[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 23)

[Mwathi Francis]

Study criticises laptops for children scheme
4th June 2009

The "One Laptop per Child" (OLPC) scheme, which has sent over a
million US$100 laptops to children in the developing world, has been
criticised by researchers who found that, unless they are introduced
with care, they become little more than distracting toys in the
classroom.  The study, conducted in Ethiopia, revealed that students
wanted more content on the laptops and teachers were not adequately
trained on how to make use of them.  The OLPC scheme was launched in
2005 to provide each child in the developing world with a low-cost
laptop to encourage "self-empowered" learning. More than one million
laptops have been distributed. David Hollow of the UK-based ICT4D
Collective at Royal Holloway, University of London, and his team
evaluated the OLPC initiative in Ethiopia by observing classroom
sessions and interviewing students and teachers.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/study-criticises-laptops-for-children-scheme.html

Why phone calls are so expensive in Africa
5th June 2009

It is estimated that African telecom operators are cheated for
revenues totalling more than US$ 1 billion from their northern
counterparts, who are not properly billed when international calls are
made to Africa. These losses are a major reason behind the stiff
pricing of international calls for Africans. The lack of up-to-date
billing systems between telecoms is held responsible.  Charges to
carriers for using the networks of others - also known as interconnect
- is a challenge for many African operators. Complete interconnection
between networks is crucial in a competitive environment, but this is
easier said than done. The problem is twofold: firstly a regulatory
issue - usually about the level of interconnect costs - and secondly a
practical issue of installing equipment for allowing interconnect and
billing for this traffic.
http://www.afrol.com/features/13365

Microsoft Launches Windows Vista in Nigerian Languages
3rd June 2009

Microsoft Nigeria yesterday in Abuja, launched the language interface
pack for Windows Vista in three major Nigerian languages - Hausa, Igbo
and Yoruba. President Umaru Yar’Adua, represented on the occasion by
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Alhassan Zaku, described the
development as a milestone in Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) “Indeed, it is a turning point in the history of technology in
our beloved country. Courtesy of Microsoft, Windows Vista, an
operating system of Microsoft has been localised in Nigerian
languages,'' he said. Yar’Adua described the initiative as a
long-awaited vehicle to take benefits of ICT to the grassroots in
every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
“We believe that this will make IT solutions more accessible to the
Nigerian community. It also represents a breakthrough in Nigerian
linguistic and literary studies.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=145094

Essar to start cell network in Uganda
1st June 2009

Essar Teleholdings Ltd, an unlisted company owned by the Mumbai-based
conglomerate Essar Group, has won a licence in Uganda to build a $200
million (Rs946 crore) cellular phone network as it tries to expand in
Africa. This is the second licence the firm has won in Africa; it
received a similar licence in Kenya last year. “We have paid $3
million for frequency charges to the Uganda Communication Commission
and will launch the service in August in (a) joint venture with Kanyan
Telecom Uganda Ltd, a local telecom company,” Srinivasa Iyengar,
managing director of Essar Telecom Kenya Ltd, said.

Essar Teleholdings will own 90% of the joint venture and the local
company, 10%. The company has the same shareholding model in
neighbouring Kenya, where it has a joint venture with Econet Wireless
International Ltd.

Uganda, with a population of 38 million, has six cellular operators,
of which South Africa’s MTN Group Ltd is the market leader with a 45%
share. Other prominent firms operating in Uganda are Zain Telecom,
with a 25% share, and Uganda Telecom, with 23%. Warid group from
Pakistan and Kuwait’s Hits Telecom, which was bought by France Telecom
SA’s Orange unit, have started operations.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/01003053/Essar-to-start-cell-network-in.html?h=E

OMATEK exports e-education, gives computers to teachers, civil servants in Ghana
3rd June 2009

Omatek, ventures Plc have decided to extend most of its e-education
initiatives outside the shores of Nigeria. The indigenous computer
company, last week assisted the Ghanaian Government in achieving its
goal of ensuring that every Ghanaian owns a personal computer.  To
seal its support, it distributed computers to beneficiaries under the
Omatek e-Xpress/Government Assisted PC Programme(GAPP) which is
originally a Nigerian e-education initiative of Omatek. Handing over
the computers, Group Managing Director of Omatek, Mrs Florence Seriki
said that Omatek will continue to produce quality products to satisfy
the demands of its ever growing customers.

She explained that the  Omatek e-xpress consumer scheme makes it easy
for civil servants, corporate organizations, educational institutions
and students to acquire computers through a convenient payment plan
spanning 12- 24 months and is being supported by leading banks in the
country.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37069&Itemid=51




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