads into Africa's rapidly expanding telecommunications market. Chief Treasurer Julian McIntyre said this was a first for a pan-African company, and confirmed mounting interest in the African continent. The senior secured notes would mature in 2013 with a coupon of 9,875%. While government said last month it would be issuing less paper in the market, the bond market is expected to get support from parastatals gearing up for higher infrastructure spending, corporates and foreign issuers interested in issuing bonds in the local market. Gateway CE Peter Gbedemah said: "Completing this transaction allows us to invest further in meeting the expanding requirements of our customers and offering enhanced connectivity across the continent." The company provides connectivity services to telecoms operators, particularly mobile, into and out of 28 African countries. Its customers include Celtel and Vodacom as well as international telecoms operators such as Verizon and France Telecoms. "Mobile penetration levels continue to be low in Africa, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, compared with Europe and with other emerging markets, leaving significant potential for further growth," said Gateway. Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni said this week SA's fiscal discipline and stabilising inflation expectations should support the bond market. The Bond Exchange of SA says the local bond market's turnover in the first 10 months of this year topped R9,6-trillion, against R8,1-trillion for all of last year . (SOURCE: Business Day) ACCESSKENYA INCREASES ITS INVESTMENT BASE FOR FUTURE EXPANSION PLANSAccessKenya, one of the country’s leading corporate Internet Service Provider (ISP), last week announced the successful completion of a Private Placement of shares in the company and sister company Broadband Access Limited (“Blue”). The private placement process was completed within three months of its inception and the funds raised will be used to accelerate the Group’s activities in its core markets of corporate internet and telephony services. Michael Somen, Chairman of the Board, commented “We were keen to expand the ownership of the Group amongst well respected Kenyan investors and we have successfully achieved this goal. The fact that the entire private placement process was accomplished within a short period of time is a tribute to the strength of the AccessKenya business in the fast growing internet and telephone services market.” The company provides more than 1,100 leased lines to a range of businesses including AMREF, Rockefeller Foundation, Central Bank of Kenya, Colgate Palmolive. AccessKenya also recently launched three exceptional value new products to the Kenyan market: “Yello” - a new telephone service which provides low cost calls both locally and internationally, “GO” - a special internet leased line package for small businesses, and “Broadband Max 2”. Broadband Max 2 provides customers with the most bandwidth (“Quadruple Downlink”) for the most competitive price in the Kenyan market. Jonathan Somen, Managing Director, went on to say “The proceeds from the private placement will be used to accelerate our business and benefit our customers in three main ways. Firstly, to further improve the value for money of our leading Broadband Max internet solution. Secondly, to subsidise the cost of equipment for our Yello telephone service and make it free for our customers to connect to Yello. And thirdly, to continue to invest in further improvements to our overall national network. He went on to say, “Assuming no further financial transactions, we have increased our investment plans for this year to the region of Ksh 60 – 70 million shillings and for next year to between Ksh 70 and 100 million shillings” The new investors – all Kenyans, hold a minority stake in the business and the value of the transaction was in excess of 100 million shillings. IN BRIEF:- Algerie Telecom second bond issue has raised 21.6 billion dinars (about US$301 million), 15% more than the target amount. Keireddine Slimane, Algerie Telecom’s CEO has announced that the company will be listed on the Alger stock exchange as son as 22nd November. He also confirmed that a third bone issue was not excluded to finance the company’s investment plan of nearly 300 billions dinars (US$3.8 billion) up to 2011. - State power producer Eskom will exit from SA's second national operator, Neotel. As the company focuses on its core function of providing power to a growing economy, Eskom will withdraw from other areas into which it has diversified. Eskom and Transnet have a joint 30% stake in Neotel, which is understood to have an agreement with the two firms through state company Infraco to lease a telecommunications network. - China will give Uganda a $120m (sh219.6b) loan for development of the national broadband infrastructure. - The Nigerian Federal Government has unfolded a strategy to utilise local capacities in information and communication technology to boost the economy through outsourcing services. Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said Government has created an outsourcing department as a new unit in NITDA to enable Nigerians benefit from the huge global market of outsourcing. - In Zambia the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) yesterday arrested two Planet Telecom directors for money laundering involving about K1 billion. The duo are alleged to have evaded paying value added tax (VAT) by not remitting about K1 billion to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). DEC spokesman, Rosten Chulu, said after collecting the money, they later deposited it into the Plant Telecom Kwacha and dollar accounts.
