[UgaBYTES] Weekly News Round Up - Africa

[Mwathi Francis]

*Makerere University IT centre to link 100 varsities*

Kampala- Makerere University has opened a computing and information
technology centre to develop local computer software.

The 12,000sq metre complex valued at over $20m is expected to connect over
100 universities in 13 African countries with India in e-education.
It is part of the Faculty of Computing and Information Communication
Technology (ICT).

The ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira, represented President Yoweri Museveni at
the opening of the centre on Wednesday. The ICT state minister, Alintuma
Nsambu, for education Gabriel Opio and the Netherlands ambassador, Jeroen
Verheul, attended the function.


The centre is designed to carry out ICT research and development in addition
to training ICT experts.

According to Michael Niyitegeka, a university official, the centre is
testting a mobile e-health service delivery for the Ministry of Health.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/669709


 *Nigerian Government Plans to Build Computer Lab in Schools*

29th January 2009

Uyo — To boost training in ICT, Akwa Ibom State government is to build
computer laboratories in all primary and secondary schools across the
state.The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Samuel Efanga, made
the disclosure in Uyo when he received a socio-political group called
Godswill Akpabio Ambassadors.

Efanga said the gesture would encourage youths to pick interest in computer
education at tender ages and promised that his ministry will expose civil
servants to ICT training and ensure that at least 90 per cent of them own
laptops.

He also promised that the Science and Technology Park, initiated by former
governor Victor Attah's administration in 2006 would be completed before the
end of the year.

http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/news/121/ARTICLE/6120/2009-01-29.html


 *New Artel Rebrands to Increase ICT Penetration in Rwanda*

27th January 2009

Kigali — New Artel last year benefited from government's Rwf1.5b universal
access fund to provide telecommunication services in rural areas that MTN
Rwanda and Rwandatel do not cover.

New Artel, a government Information Communication Technology (ICT) company
over the weekend unveiled its new brand. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of New Artel, Francis Karemera, said that the new look comes with promises
that it will contribute to the country's Vision 2020 for economic
development through ICT. He said that under the new face, it now takes about
24 hours to get connected after applying for bandwidth.

"This is because of the establishment of field offices in all provinces
countrywide and the use of both radio and satellite transmissions," Karemera
explained.

One of the latest services under the new look is the Digital Video
Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) connection, which is the modern standard
for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television.

*http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13788&article=12805*


*South Africa  Nigeria internet demand rises*

19th January 2009

*Lagos-Demand for information and communication technology (ICT) in Nigeria
and South Africa is reported to be on the increase following the emergence
of new technology players.*

According to Ekina Owoh, an Abuja based technology expert, who is on a
week-long business trip to Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, the growing
demand in the use of internet technology is attributable to emerging
indigenous companies seeking space in this vastly expanding business
industry

*
http://africasciencenews.org/asns/index.php/News/Information-Technology/SA-Nigeria-internet-demands-rises.html
*<http://africasciencenews.org/asns/index.php/News/Information-Technology/SA-Nigeria-internet-demands-rises.html>


 *Intel Capital targets Africa*

19th January 2009

Johannesburg-The world's largest chip manufacturer, Intel, is bringing its
venture capital company to Africa to identify and fund promising technology
companies.

The first move for Intel Capital is to appoint Sam Mensah as its director
for SA and sub-Saharan Africa.

Mensah is already familiar with the territory as he has initiated and led
Intel's expansion into the region for the past six years in a bid to boost
Intel's market share by promoting Africa's use of computers.

*http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=3471416*<http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=3471416>



*Angola to Set Up Us dollars 1.7 Million Anti-Fraud Telecommunication System
*

21st January 2009

Luanda — The Angolan telecommunication company "Telecom" will employ a high
tech. anti-fraud system in telecommunications network which will start
operating this year, aimed at "protecting the network from actions of
defrauder, combat the phenomenon and discourage the offenders.Speaking to
Angop, the company's administrator for commercial area, Antóno Briffel Neto,
said Tuesday in Luanda, that the USD 1.7 million anti-fraud system will
enable the country to control the national telecommunications network and
prevent theft of the large sums of money through the fraud.

*http://allafrica.com/stories/200901220097.html*<http://allafrica.com/stories/200901220097.html>


 *M-PESA awaits UK forex nod*

20th January 2009

Nairobi- Safaricom's plan to introduce an international money transfer
service to tap diaspora remittances flowing into the country from United
Kingdom is yet to be approved by both countries' banking regulators.

The listed firm's chief executive, Michael Joseph, revealed on Monday that
though his company had technically made progress, both the Central Bank of
Kenya and the Bank England were still thrashing out foreign exchange issues.

The M-Pesa money transfer system, launched in March 2007, has seen its
popularity with the unbanked population surge, causing jitters in the
banking industry.

Between March 2007 and September 2008, M-Pesa person to person transfers hit
the Sh54 billion mark with December alone last year accounting for an
additional Sh14 billion.

*http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/516876/-/j2ynwdz/-/index.html*<http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/516876/-/j2ynwdz/-/index.html>



*In fibre-optic warm-up, a mild battle for the last mile*

26th January 2009

Nairobi- "This is the future, real broadband. This is internet as it should
be. We are informed by the realisation that the last mile is still the most
expensive part of internet connectivity in Kenya. We are here to change
that," Mr Kariuki launches into a jargon-laden and passionate pitch for the
technology his firm is flaunting.

The pilot and network engineer-turned entrepreneur must have developed a
template for the many presentations his firm has had to make to announce its
arrival.

Clearly, adeptness on the selling front will be an integral part of the
firm's arsenal, as it tries to gain a foothold in what is becoming an
increasingly crowded and competitive corner in the local information and
communication technology (ICT) business.

Sovaya is one of the latest entrants in what is emerging as the broadband
wars in Kenya, even as the market warms up to the expected arrival of the
first fibre optic connection from June. The so-called "last mile", which is
the space in which the firm plays, refers to the final link to the consumer.

*
http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/smartcompany/-/1226/520154/-/sspirbz/-/index.html
*<http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/smartcompany/-/1226/520154/-/sspirbz/-/index.html>


-- 
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