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WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday. ISSUE NO 345 Somalia’s civil war hides steady growth of internet servicesDespite continuing unrest, Somalia has taken the first tentative steps towards establishing a national government and AU peacekeepers have begun to arrive. It’s too early to say whether some sort of peace will take hold but behind the seemingly endless news of civil war, the Internet has been developing apace. Somalia was one of the last African countries to get connected to the Internet after the country established its first ISP in 1999. But today the country has internet connectivity to almost 53% of the whole area of the country and the Internet business is mushrooming in the country and becoming one of the fastest growing services along with telephony. Based on the 2006 report of Somali Telecommunication Association (STA), a watchdog organisation that oversees the Policy development and regulatory framework of ICT sector in Somalia, by the end of 2005 there were more than 0.5 million users of Internet services in the country with 22 established ISP and 234 cyber cafes with growth of 15.6% per year. Several types of Internet services are available in the country including dial up services that are mainly provided by the major network operators in the country. The major players include Global Internet Company which is a jointly owned by the three major networks of Hormud Telcom, Telcom Somalia and Nationlink. Global Internet Company is the biggest ISP in the country and the sole provider of dialup services in South- central regions of the country. While in Somaliland and Puntland, Internet services has been bundled within the network products and services whereby each network delivers Internet dialup services into its own subscribers. Major regional service leaders include Telsom, and Ts in Somaliland regions and Golis and STG in the Puntland region. Dial up internet services in Somalia is the fastest growing internet services in Africa as Somalia enjoys landline growth of more than 12.5% per year compared to Horn and eastern Africa countries where landline is experiencing a serious decline due vandalism and increase cost of copper cables in the international market. This growth is attributed to the unique services policy adopted by the Somali telcom operators that is based on free local calls within each town of in the country. Landline has become the product of choice and most affordable telecommunication service in the local market. By just paying a flat rate of US$ 10 per month for unlimited calls and US0.005 per minute for Internet connections, with one time connection fee of US$50. The other high-flying Internet service in the country is Wireless Internet for corporate, learning institutions, UN, NGO and diplomatic Missions. This service is provided by both dial up and non-dial up ISPs. Major cities like Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, Kismayo and Galkayo, the services has been delivered at the pricing structure ranging from US$ 150- 300 per month for unlimited internet access with bandwidth rate of 64kbs up and down. For instance, the capital city Mogadishu hosts the biggest wireless internet services and has largest subscriber base in the country and Dalkom (Wanaag HK), webtel, Orbit, and Unitel are the major leaders of service providers. The challenges facing the wireless internet providers include the cost of subscriber terminal equipment and electricity supply as well the cost of bandwidth. Somafone, one of the GSM services providers, has also introduced a GPRS service for wireless Internet in the market. GPRS service has not yet picked up in the local market but it is available in Mogadishu and its neighbourhood regions of Lower and Middle Shabelle. ADSL and LRE( long range ethernet) Internet services are also offered in Mogadishu, specially for the business centres and corporate institutions in the city. The services has not been extended to other major cities in the country but expected to be completed in the near future. So far Global internet is the only operator at the moment able to provide ADSL services in Mogadishu. In the last quarter of 2006, Dalkom Somalia came up with a programme extending ADSL services throughout the country by providing ADSL equipments to all network operators in the country with a revenue sharing business model, after realising a great shift of Internet connectivity and the huge demand for broadband services in the market. Most of the operators are studying this proposal and expected to be endorsed by this year. It hopes this will help the operators to improve internet usage, increase the subscriber base and connectivity of internet in the country. Dalkom Somalia says it has technical and resources capacity to roll out countrywide ADSL services in collaboration with all the networks in the country. The cost of ADSL services in country, believed to be the cheapest in the sub-region. For instant, the cost of the terminals plus the installation is about US$100 while the rate of services is determined by the number of computers that to be connected. For example ADSL services connected to one computer costs US$30 per month for unlimited Internet access and unlimited downloads. Internet over the satellite services is also offered in the country especially in the remote areas and the cities that have no either dialup or wireless Internet services. Major clients include UN, NGOs, financial institutions particularly the remittance companies and Internet Cafes. Currently over three hundred satellite terminals, connected to various teleports in Europe and Asia are available throughout the country. This type of services have shown a stable growth of 10-15% per year. But the more the broadband wireless Internet increases throughout the country, the less there will be a need for satellite Internet. Therefore the market for satellite Internet has gone down in the past three years in the urban areas of Somalia while this type of services picked up in the rural areas and the demand has been steadily growing up. The Educational centres, media companies and financial institutions have been contributing to the growth of the demand of Internet over the satellite services as these institutions are pushing the extension of services into the remote areas of the country, in order to be able to operate in rural areas. The biggest challenge for Internet services in Somalia is the cost of bandwidth as most of the customers are currently paying between US$ 2500-3000 per Mbs per month. The Major international bandwidth providers include TAIDE, Skyvision, Etisalat, Sinosat, and Newskies , Eutalsat, Panamsat and Intelsat. Dalkom, an international gateway and Internet backbone operator in Somalia provides various products and solutions for the internet services providers(ISP), corporate institutions , learning centres and cyber Cafees include cheap bandwidth through Its backbone, internet over satellite and Premium routes for the content providers and media operators as well international voice gateway services for global carriers. Dalkom Somalia considers the internet market is one of the fast growing sectors in the country and it will keep on growing in the next two decades as market is shifting into data and Voip services. Most of the ISP are shifting to development of contents, integrated solution of Voice and data, VOIP, hosting and video streaming as e-commerce and media over internet are the deals of the day. Dalkom’s international gateway has a capacity to support the growing internet market demand of country and still trying to source more affordable bandwidth in the international market in order to improve affordability of bandwidth in the local market as bandwidth becomes a precious commodity in the market. Dalkom Somalia has also plans to expand its international gateway services into regional operators by building a sub-station in the regions of Somaliland and Puntland as well the completion of its commercial national backbone in order to further improve international connectivity of the country and minimise the cost of network operations as the current international gateway supports the network operators in South-central Somalia