FINGAZ, ECONET LAUNCH SMS-BASED CLASSIFIEDS IN ZIMBABWEThe Financial Gazette has, in partnership with leading mobile telephone operator, Econet, launched a hassle-free classified advertising solution called 'TXT Classifieds', which enables advertisers to place their adverts with the Fingaz straight from their mobile phones. The service takes off from next week, November 16. Pilate Machadu, the Fingaz sales and marketing manager, confirmed the development, saying the service was created with convenience in mind. "TXT Classifieds is basically a hassle-free method of placing a classified advert from the comfort of your home," he said. "We decided to launch this service in conjunction with Econet, after consumer insights revealed that customers needed a quicker, easier and cost-effective way of placing an advert in the newspaper." The new service will compliment traditional booking methods, where consumers have to physically visit the media house to place their adverts. Thousands of advertisers will save their valuable time, fuel and money by conducting this transaction wherever they are. Detailing how the new service functions, Econet's corporate communications manager Dakarayi Matanga said the service was exclusive to Econet's customers. He said customers will be able to book an advert by sending an SMS to 444 with a prefix "fingaz#". For instance, a customer selling his puppies would type; "fingaz#Labrador Puppies for sale. Good kind home required. Call Connie on 091091091". The message will be picked up on the network, and the subscriber will be billed a specified SMS charge, combined with the cost of advert placement. Prepaid subscribers are billed immediately while BusinessPartna subscribers are billed as per bill run timetable. TXT Classifieds will limit each ad to 160 characters. Matanga also said the launch of the service was timely, given the recent upgrades carried out by the network on its SMS platform. "We are therefore confident of efficient delivery and charging of TXT Classifieds and also timely transfer and publishing of adverts," he said. Readers of The Financial Gazette stand to benefit from this service, which will have different sections to satisfy a wide variety of needs. Sections which have been included are Sports, Arts, Pets, Professional, Education, Golf specials, Computers, Home Equipment, Decorative, Lost and Found to name a few. Machadu said that advertised content should satisfy the publisher's legal requirements. Econet pioneered the service with the Daily News in 2003 and it experienced phenomenal success, outstripping traditional placements. (SOURCE: Financial Gazette) UNLEASH WEB TO FIGHT HIV IN AFRICA, STUDYThe Internet is already a source of information about Aids for children in Africa but could be more powerful if it were free, a US study says. About one-third of adolescents in the East African nation of Uganda reported using the Internet as a source of health information in a study published in the journal PLoS Medicine. That rate is similar to the rate in the United States, according to researchers at the California-based Internet Solutions for Kids Inc. However, an additional third of Ugandan adolescents studied said that they could use the Internet for health information if it were available without charge. Many in Uganda, a low-income country, lack access to basic amenities like running water and electricity. The cost of accessing the Internet at cafes or elsewhere places it out of reach for many of the country's adolescents. There are advantages - such as privacy - to getting information about sexual health online, the study's authors point out, and in many rural settings, health professionals are not available even if adolescents wish to consult with them. Initiatives in Africa to improve online access for adolescents as well as develop content tailored for young people in specific settings could help make the Internet more useful in the fight against HIV, the study concludes. (SOURCE: IRVINE)
NEWTEC TO LAUNCH SATELLITE-BASED TRIPLE PLAY SYSTEMNewtec is launching its new Sat3Play system, a product that allows the bundling of data, voice and video services over a single satellite broadband connection. Sat3Play is an unprecedented 2-Way Satellite Multimedia Broadband System that has been built around the concept of easiness on various key aspects, namely: “Easy to Install”: DTH-like Do-it-Yourself installation ; Zero touch IP Modem installation “Easy to Use”: Plug and Play solution for end-users ; ADSL-like Broadband Experience, outperforming competition ; Carrier Class management tools for service providers “Easy on the budget”: Very low cost terminal ; DVB-S2 State-of-the-Art technology, enabling a 30% reduction of the satellite capacity costs Sat3Play is the result of the unique expertise accumulated by Newtec in the development and delivery of 2Way-Sat, a system based on the DVB-RCS standard and intended to the business-to business market, and an interactive television system for consumers based on the SATMODE Technology. Worldwide 10 to 40% of all households are still and will remain deprived from fast terrestrial DSL Internet Access. So far, satellite solutions were too costly both from the satellite capacity as well as from the Customer Premises Equipment (terminal) perspective. “Thanks to its unique return link design combined with DVB-S2, the world’s best forward technology, Sat3Play provides satellite operators, broadcasters and Internet Service Providers with a unique opportunity to unlock new business models, ranging from basic retail Internet access at prices below 50 Euro per month, to the delivery of a full triple play service to the consumer market.”, says Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec. Furthermore, Sat3Play equally enables the fast deployment of various types of applications for businesses, such as Supervision, Control And Data Acquisitions (SCADA), Reliable Content Distribution or Point of Sales applications. “With our unique technology and experience accumulated in the DVB-RCS field, both Service Providers and Enterprises will be able to rapidly deploy highly reliable low-cost infrastructures to better serve end-users in areas where no terrestrial infrastructure is available at competitive prices.”, says Dirk Breynaert, CTO of Newtec. First field deployments will begin early next year to provide consumer Internet and TV services and content distribution applications to professional user.
