AfICTA e-Newsletter (September 28th, 2021)

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AfICTA e-NEWSLETTER

28/September/2021 Vol 118

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 register and join other group of concerned IT National Associations, Companies, Multinationals and Organisations in Africa to engender the realization of the digital Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs.

AfICTA is a 34 member nations' alliance, in partnership with the African Union, with the vision to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa and to connect IT players on the continent.

Invitation to AfICTA Quarterly Webinar

Join us at the AfICTA Quarterly Webinar as we discuss the policies for regulating data from the perspectives of different regions in Africa, the impact COVID-19 has on the protection of personal information and how trust is essential to mitigating the risks posed by malicious and unintentional insider threats on personal data.

We would also discuss the effects that data privacy decisions of Big Tech companies has on the business model as well as the trickle-down effect on user's data protection with Facebook vs Apple as the case study.

Theme: Data Is The New Oil: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Date: September 29, 2021 

Time: 09:00 am (UTC) (10:am Nigeria, 11:am South Africa, 12 Noon Tanzania)

Register here: www.aficta.africa/q3-econference

Attend the 25th Cairo ICT Event

Fast approaching! The 25th Cairo ICT Event is set to hold at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, New Cairo from Nov 15-18, 2021 with the slogan "The Digital Challenge". Register now and mark your calendar for adequate plan to attend.

What makes Cairo ICT unique is its magical blend of technologies, industries, audience, spearheaded with a far-sighted vision about what is needed in the Middle East & Africa. Cairo ICT is the Tech event that serves national objectives, businesses, development, and human resources.... Read more

50 Million Active Customers Make M-Pesa Africa’s Largest Fintech

M-Pesa, a mobile money service, announced today that it has reached 50 million monthly active customers strengthening its position as Africa’s largest fintech. Launched more than 14 years ago in Kenya, M-Pesa is today available in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Lesotho, Ghana and Egypt.

The milestone comes just 18 months after Safaricom and Vodacom launched the M-Pesa Africa Joint Venture to accelerate growth of the service across the continent. M-Pesa Africa has equally been striving to deliver digital platforms as part of its focus to be the largest fintech and digital ecosystem across the... Read more

Registration for the 16th Annual Internet Governance Forum is on

The 16th annual IGF meeting will be hosted by the Government of Poland in Katowice from 6-10 December, under the overarching theme: Internet United. On behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres, all stakeholders are invited to the 16th IGF. The IGF 2021 hybrid process, develops around the issue areas and features a preparatory and engagement phase which includes build-up sessions on the IGF 2021’s issue areas, development of the intersessional work as well as a series of capacity development activities. More information about the implementation of the hybrid format, as well as the draft IGF 2021 programme is available on the IGF website... Read more

Revised Dates for ICANN72 Virtual Annual General Meeting

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that the ICANN72 Virtual Annual General Meeting, initially scheduled to begin on 23 October 2021, will now hold from 25 to 28 October 2021. ICANN72 Prep Week is scheduled for 12-14 October. Registration for ICANN72 is open and you must register to participate.

The ICANN72 schedule will be published on 4 October 2021 and registration is required to view the schedule. Those interested in attending the virtual meeting are encouraged to visit the event website to learn more about the meeting time... read more

Sub-Saharan Africa Mobile Financial Services Use more than Triples in Six Years

Nearly half of all consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa use mobile financial services in 2021 – a more-than three-fold increase in the last six years.

This is according to a new Ericsson Consumer and Market Insight report titled Mobile Financial Services on the Rise.

The research was conducted by Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab in early 2021. It surveyed 3,200 consumers across six Sub-Saharan African countries – Senegal, Angola, Nigeria... read more

Register for the Third IGF 2021 Open Consultations and MAG Meeting

The third IGF 2021 Open Consultations and MAG Meeting would be hosted in a hybrid format from the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland from 29 September to 1 October 2021.

To attend register Now

MTN Nigeria Earmarks US$1.45bn to Expand Broadband and Latch on to 5G Opportunity

MTN Nigeria is eager to participate in Nigeria’s 5G licensing process.

Mohammed Rufai, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, told ITWeb Africa that the operator is excited about the opportunities that 5G represents and announced plans to invest US$1.45-billion in expanding broadband access.

The operator said its plans will rely on the country’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), which... read more

Zamtel Looks to Double its Subscriber Base by 2023

Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) says it has begun to install online charging system equipment that the company will use to double its subscriber base by 2023.

The company said the US$5.7-million equipment, to be installed over three months, will make the subscriber management process easier. It will also increase the company’s active subscriber capacity from the current near 4 million to 10 million.

The company said it is currently operating at over 97% capacity utilisation, with an active... read more

Zimbabwe Advances on US$71m Mobile Broadband Project

Zimbabwe has launched the third phase of its US$71-million national mobile broadband project, initiated to improve local internet infrastructure and services.

The project is a collaboration between Huawei and state-owned telecommunications firm, NetOne, and is funded through the Export-Import Bank of China.