TCRA REPORTS FALLING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RATES IN TANZANIATanzania’s telecoms regulator the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has published data showing a significant reduction in the cost of both national and international calls in the country over the last six years for both fixed and mobile networks. The TCRA’s Department of Consumer and Industry Affairs (DCIA) reports that tariffs for local voice calls fell from USD0.25 per minute in 2000 to USD0.11 past year, which it says has benefited many consumers in the sector. International call rates have also dropped by an average 12% per annum in the same period from USD2.20/minute to USD0.59/minute, while internet service charges have also come down 57% in one year, from USD1.30 per minute in 2005, to USD0.59 last year. The rapid drop in rates last year is being attributed to the removal of Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL’s) exclusivity, which ushered in full market liberalisation and competition in the industry. In the mobile segment, the picture is similar. Mobile international tariffs have decreased from USD2.76/minute in 2000 to as low as USD0.7 per minute last year, according to the statement. Mobile network operators Vodacom, Tigo and Celtel have reportedly reduced their tariffs to USD 0.39/minute while Zantel has gone one step further, cutting its rates to USD0.31/minute by 2006. Moreover, Vodacom has reduced its international tariff by 74%, Tigo and Celtel by 86% and Zantel by about 90%. The sharp drop in international calls for mobiles is a consequence of the ending of TTCL’s monopoly on the international gateway, which gave mobile opportunity to make choice from the available alternative, cheaper gateways. (SOURCE: Telegeography) CABINET PLACES SEMI-RESTRICTIONS ON TELECOM NAMIBIA’S FIXED WIRELESS SERVICEThe Namibian cabinet has placed a local restriction on Telecom Namibia’s fixed wireless product, restricting it to a town or settlement area. Rather surprisingly the Namibian Cabinet seems to stand in for the Namibian regulator on issues of this kind. But perhaps that’s because it wishes to give the state-owned incumbent telco a “leg-up” commercially. The decision reads, in part, that “The SWITCH product be limited geographically per town or settlement area, with no roaming or handing over of calls between towns until the information and communication bills are enacted” Jose Ferreira, Managing Director of MTC, the company most affected by the decision, explains that ”the decision does not address the fundamental objection not to allow roaming or handover between cells even if it is in the same town. Handing over between cells is the licensed domain of the two mobile operators in Namibia for which we have paid license fees.” Secondly, the decision sends mixed messages to potential international investors in the Namibian telecommunications sector. Allowing Telecom Namibia to infringe on the licensed rights of mobile operators means that there are now 3 operators in the market while it was clear that there would only be two when Portugal Telecom bought the 34% stake in MTC Namibia. It jeopardizes MTC’s value and what Portugal Telecom paid for. This is clearly a breach of trust and confidence in the local market. NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION COMMISSION REVIEWS LICENSING POLICYIn a bid to facilitate entry into the telecommunications market in the country and ensure that Nigeria becomes an information-rich society, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has reviewed its licensing policy by adding new services to its Class licence category. The NCC in a statement stated that the review is in addition to the existing class licenses like Payphone, Cybercafé and Telecentres, adding that interested parties willing to participate in the provision of telecommunications services in Nigeria can obtain information on License Requirement & Procedure, Deregulated Services, Post License Award Evaluation, Application Form, List of Licensees, Fee Structures and Auctions. The Commission had recently pegged the Reserve Price for the licensing of 3G spectrum license at $150 million through an auction process in order to promote competition and ensure fairness. The spectrum blocks to be made available for auction include the 40MHz of spectrum within the 2GHz band. The Commission will offer this spectrum as four paired blocks of 10 MHz. Spectrum pairs will be separated by a 90MHz duplex spacing. Blocks will be allocated as follows, Block A:1920-1930MHz paired with 2110-2120 MHz, Block B: 1930-1940MHz, paired with 2120-2130MHz,Block C: 1940-1950, paired with 2130-2140MHz and Block D: 1950-1960MHz paired with 2140-2150MHz.The statement added that "Spectrum will be allocated on a service and technology neutral basis without the specification of guard bands. Licensees will be required to co-ordinate spectrum use to avoid interference". The NCC however reiterated that participation in the auction process will be limited to existing Nigerian Licensed Network Operators only. The Licences include, the following classifications: Universal Access Service Licence (UASL), Digital Mobile Licence (DML), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Licence,Long Distance Operator License, National Carrier Licence and Private Network Links Licence. However, applicants, according to the NCC, will not be required to submit financial or technical plans in the pre-qualification process, except details of company ownership structure and confirmation of compliance with the rules of the auction. To participate in the auction, a bidder must be a limited liability company incorporated in Nigeria and must not be involved with any other bidder. A Consortia, according to the statement, may bid for a licence subject to the requirement that they include a Nigerian telecommunications licensee. Bidders will also be required to lodge a USD $15 million (i.e.10% of Reserve Price) Intention to Bid Deposit with the Commission. (SOURCE: This Day) GAMBIA’S GAMTEL COMMISSIONS NEW EARTH STATION ANTENNAPresident Yahya Jammeh commissioned two antennae donated by the Global Voice to Gamtel at the Abuko Earth station. Speaking at the commissioning of the antennae at the Abuko Earth Station, the Gambian leader said the collaboration between Gamtel and Global Voice is excellent in that private initiative and collaboration with public enterprises are fundamental in turning around institutions like Gamtel to ensure efficient performance, generate revenue and also to meet service requirements . Neneh Macdoul Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology said each antenna is a 4.5 metre scalable dish. She added that the antenna entail 20 megabits of internet which could be increased to 100 megabits. At 64 megabits after commissioning the antenna, The Gambia can now boast of having the highest per capita internet bandwidth in West Africa. "This is the second antenna donated to Gamtel. The first was a voice and data antenna which was installed last November. She disclosed that the antennae cost US$120,000 including the accessories and were wholly financed by Global Voice SA . " (SOURCE: The Daily Observer) LAGOS STATE LOSES CASE AGAINST TELECOM OPERATORSJustice Ibrahim Auta of the Federal High Court, Lagos last week held that the Lagos State government has no right to impose on telecom operators in Lagos, the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency Law 2004, which empowers the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) to inspect and demolition or dismantling of mast, towers or antenna of the telecommunication operators. Ruling on the suit, the court held that it had the jurisdiction to hear the suit and that Lagos State government was wrong to have imposed the regulation on the telecommunications operators. The court noted that with the submission of the counsel to the plaintiff and the 5th respondent, it is obvious that the main aim for the enactment of the LASIMRA is to generate revenue for the Lagos State government by taxing the telecoms operators indirectly, but added that since telecommunication operations is under the exclusive legislative list and that no state government can make any law which is supposed to be made by the National Assembly. He therefore entered judgment in favour of the Plaintiff. LAIMRA authorises any officer of the agency to dismantle communication structures, inspect any infrastructure for the purpose of determining whether it complies with the provisions of the said law and take regulations, and prescribes fees to be paid to the agency by any telecommunications company in the state. It would be recalled that Plaintiffs in the suit, Trustees of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Multilinks Telecommunications Ltd, Starcomms Ltd, ITN Independent Telephone Networks Ltd, VGC Communications Ltd, Teledom International Ltd and MTN Communication Ltd had dragged the Lagos State government before the court, praying it to declare as unconstitutional, null and void, the Law which authorises the agency to regulate telecommunication operations in the state. They want the court to declare among others; that the State government, its AG, agents, servants and privies either jointly and severally do not have the power, authority or constitutional competence to enact the said law or any other legislation regulating either directly or indirectly telecommunication operations in any way whatsoever having regard to items no. 46, 66 and 68 of the Second Schedule, Part 1 of the Exclusive Legislative List and Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. The