[UgaBYTES] Weekly News Round Up - Africa

Fri Jan 30 18:32:25 GMT 2009

Great news round up Francis or could it be home feeling working on me?? :-)

On Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Mwathi Francis <mfrancis at ugabytes.org>wrote:

> *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
> _______________________________________________
> ugabytes mailing list
> ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
> http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org
>

-- 
Sandra Nassali
Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiative (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentre.org  (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Plot 2218 Ggaba Road,
2nd Floor Kangave House
P.O. Box 6081 K'la
Email  snassali at ugabytes.org
chat    (skype)- n.sandra.
Tel      +256-414-370163