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WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday. ISSUE NO 355 IATA e-ticketing deadline creeping up fast on Africa’s unprepared airlinesInternational airline body IATA has set a deadline of 31 December 2007 for African airlines to adopt e-ticketing. This is meant to include not only online ticket sales but airport kiosks printing boarding boarding passes and access to flight data via your mobile phone. The continent’s often long-suffering air passengers are all too aware that none of these things are yet much in evidence. Online e-ticketing would be another shot-in-the-arm for Internet growth. Fritznathan Bruce reviews the current situation. Almost all other continents have been rolling out e-ticketing in line with IATA requirements. Even airlines in developing countries elsewhere have realised the important of installing e-ticketing systems to meet passenger needs and compete effectively. To help the process along in Africa, IATA is soon to launch an e-ticketing programme with a small African airline. This will act as a services demonstration programme for other small and medium-sized airlines. An announcement is expected shortly. With the full support of IATA and AFRAA, the smallest African airlines (called BBBB Airlines) will be fitted with up-to-date e-ticketing services this spring as part of a trial study to look at ways of speeding up implementation in the African region. Six online shops in Lome (with high speed access) have already been installed as part of this trial. Instead of paper tickets, passengers will be able to get all relevant flight and ticketing details sent to their e-mail address. The trial will last six months and IATA hopes that it will be one element in the eventual introduction of e-ticketing in Africa by the end of 2007. A survey of African airlines carried out by GBCS – Air Transport Consulting showed that very few in the African airline industry are currently using e-ticketing. However CEOs interviewed expected to implement e-ticketing by the deadline but there is little sign of any project implementation in many airlines. Sales and Marketing personnel interviewed were particularly keen on being able to offer their customers airline ticket sales using the Internet. A sample of those who have either implemented or announced implementation gives some idea of current progress: Air Seychelles: It launched a trial of Internet ticket sales in 2004 on its Mahe-Praslin route that it later expanded to all routes. Air Ivoire: It has announced the implementation of online ticketing in December 2006. Aerocontractors (Nigeria): This regional air transport provider moved to providing online ticket sales a year ago. Using the eTranzact platform and the Aero debit card, customers can buy tickets online, select a seat of their choice and then print out a boarding pass. South African Airways: It has long offered e-ticketing but it will add the use of of its own credit card (in association with NetBank Ltd). Kenya Airways: Another successful early adopter which is still increasing its Pax capacity for Internet sales. Precision Air: This Tanzanian airline implemented e-ticketing services in March 2006. It tripled net profits to US$5.5 million in fiscal year 2006/2007. Kulula.com: This low-cost domestic South African carrier (in the mould of the UK’s EasyJet and Ireland’s Ryanair) has set itself the goal of making 90% of its booking online. Currently it has about a 25% share of the domestic market. Ethiopian Airlines: In April 2007 the airline implemented e-ticketing and announced publicly its objective of moving more and more ticket sales to the new platform. In the light of the above, it would seem to be a good time for e-ticketing applications providers (with the usual strong support from IATA) to have more substantive conversations with African airlines about implementing e-ticketing. HOME GROWN SOLUTION FROM GHANA’S EXPLAINER DCMuch of the airline industry relies on expensive legacy reservation systems, and equally expensive Global Distribution Systems (GDS) such as Amadeus and Galileo. The pricing is prohibitive for start-up airlines, and much of the functionality offered is probably never going to be used. To fill this gap, Explainer DC, a web development company of Ghana has developed eTicketManager (www.eticketmanager.com.gh). It has created a web-based ticket distribution and management solution for regional and low-cost airlines. Its functionality includes a booking engine, check-in facility, revenue and inventory management. The online booking engine allows visitors to book and pay their ticket online, and print out a secured barcode-protected e-ticket. Airline employees manage reservations online, check in passengers using barcode scanners and generate passenger lists. eTicketManager is offered as a turn-key solution, complete with a custom-designed website with extensive functionality, content management system and search engine optimisation The use of eTicketManager saves the airline from any upfront investment in hardware, software or technical support. The cost for the airline is largely based on the number of tickets actually sold. Furthermore the browser-based interface is highly intuitive, requiring only minimal training . The system can therefore be implemented at a fraction of the cost of purchasing or developing a proprietary system. The Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) allows for effortless global distribution, which can be further enhanced through co-operation with a travel data aggregator such as www.agentfactor Explainer DC’s clients include CTK Aviation Group and it has assisted KLM in the development of multiple websites for some of the representative travel agents.
NEW RULES FOR TELECOM OPERATORS EXPECTED IN KENYAThe Kenyan Government is preparing new licensing regime for operators of telecommunication services. Information and Communications minister, Mutahi Kagwe further revealed that the process of searching for the Second National Operator (SNO) and third mobile operator would begin again soon. He said the changes would be as a result of the planned review of the sector's 1997 policy statement. It was this document that introduced the threshold for equity participation by local investors in the telecommunications companies. Under the rule, any foreign firm entering the telecom market must offer 30 per cent sharehoding to locals."We are formulating new regulations for licensing national telecommunication operators and will gazette the new rules soon," he said. The minister was speaking after the launch of Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) Information Centre - Geographic Information System (GIS) and Quality of Service Monitoring System - in Nairobi on Tuesday. The facilities are expected to enhance CCK's capacity to serve communications industry and improve service delivery to subscribers of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services. Kagwe, however, ruled out abolishing the requirement that foreign companies investing in the telecommunication sector allocate 30 per cent shareholding to locals. He said the Government is keen to uphold the 30 per cent rule to ensure Kenyans have a share of the institutions. He said the Government would adopt measures to relax the requirement to quicken the process of appointing a Second National Operator (SNO). Kagwe warned telecommunication service providers to brace stiff competition as more players join the market and challenged them to deal with existing inadequacies and align themselves to the demand patterns in the market. "I believe that efficiency and reliability in the delivery of telecommunications services requires consistent pro-active response to customers' needs. This is the foundation of consumer satisfaction and ultimately the driver of service quality," he said. The review is seen as the Government's response to the perennial disputes between local and foreign investors that have frustrated the conclusion of major telecoms projects. CCK chairman, Joseph Njagi, said the new quality service monitoring system would enable CCK verify the quality of services offered by cellular mobile operators. "It will now become easier for CCK to determine the service and network availability in various parts of the country, their accessibility and whether the call completion rate is up to the expected standards." (SOURCE: The East African Standard) NATCOMS KICKS AGAINST PROPOSED TARIFF HIKE IN NIGERIAThe National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has objected to the planned tariff increase by GSM operators in the country. NATCOMS in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting to deliberate on the proposed increase in tariffs, condemned the plan, describing it as "grossly unjustifiable, exploitative and a gross abuse of subscriber-operator marketing-mix bond". Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, National President of NATCOMS who signed the communiqué on behalf of the members, stated that it was unacceptable that the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON) had averred recently that it planned to increase tariffs. He stated that "ALTON members are using their Association mainly to create a 'group led monopoly' with the sole aim of exploiting subscribers on their network", an objective which he described as condemnable and against basic business ethics. He stated that telephony costs everywhere in the world is going down with increase in subscriber base, in view of the high volume / high value economic scenario. Ogunbanjo further described the planned increase in tariff as not only exploitative, inconsiderate, condemnable, unjustifiable and uncalled for but against international best practices and an abuse of business ethics and consumerism in Nigeria . He disclosed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is the government regulatory agency that approved new interconnect rates from N5.52k to almost double at N10.80k on June 21, 2006 for the Private Telecommunications Operators / Fixed Wireless Operators (PTO's/FWO's) commonly referred to and also known as land-lines. He added that the PTO's / FWO's (The Land-line Operators) started implementing the new NCC approved tariff on September 22, 2006, a situation which he stated, led to NATCOMS taking the land-line operators and the NCC to court. The case is still in court. He alleged that the NCC has now turned its back on the Nigerian Telecoms Consumer and now 'working' for the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria ALTON rather than be an impartial arbiter between Operators and Subscribers as the regulatory body. He threatened that NATCOMS would have no other choice but to call for the removal of the Nigerian Communications Commission's Chief Executive Officer, if any increase is approved for the GSM operating companies. Ogunbanjo averred that in recent years, all the GSM Operating Companies have failed the NCC quality of service tests including systems responsiveness, call set-up success rate, call voice quality, call failure rate, billing accuracy, recharge call success rate etc. He reiterated that with "high volume subscriber base, and questionable high tariff charges, subscribers believe that there will be efficient service-delivery" He added that " unfortunately the reverse is the case in the Nigerian Telecoms Spectrum where operators always fall short of customer service-delivery and expectations". Calling to question the integrity of the NCC, Ogunbanjo wondered how impartial the NCC really is given the fact that according to him that the NCC always claim to be an impartial regulator between Telecoms Operator and Consumers but holds tariff charges increase meetings only with the Operators without the representatives of subscribers/consumers that are paying to keep operators in business. Ogunbanjo who further disclosed that telecoms operating companies operate a tariff structure known as 'Price-cap regulatory regime' which he stressed is very exploitative in every way,gave the current interconnect and intra-connect rates as approved by NCC are as follows: For land-line operators-N10.80k (i.e. from one network to another network) while they charge between N15.00 - N35.00 per minute, without any product / brand promotion. While for GSM Operators - N11.22k (i.e from one network to another network) while they charge N42.00 - 48.00 per minute without any product/brand promotion. Ogunbanjo also accused the NCC of refusing to regulate SMS and intraconnect rates (i.e. calls within Operators network, which is like internal communications - intercom). According to him this scenario gives operators the licence to exploit consumers by charging the same rate as interconnect rates (i.e. calls from one network to the other). Intra-connect rates he stressed should not be more than N2.00 per minute because it is like an office intercom call which you pay nothing for. While according to him text message (SMS) should not cost more than N1.00 because it is data and not a voice call as it takes just one (1) second to send a text message, which is just like sending an E-mail on the internet. (SOURCE: This Day) MTC NAMIBIA DEPLOYS WIND AND SOLAR POWERED CELL SITEMotorola, Inc. and MTC Namibia last week announced that they have deployed a wind and solar power system to operate MTC Namibia’s GSM cell site at Dordabis village in the Khomas region of Namibia. The trial with MTC Namibia supports the African operator’s strategy for increased voice and data service coverage in rural areas of Namibia and is the first of its kind globally. “With the implementation of cell sites into more remote areas this solution provides us with an efficient and reliable alternative to the often costly roll-out of mains grid electricity. This is an important project for us and commencement of the wind and solar cell site trial is proof of our commitment to our customers to provide the essential communication services needed in the region,” Albertus Aochamub, corporate services general manager, MTC Namibia said. By incorporating renewable energy solutions into communication networks Motorola is trialing this solution as a feasible option for operators instead of utilising costly fuel generators or waiting long periods for a mains grid connection. The Dordabis cell site will remain a part of MTC Namibia’s live GSM network throughout the trial. Motorola has been working with the GSM Association on this project which was announced at 3GSM Barcelona in February this year. “A key challenge in much of Africa is connecting people in off-grid locations and this project seeks to highlight to operators that wind and solar power is a real and cost effective alternative. We expect this pilot to become a showcase for the industry and to see replication of the model thereafter,” said Charlotte Connatty, GSMA Project Manager for the MTC Namibia trial. With its expanded rural and roadside network coverage MTC Namibia is providing voice and GPRS/EDGE data services to enable new communities to access communication and the internet at a level not possible before. Recently, MTC Namibia has also launched a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) service on its GPRS network. Initially being utilized as a communication aid to deliver services within local communities, it will be expanded to serve diverse subscriber groups and businesses in the future. Once installed, the cost of power is almost zero, and wind and solar powered cell sites require minimal maintenance unlike a diesel driven generator which generally requires, at a minimum, a monthly visit for refuelling. This translates into added savings in operating expenditure (OPEX), a key factor to emerging market network operators. For more information on the Solar and Wind trial micro site at www.motorola.com/wind solar cellsite SA’S MOBILE OPERATORS THREATEN TO END BEEPING IF INTERCONNECT FEES SLASHEDCashless customers who send 18-million text messages a day asking wealthier friends to call them back could be axed from Vodacom's network if the interconnection fee for delivering the incoming calls are cut, said Vodacom last week. MTN has also warned that it could not afford to serve the low-spending customers who send 12-million "call me" messages every day on its network if the interconnection fees are slashed. The protests made by the two dominant cellular operators have put the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) in a difficult position at hearings to decide whether to force down the fees that they charge each other when routing calls between rival networks. Icasa believes that slashing those running costs would let each operator drop its retail tariffs and, thus, create cheaper calls for consumers. But threats to axe the lower-spending users and warnings that no operator would want to touch the unconnected poor have turned the argument into a controversial process, with many factors to consider. Last week Vodacom's government relations and regulatory executive Pakamile Pongwana said that radical cuts forced on its network in Tanzania had unintended consequences, as Vodacom had less income to spend on expanding its network. There was a fine balance between the wholesale and retail prices, and SA's current regime had lowered the cost of cellphone ownership so that even the poorest people could get connected, said Pongwana. Vodacom could not justify keeping a significant proportion of its pre-paid users on its network if there was not enough profit in delivering incoming calls to them, added Karl Lawrenz, its executive of regulatory projects. If cost-based termination rates were imposed, it would not be sustainable to retain those low-spending users, he said. Lawrenz also urged Icasa not to bow to requests by Neotel, Cell C and Virgin Mobile to skew the rates so that the operators with fewer customers paid less. That would "prop up inferior technologies and more inefficient market players and punish superior technologies and operators" by giving the more successful players less income to invest in their networks. Icasa councillor Tracy Cohen said that the authority did not want to intervene if it would destroy people's constitutional right to communicate. It was difficult to know how Icasa should move forward against arguments that cutting the fees could prevent unconnected people from ever getting connected, she said. (SOURCE: Business Day)
IN BRIEF:- South Africa’s MTN is rumoured to be taking over Datatel in Sierra Leone. - René Ndemezo' Obiang, the Gabonese Minister of Post and Telecommunication has granted a ten-year mobile telephony licence to the Atlantique Telecom group which already operates in several Western African countries under the brand name Moov. - Lagos State Government has directed all telecommunications companies engaged in earth and tar cut on most major roads in the state to stop such activities with immediate effect until a revalidation permits are issued to the authentic registered ones. - The number of mobile phone subscribers in Morocco has reached 17.126 millions at the end of March 07. This is a 7% increase compared to to December 06. - Rwanda’s Terracom will shortly rebrand itself as Rwandacell again, the name that was dropped after it was taken over by Terracom. TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE- Angola mobile company Unitel has expanded coverage to Ukuma and Kuito Kuanavale districts in Huambo and Kuando Kubango provinces, respectively. - In Uganda, new wireless licensee Warid Telecom has announced that it will have coverage of 70% of the population by the time it launches at the end of this year. According to general manager Zul Javaid the company will invest in excess of USD200 million in the first phase of its network expansion - Starcomms, Nigeria's largest CDMA 3G Mobile network has introduced four new tariffs plans. The four packages will operate on either per minute or per second billing depending on the subscribers' preferences. - Ghanaian mobile operator GT-OneTouch, the mobile arm of national incumbent Ghana Telecom, has launched an international roaming service to pre-paid users. The cellco’s ‘Onetouch Prepaid Roaming’ service allows customers to keep in touch with friends and family while overseas.