argument by the counsel for the operators, Mr. Demola Akinrele, SAN, is that the law clearly interferes with the National Assembly's exclusive control of matters pertaining to telecommunications in Nigeria. He Cited Section 4 (2) of the 1999 Constitution which gives the National Assembly power to make laws with respect to matters included in the Exclusive Legislative List and Section 1 (1) which recognizes the supremacy of the constitution, and argued that the provisions of the said law overlaps and undermines the powers of the Federal Government under the Constitution and encroaches on the powers conferred on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He argued that the Infrastructure Law on the face of it appears to be a law of general application to utility providers with regard to urban planning when in reality it is a law that interferes and regulates telecommunications operations, contending that the legal and practical effects of the said law is that the sate government, having given the power to dismantle communication structures, can effectively shut down communication, a development, which he noted, would have consequences outside Lagos, as subscribers would be prevented from communicating with each order. He queried whether a state government could have the power to dismantle communication structure and thus affect other states outside it jurisdiction, and asserted that if the 36 states of the federation under the guise of urban and regional planning enacted 36 respective laws empowering their agencies to dismantle communication structure there would be anarchy and chaos in the industry. The plaintiffs argument is that they have individually obtained all necessary licenses, permits and approvals for the operation of their telecommunications business in all parts of Nigeria including Lagos State from the NCC, an agency whose duty it is to regulate the issuance of licenses and general operation of telecommunications business in Nigeria. They stated that the agency had reportedly threatened to shut down any telecommunications operator that fails to comply with the said Infrastructure Maintenance Law and argued that unless restrained, the agency in conjunction with the police is poised to disrupt telecommunication services in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria with serious negative consequences. The counsel further submitted that the charges imposed on the telecommunications operators under the said enactment, could amount to N1 billion in the case of some operators and N400million, in the case of other operators annually, pointing out that these high charges amounted to a taxation on a matter within the exclusive legislative list which renders it unconstitutional. Counsel to the Respondent, Attorney General of Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on his part contended that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs. He argued that the proper court is the Lagos High Court since the action complained of were either the act of Lagos House of Assembly or that of the Lagos state government, adding that to invite a Federal High Court to void an act of a State House of assembly amounted to inviting the court to act outside its jurisdiction. On the charges imposed on operators, the AG argued that what the law requires them to pay is charges and rates and not taxation submitting that there is sanction for non-compliance with the law any where in the world. (SOURCE: This Day)
IN BRIEF:- The government of Benin has nominated the members of the new transitional council for the regulation of the telecommunications sector in the country. The president of the new regulation authority is Firmin Djimenou. Nine additional members have been nominated among them three women, Réckiya Madougou, Pierrette Djossou and Epe Amoussou. The remaining six male members are Victor Tokpanou, Léonel Agbo, Lyassou Daouda, Emmanuel Moudjibou, Flavien Aidomonhan and Romain Abilé Houehou. - Employees of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) are free to become members of any political party and hold political office. However BT’s management has the right to require the employee to choose between holding a political office or remain an employee of BTC if holding a political office adversely affects performance. - Rwanda Terracom has deployed a CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network in Kigali, the capital city, with Huawei supplying the equipment as part of a general network upgrade. Newly-appointed CEO Christopher Lundh revealed that the company plans to extend its existing upgrade. TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE- Mobile telecommunications network service provider NetOne has rolled out a new mobile switching centre base station in Bulawayo The switching centre, which will cater for the southern region in Zimbabwe, has a capacity of over 700 000 lines. In a separate article, fixed telephone operator TelOne has announced that it will introduce 30 000 wireless technology phones in Harare and later spread the system to other urban and rural areas. - Maroc Telecom, Morocco’s fixed and mobile operator has launched its Blackberry service targeted at its business customer base. The service will enable users to retrieve their mail and surf the Internet from their handheld device. - Celtel Uganda recorded a 62% growth in subscriber numbers, rising from 291,000 in 2005 to 471,000 at the end of 2006. - The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) is planning to lower its service tariffs for its mobile and Internet customers. - Celtel Gabon has announced a decrease of 10% of calling rates. At peak time calls between Celtel’s users will cost 165 CFA Francs ( $0.33) and calls to other networks will be billed at 215 CFA francs per minute ($0.43). - MTN Rwanda cell has installed an antenna in Kinihira district, Northern Province. For eight years that MTN has been operational in Rwanda, Northern Province had no mobile telephone network.
KDN’S WULFF EXPRESSES DOUBTS ABOUT EASSY PROJECTMany consumers, African Governments and companies are pinning their hopes on the East African Submarine System (EASSy) to lower international bandwidth costs allowing for cheaper broadband services. But is the project doomed for failure? Speaking at the Institute for International Research Broadband Conference, Dr. Kai Wulff, Managing Director of Kenya Data Networks (KDN), expressed serious doubts over the EASSy project as a whole. Wulff described EASSy as a project which evolved out of the noble need to drive down broadband costs, but is essentially a group of ministers which ‘decided to invest some money, which they don’t have, into a system which they do not know what it should look like.’ While the development of an open access submarine system is a good idea, the project as whole has evolved to a stage where the effectiveness and cost of access on the cable is not guaranteed. Wulff further warned that EASSy is falling increasingly under the control of monopolistic operators like Telkom SA, and this shift is threatening the principle upon which the project was founded which is to bring more affordable broadband services and bandwidth to African consumers. Questions were raised about the rather strange termination point of Djibouti for the EASSy cable, especially since the investors in the cable may then be reliant on the monopolistic Djibouti Telecom for onward bandwidth to the rest of the world. The KDN MD asked whether the Djibouti termination point would have still been selected if Djibouti Telecom was not part of the EASSy consortium. Wulff said that unless investors in EASSy can be offered certain guarantees, like the price of bandwidth on the cable, the price of onward bandwidth from Djibouti and access to the termination points of the cable, it does not make sense to blindly invest in such a system. He pointed out that unless investors have open access to the EASSy termination points, they may have to pay exorbitant fees for onwards bandwidth from Djibouti which will eliminate the advantages of the cable, even if prices on the system itself are very low. Wulff said that before KDN, one of the few potential investors who have their money ready, signs the EASSy agreement, they will need to receive clarity regarding onward bandwidth capacity, pricing of bandwidth on the actual system and access to the cable landing stations. Another issue which was challenged is the concept of ‘Open Access’. While the philosophy behind an open access network is commendable, Wulff questioned how the pricing levels will be set and who will be responsible for these levels. With EASSy being touted as a direct competitor to the current SAT3/SAFE system, a system which Telkom currently profits from, it raises questions concerning Telkom’s dedication to see the new cable become a success story. Currently SAT3/SAFE is serving a large portion of the international bandwidth needs of South Africa, and with