Weekly News Roundup - Africa October 19

Created By: Esther on 19-Oct-2007 12:00 AM

Six Kenyan Schools connect to Internet
Technology services company Africa Online has launched an ICT driven corporate social responsibility programme that will see six schools get 20 computers each and an Internet connectivity in the next 12 months.
The Sh1 million CSR programme will be run in partnership with Telkom Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Telkom South Africa. Africa Online CEO, John Joseph said the programme will play an active role in Kenya's social and economic development.

Nepad's Ocean Cable Needs $2bn Injection
A NEW undersea telecoms cable costing $2bn will be laid and switched on in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, government ministers are promising -- provided they can find sufficient private sector investors to cover at least 70% of the cost.
The much-discussed Nepad cable does not yet have any committed funding, but high-tech companies and financial institutions in Africa and abroad were showing interest in investing, delegates said after ministers and government officials from 10 countries met yesterday.

Uganda to Benefit From $1.7b ICT Project
UGANDA is to benefit from a $1.7b (sh2,958b) project for building information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, writes Francis Emorut.
The infrastructure will be used for research and education networks in African universities.
Global Medical Research Exchange and Geographic Network Affiliates International are the sponsors of the project.
Edward Fantegrossi, the chief executive officer of Geographic Network, said Uganda would be the flagship site.



Bringing Low Cost GSM to Villages
With millions of people living in rural Rwanda away from the communications network there's a significant drive from the industry to link up the villages affordably but at a profit as well. Infrastructure provider Nokia-Siemens Networks (NSN) is the latest with a model for wireless communications for rural villagers.
Nokia Siemens Networks, a 50-50 joint venture between giant Finish handset makers Nokia with Germany's Siemens was launched early this year targeting to be a supplier of telecommunications solution. Later Village Connection business model was launched that has already reached South Africa.


Kenya: The Great ICT Divide
A look at many of the major occurrences in the ICT sector in the last year would leave little doubt over why the latest industry buzz word is 'lobby'.
In June, debate over the issue of taxation on mobile phone airtime made most of the telephony firms make unusual public appearances where they sang from the same hymn book. ater, the verbal sparring got even more heated as Telkom Wireless became a reality - and a real thorn in the flesh of the mobile phone firms.

Social Networking Via Enterprise Market
With the likes of Facebook and MySpace many would wonder who would create the next global impression. BeeZbox has definitely broken the jinx as it brings open and flexible social networking services to businesses worldwide.
RCG has launched the first advanced platform for building and managing corporate social networks. The platform is targeted to host 2 million social networks for businesses worldwide. Social networking in recent times has been the fastest growing segment on the internet. These sites have gained more recognition among people from different demographics. MySpace, one of the names in the game gained 79.9 percent of the market and 4.46 percent of all internet traffic in June 2006

Nigeria: Using ICTs As Tool for Achieving MDGs
The executive vice chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, last week in Lagos said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria not only achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 but must strive to attain its 2020 goal.
Speaking at the 8th Champion Better Society Lecture with the theme: ICTs as a tool for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria, the NCC boss while giving a contextual backdrop of the topic, disclosed that the MDGs of the United Nations Millennium Declaration were signed by world leaders in September 2000 which in the Nigerian context included:



Uganda: Satellite Phones for Flooded Districts
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has given Uganda 25 satellite telephones to help restore vital communication links following flooding in the eastern and northern regions. A statement from the ITU yesterday said the terminals are to be used by designated government officials and other humanitarian agencies, to coordinate relief operations in the affected districts.Isaac Kalembe, a spokesperson at the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), confirmed that the terminals were in the country. "The Thuraya satellite phones will be handed over by the ICT minister on Thursday."

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