DELAYS RAISE EASSY PROJECT COST TO MORE THAN $440MThe cost of the delayed East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) has shot up to $440 million. Part of the sharp increase in costing is attributed to a planned link with European networks. This surprising revelation was made in Dar es Salaam during a conference on the regional information and communication technology broadband network and the EASSy project. The cost for laying the cable along the East African coast was previously put at $240 million, but with plans for its extension to Mauritius and Europe, the cost has gone up. This adds to the challenges the project has so far faced. Recently, Kenya announced plans to launch The East African Marine Systems (Teams), a parallel project to EASSy. South Africa also announced similar plans to launch an alternative cable supported by its private sector. Information obtained by The EastAfrican indicate that another cable, sponsored by South Africa, may be laid because of a clash between private investors wanting to profit and the government demanding cheaper bandwidth to reduce the cost of doing business and stimulate economic growth. The Director-General of the Tanzania Communications and Regulatory Authority John Nkoma told the ministers' meeting on ICT infrastructure that the need for submarine and terrestrial cables in Africa "is long overdue." Professor Nkoma said there is a need for African countries to be interconnected by broadband fibre-optic cable systems that would in turn link them to the rest of the world through existing or planned submarine cable systems. Many African countries are dependant on the expensive SAT-3/WASC, which makes communication on the continent unaffordable to the majority. The Rwanda Minister of State for Energy and Communications, Albert Butare, highlighted the importance of regional connectivity and affordability of communication services after implementation of the project. He pointed out that the EASSy cable fibre optic would be more efficient and cheap thus likely to attract more investors to African economies. "Rwanda is eagerly waiting for the project to start because it will provide alternative connectivity to satellite, which is expensive to most people," said Butare. The Malawian delegation to the meeting said that the Nepad e-Africa commission should speed up implementation of the project "as it had been delayed for too long." Even though Kenya has threatened to go it alone if the project is delayed further, it reiterated on the importance of efficient and affordable regional connectivity and expressed its commitment and readiness to collaborate to ensure that the regional connectivity initiative "is soon accomplished." The EASSy project aims to reduce tariffs and provide ample connectivity and capacity among African countries. A previous meeting held in Bagamoyo resolved that the tendering process should go on as planned so that the project is completed by 2008 as scheduled. At an earlier meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, in June 2005, the availability of more than $200 million in investment for the project was confirmed. The meeting was held to announce the EASSy project to commercial, telecommunications and banking audience with a view to attract investment and capacity commitment. Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited was one of the companies in a consortium that were given the responsibility of initiating the project in 2002. Others were Telkom Kenya, Uganda Telecommunications Corporation, MTN, Zanzibar Telecommunications and data operators. (SOURCE: The East African) AFRICA ONLINE SETS NEW STRATEGYAfrica Online, the pioneering pan-African Internet service provider, may finally get to live up to its big name. The company's chief executive, Mr John Joseph, publicly unveiled an ambitious $10 million (Sh700 million) plan to roll out to 31 more African countries in the next one year. This follows the acquisition of the ISP in late February by Telkom South Africa from the Africa Lakes Corporation for Sh1.4 billion (20.1 million). AfOL currently has about 15,000 subscribers in eight countries. Telkom SA has affiliates in 20 countries that resell their corporate connectivity services. Joseph said the firm would have a new "five-pronged investment approach" in its operations. New investments, he said, shall be focussed on brand development, creation and development of customer channels, improvement of network systems, market expansion and human resource development. The firm also intends to target multinational and global operators and service providers that require network solutions across Africa. Part of the money for the expansion will be provided centrally while the rest is likely to be raised from local capital markets in countries of operation. AfOL currently has operations in eight African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Its holding company is domiciled in Mauritius for tax purposes. The current expansion drive will see the firm establish a foothold in 39 African countries, mainly through acquisitions and affiliates. Meanwhile, Telkom SA is planning to bid for the country's Second National Operator (SNO) licence, Joseph has revealed. The intended bid is part of the South African telecommunications giant expansion strategy that targets new acquisitions in Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, DR Congo and Angola. AfOL was founded in 1996 as a fully fledged Internet Service Provider (ISP) and currently offers dial up, lease line, Vsat and broadband based services to both its retail and corporate clients. The firm is headquartered in Nairobi and has over 300 staff spread across its operation units in Africa. Joseph, a former Telkom SA marketing executive, also outlined plans to invest in at least seven more base stations in Kenya, the group's flagship operation. The firm currently has four base stations in Nairobi and one in Mombasa. The Kenyan operation generates the group's highest revenue and has 80 staff in Nairobi, Coast and the Western region. It has an active subscriber base of about 5,000 dial-up clients and over 2,000 broadband services subscribers. Joseph welcomed the ongoing Government initiatives to link Kenya to the international network through undersea fibre optic cables, saying that this is bound to increase available bandwidth and lower connection costs. He predicted that AfOL Kenya will continue to be a profitable business and cited recent Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) projections that show that Internet users are likely to double in the next five years. Joseph further revealed that Telkom South Africa is on the look out for any new business opportunities in the targeted countries having recently concluded two new acquisitions. These include the ongoing BCX Company (South Africa) acquisition of 100 per cent equity at $339 million, the Africa Online Group acquisition at $20.1 million and the acqusition of 75 per cent stake in Multi-Links at $280 million. (SOURCE: The East African Standard) 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES INJECTS $20M IN NETWORK EXPANSION IN NIGERIA21st Century Technologies Limited, a leading wireline telephony and data services provider in Nigeria is injecting $20 million (about N2.6 billion) fresh funds into the expansion of its network nationwide in a move aimed at consolidating its leadership structure and ensuring quality service delivery. The company's Chief Executive Officer, Wale Ajisebutu disclosed in Lagos that the move became necessary because of the elaborate expansion programme of the company which needs to be taken far more aggressively than before. His words: "If our plans to penetrate all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria with our state-of-the-art quality wire line telephone and data services are to be realised, we have to pump in more money. So, in realisation of this, we are injecting $20 million in the first instance, to fast-track our expansion programme and ensure that we maintain the same quality services that our clients have come to know us for". He reiterated that the fresh funds will strengthen the company's current nationwide fibre optic project, in which the company is laying fibre optic rings around the entire length and breadth of Nigeria, with the Lagos phase of the project nearing completion. 