exclusivity rights on SAT3, Telkom stands to lose millions in profit if EASSy provides competition on international bandwidth to Southern African countries. A basic South African – Djibouti link may however serve Telkom’s African ISP aspirations, which is significant if one considers their recent R 142.6 Million purchase of Africa Online. This cable can supply Telkom with better control of the East African ISP market, and may explain why consortium members like Telkom may not be too concerned about onwards international bandwidth from Djibouti. When asked whether a 2008 launch date for EASSy is feasible, Wulff made it clear that it will never happen. He said that a minimum of 18 months is needed to roll out the system after the ‘money is ready’, something that may take a very long time in itself to materialize. (SOURCE: MyADSL) AMBITIOUS BROADBAND PLANS FOR JOHANNESBURG TAKE SHAPEAn ambitious plan to cover Johannesburg with a broadband voice and data network is taking shape, with hi-tech companies attending a briefing session next week to help thrash out the services that citizens could be offered. The council wants to develop a Jo'burg broadband network project to cut its telecommunications costs and improve service delivery in everything from traffic control to library services. Free public internet zones could be created, and spare capacity on the network could be sold to residents for cheaper phone calls and fast internet access. Overall, the network could cut the cost of running businesses by making it cheaper to communicate. It would also be essential to handle the increased voice and data traffic generated by the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the council believes. "Cities around the world are increasing the availability of telecommunications to improve service delivery, education and economic development," said Douglas Cohen of the city's economic development department. Short-listed candidates will have to build demonstration networks to show off their technologies and project management skills. The bad news is they will also have to "bring the required funding" as well as the skills to manage the infrastructure. That is because the city expects the private partners to make money from the project, possibly by charging the council to use the network, and certainly by selling its spare capacity to businesses and consumers. "They are getting access to start a new network -- they could become a wholesaler of lower-cost telephony and data and they will have the city as an anchor client," Cohen said. He expects the fixed and mobile network operators and large information technology companies to bid. Smaller IT companies are also likely to be interested, perhaps in partnership with foreign investors. Because the city is so enormous, the contract may be divided between more than one bidder and a variety of technologies are likely to be needed for different areas. "The city is huge, and technology-wise we are not sure if one provider can provide the necessary technology solutions to support the different needs of the market," Cohen said. Johannesburg covers 1644km', and is the country's most densely populated area. Cohen hopes to have short-listed bidders running demonstration networks in May and June. A full tender could be issued by October and the network could go live by the beginning of next year. The project is backed by City Power, as the technologies are likely to include adapting the existing power cables to carry telecoms traffic too. Several other councils are already exploring similar schemes to cut their communications costs and provide their citizens with cheaper voice and data services. Knysna has created a network using Wi-Fi technology to provide free internet access to residents, and Tshwane is running a pilot project to offer cheap phone calls and internet access. The eThekwini authority is also making exploratory moves. A similar project in Cape Town, awarded to MTN and Cornastone, has been challenged by Telkom, which is questioning the transparency of the process after it failed to make the short list. (SOURCE: Business Day) NEW CALL SERVICE EASES PRESSURE ON JAMBONET IN KENYAThis year promises to be a busy one for firms offering Internet services. Telkom Kenya, now out of the comfort zone after its monopoly went out the window, says the increased usage of its Voice over Internet Protocol service (VoIP) had eased the pressure on its Jambonet internet backbone service. Managing director Sammy Kirui was speaking after a street promotion spearheaded by Telkom's top management. He said many operators offering illegal VoIP services have been phased out as the Sh15 per minute charged by Telkom was the lowest in the market. Firms in Kenya have also started upgrading their networks in anticipation of the marine fibre optic cables due to land in Mombasa later this year. UUNET Kenya says it will use its broadband WiMAX network with speeds of to exploit the optic fibre cable, that costs the company $1 million (Sh70 million). "We intend to use our new network to provide high speed broadband access to the optic fibre network when it comes online," said UUNET Kenya's IP solutions manager, Peter Mwondi. Early last month, the Government signed a Sh189 million ($2.7 million) contract with a US company, Tyco Telecommunications for surveying The East African Marine System optic fibre project. This will be a milestone for Kenya's information and technology sub-Sector. Its completion will aid growth of call centres. Mwondi was speaking at the Stanley Hotel, when the company launched its WiMAX certified wireless service called 'Beyond Broadband' to the media. The development comes hot on the heels of the announced a change of guard at the helm of the company. (SOURCE: The Nation) VDT TO INVEST N1BN IN BROADBAND PROVISIONNING IN NIGERIABiodun Omoniyi, the Managing Director of VDT communications has disclosed that VDT is investing about one billion naira in Lagos targeted at restructuring its operations in order to deliver mass Broadband services. Omoniyi who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos stated that" VDT in 2007 is set to invest massively into the distribution and access level of the network by establishing more base stations points in existing major cities in readiness for mass broadband access service to generality of the Nigeria populace". He added that Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between national poverty reduction and access to communication infrastructure including broadband. Omoniyi who also disclosed that VDT, a the leading corporate data communications service provider on terrestrial media like Fiber Optic, Copper and wireless channels will expand its services into at least 20 cities before the end of 2007.He stressed that VDT was set on massively investing in the provision of Broadband services to the generality of the Nigerian masses as opposed to its earlier rendering of last mile services. He reiterated that the focus of VDT was shifting from being a last mile service provider to a broadband service provider . He added that in other to achieve this goal, the firm is currently in the process of revamping its access technology through which its been providing access to corporate bodies. VDT , he stressed is set to push its investment by addressing more base stations and showing more presence where people live so that individuals can access services in an inexpensive manner. He stated that when VDT was a niche player, it effectively provided last mile services but now that its shifting to the provision of broadband services through the last mile infrastructure it has, it will deploy an apprioprate pricing policy. Omoniyi who disclosed that VDT is now in its 6th year of existence, having seen immense opportunity in the broad band sale to SMB, homes and individuals, stated that "we are positioning our operation to take advantage of our national coverage through Metronent. Metronet is our initiative to delivering state wide broadband services".He said. VDT according to him is uniquely positioned by having offices and operations in 14 locations, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Warri, Onitsha, Nnewi, Enugu, Aba, P/H, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Lafia to serving the whole of Nigeria through its commitment to the enlistment of the nations broadband space. According to him, the firm "has a greater goal in ensuring that most cities feel the impact of its services through the launch of its broadband initiative. It's commenced the laying of fibre optic cables to take broadband capacity to its base stations at some of the cities in other to grant access to majority of the populace. " the basic paradigm shift is that VDT wants to start providing the same services it provides to corporate organizations to homes". He asserted. Omoniyi who lamented the dearth of communication infrastructure in the country, called for more local and foreign