[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 11)

[Mwathi Francis]

Amid crisis, policymakers embrace mobile banking to reach unbanked poor
11 March 2009

Despite regulatory challenges and the financial crisis, policymakers
are embracing mobile banking as a means of providing financial access
to the unbanked poor. More than a billion people worldwide lack bank
accounts, but do have mobile phones, providing a dramatic opportunity
to achieve greater financial inclusion, according to officials meeting
near London today.

“Mobile banking services offer millions of poor people a route out of
poverty by helping them to improve their incomes and pay for
healthcare and education. It is vital that policymakers ensure that
the needs of the poor are central as they develop regulation for this
innovative and emerging sector,” said Mike Foster, UK Minister for
International Development.

To promote effective regulation of mobile banking, CGAP, DFID, and the
Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) have organized the second
Global Leadership Seminar for high-level policymakers and regulators
who set policy for branchless banking, including mobile banking.

Seminar participants represent countries where branchless banking is
growing quickly, or is poised to do so soon. These included African
countries like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=2362


African Development Bank Approves U.S. $25 Million for Satellite Project
13th March 2009

The African Development Bank (AFDB) has approved a loan of $25 million
for the launch of a Pan-African Satellite Project called the New Dawn.
THISDAY gathered the project comprises the design, construction,
launch and operation of an African Communications Satellite System
into the 33° East Orbital location.

Sponsored by Intelsat, a world leader in fixed satellite operations
and South African investors, New Dawn is positioned to serve the
African continent once it is fully operational. The launch and
commencement of commercial operations are expected in early 2011. The
satellite will comprise 30 physical transponders operating in the C
and Ku frequency bands and will provide services for cellular
backhaul, internet backbone, corporate networking TV relay and
broadcasting.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=138009


U.S.-Supported Foreign Broadcasting Adapts to Digital Age
10 March 2009

The U.S. government’s premier international radio and television
broadcast organization — the Voice of America (VOA) — will continue to
provide timely news and information to more than 130 million people
worldwide while pursing innovative ways to engage this audience, says
VOA Director Dan Austin.

Austin said Africa is where information technology is literally “leapfrogging.”
“Where they didn’t have a hard-wired infrastructure, some countries
have gone from shortwave broadcast to text messaging, SMS [short
message service], to mobile devices,” he said. In Zimbabwe, for
example, “we have used SMS with some success, although we still
broadcast there from [shortwave] and medium-wave transmitters in
Botswana.”
http://www.america.gov/st/freepress-english/2009/March/200903101658171ejrehsiF0.3728144.html


Optic cable to spur outsourcing boom
10th March 2009

The East Africa Marine System (Teams) project will attract up to $10
billion (Sh790 billion) worth of investments in special economic zones
in the next three years.
Most of these will be Business Process Outsourcing firms or BPOs in
short. The laying of the fibre optic cable is expected to start on
March 24, and be completed by end of June. A vicious race and public
relations war continues to rage between Teams, and another private
sector-driven submarine cable project, Seacom, for bragging rights
over who will land first in Mombasa.

Seacom has said it will be operational by June 30. Teams is a
government-owned special purpose vehicle, created to develop a
fibre-optic sea cable connecting the East Africa through Mombasa to
the world’s fibre-optic communications backbone via Fujairah in the
United Arab Emirates .
http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144008616&cid=14&j=&m=&d=


E-Commerce Brings in Millions
12th March 2009

QUESTNET, an electronic business firm in Kampala, Uganda has opened
doors for people to earn millions of shillings through
self-employment. According to Dr. Polly Karimari, a former banker, one
can make a lot of money with little investment.
He is one of the six Ugandans, who earned $30,000 (about sh60m) in the
last four months from the firm.

Karimari said he joined the e-commerce firm in 2007 and left formal
employment after 34 years "because the business was more rewarding."
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/674457?highlight&q=QUESTNET



House Committee Deputy Bemoans Computer Illiteracy Level
13th March 2009

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement in Nigeria,
Honourable Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, lamented at the level of computer
illiteracy in her constituency, prompting her donation of a computer
hall to the people.

Okoya-Thomas said this Wednesday while donating the hall and
inaugurating a micro-credit assisted programme, to "teach her
constituents how to fish, instead of doling fish out to them.

She said, “it is disheartening that when primary school pupils
elsewhere are not only maneuvering computer and entering into
technical area of soft and hard wares, students of my constituency
still lack the basic knowledge of computer."
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=138011





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Francis Mwathi
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