[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 36)

[Mwathi Francis]

Major African banks launch online services
September 4th 2009
Increased broadband capacity in Africa has pushed major banks in the
region to launch Internet and mobile-phone banking services to
customers to improve their access to banking services. Standard
Chartered Bank in Africa is rolling out Internet banking it calls
iBanking to customers across the continent. In addition, the United
Bank of Africa, the Zambian National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) and the
regional First National Alliance Bank have also launched mobile-phone
banking services.
http://www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/09/04/major-african-banks-launch-online-services

ICT experts gear up for war against e-crime
September 9th 2009
East African regional experts are calling for harmonization of
information and technology policies, saying this is the best move
against the looming threat of e-crime. With the roll out of fibre
optic cables, East Africa is now exposed to both local and
international cyber attacks. The expected faster connectivity and more
bandwidth capacity is likely to see more firms increase their online
presence, leading to a rise on e-attacks given that most companies and
individuals lack adequate security measures. Experts have asked the
East Africa Community member states to kick off a co-ordinated
consumer awareness. Failure to harmonize the policies means that an
attack can be committed from a country which does not have cyber laws
making it difficult for the country that have these laws in place to
apprehend the attacker or take legal action against criminal. Mr
Edouard Mashyaringa, a legal expert from Rwanda said while it is good
to have policies at the country level, if they are not harmonized and
the public is not educated then addressing the cyber attacks still
remain a challenge.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/655032/-/view/printVersion/-/cqfxl8/-/index.html


Libyan Airlines to launch in-flight mobile phone calls

Libyan Airlines will be the first African airline to offer in-flight
mobile phone calls and internet access, when it’s new A320 aircraft
are delivered in 2010.  The airline has ordered a new fleet of Airbus
A320s, which will be installed with Mobile OnAir technology to allow
passengers to make and receive phone-calls, send and receive text
messages and emails, and access the internet, using mobile phones and
PDAs. Mobile OnAir is currently available on more than 8,000 flights
worldwide each month, with a growing number of airlines installing the
technology.
http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/libyan-airlines-to-launch-inflight-mobile-phone

Broadband utilization could boost Ghanaian economy
September 7th 2009
The Community Information Centre (CIC) programme which would ensure
residents in districts get access to Information Communication
Technology (ICT) is to be speeded up with the implementation of the
National Broadband Strategy. The National Broadband Strategy is
expected to contribute at least 6.9% growth rate to Ghana's Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) over the next five years. It seeks to achieve
broadband penetration by 50%, and an 80% reduction in the broadband
cost. Under the five year period, a projected increase in the speed of
broadband bandwidth from 256 kilo bytes per second to 2 mega bytes per
second by 2015 is also expected.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=13826

Uganda Telecom launches solar charged mobile phone
September 9th 2009
Uganda Telecom last week launched a solar charged mobile phone in Arua
Municipality. The development sounds relief to rural mobile users
especially who erstwhile have had to travel distances to charge their
phones at a cost of between UShs500 to UShs1, 000.  Speaking during
the launch, Uganda Telecom’s Chief Marketing Officer Ms Mona Lisa
Brookshire said the company is committed to developing products that
are relevant to Ugandans’ development needs.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business/Uganda_Telecom_launches_solar_charged_mobile_phone_90989.shtml


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Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
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E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org