investments in the sector to grow the communications infrastructure in the country. He disclosed a three year plan that will be deployed by VDT to provide broadband services in the country. "These are all linked integrated together on national Fiber Optic Backbone provided by the three big three carriers, Nitel, Globalcom and MTN. it currently serves our corporate customers including all the banks in Nigeria and major multinational like Nestle, DHL, and Multichoice etc. it serves as a major data network and the numbers of these institutions use our services to carry their intra-office voice and video requirements. (SOURCE: This Day) NEW OFFERS SPUR COMPETITION ON BROADBAND SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICATelecommunications operator, Sentech, has announced three offerings on its MyWireless Internet platform: MyWireless Plus, MyWireless Lite & MyWireless Family. In support of the new product offerings, Sentech says that its entire network has been upgraded to offer improved download speeds of up to 1Mbps. The flexi range increases the amount of free data allocation on each contract and thus reduces the effective price per megabyte. In the case of the flexi200plus (available from R199 per month), users will now receive 500MB of free data, which is 300MB more than the original 200MB available on the original flexi200 offering. "Essentially, our flexi range is offering consumers more bang for their buck. Although the contract pricing remains the same, existing as well as new customers will now benefit from a significant increase in data allocation," comments Marcel Steyn, MyWireless product manager for Sentech SA. Importantly, all existing flexi customers will from 1 March 2007 automatically be upgraded to the flexiPlus packages, while new users will be able to purchase a modem at a reduced price of R1500. In the meantime, iBurst will be launching Data Bonus, which applies to all 24-month contracts. Subscribers will receive an additional 200MB of data free on iGo Lite and iGo contracts, and an additional 500MB of data free on all G1, G3, G6 and G9 contracts. Existing subscribers on 12-, 24- and 36-month contracts will also benefit from the additional data allocations, which translate into a 49% reduction in the per-megabyte price on iGo Lite, for example. iBurst now offers the cheapest in-bundle rate at 39 cents per MB on a 1GB package and 12c per MB on a 9GB package. iBurst will also launch Data Carryover, which means that iBurst customers will be the first broadband subscribers able to carry over the unused portion of their monthly data allowances to the following month. “iBurst doesn’t believe in fine print and this is not a promotion of limited duration,” says Thami Mtshali, CEO of iBurst. Subscribers will be able to carry over unused data up to a maximum of their monthly data allocation. Therefore, iBurst’s G3 customers (who receive 3GB of data every month) will be allowed to accumulate any unused bandwidth up to a maximum of 3GB. This is then carried over to the next month, giving an effective data allowance of 6GB in the new month. Data Carry Over is available to all iBurst subscribers and is also applicable to unused top-up bandwidth which may have been purchased during a particular month. (SOURCE: ICT World) CYBERTIGI” PROJECT IS LAUNCHED IN MALI FOR DESERT COMMUNITIESGeekcorps in partnership with USAID has launched a mobile computing kiosk program called Cybertigi aimed at Mali’s desert areas. “Cybertigi” is a mobile computing kiosk program aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs to create their own micro-businesses selling cyber services such as email, voicemail, printing, photography and web-based information. A “tigi” is a local tradesman in Bambara, the local language; thus the Cybertigi offers services during market days in local towns and villages. While the first Cybertigis are using fixed locations, the goal is for mobility, with all equipment in a cart to enable travel between markets, enabling the vendor to expand the customer base and for far more to benefit from these services. Cybertigi mobile kiosks comprise a low power, ruggedized VIA pc-1 PHD (Power, Heat and Dust) appliance linked to a Nokia 770 mobile phone, plus an LCD monitor, printer, scanner and digital camera, all of which run off car batteries – essential in low- or no-power areas. Voicemail is proving very popular for the largely illiterate population, as is photography and e-governance services such as land registration. Services are usually asynchronous, with package up- and downloads batch-processed when the vendor can access an Internet connection, and with reply mail and information delivered on the following market day. “Although amongst the poorest in the world, Malians are willing to pay for cyber services because photos and official papers obtainable through the Cybertigi can often be the only documentary evidence of their existence,” continued Wayan Vota. “With the Cybertigi program, we are aiming to develop an economically sustainable micro-business model, while at the same time demonstrating the clear benefits of ICT even in these areas.” IN BRIEF:- The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) last week signed a two-year contract, for the provision of Internet services by Safaricom. The contract is valued at Sh8.4 million, but payment could, however, vary upward as the billing is based on usage. The official signing comes six months after the Government intervened by appointing Safaricom to provide PCK with Internet connection last September. - Nashua Mobile, the independent cellular service provider in the Reunert Group, has signalled its intention to become a major player in South Africa's broadband and Internet service provider market by launching its new Nashua Mobile Internet division. - In South Africa, Internet experts are making renewed efforts to can the spam by launching a Spam Bounty Hunter Programme. The initiative by the Internet Society of SA will provide information on how to deal with junk e-mail, when to report it and how to manage a criminal investigation to receive a reward for a successful conviction of a spammer.
INTEL, MICROSOFT, ZINOX PARTNER ON PC PRICE IN NIGERIAIn a landmark partnership geared at massively reducing the price of personal computers, Microsoft Inc, Intel Corporation, and Zinox have formed an alliance geared at bringing the price of acquiring PCs below US$400. The Zinox Power PC is a personal computer with full features. Intel Corporation's team of Engineers supervised the production, so the Power PC has Intel's seal of authority and guarantee. Running on Intel Mobile Processor 1.2 GHz, 256MB Ram, 40 HDD, 10/100 NIC, Fax Modem, CD Rom x 56, International keyboard and Mouse. Microsoft Win XP Starter Edition and 15" CRT Monitor or 15" TFT screen as optional. The Zinox Power PC runs on optimal power consumption and faster bus, and has anti-shock device. It comes standard with unparalleled 12 months comprehensive no-story-warranty by Intel and Zinox. Presenting the Zinox PC to journalists at the Zinox Corporate Headquarters, the CEO of the Computerize Nigeria Project, CNP, Mrs. Vivian Abii, informed the gathering that it was possible to offer the Power PC at the dream price starting from N49,950.00 because Intel offered substantial discount on the processors while Microsoft discounted the software. She reported that the Power PC was the result of years of testing and research by Microsoft, Intel and Zinox. The research was not limited to international quality laboratories but also to the Nigerian local markets to determine how best to satisfy the ever rising expectations of the Nigerian consumer. Mrs. Abii further explained that the Power PC was built to withstand the rigors of use in schools, small offices, and homes. Zinox Computers has launched two products within the first six weeks of 2007. In the third week of January, Zinox launched the Zinox Divine Laptop at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The launch of both products reinforce the commitment recently displayed by Zinox Computers in the signing of an MOU with First Bank Plc that established a consumer credit scheme to the tune of N1billion for the purchase of computers. The scheme which has been welcomed by ICT professionals is the first of its kind in the country and making it possible for schools, offices and homes to be ICT compliant. (SOURCE: This Day) ZAMBIA ANNOUNCES ICT TRAINING CENTRE FOR SCIENTISTSZambia will establish a centre to train researchers in information and communication technology skills. The centre, based at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka, is backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has provided US$24 million worth of equipment, including computers and servers. Researchers from any African country will be welcome to use the centre for online research, according to Zambia's Science and Technology minister, Brian Chituwo. The government