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WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday. ISSUE NO 369 Senegal – As competition starts, enter the new service providersIn Senegal, everybody in the telecommunication and Internet sectors is focused on the outcome of the tender process for a third telecommunication licence. This new operator will at last give Orange (Sonatel) a run for its money and introduce some much needed competition. Isabelle Gross reports from Dakar on the steady growth of one of the country’s new service providers whose time has come. Two weeks ago, the Senegalese regulator ART launched a call for tenders for a global operator licence and speculation about the name of the winner has increased as the deadline for the bids is August 31st. The results will by announced by September 15th or even earlier. According to the regulator, the bids received so far are up to the country’s financial expectations but it didn’t want to disclose company names and number of applications. Both Vivendi-owned Maroc Telecom and Celtel have been mentioned as bidders. With the launch of a third telecommunications operator, Senegal is further opening its telephony market which has already begun to see a new generation of service providers start to flourish. Senegalese, Tabou Communications was founded in 1999 and started by selling mobile phones and accessories. It was only in 2004 that it ventured into developing value added services and content targeted at mobile phone users. It uses a voice platform supplied by a Russian equipment manufacturer which also maintains it. In the meantime, it has signed access agreements with Sonatel’s mobile arm, Orange and Tigo (ex-Sentel), the second mobile operator in Senegal which currently gives it access to 3 million mobile numbers across the country. Both companies supply Tabou Communications with short access numbers for their SMS marketing campaigns. Among Tabou’s other customers are local radio stations. It supplies them with an access number which enables the radio station to broadcast special messages for songs or to organises games. It also offers its mobile marketing services to local businesses keen to promote their products and services. It recently organised a mobile marketing campaign for a reseller of European cars which provided them with a car (either free or at a heavily discounted price) that was the first prize for an SMS game advertised across the country. These SMS access number are premium numbers that cost on average 250 CFA francs (US$0.50) a call. According to Cheikh Ahmed Gueye, Tabou Communications’s CEO they can receive between 100,000 and 300,000 SMS messages per campaign. This represents between 25 and 75 million CFA francs (US$50,000 and US$150,000) revenue per campaign. For each SMS charged at the premium rate of 250 CFA francs, the mobile operators retains 20-25 CFA francs for the transmission. The remaining amount which represents about 90% of the retail charge is shared between Tabou Communications and its marketing partners. Beside setting up SMS campaigns, Tabou Communications also offers ringtones using songs from local singers. The ringtones are either directly sent to the users mobile phone or they can download them from their website. Senegal is famous for its lively musical scene and has established its reputation worldwide through singers like Youssoun N’dour, Omar Pène and Thione Seck. Senegalese mobile users are keen to get ringtones reproducing their famous singers song. Among the main Senegalese companies selling ring tones there are 2s Mobile, Mobile pro Africa, Africa Sonnerie, Telipro and Tabou Communications. All was going well until a couple of weeks ago, when Youssou N’dour’s production company Jololi started a legal action regarding the payment of copyright fees (royalties fees) associated to the download of ringtone based on Senegalese songs. Ring tones companies are allowed to offer downloads as long as they pay the 12% royalties fees to the Bureau Senegalais des droits d’auteurs (BSDA). The dispute gets a bit more complicated because Jololi argues that this only applies to monophonic or polyphonic ring tones that reproduces the tune of the song. However, it claims that when the voice of singer is included in the ringtone then the download companies have to sign a direct agreement with the music production company. This would give Youssou Ndour’s production company a massive share of the ringtone and mobile video clips download business in Senegal. Today the case is still pending but it hasn’t stopped Tabou Communications looking beyond the borders of Senegal. This week’s the company’s CEO, Cheikh Ahmed Gueye has signed an access agreement with Orange Mali (ex-Ikatel), Mali’s second mobile operator and the first in terms of subscribers. Soon Malian mobile subscribers will be able to vote for their favorite singers via SMS or find out when sending a short message if their partners’ forenames are a match for a 100% successful life together! Senegalese Companies like Tabou Communications or Groupe Chaka specialise are the new service providers in the market and will grow as there is a more competitive market. They specialise in voice applications, business outsourcing and money transfer service and are spreading their wings outside of Senegal. Neighbouring countries like Mali, Burkina-Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinéa are hosting some of their subsidiaries where they are bringing the dynamic, entrepreneurial Senegalese spirit.
