[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 41)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Mobile subscription rate fastest in Africa*

27th October 2009

Since 2003, mobile phone subscription has grown faster in Africa than in any
other region of the world, a new Information Economy Report has revealed.
Dubbed, "Trends and Outlook in Turbulent Times," and released by the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, the report, indicates that there are now more than 10 times as
many mobile subscriptions as fixed lines in Africa and more than 20 times as
many in sub-Saharan Africa. "But most African nations are failing to keep up
with global trends in the use of broadband internet, which is critical for
meeting many economic and social developments," the report warned.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=14013



*Africa: Green Power for Mobile*

27th October 2009

"The GSMA's Green Power for Mobile (GPM) programme estimates there are 485
million mobile users without access to the electricity grid, a factor which
severely limits usage opportunities. The report identifies a range of
charging choices available that, if implemented effectively, will extend
service availability and could boost average revenues per user by 10-14%." -
Balancing Act Africa News Update

A new report from the GSM Association Development Fund (the GSMA is the
worldwide organization of mobile phone networks, representing more than 750
mobile networks across 219 countries and territories) estimates that there
is a $2.3 billion business opportunity in the fact that almost one-third of
the 1.5 billion people around the world without access to the electricity
grid are now users of mobile phones. Providing inexpensive or free charging
solutions, such as through solar-powered phones or charging systems could
improve access, help the environment, and also increase revenues for the
mobile phone operators.

http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/gpm0910.php



*ICT can rescue economy, says Ekuwem*

25th October 2009

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been described as the
only viable tool through which Nigeria could move out of the current global
economy meltdown.  The National President, Association of Telecommunication
Companies of Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem stated this while announcing the
opening of the 2009 COMBIT Africa and exhibition to be held  in Lagoon
Restaurant, Lagos. He said the current global social and economic challenges
facing the country will be  addressed  only if Nigeria will employ  a
combination of emerging technologies in the technology world.

According to the renowned technology expert, the improved  lifestyle of
people through technology inventions has shown that technology had immensely
shaped the future of mankind and helped address major global challenges.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/25/ict-can-rescue-economy-says-ekuwem/



*The new breed of health programmers in Rwanda*

30th October 2009

Eleven years ago, Regis Rwirangira did not know what to expect when he
walked through the doors of a cyber café in Butare town. At that time he was
a senior two student at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, one of the best
public schools in Rwanda and yet had never typed on a keyboard or clicked a
mouse. His mission to open his email address was a success and that was the
first time he got connected to the world of technology. “It was so amusing
to create an email account. For me, ICT was basically about sending and
receiving emails,” Rwirangira said. Now 27 years old, the pages have turned.
His dream of becoming a skilled computer programmer has become alive.
Rwirangira is a K.I.E (Kigali Institute of Education) alumnus who attained
his Computer Science degree in 2007.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14062&article=21741



*Why the web inventor is visiting Uganda*

28th October, 2009

THE inventor of the World Wide Web (www) that runs on the internet is set to
visit Uganda for the very first time next month, November 2009, on his tour
of Egypt, Kenya and Uganda. According to Daniel Stern a local Internet
operator here, “Sir Tim Berners-Lee is visiting Uganda on behalf of the
World Wide Web Foundation, an organisation he founded to bring the benefits
of the Web to more people around the world.  “The main purpose of the visit
is to reconnect with the people, projects and organisations we met in the
past through our participation in various international organisations and
also to learn how the Web is currently being used so we can better
understand the barriers and opportunities specific to each region,” Stern
said.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/32/699340?highlight&q=Tim%20Berners-Lee








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Francis Mwathi
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