21st Century Technologies Limited recently hit a record 50, 000 subscriber base in the aggressive roll-out and expansion programme that has seen the company laying its fibre optic across Nigeria . Ajisebutu also disclosed that as part of its design to create a one-stop-shop for ICT services in Nigeria, 21st Century Technologies Limited recently entered into a partnership agreement with e-Hosting Data Forth of Dubai to enable companies, institutions and governments take greater advantage of the Nigerian company's ultra modern Data Centre located at Lekki, Lagos. According Ajisebutu, this strategic partnership will lead to the optimal utilisation of the data centre as eHosting Datafort will bring its wealth of experience to bear on the facility in Lagos. "We are very keen on helping our existing and potential customers take optimum advantage of our data centre. That is why we have gone to great lengths to invest so heavily in ensuring that the Data Centre remains first of its kind in Africa . "Going further, we believe that tapping the experience of well-tooled leaders in the sector like eHosting Datafort will ensure that our customers enjoy the best of two worlds - our unmatched quality and facility as well as the skills and experience of our partners, eHosting Datafort - all at unbelievably reasonable costs", he stated. "There is no doubt that our niche area is a tough one. We are determined to give Nigerians what obtains anywhere else in the world. Everyone realises that wired line telephony is the best although it is quite difficult and far more expensive to deploy. For us at 21st Century, we see it as a niche area and we want to concentrate on that because in not-too-distant future, corporate Nigeria as well as other operators will fall back entirely on us for reliable, efficient and secured communications infrastructure," he stated. (SOURCE: This Day) ZAMNET LAUNCHES WIMAX IN ZAMBIAZambian ISP Zamnet Communication has launched a 802.16e WiMAX network using equipment supplied by Navini Networks. The network is currently available in most parts of Lusaka, except for parts of Makeni and Chilanga. The service is also available in Kitwe and parts of Kalulushi and the company hopes to introduce the service in other towns on the Copperbelt. ‘This is the first truly mobile wireless broadband internet solution on the Zambian market,’ said Zamnet’s Managing Director Chishala Kateka. Service plans start at USD75 per month. (SOURCE: Telegeography) JUDGE ASKS COURTS TO BLOCK 29 ADDITIONAL WEBSITES IN EGYPTHrinfo has expressed dismay that Judge Abdel Fatah Murad has asked the Administrative Judiciary Court to block 29 websites, in addition to the 21 he had previously requested be made inaccessible. The judge amended his original list of websites following a 5 May 2007 investigation of the case by the court, resulting in a total of 50 websites presently vulnerable to closure as a result of the judge's request. Moreover, Judge Fatah Murad has filed a new lawsuit against Gamal Eid, HRinfo's Executive Director, Ahmed Seif El Islam, Executive Director of Hisham Mubarak Law Center, and Amr Gharbia, administrator of the celebrated blog, Holiat Saheb Al-Ashgar, which is under investigation by the public prosecutor's office. The judge is accusing the three men of extortion and is demanding 50,000 EGP (approx. US$8,800) in damages. HRinfo was surprised to learn that that the three men, including the organisation's executive director, had been summoned for questioning in a new case fabricated by Judge Fatah Murad. The same judge has now initiated three separate cases against HRinfo and its partners. HRinfo considers these cases to carry contradictions and misrepresent certain facts. Judge Fatah Murad has also claimed that he cooperates with organisations such as Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and Amnesty International. However, this contradicts his request to block the IFEX website, which covers the news of these member organisations. HRinfo considers this campaign against free expression by Judge Fatah Murad to be an attempt to distract public attention from his illegal plagiarism of HRinfo's report on the internet, as well as his misrepresentation of its contents. The organisation has initiated proceedings to strip the judge of his immunity so that he can be prosecuted for plagiarism. It is clear that the judge has had the support and cooperation of the state security apparatus in acquiring information and attacking bloggers and human rights organisations that defend freedom of expression. For more information on this case, see: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/campaigns/2007/pr0426-2.shtml (SOURCE: Arabic Network for Human Rights Information) IN BRIEF:- At the end of March 07, Morocco had 433,399 internet subscribers. This is an 8.4% increase compared to December of the previous year, and a 37.2% increase compared to the same period of 2006. Over 90% of these internet subscriptions are broadband (ADSL or wireless) - The level of state-led censorship of the net is growing, a study of so-called internet filtering by the Open Net Initiative suggests. The study of thousands of websites across 120 Internet Service Providers found 25 of 41 countries surveyed showed evidence of content filtering. "In five years we have gone from a couple of states doing state-mandated net filtering to 25," said John Palfrey, at Harvard Law School. The survey found evidence of filtering in the following African countries: Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. - In Algeria, a total of 899 health centres nationwide will be connected through an intranet by the end of 2007, a Health Ministry official announced in Oran, on the fringes of the 6th International Allergy Congress. So far, 93 such centres, including teaching hospitals, specialized hospitals, provincial health directions, have been connected to the ministry's network, while 134 new connections are expected to take place before summertime, the same source continued. - Google unveiled a new Arabic version of its popular Google Earth viewing programme, signalling another step in its long-term plan to stimulate Internet use in the Arab world. Currently, Arabic content measures around 150 million Arabic web pages, compared with over 30 billion web pages worldwide, according to Dubai-based Madar Research.