Telkom SA to Invest US$1bn in Nigeria’s Multi-Links over five yearsTelkom South Africa is to invest around US$1 billion in the expansion of the network of Multi-Links, its new Nigerian subsidiary, over the next five years. Telkom acquired Multi-Links Nigeria, the National Unified Access operator, in March 2007 in a deal worth U.S.$280 million. Chief Executive Officer of Multi Links, Justina Ramayia, said the investment is expected to take a bouquet of telecommunication services to most parts of the country by the time it is concluded. Speaking at a media conference in Lagos on, Ramaiya said Multi-Links had embarked on an aggressive rollout program to increase capacity and coverage of all 36 states of the Federation in the next 5 years. Currently, Multi-Links has a network that covers six states including Lagos and the Federal Capital, Abuja and most of the towns and cities in between. According to the firm, the new expansion programme would extend Multi-Links' network northwards to reach Kano and Eastwards to reach Benin City in Edo State by the second quarter of 2008. Ramayia said with the new investment planned the firm would have a network coverage of around 80% of the population. The rollout will be accomplished with optical fibre and CDMA 2000 1X + EvDo1X+ Rev A wireless fixed and mobile technology. (source: Biz-Community) Benin Government breaking national and international laws, says MTNMTN is accusing the Benin Government of breaking its domestic laws, international law and the conditions of the licence under which the 14-year-old mobile provider operates in that country. MTN group CEO Phuthuma Nhleko says the country's decision to switch off its network there in June, leaving half a million subscribers stranded, presented the multinational with one of its worst headaches in its history. “We are in discussions with government,” adds Nhleko. “We have said to them they are acting outside the provisions of the licence, they are acting outside local law and they are acting outside international law. “We do believe, irrespective of what we may think, to turn off two-thirds of the subscribers in the country … is certainly not acting in the best interest of the country. We sincerely hope we will arrive at some speedy resolution,” Nhleko said after presenting the group's financial results yesterday. Benin's Telecommunications Regulation Authority suspended MTN and Atlantique Telecom's Moov service on 9 July, saying both companies had changed their names without its permission. The regulator also said MTN and Atlantique needed new licences, with much higher licence fees required. MTN was asked to pay $620 million (R4.34 billion), a 620% increase from the $10 million under the original structure. MTN and Atlantique – owned by Dubai-based Emirates Telecommunications – have so far refused to pay, although two other mobile operators in Benin have. Analysts have said the move amounts to extortion. Nhleko says MTN could walk away from Benin. However, “we don't believe that is how we should do business. We won't walk away voluntarily, but to the extent to which it becomes untenable and we are left with no choice, [then], yes, we could find ourselves doing that”. (source: www.itweb.co.za) Mauritania’s SNO Chinguitel launches operations with 3GMauritania’s third operator Chinguitel has launched 3G services with coverage of 4,000 km of main routes throughout the desert nation on the western edge of the Sahara. Chinguitel is majority owned by Sudan’s national telecoms company Sudatel. Technology Minister Oumar Ould Yali said, ‘Chinguitel has paid more than MRO27 billion (USD105 million) and signed agreements to ensure mobile coverage of several towns across the country and contribute to promoting access to information technology.’ Mauritania is currently served by two mobile providers, Mattel, partly owned by Tunisian investors, and Mauritel, partly-owned by Maroc Telecom, and had 600,000 subscribers at the end of 2005 out of a mostly nomadic population of some three million. Nigeria’s regulator NCC planning Mobile Number PortabilityNigeria looks set to become the first Sub-Saharan country outside South Africa to introduce Moble Number Portability. According to a Reuters report, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is working on a plan to introduce mobile number portability (MNP), allowing subscribers to switch between networks without losing their phone number. ‘We are planning for the future to allow number portability. The aims are to improve quality and competition,’ said Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice-chairman of the NCC, adding however that such a move was ‘still some months away’ (source: Telegeography) IN BRIEF:- Alcatel-Lucent has agreed a contract worth US$100 million with Uganda's Hits Telecom, a new regional operator, to deploy a new mobile network based on GSM technology. - Nitel’s owners’ Transcorp have signed a deal with Cisco and Dimension Data to rehabilitate its SAT3 connection. According to Group Managing Director Tom Iseghohi the deal would ensure the restoration of NITEL and Mtel to optimal levels of service. Funding has been provided for the deal by Cisco Systems and Iseghohi believes it will help Nitel generate N35 billion in five years. - As part of reporting its interim results, it was revealed that MTN SA derives 9% of its local revenues from data against competitor Vodacom’s 13%. SA MD Tim Lowry described this as “disappointing.” - Cellular News this week reported rapid expansion of the mobile market in New Zealand. Why is this of interest to Africa? It noted that:” Whether or not