On completion 345 base stations will be installed, increasing the telco’s mobile broadband coverage to 85%, as well as its 4G LTE coverage and will also facilitate 5G infrastructure... read more

SAP Africa’s Cathy Smith Urges Corporates to Support Start-ups

The SA Innovation Summit (SAIS2021) kicked off in Cape Town yesterday, with Cathy Smith, MD of SAP Africa, calling for greater use of technology in solving Africa’s challenges.

Smith, who delivered the keynote, titled “The path to inclusive economic recovery in Africa”, told delegates that technology is the catalyst to solving problems that are agonising the continent, and urged corporates to support start-ups that are at the forefront of innovations.

SAIS2021 is one of Africa’s biggest tech start-up gatherings, which seeks to connect tech... read more

Orange Money Partners Botswana Streaming Platform to Extend Reach

From Botswana, Orange Money has collaborated with local content streaming platform UPICtv to support the country’s arts industry by facilitating mobile money payment for subscriptions.

Launched last year by Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet), UPICtv is a streaming subscription service available at P50.00 per month, down from the original launch price of P75.00.

According to BoFiNet the platform is also aimed at creating an avenue for local broadcasters to reach local and international audiences. ... read more

Ethiopia Telecom Moved Closer to Privatisation

The Ethiopian government has finally released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the partial privatisation of state-owned operator Ethio Telecom.

The government wants to sell a 40% stake in the company in a move that is widely considered an effort to make the telco more competitive.

The aim of the RFP is to invite proposals from interested parties who, according to authorities, “can add value to the company by bringing in the best practices in terms of operations... read more

Mauritius Telecoms Ups the Connectivity Stakes with 1Gbps Roll Out

Market analysts and the government of Mauritius have lauded Mauritius Telecoms for the roll out of 1Gbps internet connectivity, launched in September in Pailles. 

They have described the development as another technology milestone, with the island nation now officially part of the gigabit era.

As Mauritius Telecom’s flagship offer, Home Internet and TV 1 Gbps was unveiled for its residential fibre subscribers... read more

Namibia's MTC to List in November

Namibia’s largest telecommunications operator Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) says it will list on the local Stock Exchange (NSX) by the end of November.

The company said it will make available 367.5 million shares to the general public and would release its prospectus on 20 September 2021 detailing the cost of the shares.

According to MTC the listing will provide an opportunity for stakeholders, including customers, staff and existing shareholders, to participate in the... read more

e-Naira Promises ‘Economic New Dawn’ if Done Right Says Blockchain Expert

Shadrack Kubyane, co-founder of Coronet Blockchain believes Nigeria’s plan to unveil the country’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), e-Naira, will offer up significant economic opportunities - if managed effectively.

By ‘effectively’ Kubyane means flawlessly executed with the buy-in of citizens.

He said: “The driving force is: the people must be involved, the people must co-create the future they jointly want, and therefore a consultative... read more

INEC Requests NPC’s Data on Deceased Nigerians to Enhance Voters Register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Population Commission (NPC) to periodically avail INEC the data of deceased Nigerians to further enhance the credibility of the nation’s register of voters.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the request when he received the Chairman NPC, Alhaji Isa Kwarra, who paid him a courtesy visit at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

He said that the commission needed the data to remove names of dead persons from the voter... read more

SADC Region Sees Launch of New 600 km High Speed Fiber-optic Link

Internet Technologies Angola (ITA) today announced the launch of its high-speed fiber-optic link connecting Angola to DRC across Noqui (Angola) and Matadi (DRC).

The 600-kilometre connection between Luanda and Noqui, with a capacity of up to 200 gigabits per second, will also provide internet services to municipalities along the route, including Nzeto, Tomboco and Mbanza Congo in the province of Zaire.

Following investment by ITA and Paratus... read more

MTN Ghana Resolves to Spend USD 200 Million to End 2021

MTN Ghana has indicated its readiness to spend about USD 200 million to end the year following an initial investment of USD 150 million.

The decision, according to Chief Executive Officer, Selorm Adadevoh, is based on the high demand for data which continues to increase significantly following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last year. 

Speaking at the MTN Business Executive Breakfast Series- Special Edition on the theme: Conversation with MTN Ghana – 25 years for Brightening Lives and Beyond, CEO Adadevoh said MTN... read more

SAFARICOM Sets Date for Commercial 5G Network Launch

Safaricom will increase its fifth-generation (5G) sites to 200 by the end of the year and commercialise the super-fast services in 2022. The leading telco, which in March launched the 5G technology with 15 sites, says it wants to take high-speed Internet to additional towns. 

Safaricom chief executive Peter Ndegwa Wednesday said the company would use the up to 200 sites for testing the upgraded network as it seeks to capitalise on burgeoning mobile Internet use in the country.

The 5G service is a central part of its... read more

‘Africa Could Become the World’s First Cloud-native Continent’

Standard Bank and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have expanded their strategic relationship and announced the intention to build an African Innovation Lab - an incubator and accelerator of large-scale innovation projects and new business models “that deliver exceptional client experiences and have the potential to accelerate Africa’s economic development.”

The collaboration builds on a three-year relationship that has seen the establishment of the AWS Cloud Centre of Excellence within Standard Bank, featuring a dedicated team focused on facilitating the... read more