PEOPLECeltel Kenya's chief executive officer Gerhard May has been recalled to the Celtel International head office in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Steve Torode, who is currently the regional vice president of Celtel International, takes over in the interim as CEO. EVENTS- 1ST INTERNATIONAL ICT INVESTMENT CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA 14th – 15th November 2006, Tunis, Tunisia. Under the auspices of Secretary General United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) Regarding sponsorship or delegate attendance, please contact Dan Morrissy in London on +44 207 2871326 or at dmorrissy@i-ep.com - WIRELESS BROADBAND AFRICA –EAST AFRICA 29 November –1 December 2006, Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya AITEC Africa is hosting the first Wireless Broadband Forums in Nairobi. Leading developers and suppliers of wireless technology are sending top experts to share knowledge with telecommunication operators, ISPs, network engineers and regulators in East and West Africa. For full details, log on to www.aitecafrica.com - WIRELESS BROADBAND AFRICA –WEST AFRICA 4-6 December 2006, Eko Meridien Hotel, Lagos, Nigieria The West African Wireless Broadband Forums will provide a marketing and education platform to promote effective roll-out of wireless technology throughout Africa. For full details, log on to www.aitecafrica.com - BROADBAND SUMMIT 2007 26-27 February 2007, Southern Sun, Grayston, South Africa South Africa faces a huge broadband demand, from all sides. However, the broadband access media and business strategies in South Africa still do not resemble the international standards. In order to reach these standards you as ISPs, mobile and/or fixed operators, need to assess the current and future potential of the African broadband market. For further information visit http://www.iir-conferences.co.za/eventInfo.php?e=1202 - SMB ROADSHOW 2007 - MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA 26th March 2007, Nile Hilton, Cairo, Egypt. IDC's SMB Roadshow provides a comprehensive and trustworthy platform for discussing strategic IT issues directly impacting the SMB sector. Debate led by recognised experts and based on best practices and sound technology analysis provide objective and critical insights required by leaders in this sector. This event will target IT decision makers – by vertical industry sector - within SMBs across the region. For further information visit http://www.idc-cema.com/events/smbeg07 - eLEARNING AFRICA 2007 28-30th May 2007, Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya The subject is Building Infrastructures and Capacities to Reach out to the Whole of Africa, reflecting the significant efforts of African countries to set up their national and regional ICT infrastructures to create access to education, training and services for all. For further information visit www.icwe.net or call +49-30-327 6140 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES* DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON FREQUENCY SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT Company: Danish Management A/S (www.danishmanagement.dk) for the RICTSP/COMESA Objective: To elaborate policy and management guidelines for frequency spectrum regulation and monitoring by national agencies within and across borders Scope: Analysis of regulation, monitoring and pricing in 20 countries; devise appropriate plans and recommendations for improvement of spectrum management in the region Results: Situation assessment report outlining current practices and proposed improvements; Spectrum management policy framework and regulatory guidelines; Recommended spectrum management and monitoring system Days/total: 88 man-days Countries covered by the RICTSP: Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Congo (DR), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe Contract start: November 2006 Qualifications: Masters Degree in Engineering and/or Economics; 5+ years experience in spectrum regulation and monitoring system design; regional experience desired Languages: Fluent in written/spoken English, knowledge of French an advantage Application deadline: now and latest 15 November For further information contact Jane Moeller Larsen onphone (direct): +45 35 250 655 or at ictjobs@danishmanagement.dk. * VELOCITI PROJECT BY THE CAPE IT INITIATIVE (CITI) The VeloCITI project will see 15 young ICT companies working together with some of Cape Town's best business mentors and coaches for a period of nine months. The selected companies will receive ongoing business support, including premises in the business accelerator, Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town's CBD. One of the main reasons why young companies fail is that they are ill-equipped to handle the day-to-day imperatives of running a business. Even with the best ideas and intellectual capital in the market, without the practical knowledge of how to close deals,win new clients, recruit staff or manage cash flow, a business will never survive. Contact Odette Potter at Odette.potter@citi.org.za for an application form or download it from here. * APPLICATION FOR AFNOG 2007 WORKSHOP ON NETWORK TECHNOLOGY - For application for admission please see http://www.afnog.org/afnog2007/workshop/. If you have questions regarding this announcement and application, they may be addressed to: workshopinfo@afnog.org CONTRACTS: WHO'S SELLING WHAT TO WHOM?* NARSDA AND SSTL - NIGERIA Then National Space Technology Development Programme of Nigeria signed a contract with a British firm, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), for the construction of its second earth observation satellite known as NigeriaSat-2. The space craft which is expected to replace NigeriaSat-1 will be launched in 2009.
If our correspondent is "off the mark" or you have
factual amendments, mail them to us and we will include them
in subsequent News Updates. If you'd like to contribute, write
and let us know. |
|
   
     |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This page last updated on November 20 2006.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