announced the new centre last week (21 February). Chituwo said it signalled the country's commitment to advancing science and technology, and would enhance its ability to share knowledge by linking research and development. "It is gratifying to note that the commissioning [of the centre] has taken place soon after the African Union Summit on science and technology held in Ethiopia," he said. The centre will equip researchers with the information and communication technology skills for scientific research into the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology, and also in areas such as agriculture, communication, health and education. Zambia is the second African country, after Rwanda, to commission a centre to provide training in information and communication technologies. (SOURCE: SciDev.Net) INDIA INCREASES LOCAL SPONSORSHIP IN BOTSWANAUp to 50 Batswana nationals will be sponsored to train in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the Indian High Commissioner to Botswana Vishnu N. Hade has said. The ambassador was speaking at an occasion to celebrate ITEC day and launch the Overseas India card in Gaborone on Tuesday. The ITEC scholarships is a 100 percent increase from the 25 slots that have traditionally been reserved for Batswana. Under the ITEC scholarship, the government of India bears the cost of training, including the return international fare, tuition fee, accommodation, emergency medical treatment, stipend, book allowance and study tour. Ambassador Hade said the ITEC sponsorship has been utilised in various fields such as standardisation, Information technology, Finger Print, curriculum design and other health-based courses. Hade said they intend to make ITEC celebrations an annual event where they would get an opportunity to interact with Batswana who studied in India."We would use such meetings to help evaluate our programmes." (SOURCE: Mmegi/The Reporter) PLANS NOW ON FOR AFFORDABLE IT TRAINING IN TANZANIAA cheap info-tech training scheme for both individual and corporate skill needs has been established in Tanzania. Promoters claim that it would provide comprehensive and cost-effective training for users who are looking to expand their IT skills in their current professions or planning to take their first step towards a new career. Info-tech specialists, TECHNO Brain, has partnered with New Horizons to forge a franchise deal in seven countries in Africa. On Wednesday, Sudhir Kabra, firm`s Country Manager said that Techno Brain would `bring world class IT education and training to the region`. Some virtual or online courses would be available in addition to the traditional classroom settings. The variety of learning options from New Horizons allows students to learn in the manner that best suits their schedule, budget and learning style. Integrated courses in computer engineering (IDC), Certified Business Programme (CBP, web designing and application courses are some of the programmes that would be taught. (SOURCE: Guardian) EYESSUWORK ZAFU SAYS PRIVATE SECTOR FAR BEHIND IN ICT USE IN ETHIOPIAThe private business sector in Ethiopia appears at present to be falling far behind its public sector counterpart in making use of advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT), it was learnt. Eyesuswork Zafu, president of Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (AACCSA), noted at his opening address to the 11th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACITF) that the private business sector at the moment suffered from a very low level of ICT capacity and a wider gap existing with the public sector, which is relatively better in implementing ICT, is proven to be a difficulty for communication between the two and ultimately to the success of the business. According to Eyessuswork, information or knowledge to serve as a powerful business tool highly requires its being organized communicated and applied in the proper manner. Recognizing the fact that such a power could enhance the development of private business like ours, he said, the chamber chose "networking for successful business" to be a fitting theme for the six-day international trade fair to come to a close next Wednesday. He said a concurrent symposium which will be focused on the aforementioned theme will also be held at UN-ECA Conference Hall and among the papers that would be presented there, AACCSA's paper, would be emphasizing the establishment of an ICT center to build the private sector's capacity with respect to this aspect. (SOURCE: The Reporter) IN BRIEF:- The introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICT) in teaching mathematics in ten primary schools in Algiers and Ghardaïa, has given "very positive" results, according to managers in charge of this initiative who called for spreading it in all schools in Algeria. - The KnowledgeTree document management version 3.4 has just been released. New to this release are various Web 2.0 features such as tagging and RSS.
EGYPT’S ORASCOM BIDS FOR BRASIL TELECOMOrascom Telecom, a branch of a large Egyption conglomerate, this week made a bid for shares held by controllers in Brasil Telecom Participacoes, Brazil's third largest telecom, said the local Folha de S. Paulo newspaper Friday. According to the report, Orascom made offers to each of the four major shareholding groups in Brasil Telecom, Citigroup, a group of local pension funds, Telecom Italia and Brazil's Banco Opportunity. Brasil Telecom is a fixed-line operator in the north, center-west and south of Brazil. It also offers wireless services. According to the report, the Orascom offer caught Citigroup and the pension funds, the currrent controllers of Brasil Telecom by surprise. That's because last week they had offered $450 million for Telecom Italia's shares, according to executive linked to Telecom Italia. The Folha de S. Paulo goes on to say that Orascom may have made a bid for Citigroup and the funds' share in Tele Norte Leste Participacoes, or Telemar, Brazil's biggest telecom company. (source: Dow Jones Newswires) INTERCELLULAR'S $137M TELECEL DEAL COLLAPSESThe planned $137 million deal to sell 51 per cent equity of Intercellular Plc to Telecel of South Africa has failed. The Director of Corporate Communications of Intercellular, Fidel Otuya, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday. Intercellular resorted to the deal to get more funds to expand its network to other states in the federation. Intercellular, one of the pioneer networks in the country, has apparently been constrained by lack of funds to expand its services to many states, especially in the Southwest and Southeast areas of the country. "We couldn't reach agreement with Telecel so the deal has indeed collapsed. We had envisaged that we would have a breakthrough and use the fund to chart a new course for Intercellular but the deal fell through," Otuya stated. Telecel operates in some Asian and African countries, including Republic of Benin and Ivory Coast, where it is the second largest network. According to Otuya, the management of Intercellular has now resolved to consolidate its current market share before thinking of expansion. He said that the company was now concerned with network upgrade in the six cities to provide quality services for subscribers before moving ahead. On why the company had not shown serious commitment to corporate social responsibility, the Intercellular spokesman said that the company had a different approach to corporate social responsibility. (SOURCE: Vanguard) CELTEL SECURES FOREIGN, LOCAL LOAN FACILITIES FOR EXPANSIONCeltel Nigeria Ltd ("Celtel Nigeria") announced last week the signing and financial closure in Lagos and London of its US$1.43bn syndicated term loan facilities and US$189m bilateral facilities. The facilities consist of a NGN125bn (US$984m) local-currency facility arranged by Celtel Nigeria, and a US$450m foreign-currency facility arranged and fully underwritten by Citibank, N.A. ("Citigroup"), which also was sole bookrunner. Huawei Technologies and UBA New York provided US$148.6m and US$40m, respectively, in bilateral financing. The facilities will be used to refinance the company's existing debt and finance its network rollout programme. Syndication of the facilities was highly successful: 13 Nigerian financial institutions (including 12 banks) joined the local-currency facility while 11 international banks joined the foreign-currency facility, resulting in oversubscription (over 50%) on both facilities and an upsizing of both from their initial amounts of US$670m (NGN equivalent) and US$350m, respectively. The heavy oversubscription of the foreign-currency facility meant that the syndicate was able to accommodate a substantial reduction (reverse flex) in the margin and commitment fees from the initially agreed terms. The above, according to the company, is an indication of the international and domestic banking communities' strong support for MTC Group operating companies, and