FREE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION READY TO BATTLE MICROSOFTFollowing the attacks earlier this week by Microsoft on the free software movement the Free Software Foundation has set up a new activist wing to fight back. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) last week announced the creation of a new activist campaigns team to organise public support into action on software freedom issues. The new team will be composed of two campaigns managers and an international group of volunteers, with one position to be filled by current staff member, John Sullivan, and the other by new appointee, Joshua Gay. They will work together on the FSF campaigns BadVista.org and DefectiveByDesign.org, and launch additional campaigns in the near future. In announcing the decision to create the campaigns team, FSF executive director Peter Brown spoke about the recent attempts by Microsoft to use software patents as the basis of an attack against free software. "Microsoft continues to threaten the freedom of all computer users with vague claims of software-patent infringement. Although more people than ever before in the US have the technical capabilities to develop software, the blight of patents prevents them from making useful advancements. "As such, we need to ask, what is the best way to eliminate the specter of software patents so that free software development can flourish, and how do we get organised to make it happen?" With the expanding use of free software, the defense of its ethical principles is becoming more important. In addition to software patents, other proprietary software schemes like Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and Treacherous Computing [the FSF's versions of the names] threaten to stifle free software development and shackle users to proprietary software. "In the early years of the free software movement, the FSF worked to solve the problem of proprietary software by funding free software development. With the creation of this campaigns team, we are expanding our work to help clear the way politically and publicly for free software," said John Sullivan. On joining the campaigns team, Joshua Gay said, "I am excited to be joining the staff of the Free Software Foundation at such an exciting and important time. I look forward to working with John Sullivan and continuing the momentum of BadVista.org, DefectivebyDesign.org, and community adoption of GPLv3. Most of all, I hope to begin reaching out and working with the many communities that value and appreciate the importance of software freedom." (SOURCE: Tectonic) INDIANS AIM TO GROW IT TRADE WITH AFRICAInformation and communication technologies (ICT) are India's fastest-growing industries in production and exports, largely thanks to economic liberalisation policies and a government commitment to make the sector a priority. Last year, its electronics and ICT production topped $42,3bn, of which 62% was exported, accounting for 14,3% of the country's total exports. Computer software accounted for $29,6bn of the production, of which a massive 80% was exported. But less than 1% of those goods and services are coming to Africa, and that is something the delegates hope to change. Of the electronics and software exports worth $180m that it exported to Africa in 2005-06, about 42% came to SA in the form of software, consultancy services, CDs, amplifiers and televisions. About 40 Indian businessmen are exhibiting at the Futurex trade fair and hosting meet-and-greet events as they seek partners to import their products. The Indian pavilion is displaying mobile computing devices, telecom solutions, uninterrupted power supplies, IT training material, project management tools, hardware components and banking software. Some delegates will be discussing possible co-operation on outsourcing deals, software development and skills-transfer programmes. They are members of India's Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, which is so serious in its quest to create links with SA that it is one of the sponsors for the Futurex conference. India's consul-general in SA, Navdeep Suri, will address the conference today as other speakers give an overview of India's hi-tech sector and highlight possible areas of co-operation. (SOURCE: Business Day) RECENTLY LAUNCHED EDUWIKI AIMS TO MEET FAMILY NEEDSShaugn Vorster launched the EduWiki two weeks ago and is proud to say that it has already doubled in size, saying, "the interesting part is tracking how quickly it grows". Beyond being merely an educational wiki, the site aims at having a wide range of information relevant for the South African family. Vorster aims to fulfill various community needs. As he explained, the modern family does not have the extended family and community framework of old. He hopes to plug this gap through providing community level information such as where to find local schools, health facilities and sports clubs, along with additional information on nutrition and fitness for the family. Unlike something such as Wikipedia, EduWiki will have information that is relevant to and aimed at the various age groups. Early primary school level children, for example, would not need to know the Latin name, genus and sub species when looking up on elephants. Entries would contain more and more detailed information as the targeted age level increases Vorster wants the project to develop by itself. "I don't want to be dictatorial," said Vorster. He added that he was not aware of any other similar projects happening in other parts of the world. While there are sites like Wikipedia, the aim was to give EduWiki a distinctly African and South African angle. Vorster first began looking into the feasibility of the project in August last year. Before being launched in its current format, Vorster experimented with an HTML version of EduWiki which lacked interactivity. After discovering DokuWiki, Vorster felt he had what he needed to carry out his plans. "It's exciting. It's open source!" Now that the infrastructure is up, the focus is on building content. Vorster invites anyone to contribute information and articles on topics about which they are knowledgeable. Contributions must not be too technical and contributors must bare in mind the age for which they are writing. Currently he is looking to set up a translation mechanism that will translate English entries into Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa. The site is funded by a separate for profit company, Edusource, which should generate funds through advertising on the site. As a fledgling project, there are many areas of for potential growth and Vorster is open to any and all ideas from people wishing to become involved and from potential partners. (SOURCE: Tectonic) IT COMPANIES TO DECLARE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAFor the first time South Africa's top 40 listed companies, which includes Telkom and MTN, have been asked to make available information on their greenhouse gas emissions and their responses to environment-related business trends by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the secretariat for a grouping of more than 250 institutional investors from around the world with $41-trillion under management. The companies are expected to respond to the questionnaires by the end of this month. Internationally, IT companies such as Siemens, IBM, Apple Computers, Ericsson, Motorola, Cisco Systems, Infosys Technologies, NTT Data, Unisys Corporation, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, NCR and Toshiba have responded in previous years. So too have the BT Group, France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Brasil Telecom and Qwest among many other of the world's telecommunications service suppliers. (To search the CPD questionnaire respondents by sector go here). This year the questionnaire has been sent to 2,400 of the world's largest quoted companies by the London-based secretariat which was formed in 2000. Each year a report is compiled from the responses received. This year's CDP report, which will be its fifth (CDP5), is scheduled to be released in September. The first South African CDP report will be launched in October. The questionnaires are designed to assess the potential risks and opportunities relating to climate change companies face. "We are seeking to improve our understanding of possible impacts [of climate change] on the value of our investments", the CPD states in a letter sent out with the questionnaire. Jonathan Hanks of Incite Sustainability, the company that initiated the project in South Africa, said that there is a need to raise awareness on climate change issues in this country. "Climate change is a key business issue, which some companies fail to realise," he said. Institutional shareholders in the US are increasingly seeking transparency from companies on their responses to environment-related business trends. Investors have Green my Apple campaign, for instance, which seems to have spurred the company into taking some positive steps. As a Trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund is quoted as saying on the CDP's website : "The Carbon Disclosure Project ...[is]... a quiet, mature, expert way to raise the consciousness of CEOs who are under pressure to provide immediate profits for the next quarter's reporting...[it] is a way to give them the sense that looking at the long term is really the smart and sensible way to go." IN BRIEF:- In Kenya, Microsoft has partnered with the Government in the provision of computer technology to teachers, students and digital villages. - SKYE Bank Plc and the Osun State government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Computer for All Nigerians Initiative (CANi) programme initiated by the federal government in the state. The CANi initiative is designed to ensure that Nigerians have access to computers at affordable prices to increase and deepen the usage of computers in the country. - isiXhosa speakers have translated the interface for Rhodes' University's email system in a 48-hour Translate@thon. The translated software is the first application of its kind that will allow the institute's students and staff to access email in their mother tongue. - Building on its existing broad-scale community affairs and development efforts in Africa, Microsoft Corp has announced a joint venture with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) to enhance sustainable youth employment opportunities in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania. - Hewlett Packard has begun offering its range of retail products through select retail outlets and flagship stores in some key cities in Nigeria and Ghana. These retail stores will provide walk-in purchase options for a wide spectrum of products and accessories from HP's retail portfolio. The flagship stores will be a major coup for HP because where other brands still struggle to commit to a formal local presence, HP is upping the game with entertainment PCs, gaming PCs and accessories with the much-anticipated range of digital entertainment and SMB products, she said.
