[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 4)

[Mwathi Francis]

*African Internet backbone service doubles its satellite capacity*

28th January 2010

Gateway Communication, which boasts one of the largest pan-African
communications network with customers in 40 countries, adopted Newtec’s
FlexACM tehnology to double satellite link capacity for its backbone
service, Africa IPJetDirect. IPJetDirect uses C band and Ku band satellites
to deliver IP services to mobile phone operators in Africa. This is one of
the technologies deployed on the African continent, Newtec’s DVB-S2 VCM and
DVB-S2 FlexACM, to ensure maximum bandwidth efficiency and satellite
capacity in Africa.

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=4354&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+(ITNewsAfrica.com)<http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=4354&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29>



*The problems with science technology in Africa —Urama*

27th January 2010

Dr. Kelvin Urama, the Executive Director for African Technology Policy
Studies Network (ATPS) with national chapters in 23 African countries, in
this interview with ERASMUS ALANEME of our Abuja Bureau, stressed the need
for fundamental change in Africa’s educational curriculum and the craze for
certificates.

http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=26784



*Why that SMS behind the wheel kills *

23rd January 2010

For many people, cell phones have become virtual sixth fingers, permanently
attached to their hands. For some, texting is like breathing, the signal of
an incoming message is an irresistible siren’s call. They cannot help but
respond. The danger comes with the urge to do this while driving. Though
common sense dictates that drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on
the wheel, if you look around you on the road, chances are, you’ll still see
many drivers chatting away with their mobile phones held up to their ears.
The use of hand-held mobile phones to talk and text while driving was banned
in Kenya years back, but the authorities would be hard pressed to show what
the ban has gained.

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-/440808/847904/-/5qdtjy/-/index.html



*Warid to start mobile money*

27th January 2010

Warid Telecom will this year unveil its mobile phone money transfer service
in Uganda.

Mr George Shine, Warid Telecom’s head of marketing, said work on the service
is in its final stages.

“We have evaluated this venture [mobile money services] and we are ready to
take it on this year. We have set aside the resources and we have the
technical team ready. What is remaining is getting the licences,” Mr Shine
told journalists in Kampala on Monday although he could not readily disclose
the amount of money injected in the venture. Warid’s entry will bring to
three the number of mobile money service providers in the country after
MTN’s Mobile Money and Zain’s Zap money transfer services, which were
unveiled last year.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/-/688322/849972/-/egfu4nz/-/index.html

* *

*Concern as hackers mess up crucial websites*

29th January 2010

The Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has become the latest
casualty in a growing trend in which hackers mess up with websites. Users of
the popular NBS website could not access it since on Wednesday, following an
invasion by hackers calling themselves the UAH-Crew. The website was
effectively shut down for repairs yesterday by the Tanzania
Telecommunication Company which hosts it, according to the NBS acting
director, Ms Radegunda Maro. The NBS joins other public outfits including
Parliament, Tanzanian Revenue Authority and Bank of Tanzania whose websites
suffered similarly in the past, triggering questions on the safety of
national data and statistics.

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=17081




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