an endorsement of Celtel Nigeria's ambitious growth strategy. Celtel Nigeria's legal advisers on the deal were Allen & Overy LLP (offshore) and Olaniwun Ajayi & Co (onshore), and the lenders were represented by Watson, Farley & Williams LLP (offshore) and The Law Union (onshore). Citibank International Plc is the global coordinating agent, First Trustees Nigeria Limited is the security trustee, and First City Monument Bank Plc is the Nigerian administrative agent. Using its new facilities, Celtel Nigeria will embark upon the next chapter of its groundbreaking history: namely the accelerated expansion of its already broad network, in order to bring the benefits of mobile communication to more of Nigeria's 140 million people on the back of its brand promise of "Making Life Better". The facilities themselves are also innovative: syndication among foreign banks (especially of this size) is still uncommon in Nigeria outside the oil and gas sector. It is a vote of confidence in the country, even during this election period. (SOURCE: Daily Trust) MAROC TELECOM ACHIEVES OVER USD 2.67 TURNOVER IN 2006Maroc Telecom, reported a turnover of MAD 22.6Bn (over USD 2.67Bn) in 2006, i.e. a 10.1% increase, revealed, here Friday, Moroccan telephony operator chairman, Abdeslam Ahizoune. Ahizoune told press that Morocco's major telecom operator totalled a net result of MAD 6.739 Bn (over USD 79.61Mn), i.e. an increase of 16% compared with 2005. This increase resulted from the high turnover reached in both the fixed lines and the internet MAD12,61, which rose by 5.6%, explained Ahizoune, adding that the mobile line revenues stood at MAD 14.68Bn (over USD 1.65Bn), that is a 15 % surge. While mobile line rose by 30%, reaching 11.3 million people, internet users rose 400000 clients (of which 348,000 DSL clients), said Ahizoune, adding that the telecom group invested around USD 5.2Bn last year, which is 16% of its turnover. According to a Maroc Telecom report issued in July 2006, Morocco had 300,000 DSL broadband subscribers, which translate into a broadband penetration rate of 28%, making Morocco among the countries that have introduced the cheapest and fastest internet connection in the African continent. Maroc Telecom, has recently gained 51% of Gabon's phone operator ‘Gabon Telecom' Capital, following a USD 80Mn purchase bid. It also owns -since 2001- 54% of Mauritanian operator "Mauritel." (SOURCE: MAP) SENTECH 'SURE IT WILL GET SHARE OF R3BN RESERVE'State-owned signal broadcaster Sentech is convinced its cash crunch will end when Finance Minister Trevor Manuel lets it raid a R3bn contingency reserve declared in last week's budget. Sentech has drawn up plans to extend its broadband network to give businesses and consumers cheap and high-speed access to the internet that will cost an initial R1,2bn and a second tranche of R1,8bn. Yet its broadband plans received no cash at all in the budget. All it got was R318m towards its R800m project to digitise the national television broadcasting network, and R21m to invest in an undersea cable. Yesterday chief financial officer Siddique Cassim said he was confident Sentech would be allocated cash from the contingency fund. "Manuel mentioned that Sentech can access that money subject to the approval of business plans and regulatory requirements being adhered to," he said. "We have submitted financial business plans regarding broadband and government, in its wisdom, will do what is in their interests. We are hoping we will be successful." Sentech needs the cash to expand its wireless network, particularly since it hopes to sign up 15000 more users within six months after launching three new cut-price, high-speed packages yesterday. Sentech erected three base stations last month, but could afford to erect only a handful last year. With just 56 base stations across SA, it can provide wireless coverage only to the main metropolitan areas, despite Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri expecting it to take internet access to people in the remotest regions. Sentech will not disclose how many broadband customers it serves, but analysts suspect it may be below 10000. It lost many customers by withdrawing one popular internet package last year. Cassim said reports that its broadband division was losing R1m a month were exaggerated, but losses in that division have added to overall losses that Sentech has suffered for years."I'm hell bent on turning this business around," he said last week. If Sentech was not allocated cash from the contingency fund, it had another plan to persuade technology equipment suppliers to set up a network on its behalf. Sentech could pay to lease the capacity on that network, at a rate that would gradually let the equipment supplier recoup its investment costs. "The first port of call is government. Failing that we will look at alternatives," Cassim said. (SOURCE: Business Day) IN BRIEF:- Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd., a majority shareholder in Kasapa Telecommunication Company in Ghana, said it will invest $5 billion from the sale of its Indian unit in new and existing businesses and pay shareholders a special dividend of HK$6.75. - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed a Linkage Cooperation Agreement with MTN Nigeria Foundation for a joint project that will create opportunities for more than 1,000 rural based women in the country to earn income by reselling telephony services. - Safaricom has issued a profit alert following a decision by the Government to regulate telecom firms' tariffs across networks. The firm's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Joseph said the decision to force mobile phone companies to slash their tariff is likely eat into the giant mobile operator's profit, a year after it was declared the most profitable company after reporting a Sh12.2 billion after tax profit. - 45 foreign firms are reportedly interested in acquiring a stake in Algérie Télécom. The country’s Minister of Post, Information and Communications Technology, Boudjemaa Haichour, says the privatisation file has now been passed to the Government General Secretariat before being submitted to the cabinet. Created in 2001 as a joint stock company, Algérie Télécom remains Algeria's dominant fixed line operator. The government is offering around 50% of the firm to a strategic investor.
GULU HOST FIRST ONLINE MEETING IN UGANDAGulu has been the first rural town in Africa to host an online community conference. The conference convened by Omidyar.net, an international humanitarian organisation brings donors face-to-face with the people in various parts of the world they have been funding. The conference was spearheaded by Life In Africa, a charity based in Gulu, which is looking after 250 night commuters in the town. "This place was chosen to host the conference because of the war that has been going on. We invited people from outside to come and see how they can help to change the lives of those suffering," the charity's head, Christina Jordan told Daily Monitor. "The participants have been interacting online but now this was an opportunity to meet." Over 120 participants attended. Experts in various fields and local leaders from Northern Uganda made presentations. (SOURCE: The Monitor) COMESA DESIGNS $8 MILLION WEBSITE ON AGRICULTURECOMESA has developed a website aimed at improving agricultural marketing and trade in the 20-member countries. The website, called Food and Agricultural Marketing Information System is being funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) at $8m. The website will also have information on livestock, crops and agricultural input prices, production statistics, supply and demand figures, policy guidelines as well as regulations and procedures that govern trade in the member states. Thomas Barasa, the agricultural and marketing expert at COMESA, while speaking at a sensitisation workshop at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala, said the three-year project would enhance decision-making by all stakeholders. "One of the major factors bogging down trade in the region is lack of market information, especially in regard to commodity demand and supply, prices, consumer needs as well as regulation and rules that govern, regional and international trade in agricultural commodities," said Barasa. There is need, therefore, to provide this information so that the stakeholders can use it to formulate policies and appropriate decision making," (SOURCE: New Vision) IN BRIEF:- The campaign organisation of former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress. NLC and governorship aspirant in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has launched a website geared at ensuring the dissemination of adequate and relevant information about his bid to the people of the state. - Local online travel agency, Travelstart.co.za, has acquired Irrational Studios, a branding and user experience design consultancy.