VODACOM OFFERS $480M FOR MTEL IN NIGERIASouth Africa's Vodacom has signified its seriousness to acquire a majority stake in NITEL's mobile subsidiary, Nigerian Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTel), with an offer of $480 million to the shareholders of the company. But the cash offer made by Vodacom has elicited a counter bid from Alheri Engineering Limited which had formally expressed interest to take up controlling equity in MTel around the same time Vodacom was in negotiations with Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp). Sources close to the deal informed THISDAY that the South African firm is eager to acquire at least 51 per cent of the equity stake in MTel by paying $250 million upfront to the Federal Government for the 24 per cent not taken up by Transcorp when it bought NITEL last year. The balance of $230 million will be paid to Transcorp in two installments if it accepts to relinquish 18 per cent of its stake in MTel immediately with the option for Vodacom to acquire another 9 per cent from Transcorp within the next three years. Vodacom, it was gathered, is also committed to injecting additional capital into the underperforming Nigerian mobile firm along with technical expertise under a management contract. However, industry sources have indicated that Transcorp's effort to offload MTel is rather premature and a lot easier said than done. The company, in the first instance, does not belong directly to Transcorp and the Federal Government, but is a wholly owned subsidiary of NITEL. By implication, the proceeds from MTel's sale will actually go into the coffers of NITEL, and any profits arising thereof after deducting taxes and interest charges can only be paid in the form of dividends to its shareholders - the Federal Government and Transcorp. Alternatively, the proceeds realised from the transaction can be transferred to NITEL's capital reserves account for the internal use of the company. NITEL as a distinct entity from MTel may also insist that the latter's indebtedness to it be offset through a capital restructuring exercise (debt-equity conversion) and that its shareholders pass a special resolution to de-merge both firms. If this occurs, MTel would have to be revalued and all bidders interested in it asked to make higher offers in line with the balance sheet restructuring undertaken for the company. "Vodacom and any other bidder for that matter would therefore have to be certain that by paying $480 million it will be acquiring Mtel and not NITEL, and all of its liabilities which I am certain the South African firm is not that eager to assume," said one industry analyst. Irrespective of the intricacies of the transaction, Alheri has made a request to Transcorp that it be given one week to conclude its due diligence on MTel. Once this is concluded, an official of the company disclosed that Alheri is prepared to match Vodacom's bid to the last dollar. Alheri's bid will however be distinct from Vodacom because unlike its competitor it will not make a deferred offer for any of the company's shares, but will offer to pay for them upfront. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the company's owner and chairman also recently disclosed that Alheri is prepared to inject $1 billion if it acquires the company, and that MTel's network capacity will be complemented by the optical fibre network taken over by Alheri Engineering from the former National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), last year. Alheri was awarded a 3G licence by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and is banking on the fact that it is a Nigerian firm, understands the local terrain and is sufficiently liquid to inject capital into MTel. Vodacom is the second largest Pan-African cellular phone network in the continent with 21.5 million subscribers in South Africa , Tanzania , the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho , and recently acquired a licence to operate in Mozambique . The company has made several failed attempts to enter into the prolific Nigerian market through bids for former Econet Wireless Nigeria Limited which it managed for a brief period before withdrawing from the country citing corporate governance issues after the Econet board had approved the payment of a brokerage fee to some investment firms. Vodacom later made a second attempt in 2005 to acquire Econet which it had re-branded Vee Networks Nigeria Limited before its unceremonious departure the year before. (SOURCE: This Day) GHANA TELECOM DEBTORS COULD NEGOTIATE PAYMENT TERMSGhana Telecom Company in the Volta Region has asked its debtors to come forward and negotiate concessionary terms for repaying their accumulated debt of five billion cedis. Osei Afriyie, a Media Relations Officer of the Company announced this during an interaction in Ho with some of the Company's customers in the Region to mark Telecommunications Day. Ghana Telecom's local theme for the Day was: "Ayekoo to all our customers for patronizing Ghana Telecom, a truly Ghanaian Company". Afriyie observed that Ghanaians would be investing in a local company by patronizing its products to help quicken the pace at which telecommunication services would be available in all parts of the country. (Source: GNA) EGYPT'S ORASCOM TELECOM SAYS Q1 NET INCOME UP 7 PCTEgypt's Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) , one of the biggest telecommunications firms in the Middle East, said on Tuesday net profit rose 7 percent to $168 million in the first quarter of 2007. Orascom Telecom said in a statement its earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 19 percent to $517 million on revenue up 22 percent at $1.195 billion. Subscribers exceeded 56 million, up 61 percent compared with the same period in 2006. "During the first quarter of 2007, OTH (Orascom Telecom Holding) continued its momentum of growth by adding 4.9 million subscribers," the Cairo-based firm said. Shares in the firm listed on the Egyptian stock market hit a 15-week low on Tuesday, closing at 74 Egyptian pounds ($13) before the results were released. Orascom Telecom is headed by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, with operations in several countries including Algeria, Tunisia, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq and Bangladesh. It said its Pakistani subsidiary Mobilink added over 2 million subscribers, while its Egyptian unit MobiNil added some 1.5 million subscribers to more than 10 million. "In Iraq, the security situation has created significant emigration of Iraqis. This phenomenon combined with a cleanup of the dormant subscriber base led to a decrease of subscribers," the statement said. Orascom Telecom said the average revenue per user (ARPU) continued to decline "as the subscriber base continued to grow reaching lower income levels." The firm said in March it would seek to enter new markets with large populations and adequate risk and return profile. Analysts and industry sources in South Africa have said Orascom Telecom was likely one of the bidders to buy the loss-making Cell C . The company declined to comment. (SOURCE: Reuters) RECOVERY SPARKS SPESCOM’S SHARES IN SOUTH AFRICAShares in telecoms company Spescom temporarily gained 16% last week to reach a 52-week high of 140c as it posted interim results showing a return to profitability. A year ago Spescom posted a loss of R11,3m for the six months to March, and clocked up a R20m loss for the full year. In the past six months the company had pulled back to achieve a net profit of R2,9m. Its headline earnings a share came in at 4,1c, reversing the deep loss of 15,7c a year ago. Its turnover rose 44% to R145m, but interest-bearing liabilities also increased, doubling from R10,9,m to R22,2m. Chief financial officer Jené Palmer said the balance sheet had been restructured after Spescom took on long-term financing so it could repay a substantial portion of