this expansion will be assisted by long-promised third operator Econet Wireless is unclear, with the latter showing no sign of launching a network any time soon despite various rumblings of activity”. Kenyan readers might be asking themselves a similar sort of question. Algeria is "ready to enter the third generation of cellphones," Post and ICT Minister Boudjemaa Haichour announced Thursday in the province of Khenchla (531km east of Algiers). The project is subject of an expertise held by a French firm specializing in communications that will lead to a technical study due to be presented by next November, the Minister indicated. - The Cote d'Ivoire National Telecommunications Fund (NFT) has so far raised more than USD16 million to finance telecoms operations in the country’s rural areas, reports AllAfrica.com. The president of the board of management of NFT Ahoutou Koffi announced that the fund is now ‘operational’ through an initiative of the Economy & Finance and ICT ministries begun in April 2006, and is ready to contribute to the development of the telecoms sector. ICT Minister Ahmed Bakayoko stressed that the fund must also equip schools and hospitals with ICT infrastructure alongside the rollout of rural networks.
TELECOMS, RATES, OFFERS AND COVERAGE- Tunisia’s national telecoms network now covers the Governorat of Tataouine, including the village of Borj El Khadhra on the border between Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. The village previously had fixed line connections but these were unreliable. After spending TD3 million, the problems have now been remedied. - Eighty percent of Sierra Leone 's 4.9 million populations have now been linked to the outside world. Managing Director of Celtel Ted Sauti-Phiri says one out of ten Sierra Leoneans now use Celtel network as the company now covers three-fourths of the country. - Tunisie Telecom has announced that it is lowering its DSL broadband rates for 512 kbps and 1024 kbps respectively from TD40 to TD30 and from TD50 to TD40. Both rates exclude tax. - Algerian mobile operator Nedjma is running a promotion offering a 50% reduction on roaming calls. The promotion works with a special SIM that for an initial credit of DA3,200 offers 120 minutes of roaming calls.
Botswana’s BTC inks 3 year deal with BT South Africa for more SAT3 capacityBotswana incumbent BTC has signed a three year deal with BT South Africa to increase its SAT3 capacity. In 2004 BTC and BT established a relationship whereby BT negotiated a connection across South Africa to the SAT3 landing station at Melkbossstrand. In signing the new deal BTC has upgraded its total capacity to 155 mbps. Through this deal, BTC is able to break Botswana’s landlocked status and extends its network through a Point-of-Presence in London. During the signing of the agreement, BTC CEO Vincent Seretse said:”…this connectivity is going to allow us to reduce the costs of our broadband product, ADSL.” However, the 155 mbps capacity will be used for both voice and data. BT will telehouse and maintain BTC’s routers in London. Zimbabwe: Service providers setting up spy equipmentMobile and internet service providers (ISPs) have begun installing surveillance equipment, in compliance with the controversial Interception of Communications Act, the Zimbabwe Internet Access Providers (ZIAP) confirmed this week. ZIAP is a grouping comprising Econet’s ecoweb, TelOne’s comone and Telecontract’s Telconet. “We are in the process of complying. We are putting in place projects to see that we comply,” said ZIAP chairman Shadreck Nkala. Nkala declined to reveal the costs involved in installing the equipment, or where the eavesdropping equipment is being sourced, saying: “We do not discuss that.” Industry sources say mobile phone companies have also begun importing the equipment necessary to give government access to data, calls and other information. The Interception of Communications Act will establish a hub, known as the Monitoring of Interception of Communications Centre, which would be the sole facility through which authorised interceptions would be effected. Heads of service providers who do not comply with the new law face imprisonment of up to three years. Part of the Act reads: “A telecommunication service provider is required to install hardware and software facilities and devices to enable interception of communications and also that the telecommunication service can store communication-related information and how the service could be connected with the communication monitoring centre or the manner in which information can be re-routed to the monitoring centre.” “The telecommunication service provider shall be assisted or compensated for the assistance he or she may provide to the Authority or the monitoring centre.” The spying law says persons who are authorised to make applications for interception of communications include the chiefs of Defence and Intelligence, the Director-General of the President’s department of national security, the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. (source: Financial Gazette) SA’s Home Affairs tackles backlog with online “track and trace” systemOne of the major problems of the Home Affairs Department will be tackled by what the government is calling the "Citizen Relations Portal" which will allow South Africans to make enquiries on line about the progress of service deliveries affecting them. It will enable citizens to apply for ID books or passports online and will allow them to tap into the "Track and Trace" system which lets officials know the progress of applications. The portal will be