Mobile and Telecoms
Paratus Expands to DRC, Connects 620KM Fibre Optic Line
Laying fibre. Image sourced from IFC.org. Telecommunications firm Paratus Group has announced its expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This coincides with the news that Paratus has won, together with DRC based Global Broadband Solution (GBS), a government tender to activate a 620-kilometre fibre-optic network link between Muanda, on the West Coast, to DRC capital city, Kinshasa. Paratus and GBS have established FAST Congo to deliver, operate and maintain the network link in an exclusive 15-year license contract. Paratus Seeks to Connect Africa By adding DRC to its terrestrial network, Paratus Group claims it can now boast a unique and contiguous footprint in Africa, which includes offices in seven SADC countries, four Data Centers, five satellite teleports with 6,000 cust...
Tizeti Partners Microsoft to Boost High-Speed Internet in Nigeria
Sourced from Wikimedia Microsoft, the US-founded tech megacorp, and West African solar-based internet service provider Tizeti have announced a new collaboration to boost high-speed internet in Nigeria with the “Airband initiative”. The initiative will see the rollout of high-speed Airband internet infrastructure in Oyo State, in the southwest of Africa’s most populous country. According to the announcement, the Airband initiative supports both Microsoft and Tizeti’s shared goal of connecting more people to the internet in a cost-efficient way, as well as part of its commitment to empowering more Nigerians, stimulating economic activities, and widening the broadband envelope in Africa with affordable broadband connectivity. Millions of Nigerians Still Facing Digital Exclusion With forty per...
Ethiopia’s Government Postpones Ethio Telecom Privatisation Process
Image sourced from FurtherAfrica. The government of Ethiopia has announced today that it will be postponing the ongoing privatisation process of the state-owned Ethio Telecom, and did not set a timeframe for when the process will continue. In an announcement posted to Twitter by the official account of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance, the Ethiopian federal government says that due to “recent developments” and “fast-moving macroeconomic changes both globally and from a country perspective, the government of Ethiopia has decided to postpone the privatisation process” of Ethio Telecom. pic.twitter.com/rNLYAijWnX — Ministry of Finance – Ethiopia (@MoF_Ethiopia) March 18, 2022 “The government of Ethiopia believes that taking time to accommodate the improved macroeconomic situation as well as ...
Here’s How Much MTN Spent During the ICASA Spectrum Auction
MTN announced on Thursday that it had secured the high-demand spectrum required for its 4G and 5G network expansion drive from the highly anticipated ICASA spectrum auction. ICASA announced that MTN had successfully secured the following spectrum bands: 2 x 10 MHz in 800 MHz – R2,933 billion ($195.7-million) 40 MHz of 2600 MHz – R1,093 billion ($73-million) 40 MHz of 3500 MHz – R1,127 billion ($75.2-million) The Group spent a total of $347-million on securing the spectrum it requires. “This is a significant milestone, not only for MTN and the telecommunication industry at large but also for South Africa’s digital future. Spectrum is the lifeblood of our industry and is key to reliable and extensive connectivity for our customers across the country,” said MTN SA’s CEO, Charles Molapisi. “Ou...
MTN SA Invests $46.4-Million in New Infrastructure for KZN, South Africa
Africa’s largest telecom group MTN SA has announced a further investment of $46.4-million (R700-million) in order to modernise existing, and deploy new, network infrastructure across the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The $46.4-million investment, which is an addition to the $33.17-million (R500-million) invested in 2021, will go toward MTN’s “Modernisation of Network South Africa project” (MONZA) as well as expanded rural reach, 5G expansion and restoration of vandalised network infrastructure, the company said in a press release. “The KZN investment forms part of plans to modernise the entire MTN network, 68% of which has already been completed nationally, with an additional 1350 sites to be finalised, and around 200 top areas covered across SA, by the end of 2022”, says Matthew...
Telkom Launches New Mobile Pay App for SMMEs in SA
Telkom Financial Services has launched the Telkom Pay Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) app, a fintech tool that allows small, micro, and medium business owners to make and receive payments through their mobile phones. Telkom says that the said businesses will be able to use the app anytime and anywhere. The South African telecom provider says it is committed to providing SMMEs with solutions that will enable them to fully participate in the digital economy. Through the app, business owners can register and receive payments in a matter of minutes. “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for businesses to digitize their operations and become fully immersed in the digital economy. The app will enable businesses, who normally only take cash payments, to reach a wider customer base. It enabl...