its short-term debt. Palmer said the positive trading trend that had begun during the second half of the previous financial year had continued. The improvement was due to consistent growth by its call centre, voice recording and media technology divisions, she said. Its profitability was also enhanced by a R4,5m contribution from its associate company, Enterprise Informatics, the US operation that was previously known as Spescom Software. Breaking down the results, Palmer said the call centre division was a leading player in the market with growth spurred on by its drive into the rest of Africa. The media division was benefiting from large projects in SA and other countries, and Palmer said it expected business to grow as broadcasters and production houses prepared for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Its DataVoice division was making inroads into Europe and the Middle East after appointing new value-added resellers there. Activity in the telecoms industry was increasing and although this was expected to translate into improved revenue streams for Spescom's telecoms division, there was still uncertainty on timing. Although the company had returned to profitability, there was not enough cash to pay a dividend, the directors said. (SOURCE: Business Day) IN BRIEF:- Telecom Egypt (TE) has recorded a 9% increase in 1Q sales to EGP2.4 billion (USD426 million) compared to the same period of 2006. Net profit increased 22% to EGP585 million while EBITDA rose from EGP1.25 billion to EGP1.35 billion. Operationally, ADSL was the star performer, recording a 20% increase in the three month period (186% in the year) to 111,030, to give it a 46.5% share of the country’s broadband market. - Mobile service provider Econet Wireless is set to join the growing list of companies proposing share buyback schemes at the company's annual general meeting scheduled for later this month. - Kenya's only listed ICT company, AccessKenya, has announced the successful completion of its initial public offering (IPO) with significant oversubscription of the offer. However, the company will announce the exact level of oversubscription and details of allocations on May 24 once all applications and payments have been fully reconciled. Shares in the AccessKenya Group are expected to start trading on the NSE on June 4. - South Africa Datatec says it will announce two substantial acquisitions in Africa in the coming month, taking it into about a dozen countries in anticipation of a "telecoms gold rush". - Lowe Scanad Uganda, a subsidiary of Scangroup Limited has acquired certain business and assets of Redsky Uganda. "This acquisition fits within our plans to consolidate our business in the East African region and particularly having a foothold in the telecommunications sector in Uganda", said Scangroup Chief Executive Officer Bharat Thakrar in a press release on Wednesday. CORRECTIONSIssue 354: Kenya Special The average price of a DSL subscription should have been KS3,000 (US$45), not KS30,000. This makes it one of the cheaper broadband prices for a country not yet connected to the fibre. Issue 354: Nigeria targets $70m annual revenue from Nigcomstat-1 Eng Ahemed Rufai was boasting that the satellite’s revenues would exceed those generated by the country’s oil exports by 2010. One reader was sceptical: I checked the numbers: In 2004, Nigeria had exports worth US$33.7 billion USD - 90% oil, 8% gas. So the oil export was worth some US$30 billion USD. The Nigerian Tribune reports: "Nigeria is expected to earn 18.06 billion naira ($140 million Dollars) annually on direct sales and servicing of transponder from the communication satellite (NigComSat-1)." Perhaps Eng Rufai can help clear up this misunderstanding?
SOUTH AFRICA NETWORK LAUNCHES MOBILE WEB OFFERINGLocal online network, 24.com, has launched a mobile platform targeting the burgeoning number of locals accessing the Internet via Web-enabled phones. Accessible directly at http://m.24.com or by SMS’ing 'Go’ to 32424, 24.com Mobile includes portal content adapted for mobile phones such as breaking news from News24, as well as sport, finance, motoring and entertainment news, movie information and TV guides. Users will also have access to 24.com’s free e-mail service as well as a five-day rolling weather forecast. Russell Atkins, GM: 24.com Mobile, says Mobile Web usage in SA is growing rapidly, but has largely gone unnoticed by mainstream media and marketers. 24.com Mobile is intended to cater to this local demand in a vastly under-developed market. Comments Atkins: “SA mobile Internet usage is growing exponentially. We have a unique situation in that there is a very high mobile phone to PC ratio - one of the highest in the world. This, coupled with extremely affordable mobile data rates, high penetration of GPRS or 3G ready phones, and tech-savvy consumers, will provide the catalyst for future growth.” These market factors have driven the adoption of disruptive communication services such as MXit, now boasting over 3,5m users, and aim to provide a platform for the rapid adoption of mobile Web content going forward. Several international reports provide further evidence of the potential that exists for the proliferation of the mobile Web locally: The BBC reports 20% of its international WAP traffic originating from SA; Opera Mini, a mobile browser, reports SA as one of its top five territories worldwide; An international mobile advertising network claims over 60m page views per month originating from SA. (SOURCE: ICT World) SMS ELECTION MONITORING IN NIGERIAThe Election Monitoring Report compiled by the Network of Mobile Election Monitors (NMEM) on the Nigerian presidential elections held on 21 April 2007. The idea of using mobile phones to monitor elections was developed by NMEM. We are proud to announce to the world that is was extremely successful. We also recommend that other organisations and countries study our project, and plan to use it in their own future elections. The primary goal of the project was to use technology to give the ordinary citizen an opportunity to tell the world what really happened in their area on election day. The spread and reach of mobile telephony in Nigeria is mind boggling: in the last four years more than 30,000,000 Nigerians have become mobile phone users. Traditionally Eeection observers and monitors deemed credible are often foreign diplomats, bureaucrats and professionals who are sent to visit as many polling stations as they can and inform the world of their impression of the polls. Their effectiveness is limited to the number of places they can visit in a just one day: in a country as vast as Nigeria with a land mass of 925,000 square kilometres and a population of 140,000,000; without maps or road signs to use in navigation, these foreign observers often limit their activities to Abuja, the capital, Lagos and a few major state capitals. Places like the Niger Delta with its reputation for violence and kidnapping of foreigners are no-go areas. Most election observers especially in Africa are very conspicuous with their UN or EU branded 4-wheel drive jeeps, 'branded' t-shirts with 'observers' boldly printed on it and large ID tags around their necks. This is often necessary for security reasons which allows them to move around freely on election day where movement is often restricted. This, however, reduces their effectiveness as people are prone to act properly when they know they are being watched, especially by foreigners. This is why we decided to use ordinary citizens of Nigeria, all voters themselves to report back to our SMS hub on what really happened on election day from their own polling stations. The use of ordinary Nigerians to observe and report on the election, we believe, encourages participation by people that would be apathetic as well as provide timely, accurate and impartial information on the conduct of the elections. It is ultimately the same ordinary citizens who validate the credibility and legitimacy of the eventual electoral outcome. Our monitoring is peculiar because people knew that if they try to rig the election there could be someone behind them that may send a text message reporting the incident. The Network of Mobile Election Monitors (NMEM) is organised by the Human Emancipation Lead Project (HELP) Foundation. With the assistance of Professionals for Humanity (PROFOH), another Nigerian NGO, the network started out with 54 associates resident in each of the 36 states of the country, and Abuja. These associates were trained to recruit volunteers from their states and instruct them to forward our SMS text invitation to as many people as possible to create a nationwide spread. (SOURCE: Fahamu) IN BRIEF:- The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) has unveiled the VisitGauteng.net portal as part of its marketing strategy at the Tourism Indaba currently underway. _____________________________________________________________________