streets ahead of the present government gateway screens available in community centres, which give static information on government programmes. "This will be a first," Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said on Tuesday. The Track and Trace system was also praised by Fraser-Moleketi as "one of the most successful projects" in the turn-around programme for her department. Plans are that the citizen relations portal will include the services of Home Affairs, but also of the Social Development Department, so that enquiries about and applications for social grants may be made online. (source: Myadsl.com) IN BRIEF- Angus Hay, Neotel’s Head of Strategy, said that their CDMA trial is continuing, but that the company can not give specific feedback about the trial results yet. The company will launch ‘fast Internet’ services using CDMA2000, and follow on with ‘true broadband’ offerings using WiMax in future. - Internet gambling was expected to involve only about 2% of the gambling population compared with the 80% engaged in land-based casino activity, according to the trade and industry department. The figures were used to rebut claims by the Casino Association of SA that the introduction of online gambling would have negative consequences for casinos.
Nigeria: Banks Import N1bn Software AnnuallyA recent survey on software development and use in Nigeria, has revealed that about N1billion worth of software products are imported annually by banks, making the sector one of the highest consumers of information technology softwares, an indication of the huge market potentials for the products in the country. Experts in the industry are of the opinion that 35 per cent of the world's software is pirated and software piracy is not only a crime, but can destroy computers and data. Director-General, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. Adebambo Adewopo, said problem of sotware piracy was becoming a threat to the industry. He said this yesterday in Abuja, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU), between the Commission and the Business Software Alliance (BSA), a club of software development firms committed to promoting safe and legal digital world. The MoU, Adewopo said, was designed to reinforce the Strategic Action Against Piracy (STRAP) initiative of the NCC and a demonstration of theFederal Government commitment towards combating the problem. (source: This Day) Stolen Namibian hardware finds a market in AngolaComputers and hard drives stolen from various ministries and Government agencies are finding a ready market in neighbouring Angola. According to reliable sources, electronic equipment stolen in Namibia seems to have a ready market in Angola where it fetches a handsome price in hard currency. On Friday morning the offices of the State Veterinary Services in the capital's Robert Mugabe Avenue were broken into and thieves got away with seven hard drives valued at approximately N$50000 and flexicall cards worth N$200. The incident left most of the building's windows, burglar bars and six doors damaged. This is the second break-in after the first one on May 16 when electronic equipment valued N$20000 was stolen. State Veterinarian, Dr Siegfried Khaiseb, said, "The thieves broke the lock of this gate, gained access to the building and with an unknown object, broke the doors of the front offices. We want to know where the security guard was at the time of the break-in, because we have been having problems of guards clocking in late for duty here," said Dr Khaiseb. Police reports show that thieves have been targeting computer hard drives in Government and union offices, with the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Spot and Culture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade, Khomas Regional Offices, Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Rössing Foundation, Namibian Farm Workers Union (NAFWU) as well as the Namibia Transport and Allied Union (NATAU), having fallen victim. The Namibian Police are investigating possible links to an Angolan market. It is suspected that such stolen items may be sold through a syndicate in Angola. Spokesperson of the Namibian Police, Sergeant Stefan Nuuyi, said they were aware of the latest break-in at the State Veterinary offices. "No suspects have been arrested so far. On the issue of (stolen) computers being sold on the Angolan market, we have heard about it and our investigating officers are dealing with it," said Nuuyi. (source: New Era) SA fruit exporter Capespan uses software to track fruit shipmentsCapespan, one of the world's leading marketers and distributors of fresh fruit, has implemented a leading in-memory business intelligence solution to help it manage its complex international business. The company has its roots in South Africa and sources most of its produce locally from around 450 local suppliers. The South African export operation represents around 1,350 individual farms that produce 35 million cartons of fruit per year. Fruit is a perishable product and to maintain quality control, Capespan needs to be able to track every pallet of fruit to its final destination in a supermarket anywhere in the world. Similarly, to complete its payments to farmers for their produce, Capespan must track exactly how much it received for each pallet, in what currency and at what exchange rate with South Africa's rand. Until recently, Capespan managed these complex data requirements using a widely available financial system interfaced with a disparate set of custom-built sales, payments and logistics systems. Extracting management information