[UgaBYTES] NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 21)

[Meddie Mayanja]

Thanks, Fancis

...good to know that the region will soon have access to fast, cheaper internet and communications services

Meddie

-----Original Message-----
From: ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org [mailto:ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org] On Behalf Of Mwathi Francis
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 8:33 AM
To: ugabytes
Subject: [UgaBYTES] NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 21)

*Grid computing guiding malaria drug discovery*

11th May 2009



Scientists are using grids - high-speed computing networks - as a large-scale and cheaper way to kick-start new drug development against malaria parasites. Wide In Silico Docking On Malaria (WISDOM) links a network of high-power computers that 'match' the structures of known chemical compounds with three-dimensional structural data describing important metabolic proteins from the parasite. Using virtual screening researchers can suggest promising new weak points within the protein for drug designers to target.

http://www.scidev.net/en/news/grid-computing-guiding-malaria-drug-discovery.html





*Online Maps Enable Citizens to Report, Track Events*

* *

Online mapping tools like MapQuest and Google Maps are known for helping people get from Point A to B. With the help of some technical experts, these maps can also be used to track and monitor critical events in real time.
Ushahidi's mapping program, known by technical experts as a crowd sourcing tool, enables users to gather and document a great deal of information gathered from a community on a specific topic. Creating such a tool did not require knowledge of cutting-edge technology.

http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2009/May/20090508170954HMnietsuA0.7426046.html





*One Laptop Per Child targets to distribute 120,000 laptops in Rwanda by year end *

15th May 2009



At least 120,000 laptops by the end of this year are to be received by children across the country under the government-championed One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) programme. This was disclosed over the weekend by the programme's core team of four. The team is in the country to oversee the execution of the project that was launched mid-last year. According to Juliano Bittencourt, the OLPC team leader, the supply of the 120,000 laptops by the end of the year has been a long term programme that involved and required producing more machines.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13892&article=15592





*MTN Subscribers Soar to 61,4m as Group Continues to Deliver Solid
Performance*

20th May 2009



The MTN Group is pleased to announce that it has recorded 61,4 million subscribers across its 21 operations as at 31 December 2007. This is an increase of 53% from 40,1 million subscribers as at 31 December 2006. In addition, the MTN Group has declared a dividend of 136 cents per share, its highest dividend ever.  The former Investcom operations recorded subscriber growth of 66% to 13, 9 million, contributing 23% of the Group's total subscriber base. In the South and East Africa (SEA) region subscribers increased by 23% to 19, 3 million. In the West and Central Africa (WECA) region subscribers rose by 43% to 28 million and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region recorded a phenomenal 186% increase to 14 million, driven by the very strong growth of MTN Irancell.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS181038+20-Mar-2008+PRN20080320





*MTN hosts fibre optic forum*

7th May 2009



Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) hosted a fibre optic forum that will see the establishment of a new fibre optic cable. The European Indian Gateway (EIG) submarine cable meeting is one of a series that will lead to planning, design, manufacture and laying of the EIG fibre optic submarines cable that will serve three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Submarine cables provide linkages to the global telecommunications. The low cost, high quality systems are expected to spur growth in international traffic, internet and other data traffic. EIG will link to other submarine cables that MTN and other operators are constructing around Africa. They include Eastern African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and West African Cable System (WACS).

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business/MTN_hosts_fibre_optic_forum_84458.shtml




--
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org
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