[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 22)

Fri May 22 13:34:41 GMT 2009

*Kerean Telecom  opens regional office in Rwanda*

22nd May 2009

South Korea’s telecom giant, Korea Telecom (KT), yesterday officially opened
its offices in Rwanda.The offices located at Telecom House in Kacyiru will
be home to the Korean firm contracted by the Rwandan government to construct
a national back backbone project worth US $40m. Officiating at the launch of
regional office, ICT Minister Romain Murenzi said that Government has
partnered with the Korean firm to lay the fibre-optic cable that will
connect the country to the undersea cable and also provide technology,
equipment, relevant application materials and training and manage the cable
installation process. “Our partnership with KT is helping us to transform
the country into the continental ICT hub. In order to develop, we recognise
the need to develop the human capacity especially in the areas of Science
and ICT to capitalise on the benefits of ICT, which has reshaped the way of
doing business” Murenzi said.

The backbone is expected to provide high speed broadband internet once
complete.In 2008, KT was also contracted to install a wireless broadband
network known as the Kigali Metropolitan Area Network (Kigali MAN)
accessible to 10,000 people in Kigali with both projects expected to cost
$70m in total, as revealed by Nkubito Bakuramutsa, the RDB Deputy CEO in
charge of IT.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13903&article=15934

*Connecting rural populace through satellite phones*

21st May 2009

Rural areas that have often been marginalised and cut off from the usage of
state-of-the-art telecommunication facilities are now getting connected and
opening up, thanks to a new project that uses satellite antennas to pick a
signal.

The project, currently running on a pilot basis in Mumbwa and Kaoma
districts, is being implemented by a South African organisation, Connect
Africa, which seeks to promote communication services in areas that are
often isolated from the national telecommunications grid.

By providing satellite-networked phones, Connect Africa is empowering rural
communities with cheaper communication alternatives which, in the long run,
will enable poor communities to have a say in shaping poverty alleviation
policies.

According to Dean Mulozi, the national coordinator for Connect Africa in
Zambia, the introduction of the new technology has been necessitated by the
limited capacity of the three mobile service providers to cover the entire
country.

http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1242885660

*Software to Aid Zimbabwean SME's Operations*

20th May 2009

Information Technology software solution provider, Devoted Business
Solutions, a subsidiary of Twenty Third Century Systems has introduced an
international software specifically designed to assist Small-scale Medium
Enterprises improve their business, the SAP Business One application. The
company's SAP Business One Sales Executive Ms Maureen Musiyarira, said the
application enables SMEs to manage customer-related business processes
efficiently. "With this single, affordable application you can streamline
operations, quickly obtain accurate information on business processes, and
accelerate profitable growth," she said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200905200151.html

*Children Protection Against Cyberspace Evils Defended*

19th May 2009

The workshop that went in Luanda in the light of the World Technology and
Information Society Day, May 17 Monday here defended the need for protection
of children against the evils of the cyberspace.The meeting, which was
attended by the ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology
and Science and Technology, José Carvalho da Rocha, Maria Cândida Teixeira,
respectively, discussed the topic "Children protection in cyberspace." For
about four hours, the participants discussed the sub themes - "The
initiative of children on-line protection, violence against children in
virtual space, confidence and security in the use of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT). Opening of the meeting, the IT minister
said that the institution will create and establish coherent policies to
protect children and teenagers against the dangers and threats posed by the
virtual spaces.

http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/ciencia-e-tecnologia/Children-protection-against-cyberspace-evils-defended,3f56ff76-e4ff-47af-b7b6-bfae8e6bcb8f.html

*Ghanaian Govt ready to confront cyber crime *

22nd May 2009

The Minister of Communications has disclosed that the government is gearing
itself for more harmful computer threats anticipated with the advance of
technology.  This he said is due to the fact that modern business operations
are governed by programmed software. To confront the menace of cyber crime
and also protect children from exploitation through the internet Mr. Iddrisu
said the Ministry is pursuing proactive measures that will involve stringent
monitoring of the Internet and the application of sanctions on licensed
service providers who allow the use of their facilities to perpetrate crime
against children.

http://www.accra-mail.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=775:-govt-ready-to-confront-cyber-crime&catid=1:latest-news

*Stolen phones, laptops to be tracked *

19th May 2009

A software, which can track stolen mobile phones and laptops, is available.
The director of Scorpion Holdings, Gilbert Guma, said: “When a phone that
has the software is stolen, it notifies the owner by short messages (sms),
which are sent to pre-determined numbers.” “The owner has to provide some
numbers to which messages would be instantly sent once another simcard is
inserted. It could be a friend or relative’s number, someone who could alert
you once the phone is stolen,” he explained. Guma said the message contains
the thief’s location, cell phone number and other vital information that can
help to get the thief. Guma said laptops with an in-built camera take a
picture of the thief and forward it to the owner. However, for the software
to perform, the computer has to be connected to the Internet. The software
is called Phone Track Mobile Security and costs sh80, 000. Guma said the
sh80, 000 was lower than the cost of most classy mobile phones.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/681784?highlight&q=%20Stolen%20Phones,%20Laptops%20to%20Be%20Tracked

*Orange Telecom launches 'Together' branding campaign across Africa*

19th May 2009

Orange has launched its international brand campaign 'Together we can do
more' in Africa on 18 May. This drive co-ordinated by Publicis will run in
Senegal, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Botswana and Kenya. It is the first time Orange rolls out
a single brand campaign in as many countries. The drive features a TV
commercial, press and poster advertising. It reflects the group's aspiration
to liberate and inspire people with simple ideas and services to help them
connect, collaborate and co-create in new and exciting ways. The commercial
ends with the statement, "I am delighted because thanks to everyone I can
share my experiences with the people I love".

http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=672459

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