was a time-consuming task requiring managers or technical staff to run complex SQL queries that frequently changed. This often led to disagreement about what was going on: "It was too easy to make mistakes with the SQL queries and people would get different results," says systems development manager Eugene van Vuuren. "There were too many different views of the data, resulting in disagreements." Capespan's CIO was sceptical about the introduction of new business intelligence products following poor use of a second-generation OLAP-based product, but rapidly became enthusiastic about QlikView's revolutionary technology and approach after seeing a proof of concept demonstration using Capespan's own data. QlikView was implemented for 30 users across Capespan's South African operation in 2006, with the first model up and running in a month. The major benefit of using QlikView at Capespan, says Van Vuuren, is that it has removed guesswork and disagreement about the company's operations and finances. "Everyone always has the same information, and it's always up to date," he says. "By 9am every morning, the MD can get precise information about the previous day's sales, payments and stock right down to the level of individual pallets." IN BRIEF- Athi River town will host Kenya's first ever ICT hub, according to plans by the Government, an idea bolstered by the increasing numbers of foreign companies that want to set up shop here. Two international firms from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have already expressed interest in setting up the hubs in partnership with the government. - Kano state will this week get the newly introduced electronic passport, the state comptroller of the Nigerian immigration service, Mr. O.C Ockiya has revealed. Speaking to Daily Trust in his office, the state comptroller said already Abuja and Lagos state have started issuing the e-passport in their respective areas. - The Kenyan Government is to spend Sh600 million in the implementation of a centralised electronic information tracking system. The amount to be used over five years will enable Government set up a National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (Nimes) by January. In addition, the Government will also spend another Sh80 million to set up a Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED) at the Ministry of Planning and National Development. The moves are expected to improve information gathering and use in Government. - According to afrol News, Chicago-based IT consulting and outsourcing firm, eVentive, LLC has announced the opening of its offshore IT outsourcing center in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The center, the first of its kind in the region, became operational with the graduation of the first class of Ethiopian consultants from eVentive's exclusive training program. - miniCube Technologies, a new supplier of small form factor PCs, Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs), small form factor mainboards and PC peripherals, today announced the official opening, online store launch and local availability of their exciting range of PC devices. -The South African Government announced HP as the first company to have a proposal accepted as part of the government’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative. The proposal for an HP Business Institute (HPBI) aims to boost participation and opportunities in the IT sector and provide a sufficient pool of talent to promote economic growth in the country. The HPBI will open its doors in February 2008 and will take in around 300 students annually.
Mali’s SOTELMA set for privatisation in 2008, delayed from 2006The privatisation of Sotelma that was supposed to have happened in 2006 has now been scheduled for 2008. However as reported last week, the company lost FCFA12 billion to the year end of 2006. However, Sotelma has now selected a bank of “international standard” to conduct the process and put the son of the former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf in charge of the process. His task is to produce a series of reports that will inform the privatisation process including one on the company’s strategic orientation, another evaluating its performance and specifications for the process. He is also in charge of finding a strategic partner. According to Sotelma’s DG Lassane Ndiaye, the company will be profitable by year end 2007. Provisional results up to 30 June 2007 do not auger well for this predicted outcome. The June results only hit 45% of the income target. (source: Altervision) South Africa: No Stopping MTN As Revenue, Subscriber Numbers RocketMTN's US$5.5bn acquisition of the rival operator Investcom has given its figures a massive fillip, allowing Africa's most successful cellular network to report a staggering 90% rise in subscriber numbers and a 69% surge in revenue. The unstoppable growth has boosted its after-tax profit to R6.3bn for just half a year, with headline earnings a share up 17% to 324c. Nonstop action in four regions -- east, west and southern Africa and the Middle East -- means MTN now has 48,2-million subscribers, who rang up a revenue of R34bn for the six months to June. That growth proved the decision to buy Investcom was "very sound", said CEO Phuthuma Nhleko, yet even if the acquisition was stripped out of its figures MTN's core operations grew their revenue 35%. Nhleko has previously set a mid-term target of a 45% profit margin before tax, depreciation and amortisation, and has nearly achieved that with a margin of 44,4%. Nevertheless, he almost apologised for a mere 