[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 27)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Get medical attention, sell products using SMS*
1st July, 2009

MTN phone operator Uganda, Google and the Grameen Foundation have launched a
mobile phone application that provides instant information to mobile phone
users in remote communities. The application enables a mobile phone user to
send a text message to 6001 for information on any health including HIV/AIDS
tests. “For example, you can type HIV TEST and send to 6001 for information
on HIV/AIDS related issues.  “To find the nearest clinic, you type clinic
and your location and you will get all the vital health information,” the
MTN Uganda chairman disclosed during the launch at the Sheraton Kampala
Hotel on Tuesday.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/32/686481?highlight&q=Get%20Medical%20Attention,%20Sell%20Products%20Using%20SMS

*German communication initiative targets Africa’s online community*
1st July, 2009

The German Information Centre (GIC) Pretoria has linked anglophone Africa to
modern Germany and its multifaceted cooperation with the African continent.
The GIC, according to Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in a
statement opened in late 2008 and added yet another component to Germany’s
earlier political and cultural commitments to its neighbouring continent.
“Via the GIC, we again demonstrate that Africa has a special role to play
for Germany” underlined the Centre’s Director, Ute König, who describes her
role as that of a “digital diplomat” the statement added.

German Information Centres worldwide, the statement added,  use the web as
the preferred method of communication and provide up-to-date information
about the culture, people, politics and important events taking place in
Germany.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/01/german-communication-initiative-targets-africa%E2%80%99s-online-community/

*Angolan Minister says optical fibre network to bring benefits*
1st July, 2009

The Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, José Carvalho
Rocha, on Wednesday considered in Kuito city, central Bié province, that
optical fibre installed to connect various regions will bring about benefits
for population. Speaking to press, after assessing ongoing projects in
Chinguar district and Kuito city, the government official assured that this
equipment will favour 13 capital cities, with highlight to Benguela, Huambo,
Kuito, Malanje, Ndalatando, Luanda.

According to him, it will facilitate mainly the quality service rendered,
with accessible prices for the country's communities.
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/ciencia-e-tecnologia/Minister-says-optical-fibre-network-bring-benefits,19cacc38-773a-40ab-ae1d-73e7be8882c3.html



*Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation Says Working to Boost Mobile Phone
Service Quality*
2nd July, 2009

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) disclosed that it was
working on mobile phone upgrading project as of March 2009 in a bid to
centralize the mobile network service that was formerly rendered separately
by different companies and improve the overall quality of the service in the
capital. In a statement sent to The Daily Monitor, the corporation indicated
that the previous mobile network capacity which was less than one million
would grow to 2.5 million as a result the new expansion project.

"This network expansion project incorporates the work of segregating the
previous network service with the improved ones," the statement said adding
"this operation, however, created temporary inconveniency on the quality of
the service"
http://www.theafricamonitor.com/

*South African Operators resigned to SIM card law*
2nd   July, 2009

ANYONE who bought a cellphone SIM card yesterday and was not asked to
present their credentials was involved in a criminal act. A new law aiming
to crack down on criminal activities makes it an offence to sell a SIM card
without recording the buyer’s name, address, cellphone number, ID or
passport number and checking their ID book or passport and a bill to confirm
their address.  The reason for the rigmarole is to make it harder for
criminals to buy SIM cards - the theory being that if a call is linked to a
crime, the police can see who bought the SIM card and make an arrest.
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=74650




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Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
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E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org