[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 14)

Fri Apr 3 13:12:17 GMT 2009

Cisco Systems to open new office in Tunis (Tunisia)
2nd April 2009

CISCO systems, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of computer
networking equipment (routers, bridges, frame switches and ATM switches,
dial-up access servers and network management software) which designs
networking and communications technology and services, will open its first
office in Tunis, on April 8, 2009. The opening of Cisco’s office in Tunisia
aims at helping the North African region to develop ICT strategies to ensure
a better productivity and facilitate the technological integration of the
region.
http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/2009/04/02/cisco-systems-to-open-new-office-in-tunis/

Nigeria claims top spot in African mobile market
27th March 2009

Nigeria, recording more than 61 million subscribers, has surpassed South
Africa as the largest mobile telecommunications market in Africa, according
to a report from Pyramid Research. South Africa, with a population of 45
million, has been Africa's largest mobile service market, with 42.4 million
subscribers in 2007, expected to rise to 48.5 million by 2010, according to
Market Research Corp. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with
135 million people.

Nigeria's continued growth over the next five years is expected to trigger
more intense competition among a growing number of network operators, said
Yejide Onabule, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. The
Nigerian telecom market grew by 23 percent in 2008, generating US$8.4
billion in overall telecom service revenue, said Onabule. With mobile
subscriber penetration at just 42 percent, Nigeria's total telecom revenue
is expected to increase at a rate of 5.7 percent from US$8.42 billion in
2008 to $11.14 billion in 2013.
http://www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/03/27/nigeria-claims-top-spot-african-mobile-market

MTN Uganda hits 4m clients
2nd April 2009

MTN has hit the four-million subscriber mark, reinforcing its position as
the leading telecommunications company in the country.  The milestone comes
at a time when the industry’s competitive environment has been intensified
by the arrival of Orange Telecom and the change in MTN’s top management
structure with the impending departure of Noel Meier.  Themba Khumalo, a
Swazi national and the head of MTN Rwanda, will replace Meier in July.

Meier, the chief executive officer, is retiring at the end of June having
served MTN for 14 years in various capacities across the group.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/676794

KwaZulu-Natal schools in South Africa receive ICT boost
2nd April 2009

Learners across 60 schools in KwaZulu-Natal are set to benefit from the new
exciting world of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education opened 60 computer laboratories at
various schools across the province, Thursday, as part of its strategy to
provide learners with 21st century equipment. Provincial MEC for Education
Ina Cronje said each laboratory had been equipped with 25 networked
computers, laptops, data projectors and smart boards.  She said the ICTs
would enhance educational reforms by enabling teachers and learners to move
away from traditional approaches to teaching and learning.
http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/09/09040214451001

Microsoft, New Horizons unveil Africa’s youngest IT whizz kids
1st April 2009

It was quite some big news when software giants, Microsoft announced
recently that two young Nigerian kids, 12 year-old Davidson Osaremen, and 13
year-old Oluwaseun Alade , made about the highest marks in the international
Microsoft Certified professional Exams, thereby becoming the youngest
Microsoft Certified Professionals, MCPs. For Davidson Osaremen, “ I have
come to understand that IT makes the world go round. From films, games or
other activities one can see how IT transforms the society. But the point
also remains that it is people who also drive the tranformational power of
IT and they don’t have two heads.

So I made a promise to myself that if people like Bill Gates, Micheal Dell
and a lot of others could achieve what has kept the world moving today, at
their young ages, I can also be added to that history. From the day I made
that promise to myself, I have developed more interest in computer and IT in
general on daily basis”. Seun Alade was not different in her response. “I
developed interest in IT because I discovered it as an easy platform to
achieve my dream in a big way. I want to be a Civil Engineer and by the way,
my dad is one. But I have found out that if my dad had the aid of computer,
he would have been more than what he is today. For instance the modern civil
Engineer today can use IT to design architectural wonders, where you have
swimming pools and other facilities in the living rooms even as that same
living room can be interchanged as a conference room just by a press on the
button.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/32470/51/

Eritrean President visits Information Ministry's digitalized News Room
2nd April 2009

President Isaias Afwerki observed the fully digitalized and network
connected News Room set up by the Ministry of Information over the past
three months. President Isaias stressed the need for reinforcing the modern
work methodology being introduced by the Information Ministry. In this
regard, he underlined that as the centralized work procedure which saves
resources and energy has a significant role to play for attaining all-round
effectiveness, it would be introduced in other government institutions as
well.
http://www.shabait.com/staging/publish/article_009727.html

Kenyan Mobile phone subscribers hit 16.2 million mark
28th March 2009

Mobile phone subscribers grew by 1.7 million to stand at more than 16.2
million in the quarter ending December last year, a report by the
Communication Commission of Kenya has said. The quarterly report says the
subscriber base for the four operators grew by 11.9 per cent in the second
quarter of the 2008/09 financial year, up from 14.5 million in September to
16.2 million by end of December. The report, which reviews the performance
of the telecommunications sector also disclosed that subscriber numbers have
grown from 11.3 million in 2007 to 16.2 million. CCK attributes the growth
to the launch of two more operators — Orange and Yu — during the quarter,
intensifying competition in the sub-sector.

According to the regulator, the competitive environment is expected to see
an increase in the number of products on offer by the operators and also
lead to reduction in cost and choice for consumers.
http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144010027&cid=14&j=&m=&d=

Burundi gets new telecom operator
30th March 2009

The wireless mobile telephony competition has heated up in Burundi after the
entry of another operator into the market. Econet Wireless, a South Africa
based telecommunications operator has for the past year been setting up
office, recruiting workers, installing masts and doing preliminary testing.
Econet Wireless is now connecting clients in what it calls a one-month
'network testing.'

The public has received this new development with enthusiasm and excitement.
For quite a while, potential clients were bombarding Econet offices on
Avenue Uprona in the center of Bujumbura with requests as a result of the
sometimes erratic connectivity of the existing service providers. “Will I
get the same number as my previous one on the other network?” was the
question one enthusiastic prospective client asked an Econet official.

In a press release, the Managing Director Econet Burundi, Darlington
Mandivenga said:“During these 30 days, customers will be connected to test
the voice quality and coverage of the network as the technical team fine
tunes everything,” he said.
http://www.busiweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1276&Itemid=1

--
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 752 995063
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org