AfICTA e-Newsletter (March 31st, 2020)

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AfICTA e-NEWSLETTER 

31/March/2020 Vol 85

Covid-19: Hope You Stay Safe

Amidst the overwhelming global health challenge, we want to advise you to be calm, measured and please take with every care your hygiene, especially washing of hands.

It's highly recommended that you stay at home to break the chain of the virus but if you must go out please observe social distancing. Listen to good advice from the proper authorities: pay no heed to quack cures or fake news from social media.

Ensure you stay connected with family and friends as they are phone calls away. Enlighten them ...   read more

Register to Join AfICTA  (Africa ICT Alliance) Today

Hi, are you concerned about the realization of a Digital Africa? If yes, AfICTA (Africa ICT Alliance) welcomes you to join other group of concerned IT National Associations, Companies, Multinationals and Organisations in Africa to engender the delivery of the digital age for everyone in Africa.

AfICTA is a 32 member nations' alliance, recognized by African Union, with the vision to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa and to connect IT role players on the continent.

UNESCO Internet Universality Indicators in action: Q&A with the Author of ‘Assessing internet development in Brazil’

The Center of Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), an Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) member, in partnership with the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), recently published the Assessing internet development in Brazil study. The report is the first edition of the UNESCO Series on Internet Universality Indicators assessment which measures a country’s state of internet development. Maiko Nakagaki, Strategic Partnerships and Development Manager for A4AI, interviewed one of the authors, Fabio Senne, ICT Project Coordinator at Cetic.br/ NIC.br, on what his experience was like and what advice he has to offer. Read More

Experts Concerned Over Recurring Downtime with M-Pesa

While the Kenya government has urged citizens to adopt cashless transactions to limit person-to-person contact amid the Coronavirus outbreak, experts have raised concern over downtime experienced by service providers.

In November 2019 the Communications Authority of Kenya ordered a probe into downtime with M-Pesa. Safaricom experienced downtime again on 2 March 2020, with users not able to access the service. 

Local telecommunications expert Tom Makau told ITWeb Africa that Safaricom’s dominance in the...  read more

Kenyan Start-up Uses AI to Take on Coronavirus

Innovation designed to drive connectivity and engagement between patients, doctors and other health care providers.

Kenyan health tech start-up Afya Rekod is sprinting to launch its AI and Blockchain-built consumer driven health data platform as Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the globe.

The technology will be rolled out to support international efforts to curb the disease and provide a portal for people to store their health data in real time, with a special focus on COVID-19, as well as access health information and connect with service...  read more

Zambia’s Chamber of Commerce Calls for Suspension of Comms Taxes

As citizens prepare to work from home in accordance with guidelines to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has asked the country’s telecom sector regulator and the government to immediately suspend all taxes on data and voice communication services.

ZACCI president Chabuka Kawesha said the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and the government should suspend all taxes on these services in order to make it cheaper for the business community to operate from homes. ..  read more

COVID-19 Forces Africa into Tech Introspection

The unfolding global Coronavirus health crisis has forced businesses across Africa to evaluate the strength of their technology and capability.

As of 24 March 2020, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), there are 43 countries with recorded infections, with 2 046 positive cases.

In a statement, the organisation listed affected countries and their respective recorded cases: Algeria (230), Angola (2), Benin (5), Burkina Faso (114), Cameroon (56), Cape Verde (3), Central African...  read more

Orange Cameroun Slashes Prices in Response to COVID-19

In response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), mobile network service provider Orange has slashed the prices of its services and products.

Cameroon has registered 56 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, as of 23 March 2020, according to the country’s Minister of Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie. 

On 21 March 2020 the telco said it would reduce the cost of residential internet by 30% to assist subscribers in following news developments and remain up to date...  read more

Ventures Platform, Lagos Scout for Tech Solutions to Fight COVID-19

African entrepreneur and innovator support platform Ventures Platform has partnered with Lagos State to identify tech-enabled solutions to fight Coronavirus. The partners have initiated the #COVID19Innovation Challenge to help identify and support relevant innovation.

In a statement released, Ventures Platform and the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) will provide funding and “rapid operational assistance” to the selected teams and start-ups alongside technology and business industry experts, including LoftyInc, ACIOE, Wennovation, Flutterwave, AGS Tribe, SilverChip Consulting, Bluechip... read more

Gambia Beats Digital Migration Clock

Gambia has migrated from analogue to digital broadcasting ahead of the extended June 2020 deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The West African nation was among several African countries that missed the ITU’s initial June 2015 deadline citing a lack of funds.

The Minister of Information Communication Infrastructure Ebrima Sillah said the switchover will support the National Development Plan ... read more

‘Banks alone cannot bring about financial inclusion’

Malawi’s digital banking will face similar challenges to that of the country’s telecommunications industry according to Bram Fudzulani, President of the ICT Association of Malawi.

Fudzulani made the remarks in response to an announcement from one of the country’s commercial banks that it had registered over a million digital customers after launching several digital solutions.

He warned that the digital finance market will mirror developments within the... read more

COVID-19 Uncertainty Grips Nigeria’s Tech Sector

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) tech companies in Nigeria are taking steps ranging from improving hygiene conditions to fully embracing work-from-home approach. Local Fintech giants Paystack and Flutterwave told ITWeb Africa they are doing all they can to ensure as little impact on their operations as possible. 