Airtel Nigeria Upgrades All 2G & 3G Cell Sites to 4G
Sourced from allAfrica. Airtel Nigeria, the West African arm of telecom Airtel Africa, has announced that it is upgrading all of its cell sites to 4G technology. The operator says that now its 50-million customers in Nigeria can “tap into flawless voice call experiences,” as all of the company’s 2G and 3G sites have been upgraded to the advanced network standard of 4G. Surendran Chemmenkotil, CEO and MD of Airtel Nigeria, says the operator is committed to delivering mobile broadband to the whole country, including even remote locations, as he says that connectivity has a direct correlation with “boosting the nation’s GDP.” “Our commitment is to our customers and we are focused on ensuring that they continue to get the right and the best experience on our network. This exercise is inspired ...
Safaricom Hits 30 Million Monthly Active M-PESA Users in Kenya
Image sourced from Business Daily. Telco Safaricom has revealed that its active M-PESA users have surpassed the 30-million mark for its Kenya customers, according to Techweez. Techweez says that this new development follows after the product’s 15th birthday after its launch in May 2007. M-PESA has the most active market accounting for more than 30 million of the service’s 51 million customers across Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt. “The growth in M-PESA customer usage has been driven by the launch of various innovations over the years including financial services such as M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, and Fuliza,” Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, said. Last year, Safaricom launched the M-Pesa Super app that enables users to request payments, s...
MTN Group Posts “Strong” 2021 Results – $583M in Profits
South African telecom MTN has released its financial results for the year ended December 2021 and reported “strong financial, operational and sustainability results” through what the group is calling a “tough macro year.” MTN boasts that these very positive results were delivered through “strong strategic execution and sustained commercial momentum across 19 markets.” “We adapted to the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the COVID-19pandemic and started shaping the MTN of the future through the execution ofAmbition 2025,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita. Increased Earnings In constant-currency terms, service revenue grew by 18.3% to $11.4-billion, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 23.7% to $582.6-Million and the EBIT...
4 Important Things You Need to Know About ICASA’s Auction Tomorrow
After several years of delays, cancellations, court cases and the setting of further and further deadlines, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is finally set to auction access to SA’s much-coveted spectrum for mobile broadband services. Two auctions will be held – one on 8 March and another on 10 March. The second auction is considered the “main” auction. Here are 4 things you need to know about tomorrow’s ICASA auction: The Opt-In Phase Auction The first highly-anticipated auction will be held on Tuesday 8 March with every big name telecom in the country lining up to take a seat at the table. For the last several weeks, ICASA has conducted mock auctions and a bidder seminar to ensure that potential participants are comfortable with the bidding process. Accord...
Airtel Kenya Agrees to $30-Million Spectrum Settlement
Sourced from Comms MEA Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today announced that its Kenya subsidiary, Airtel Kenya Networks Limited (‘Airtel Kenya’), has agreed to settlements with the Communications Authority of Kenya regarding its operating and spectrum licences. According to the announcement Airtel Kenya has received approval for the replacement of its temporary licence with a ten-year frequency licence for 2×10 MHz of spectrum in the 2100 MHz band. The agreement will see Airtel Kenya pay a total of $20-million in four instalments over the next three years in respect of settlements regarding the 2015 – 2025 operating and spectrum license. These payments will see the Kenyan telecom settle its du...
Paratus Shakes Up Botswana’s Telecom Sector in a Big Way
Sourced from the Guardian Nigeria. The Competition and Consumer Authority of Botswana have announced the unconditional approval for the acquisition of 100% of Broadband Botswana Internet (BBi) by the Botswanan arm of South Africa’s Paratus Telecommunications Ltd. Both Paratus and BBi are licensed to provide a range of network and data management solutions and services to the business and residential sectors in Botswana. The aim of the merger was for both businesses to share mutually beneficial business aims by integrating the businesses, providing economies of scale, and sharing both infrastructure and office premises. All staff employed by both companies will be retained. The merger makes Paratus Botswana the largest independent network services provider in the Southern African country. T...