TUNISIAN PRIVATE TV CHANNEL TO BE LAUNCHED FROM ABROAD BY END OF 2006Tunis October 14, 2006 A private TV channel dubbed "Nessma TV" (Breeze TV) will start airing its programs from abroad at the end of 2006, it was announced this week in Tunis. The new channel, which aims at promoting Maghrebi music and culture, will also broadcast a variety of entertainment programs including a Magherbi edition of the highly popular "Star Academy " program,. Similarly toFrench and Lebanese editions, this program has been prepared in partnership with 'Endemol', an international group specializing in leisure TV programming. Nabil Karoui, one of the co-founders and managers of the media group "Karoui & Karoui World", also announced that the channel which targets primarily a Maghrebi audience, will be broadcast on both Arabsat and Nile TV. The channel he said, will be broadcast from Paris but all its production and post production will take place in Tunis. He also said that it is the first time that a channel destined to Maghrebi audiences, will use French as its main language but also the various Maghrebi dialects. " Nessma TV, he added, aims at offering a new and original perspective on all the aspects of an authentic and yet resolutely modern Maghreb in the fields of music, as well as in sports and the economy". 14 candidates have been chosen to take part in the new "Star Academy Maghreb I" programs, after a casting organized in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and in France. For three months and a half they will hone their singing and dancing skills in a specially designed mansion near Rades in the southern suburbs of Tunis. The castle which was recently equipped with 64 cameras, will also house an important technical team. All in all, a staff of 850 people have been recruited for the event, and many young Tunisian recruits will be trained in TV and production jobs. (SOURCE:Tunisia Online) UGANDA'S MPS TO INVESTIGATE NTV’S SWITCHING OFFA committee of Uganda's National Assembly has been directed to investigate the reasons that led to the switching off of Nation's TV station in Kampala. Speaker Edward Sekandi asked the Committee on Presidential Affairs to get to the bottom of the matter, as the State had failed to give convincing response. He gave the directive after some MPs expressed dissatisfaction with statement issued on the matter by the minister of Information and National Guidance, Mr Hajji Kirunda Kivejinja. The committee was given a week to conclude its investigations. In his statement, Mr Kivejinja said the Broadcasting Council had only been "executing its normal business" under the Electronic Media Statute 1996 and added that if the action was wrong, "there were channels to address the issue." Mr Kivejinja said that under the law, the council was empowered to "coordinate and exercise control over and to supervise broadcasting activities." Without giving details, the minister said the station would be returned to air "as soon as the issues that caused the switch off were addressed." But Rubanda West MP Henry Banyenzaki, who first raised the matter two weeks ago, complained that the "minister had for some reasons decided not to answer the queries put before him." When the matter was first raised, Speaker Ssekandi had asked the minister on three separate occasions to explain the reasons for the closure, but Mr Kivejinja had failed to do so until Thursday. The Speaker said that according to Rule 46, statements of this nature were not subject to debate by the House, and MPs could only field additional questions for clarification. Bunyole MP Emmanuel Dombo supported the Speaker, saying that since Mr Kivejinja had mentioned institutions that were not in the House to defend themselves or clarify their actions, it was only fair that the matter was referred to the committee where witnesses could be called and the truth established. Officials of the Broadcasting Council who argued that the station's equipment did not conform to the required standards and that the mast was unsound and overloaded, switched NTV Uganda off air last month. But NTV general manager Victor Ngei denies this assertion. In his ruling, the Speaker said that it would be unfair if the House debated the minister's statement and came to a decision based on inadequate information. (SOURCE: The Nation) BOTSWANA TV ACQUIRES LOCAL PROGRAMMESThe Director of Broadcasting Services Bapasi Mphusu last week Thursday signed contracts worth over P5 million with two local film companies for the production of four television programmes. According to a press release from broadcasting services, the programmes are for the long awaited second cycle commissioning of local programmes. The two companies Aimcorp and Interface, were awarded tenders for the production of the four programmes by the Public Procurement and Assert Disposal Board (PPADB. Basadibotlhe Lethola signed for Aimcorp, which won the tender to produce two programmes namely, a 26-episode half-hour Family magazine show that will cost P1 689 015.00. and a 26-episode 15-minute travel magazine show at the cost of P974 050.00. Siraj Kala signed for interface, which won a tender to produce two programmes namely, a 26-episode half hour youth quiz show which will cost P1 147 479.30 and a 26-episode half-hour children magazine show for P1 688 434.00 The two companies are expected to start production following the signing of contracts and the programmes are expected to be aired by September this year. (SOURCE: BOPA) IN BRIEF:- An Egyptian state-owned satellite company has stopped broadcasts of a controversial Iraqi television station that was showing insurgent videos and denouncing the Shi'ite-led government of Iraq. The move comes after months of pressure from the United States to take the station off the air. The Egyptian company is denying that it has bowed to political pressure and says it stopped the broadcasts for technical reasons. - In Nigeria, teacher training by distance learning has received a boost with the granting of a radio licence to the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, by the Federal Government. - A public lecture will be given by Charles Dalfen, recently retired chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Dalfen has over 25 years experience in the sector and the talk covers aspects instructive to the SA regulatory environment - both broadcasting and telecoms. The lecture will be held on 7 March 2007 at 16h30, Wits Business School, hosted by the LINK Centre.
PEOPLE* The fourth general assembly of the association of telecommunications regulators of West Africa (ARTAO) selected Nnamdi Nwokiké from Nigeria as its executive secretary. * State IT Agency (SITA) CEO Mavuso Msimang will step down from the position once his replacement has been identified. * Branislav Zivkovic has been appointed as MD of Lexmark International South Africa, replacing Hans Horn, who recently resigned. * Technology company Set Point will review whether chairman Chris Seabrooke is truly independent, following concerns voiced at its annual general meeting (AGM). * Henry Njoroge left UUNet Kenya after leading it as managing director for the last six years. He was replaced in an acting capacity by another long-serving colleague, Geoffrey Shimanyula, who was previously the firm's country sales manager. EVENTS- 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 - 1stWEST AFRICAN E-CONTENT SUMMIT 4-7 April 2007 – Cotonou, Benin This ICT symposium expects to launch the official discussions to establish the “Panafrican Agency for New Media, advocated to provide training courses in new media management for young people in Africa in to bridge the content gap. For further information visit http://www.icnm.net/ - E-LIBERIA: VISION 2010 23 April 2007, Morovia, Liberia Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, is delighted to host a national dialog on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Liberia’s post-conflict development. E-Liberia:Vision 2010 will take place in Monrovia the week of 23 April, 2007. The program will include the unveiling of the new National ICT Policy for Liberia; a high-level workshop (on the 26th and 27th of April) with participation from domestic, regional, and international experts; a gala dinner; and a private sector innovation fair. More information can be found at: http://www.mopt.gov.lr/ Or by contacting: Mr. Calvin Yu on calvin.yu@gatech.edu or +231 06683574. - 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 - ICTS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE June 2007 – South Africa The conference and exhibition organised by SANGONeT will be aimed at increasing NGOs’ awareness of the strategic importance of their websites and the online environment in general. For further information visit http://sangonet.org.za - TELECOMS WORLD AFRICA 31st July - 2nd August 2007, Johannesburg, South Africa Key decision-makers in South Africa and leading international players will share their expertise and forge invaluable business relationships in a highly interactive environment. For further information visit www.terrapinn.com/2007/telecomza - WI-WORLD AFRICA 2007 27 – 30 August 2007, Michelangelo Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. In Africa, fixed-line infrastructure is lacking and there is a major problem with copper wire theft. Wireless communication is therefore a great alternative. For further information visit www.terrapinn.com/2007/telecomza JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES* BSCS O&M / ADMINISTRATION CONSULTANT –SOUTHERN AFRICA The company is looking for an experienced BSCS Consultant. Must have at least 3 years experience operation and maintenance and administration of the billing software BSCS into the vendor . The ideal candidate will have previous experience working in a vendor environment providing administration and support to the customer of the BSCS software. Previous international contract experience is considered a distinct advantage For further information contact advertising@balancingact-africa.com CONTRACTS: WHO'S SELLING WHAT TO WHOM?* TELECOM NAMIBIA AND ALVARION – NAMIBIA Wireless broadband technology provider Alvarion has announced that Telecom Namibia has selected its BreezeMAX system to upgrade its wireless in the local loop (WiLL) systems to WiMAX standard, in order to expand voice telephony, broadband internet and data services throughout the country.
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This page last updated on March 12 2007.
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