17% rise in headline earnings a share, which was "rather depressed" by the end of a tax holiday in Nigeria and by finance costs of R1,4bn, linked largely to acquiring Investcom. The bulk of its profits come from SA and Nigeria, but as those markets mature it is keen to pump up its operations elsewhere. In SA the average monthly spending by each of its 13,4-million users dived from R164 in December to R149 as poorer users sign up and as the market remains highly competitive. A different risk faces Nigeria, where the end of its tax holiday will now hit profits with a tax rate of about 45%. (source: Business Day) Minister says Ghana Telecom privatisation on course, France Telecom interestedThe Ghanaian Government says it is on course to privatize Ghana Telecom by the end of the year. Minister of Communication, Dr. Benjamin Aggrey Ntim says the transaction advisers have been working assiduously to ensure that final bidders are chosen on time. The Ghanaian Government last May selected Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC) and Societe Generale (S-G) as transaction advisors for the valuation of the company. Though France Telecom has expressed interest in buying a stake in Ghana Telecom when the privatization process is complete, it is not known whether it will succeed. But clearly its name has been leaked to excite interest in a somewhat lacklustre company. About 51 per cent of GT’s shares are expected to be off-loaded to a strategic investor, while the remainder will be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). The Government is expected to retain about 20 percent stake in Ghana Telecom. (Source: Daily Guide) AccessKenya to buy Openview Business SystemsAccessKenya Group, Kenya’s only publicly listed ICT company, today announced that it has reached agreement with the owners of Openview Business Systems, one of Kenya’s leading IT services providers, to purchase 70% of the issued share capital of that company. The completion of the transaction will be subject to the customary required approvals. Openview Business Systems is one of the market leading companies in offering IT solutions to enterprises and corporate customers in Kenya, with a number of blue chip customers including most of the leading banks, Insurance companies and parastatals. The Company won the CSK “IT Solution Provider of the Year” awards in both 2005 and 2006, and is also an IBM Premier Business partner, an Oracle certified partner, a NetApp Gold partner and a CISCO certified partner among other certifications. The management of Openview includes Managing Director, Henry Njoroge, previously the Managing Director of UUNET Kenya for 5 years, Chief Operating Officer, Lucy Muthoni, a founder director of OpenView and a dedicated team of over fifty personnel, many of whom have been with the company for most of the years since its inception in 1998. The two executive directors remain as senior management of the company post acquisition. The consideration for the 70% share purchase is a combination of cash and approximately 4 million AccessKenya Group shares, together with some deferred consideration based on the performance of the business for the rest of 2007. Following the completion of the transaction, the vendors will be amongst the largest shareholders of AccessKenya Group. They have agreed to retain their shares for a minimum of one year. Under the transaction, the remaining 30% of the shares in Openview with have put and call options in the next few years allowing AccessKenya Group the option of making OpenView a 100% subsidiary of the group in due course. Following its recent announcement of a very significant increase in half year revenues and profits for the six months ending June 30th, 2007, Jonathan Somen commented further on the financial impact of this acquisition for future performance: “The combination of the strong performance in our core business, together with the expected revenues from the Openview acquisition, mean that the AccessKenya Group will comfortably exceed One Billion Shillings of turnover in 2008.” IN BRIEF- Ugandan businessman Charles Mbire has increased his stake in telecommunications company MTN to 5% from 2.5%. This increases his stake in the company, which is valued at about $1b (sh1,700b), to $52m (sh92b). The rest of the shares are held by MTN Group that also has operations in 21 countries. The sale of shares to Mbire is part of a plan announced by the South African-based company to sell 6% of its Ugandan unit to local investors by December. There are similar plans in Nigeria and Ghana. When contacted, Mbire declined to comment. - Bahrain will be the new business hub for the Kuwait-based telco, MTC's operations for the entire Middle East and North Africa region. MTC is the owner of Celtel. - Egyptian financier Naguib Sawiris has revealed he is in talks to sell as much as 20% of Weather Investments, the holding company that owns Wind Telecomunicazioni, to private equity funds. Blackstone Group, TPG, Ripplewood Holdings and Permira Advisers are all reported to be interested in buying a stake in Weather, Sawiris said in an interview with Bloomberg. - Chinese telecoms vendor Huawei faces the strong possibility of an unprecedented fine of up to 20 billion baht (US$610 million) fine from the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) for the late delivery of a provincial CDMA network. The potential fine is for a sum almost three times that of the project's value and could wipe out Huawei's entire profit for 2007. In recent years the company has been reporting yearly profits in the $500 million - $700 million range.
