[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 12)

[Mwathi Francis]

*ICT to drive African development*

24th March 2010

Africa needs to develop and deploy ICT technologies to improve governance,
service delivery, build capacity and ensure citizen empowerment. This is
according to stakeholders present in Maputo, Mozambique at the 4th annual
e-Governance Africa Forum organized by the Commonwealth Telecommunications
Organization (CTO). Leaders in ICT and government representatives gathered
at the e-Governance Forum to find solutions to the various challenges facing
African governments.

Dr Henry Chasia, Executive Chairperson of the NEPAD e-Africa Commission,
said that access and use of ICT is crucial for development.

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=6476&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29&utm_content=Gmail



*Government’s SMS System for HIV Test Results*



24th March 2010

HIV-positive Bupe Mwamba, 22, lies next to her newborn baby girl at the
rural clinic she just gave birth in and wonders if her baby is HIV-positive
too. She has been for counseling throughout her antenatal check-ups and
knows there is a chance her baby girl may be HIV-negative. But it still does
not eliminate her fears and anxieties.  "It is a moment of reflection about
the future of your child and how your child will cope being HIV-positive. It
cannot go without (me feeling) some kind of fear as a human being," she
said.

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=50781



*Nigeria: Mobile penetration, less than 50%*

24th March 2010

Although Nigeria is known today as the largest mobile market on the African
continent, it still has a mobile penetration level of less than 50%,
suggesting that there is ample room for market expansion, this according to
a recent study conducted by Canadian research firm Technology Strategies
International, in partnership with BroadGroup TMT Ventures. The report,
titled “Investment Opportunities in the ICT Sector in Nigeria: 2010”, also
suggests that there is massive opportunity to improve fixed line and
internet penetration in the country

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=6458&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29&utm_content=Gmail



*Report: Ethiopia ripe for Telecom investment*

23rd March 2010

According to a report by Canadian research firm Technology Strategies
International, Ethiopia’s telecommunication market is rapidly expanding and
is expected to reach almost 20 million mobile subscribers by 2014, at a 43%
annual growth rate. The report, titled “Investment Opportunities in the ICT
Sector in Ethiopia: 2010” and conducted by Technology Strategies
International in partnership with BroadGroup TMT Ventures, shows Ethiopian
ICT market as favourable to investment opportunities, predicting by 2011,
the privatization of state-owned Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation
(ETC), followed by the liberalization of the mobile market.

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=6440&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29&utm_content=Gmail



*African telecoms to rival Middle East*

23rd March 2010

Since 2001, Investment into the African telecommunications sector has hit
$18bn, however Africa has missed many opportunities to deploy cable
infrastructure to the same extent as its competitive continents such as the
Middle East and Asia. Nevertheless leading authorities understand that such
an infrastructure is vital for the continents development and they are
planning to announce future moves into 4G at NGT Africa summit hosted by GDS
international.
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=6383&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+itnewsafrica+%28ITNewsAfrica.com%29&utm_content=Gmail

-- 
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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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E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org