“Our immediate response to the escalation of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is to continue to support our merchants without disruption to our normal operations, while we take precautionary measures ... read more

Sierra Leone Implements Controversial New Floor Plan for Phone Calls

The government of Sierra Leone, via the country’s telecommunications industry regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), has introduced a new floor price for telecommunications services – a move that has not gone down well with subscribers.

According to NATCOM, the floor price for all voice calls (including promotions, bonuses and bundles) will be Le590 per minute for all on-net and off-net voice calls. 

The directive is understood to have been communicated to the executive leadership of... read more

MTN Uganda to Fork Out US$100-m for Licence Renewal

Under pressure, MTN Uganda has agreed to pay US$100-million for the renewal of its operating licence that expired in October 2018.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has granted the company temporary extensions pending the renewal of the licence, and initially approved an amount of US$58-million for renewal.

However, this amount was questioned by the country’s president Yoweri Museveni which prompted the regulator to reverse its decision ... read more

Zimbabwe Start-up Hub Shuts Down

Standard Bank’s Zimbabwe unit has shut down the tech-focused Incubator Hub it runs in Harare as a precaution against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Zimbabwe’s government has already issued directives to limit public gatherings, with health authorities confirming three cases that have tested positive for the virus over the past few days.

Stanbic Zimbabwe shut down the hub on Friday 20 March 2020, advising that it will review the re-opening status in line with developments around the COVID-19 pandemic ... read more

YouTube to Limit Video Quality Worldwide for the Next Month

YouTube will reduce the quality of videos around the world starting on Tuesday, an effort by the world’s most popular video site to ease Internet traffic during the coronavirus outbreak.

Over the coming days, viewers will at first see YouTube videos in standard definition, the company said. Users will still be able to watch in high definition if they want, but will have to choose to do so

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is extending a policy it already instituted in Europe, where regulators have asked major streaming services...  read more

Netflix to Reduce Streaming Quality in Europe for 30 Days

Netflix will temporarily reduce the quality of videos on its platform to ease pressure on Internet service providers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Netflix, which is home to shows including Stranger Things and The Crown, will drop the video bitrate for 30 days, following calls from the EU’s European Commissioner for internal markets, Thierry Breton.

It comes as people in the region resort to working from home and self-isolation, while other parts of Europe are subject to lockdowns. The measures ... read more

COVID-19: Microsoft Aids Work from Home with Free Remote Working Solution

With COVID-19 continuing to impact people and countries around the world, teams everywhere are exploring remote work options. Microsoft has announced that it will avail its hub for teamwork in Office 365,Microsoft Teams, for free to the public to enable remote working.

In a statement announcing the free service, Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365 said, “At Microsoft, our top concern is the wellbeing of our employees and supporting our customers in dealing with business impact during these... read more

Nigeria: Why Poor Relationship between Pantami, Danbatta May Ruin Telecom Sector

The present Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, appears to be over-reaching itself on matters of telecom regulation. Its officials also appear to be biting off more than they can chew, negating relevant laws that clearly define the relationship between the ministry and the Nigerian communications commission, NCC.

The NCC is the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry, established by Decree 75 of 1992 and reestablished by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 ...  read more

Beware of Hackers as your Employees Work from Home, Experts Warn Companies

The coronavirus breakout has exposed firms’ poor tech infrastructure in combing unforeseen calamities despite Kenya being one of Africa’s silicon savannah, experts have observed.

In a detailed analysis, Jeremiah Chunge, a chief information officer at Genghis Capital, an innovative and customer-focused investment solutions provider has chided local companies for struggling to adopt to ‘work from home’ policy by government to minimize spread of coronavirus that is ravaging the world

‘’Companies should have full cloud computing with remote work setup that allows the staff to... read more

Click-Fraud Malware Found in More than 50 Play Store Apps

Researchers at Check Point have identified an auto-clicker malware family operating within Google’s Play Store, via BetaNews.

The malware known as Tekya commits mobile ad fraud by imitating the actions of a user, clicking ads and banners from ad agencies like Google’s AdMob, AppLovin, Facebook and Unity. It was found disguised in over 56 apps and was downloaded over 1-million times globally.

24 of the infected apps targeted children, ranging from puzzle games to racing games. .. read more

Coronavirus: Technology now the Only Way Out

With most nations under full or partial lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19, it’s time to embrace technology to keep things running.

“Now is the time to turn to the digital economy for solutions that keep life moving during times like this. We are lucky to have started our digital transformation journey earlier,” says Timothy Oriedo, founder of the data firm Predictive Analytics Lab.

Meanwhile, Absa Bank Kenya’s chief data officer, Mr Hartnell Ndungi, says many sectors did not foresee the current situation, so it won’t be passible for...  read more

Botswanan Food Delivery Startup Rebrands, Expands to Tanzania

Botswanan food delivery startup MyFoodness has rebranded as Yamee and announced its entry into the Tanzanian market with a launch in Dar es Salaam.

A mobile commerce platform that focuses on increasing earning opportunities for food merchants and providing convenience for consumers, MyFoodness was winner of the Botswana leg of the Seedstars World competition in 2018.

It has now become Yamee, and expanded into Tanzania, where it has signed up 60 ... read more

Uber Kenya Suspends Night Pickups From Today Until Further Notice

Uber Kenya today has announced that they are suspending night pickups due to the national curfew that was imposed by the President recently.

“Following the national curfew directive announced by the President to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are suspending our rides services in Nairobi and Mombasa between 6pm and 5am daily, effective March 2020, until further notice,” they said on a communique on Twitter

The national curfew imposed by the President was to last from 7 pm to 5 am every day starting. ..  read more