African Scientific Database Will 'Tap Global Knowledge'African researchers are developing a database of where to find scientific information on the Internet. Preparatory work has begun on the online information source, known as Access to Scientific Knowledge in Africa (ASKIA). The project - run by the Ethiopia-based UN Economic Commission for Africa through their Information and Communication Technology division - aims to support and promote access to scientific knowledge for scientists, university students, lecturers and policymakers. Alex Tindimubona, of the Economic Commission for Africa, says that once fully operational, ASKIA should provide another mechanism by which African scientific institutions can tap into global scientific knowledge. The database - for scientific institutions in Africa - is intended to include searchable collections of material. (source: SciDev.Net) South African company launches Facebook for business peopleWhat Facebook is to individuals, the Biznetwork Web site is aiming to become for entrepreneurs - a Web of like-minded profiles interacting online, with one goal in common: working for themselves and succeeding in business. “Our interaction with the small business market over the past 16 months, since the launch of Biznetwork, has provided us with an unsurpassed understanding of what SME owners in SA are lacking,” comments Marcel Klaassen, COO of the FNB Biznetwork initiative. Klaassen reports that Biznetwork’s client base is predominantly represented by sole proprietors, owner-managed businesses and fast-moving young entrepreneurs, most of whom are faced with key decisions that they would more than likely have to make on their own. “Unfortunately, with often no direct access to affordable professional advice, or a broader team capable of providing an informed decision, they are often left in the dark as to how to take their business forward and/or get it off the ground,” he says. “In the light of this, we decided to upgrade our virtual platform to allow for more practical, interactive and instantaneous support, readily available to the man on the street, practically anywhere in the world, 24/7.” Klaassen says: “We have added more than 200 downloadable tools and templates for everyday use in the business environment, as well as gratis video downloads of key business speakers, top CEOs and industry experts.” The site, www.biznetowrk.co.za, offers full members Internet and business e-mail access, a business Web site and personalised URL – all free of charge. (source: www.ictworld.co.za)
PEOPLE- Nikki Cockcroft has been appointed CEO of iafrica.com/365 business in Primedia Online. Nikki has been the CEO of 365 Digital Publishing for the past three years and has been responsible for all aspects of the management of the business with special focus on the commercial field and business development. - The longest serving industry association in the country, TESPOK said it had appointed the new board to drive policy and strategy for the sector as it enters its next phase of growth that comes with tougher challenges. "Our first challenge is to reposition the organisation to become an all-inclusive industry body. It is our aim to formulate industry-wide policy and regulatory issues," said Mr Jonathan Somen, TESPOK Chairman. "The only major sector un-represented on our board today is the mobile operators. The board includes Robert Mugo as vice-chairman , Frederick Murunga as treasurer, Michuki Mwangi, Tejpal Bedi, Gilda Odera, Geoffrey Shimanyula and Kai Wulff amongst others, all of whom have had experience heading the companies that currently drive industry agenda in the LLO, ISP, PDNO and BPO sectors. - Sentech lost Winston Smith – who has looked after the MyWireless product since its inception – earlier this year and Marcel Steyn subsequently took over as product manager. Only a few months after this shift, Marcel Steyn also left Sentech for Neotel, placing the MyWireless portfolio in the hands of Michael Kuczimierczyk. Steyn is however not the only technical manager who went looking for greener pastures. Sentech’s BizNet Product Manager, George Wenhold, moved to Internet Solutions as a product manager for their Africa services. Sentech’s Kuczimierczyk will now also look after the Biznet product range. Pranill Ramchander, who took over from Michelle Potgieter as Marketing & Communications manager at Sentech, is packing his bags for the Anglo American Corporate Office where he will be their new Country Media Manager. Hulusani Rasivhaga, who has only been with Sentech for a few weeks, will take over in an acting capacity from Ramchander. EVENTSDeveloping & Implementing National ICT Policies in Africa 3 - 7 September 2007, Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja, Nigeria The workshop will offer a pragmatic approach to the evaluation and assessment of national ICT policy development and implementation in Africa. For more information about the above content or on how to participate, please contact Juliet Manuel at +44 870 7777 697 or at j.manuel@cto.int. - IIR's AFRICAN TELECOMS BILLING AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT FORUM 03 Sep-07 Sep 2007, International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa