News & Views

Content posted in March 2019

Vodacom Eyes Link With Rain, Liquid Telecom to Offer 5G FWA

Wei Shi
3/29/2019

South African operator could forge partnership with Rain and Liquid Telecom to roll out fixed wireless broadband services.

Liquid Telecom Deploys Nokia Optical Gear in East Africa

Connecting Africa News
3/28/2019

Liquid Telecom is deploying Nokia's 100G DWDM/OTN network equipment in East Africa to support its expanding broadband services.

Telecom Playing Critical Role in Aftermath of Cyclone Idai

Wei Shi
3/28/2019

Getting communications systems up and running is vital if the human impact of Cyclone Idai is to be minimized.

MTN Uses AI to Offer Top-Up App via WhatsApp

Wei Shi
3/27/2019

As mobile operator plans launch of its own messaging application, it is offering useful top-up functions via WhatsApp.

Vodafone Expands Its Partnership Programme to Angola

Connecting Africa News
3/27/2019

Vodafone and Movicel Angola have struck a strategic consultancy agreement as part of Vodafone’s Partner Markets programme in Africa.

SIM Boxing Hitting Mobile Operators, Says Consultant

Connecting Africa News
3/26/2019

Ugandan operators are estimated to have lost $60 million due to SIM Boxing, the illegal redirection of international calls traffic, in 2016.

Clickatell Helps MTN South Africa Launch MTN Chat

Connecting Africa News
3/26/2019

MTN South Africa has teamed up with global customer engagement company Clickatell to launch its new MTN Chat application, which is available via WhatsApp.

TSF Connects Aid Workers in Cyclone-Stricken Mozambique

Wei Shi
3/22/2019

Emergency comms NGO Télécoms Sans Frontières is providing support to aid workers in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.

Safaricom Hits 30 Million Customer Milestone

Connecting Africa News
3/21/2019

Kenyan market leader now has 30 million customers.

Unitel to Chair GSMA's Africa Fraud and Security Group

Connecting Africa News
3/20/2019

Unitel's Director of Risk, Fraud and Security, José Carlos Sobreira Martins, will head up the GSMA's Africa Fraud and Security Group.

PEG Africa Raises $25M to Fuel Expansion in West Africa

Connecting Africa News
3/20/2019

PEG Africa, a West Africa-based pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar company, has raised US$25 million, taking its total funding to $50 million.

Seacom offers Kenya a route to South Africa's cloud

Wei Shi
3/20/2019

The subsea cable operator is offering Kenyan companies the chance to hook up to Microsoft's new data centers in South Africa.

Rwanda Takes Minor Stake in Satellite Hopeful OneWeb

Ray Le Maistre
3/19/2019

The Government of Rwanda is one of multiple organizations to have participated in a US$1.25 billion funding round in satellite communications startup OneWeb.

Dimension Data Heading for Regional MBO – Reports

Wei Shi
3/18/2019

Local media reports suggest the Africa and Middle East operations of Dimension Data could be subject to a management buyout.

Seacom Acquires South Africa's FibreCo

Connecting Africa News
3/17/2019

Following approval from the Competition Commission, Seacom has completed the acquisition of South African fiber network operator FibreCo Telecommunications.

The Battle for the African Cloud

Guy Zibi
3/15/2019

In the African market for hyperscale cloud providers, it's still all to play for as Huawei pitches up against AWS, Azure and others.

Maroc Telecom Expands into Chad with Tigo Acquisition

Wei Shi
3/15/2019

Moroccan operator further expands its expire as Millicom sheds part of its African operation.

South African Businesses Ready to Embrace Cloud Service

Wei Shi
3/14/2019

Demand for cloud service use is high, but varies depending on the sector.

Ericsson begins search for new MEA chief

Ray Le Maistre
3/13/2019

Mobile networking giant is on the hunt for a new head of its Middle East and Africa (MEA) unit as Rafiah Ibrahim takes one step towards the exit door at Ericsson.

Safaricom, Ant Financial Enable Alibaba Trading Using M-PESA

Wei Shi
3/13/2019

Kenyan businesses can now use M-PESA to pay overseas suppliers, particularly those in China, trading through the Alibaba e-commerce platform.

Africa's Smartphone Market Back in Growth Mode: IDC

Ray Le Maistre
3/12/2019

Market research firm IDC says Africa's smartphone market grew in 2018 for the first time in three years.

Vodacom Launches OneNumber

Connecting Africa News
3/12/2019

Mobile operator launches Vodacom OneNumber, partners with Samsung to unveil South Africa's first eSIM wearable.

MTN Raises Targets After a Tough Year

Wei Shi
3/7/2019

Despite many challenges, MTN reported promising financials for the full year 2018 and has raised its mid-term targets.

MTN Adds Advertising to its Monetization Portfolio

Wei Shi
3/6/2019

The mobile operator has hired advertising company Out There Media to develop a multi-country mobile advertising business, starting with South Africa.

Microsoft opens data center doors in South Africa

Connecting Africa News
3/6/2019

Microsoft has opened its first datacentres in Africa, offering Azure cloud services from its new 'cloud regions' in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

New Twist to the Airtel/Telkom Merger Saga in Kenya

Wei Shi
3/5/2019

Kenya's parliamentary committee called the deal a scandal and is demanding for clarifications on remaining issues.

Bringing PEACE to Africa's Comms Ecosystem

Connecting Africa News
3/4/2019

Subsea network connectivity, provided by initiatives such as PEACE, is of vital importance to the digital development of Africa and global operators such as Orange are playing an important role in highlighting the advances being made in Africa's international connectivity, as well as the many challenges that remain.

Ericsson Wallet to Power MTN Mobile Money for Five More Years

Wei Shi
3/1/2019

Existing mobile money relationship is extended and expanded.

Airtel's African Turnaround

Guy Zibi
3/1/2019

Nobody saw that coming... so how has Airtel done it?

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