PEOPLETim Lowry has been appointed vice-president for the MTN Group’s Southern and East Africa region and will also be the MD of MTN SA from June 1. Other appointments include Khumo Shuenyane who will become MTN group executive: mergers & acquisitions and Nozipho January-Bardill who was appointed MTN group executive: corporate affairs and MTN group spokesperson. The Tanzania Telecommunications Co. Ltd (TTCL) has appointed Saidi Mkumba as head of Network Operations and Maintenance. Other new appointees include Godfrey Kilenga, who becomes Chief Internal Auditor; Gilder Kibola becomes Company Secretary and Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Anthony Ng'owo, who becomes head of Administration, Peter Ngota, who will be head of Customer Services; Mrisho Shabani , head of Finance and Supplies; Juvenal Utafu, head of Human Resources, and Priscilla Chillipweti as head of Network Clickatell has appointed Deon van Heerden, its former UK country manager, as the company’s SA country manager and vice-president of sales for the Middle East and Africa. EVENTS- GVF OIL & GAS COMMUNICATIONS: NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE 2007 30th & 31st May, Cairo, Egypt, plus pre-Conference Technology Open Day, 29th May. This second annual event, with an expanded programme, will extend oil and gas sector-focused dialogues to advance the provision of ICT applications for exploration and production. The Conference has attracted the support of companies which provide mission critical applications and communications solutions to the energy sector throughout the North Africa and Middle East regions. Key international, regional, national, and joint venture oil and gas exploration and production companies will also be in attendance. For more details contact martin.jarrold@gvf.org or paul.stahl@uk-emp.co.uk. Visit the Conference web site at www.gvf-events.org - TELECOM FINANCE MIDDLE EAST AFRICA ASIA 2007 23-24 May 2007, Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai Telecom Finance MEAI conference is the premier networking hub for senior executives at telecom operators and supplier organisations, private equity investors, investment bankers, legal advisers, and other financiers and professional intermediaries focused on the emerging markets. The 2-day event will feature more than 30 speakers Issues under discussion at the event will include: Expansion strategies for the Middle East, Africa and India; Accessing local and international capital markets: How to finance growth beyond the Gulf; Broadband provision for growth markets: Wireless versus fixed convergence strategies; Building a regional platform in the Middle East; Greenfield opportunities in Africa and India: and capturing market share in new growth markets. Early Bird Registrations close 27 April - 3 for 2 offers available - register now at www.tmtfinance.com/tfmeai07 - 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 -USING MOBILE PHONES FOR HRO IN AFRICA 28th May – 2nd June 2007, Nairobi, Kenya The conference is organised by Fahamu on the use of mobile phones by human rights organisations in Africa. For further information visit www.fahamu.org - 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 HIGH SPEED ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE 19-21 June 2007, Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa IQPC's 2nd Annual High Speed Access Technologies conference is perfectly positioned giving you answers at a critical time offering an objective platform for you to hear case studies on current obstacles and successes of Broadband. You will also be able to join us for a Site Visit To the Eskom Test Site. This site visit will show you what progress has been made over the past few years and what MainNet is doing to promote broadband over Power Lines. For more information please contact Susan Theron on +27 (0) 11 669 5019 or visit our website http://www.iqpc.com/za/highspeed - 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 - ICT AFRICA 2007 October 1-5, 2007, Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya ICT Africa is an annual continental information and communications technology conference addressing all aspects of ICT development in Africa. The conference is convened by NEPAD council in collaboration with the NEPAD Kenya secretariat. The 2007 event will be organized by Global Conferences, Cape Town, South Africa. For further information contact rjacobs@globalconf.co.za - INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT (IPAD) CENTRAL AFRICA 3rd - 5th October, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo iPAD Central Africa 2006 provides an opportunity to network directly with key partners. The event aims to facilitate regional planning and collaborations under one roof between government, the public sector and business. iPAD Central Africa 2006 is a one-stop-shop for investigating investment opportunities in DRC and the Central African region as a whole. For further information visit http://www.spintelligent-events.com/ipad-central2006/en/ JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES- MPBN AND CGSN ENGINEER – MOZAMBIQUE The company is looking for a MPBN and CGSN Engineer with at least 3 years proven practical experience on the Ericsson Mobile Packet Backbone Network (MPBN), with emphasis on Support Engineering activities in a Telecom operator environment. This includes IP Backbone and GPRS Core Network Support. The person must have a highly developed customer orientation. Mandatory skills, values and behaviours: Responsible, Accountable, ownership, able to effectively work in teams, process oriented, excellent communication and relationship skills. Other required skills: Practical MPBN O&M experience based on Ericsson CGSN as well as other vendor LAN Switches and MPLS Routers. Capable of interacting in different organisational levels of the customer organisation (from C level to Engineer level). Ericsson infrastructure experience and International experience is a must. For further information please contact advertising@balancingact-africa.com CONTRACTS: WHO'S SELLING WHAT TO WHOM?LTMX AND PLAYBOX –NIGERIA The growing convergence between television and Information Technology (IT) is set to become more viable with the introduction of the Playbox technology into the Nigerian television space. The enablement of this convergence was strengthened with the technical partnership between Long Transmission Nigeria Limited (LTMX) and Playbox Technology. The partnership will enable the deployment of a modern and state-of-the-art television broadcast system that will enable television stations in Nigeria to meet international standard. TUNISIANAN AND CONNECTIVA SYSTEMS – TUNISIA Mobile operator Tunisiana has signed an agreement with Connectiva for services and equipment to upgrade its revenue management strategy.
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