Join us this September in Cape Town and benefit from an event offering 5 focused days of conference and seminar sessions addressing. The event will bring together leading operators and service providers to address the specific Revenue Management and Billing challenges currently being faced by African Telecoms Operators and Service For further information visit www.iir-conferences.com/atbra - IWEEK CONFERENCE 5-7 September 2007, Johannesburg, South Africa ISPA and UniForum SA are proud to state that this is the 6th year that they have been hosting and running iWeek, the Internet industry's premier conference. Registration is now open at http://www.ispa.org.za/iweek/2007/apply.shtml - CAPACITY AFRICA 2007 10 - 11 September, Cape Town, South Africa Capacity Africa 2007 provides a forum for providers from across Africa, along with the international carriers and service providers to meet and discuss the new business opportunities in the liberalising African markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Botswana. With an extensively researched programme providing high quality content, senior level speakers and attendees, and lucrative networking opportunities, Capacity Africa 2007 is the premier pan-African wholesale telecommunications congress. For more details contact rachel.helyer@capacitymedia.com . Visit the Conference web site at www.capacitymedia.com -SATWIBB AFRICA: AFRICAN SATELLITE & WIRELESS BROADBAND CONFERENCE & VOIP FORUM West Africa: Muson Centre, Lagos, 21-23 August 2007 Theme: Broadband bridges across Africa: First and last mile solutions Local and international industry leaders will make presentations on the following topics: Efficient bandwidth delivery mechanisms
The event also includes a Masterclass on Building Wireless Communities by Paul Munnery, CEO, Wireless Digital Cities, UK To request full details, email info@aitecafrica.com or log on to www.aitecafrica.com - 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 OPPORTUNITIESDanish ICT Management is presently looking for experts who have an interest in the following position: Project title: Development of a portal and clearinghouse for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Application deadline: As soon as possible but no later than 3 September 2007 Contract duration: 43 man-days Company: Danish Management A/S (http://www.danishmanagement.dk/) for the Indian Ocean Commission IOC) under COMESA/RICTSP. Overall Objectives of the Assignment: The overall objective is to contribute to the initial phases of the content development for a portal and clearinghouse aimed at the AIMS SIDS region, focusing on the IOC countries Specific Objectives: 1. Development of website design as a marketing tool with designer; 2. Promoting website in initial countries (Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros and Madagascar) and establishing focal point collaborators, formats for standard material (project and programme development, technical specifications, country profile data), with hyperlinks to technical information, news and comment; 3. Assessment Report and proposals for further development of the website in the light of country visits and collaborations; review with client and implementation of decisions on outcome. If you find the position of interest and your - or one of your proposed expert's - profile complies with the stated criteria, please contact us immediately and send us a short professional presentation of yourself and an updated CV with relevant similar experience (stating your age, nationality, languages spoken, education and exactly in what you are an expert). Send your application to: ictjobs@danishmanagement.dk NB: Only shortlisted candidates will receive notice. CONTRACTS: WHO'S SELLING WHAT TO WHO?ZTE inks Tunisian network deal Chinese vendor ZTE has signed a contract with Tunisie Telecom to deploy a national transmission network in Tunisia. Under the contract, ZTE will deploy infrastructure covering nearly two-thirds of the country, including all developed coastal regions. Upon completion, the network will allow incumbent Tunisie Telecom to offer transmission channels for mobile, ADSL and other services, and will establish a solid foundation for the telco’s future development. Emtel awards WiMAX contract to Alvarion Emtel, a mobile operator in Mauritius, has awarded a WiMAX network contract to Israeli equipment vendor Alvarion Ltd. The WiMAX and wireless broadband specialist will deploy its BreezeMAX solution for extended data services to both corporate and residential users in the Indian Ocean island republic. No financial details were disclosed. Alvarion’s BreezeMAX 3.5GHz equipment will enable Emtel to offer its subscribers greater coverage and increased capacity. As part of this deployment of primary broadband services, Emtel also plans to use Alvarion’s BreezeMAX PRO, and BreezeMAX Si products, it said in a statement. MTN appoints Fairtec in three year contract Mobile operator MTN has awarded a three-year contract for the management of its software assets to Faritec, the JSE-listed solutions and services company. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
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