Mobile and Telecoms
Telkom Launches New Music Streaming App in South Africa
Telkom, a leading telecommunications company in South Africa, has revealed its new music streaming platform, Telkom Music. Launched in partnership with Tencent-owned JOOX, the platform is available from the Huawei AppGallery and Google Play Store. Telkom Music – Powered by JOOX. Telkom says that it recognizes the landscape of music streaming is changing and highlights that the stand-out feature of its music app is the fact that it focuses on data-saving and shared music experiences between users. Data Conservation a Priority “In true Telkom style, our mission is to leave no man behind and we are thrilled to introduce this offering. We’ve introduced a bouquet of products recently to cater to the content needs of our customers, including video-on-demand and gaming services; and this closes t...
10 Fastest Internet Providers in Nigeria Ranked
Internet and connectivity speed tester Ookla has released its market analysis for Nigeria, ranking the country’s fastest internet service providers (ISPs). The analysis only takes into account top providers of internet services in the country, ones which account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market in Q2 of 2021 – smaller providers are not tested. All providers are ranked based on their Speed Score, which incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network performance (90% of the final Speed Score is attributed to download speed and the remaining 10% to upload speed because online experiences are typically more affected by download speed). Ookla places the most emphasis on the median speeds as those represent what most network providers’ custom...
The Role Mobile Technology Plays in Africa
With smartphones becoming more accessible and affordable, and network coverage growing stronger, the uptake of mobile technology is in a good space and growing in leaps and bounds on the African continent. Many mobile technology companies and organisations, both public and private, are harnessing the potential of this to bridge education gaps and alleviate poverty. With over 70% of its population under the age of 30, Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world. Lack of resources and infrastructure to educate this young population has resulted in a huge education gap. According to UNICEF, more than 1 billion children globally are at risk of falling behind due to recent school closures. To keep the world’s children learning, countries have been implementing remote education progr...
9 Fastest Internet Providers in South Africa Ranked
Internet and connectivity speed tester Ookla has released its market analysis for South Africa, ranking the country’s fastest internet service providers (ISPs). The analysis only takes into account top providers of internet services in the country, ones which account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market in Q2 – smaller providers are not tested. All providers are ranked based on their Speed Score, which incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network performance (90% of the final Speed Score is attributed to download speed and the remaining 10% to upload speed because online experiences are typically more affected by download speed). Ookla places the most emphasis on the median speeds as those represent what most network providers’ customers...
9 Fastest Internet Providers in South Africa Ranked
Internet and connectivity speed tester Ookla has released its market analysis for South Africa, ranking the country’s fastest internet service providers (ISPs). The analysis only takes into account top providers of internet services in the country, ones which account for 3% or more of total test samples in the market in Q2 – smaller providers are not tested. All providers are ranked based on their Speed Score, which incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network performance (90% of the final Speed Score is attributed to download speed and the remaining 10% to upload speed because online experiences are typically more affected by download speed). Ookla places the most emphasis on the median speeds as those represent what most network providers’ customers...
Connectivity in South Africa – 5 Numbers You Need to Know
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been even more reliant on their Internet connections to stay in touch, educated, entertained, and productive. Although the effects of the pandemic have been and continue to be devastating, we can only imagine what life would have looked like if this had happened in 1990, when the Internet was in its nascency. From the ‘90s to now, connectivity and the global digital transformation have accelerated innovation and productivity, but those who still don’t have access to high-speed Internet risk being left out of this new digital world. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality remain among South Africa’s biggest challenges, and narrowing the digital divide could help through job creation, skills development, and access to digital innovations. Let’s loo...
‘Big Business and Small Business Need Each Other Now More Than Ever’ – MTN SA CEO
Godfrey Motsa, CEO of MTN South Africa. In the face of overwhelming adversity and strife, it is a natural human emotion to withdraw from the crisis. Last night, as my executive team and I at MTN ended yet another crisis update, a wave of despondency hit me, and I said out loud, to no one in particular, “I have no more words.” But that doesn’t help, does it? It doesn’t help to have no words. It doesn’t help to remain quiet, to focus only on what matters to my family and the business I happen to run. MTN Faces #SAUnrest Consequences As I write this, MTN South Africa has closed over 100 stores mostly in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. Over 100 base stations are currently down, and our technicians can’t safely reach the sites for repairs, due to the ongoing unrest. Over 1000 MTN employees can’t get...
Safaricom’s Plans in Ethiopia Hit Snag Due to Possible US Payment Ban
Image sourced from Techweez Safaricom’s plans to expand into Ethiopia have hit a complication as a US State financier is threatening to recall its loans to a Safaricom-led consortium following an escalation of armed conflict in the horn of Africa. The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) says that acts of violence against civilians in Ethiopia’s Tigray region could affect the release of $500-million in loans to the consortium. If the conflict deepens, it could push the DFC to forgo the investments altogether and pressure the telecoms in the consortium to seek finances from elsewhere. War in Tigray DFC’s financing of the consortium had previously been thrown into doubt over US economic sanctions against Ethiopia related to the ongoing conflict in Tigray, which has killed t...
Orange Launches 5G Pilot Test in Mali
Sourced from MSNBC. Mobile operator Orange Mali has announced the launch of a 5G pilot in the country’s capital of Bamako. Orange is inviting customers to be the first to test the new network. A launch event on 7 July was attended by government officials including Harouna Mamadou Toureh, the Minister of Communication, Digital Economy and Modernisation of the Administration. Developing Telecoms reports that this new pilot phase has been authorised by the Malian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Information and Communication Technologies, and Posts (AMRTP). Premier pilote 5G au Mali, sur le réseau @Orange_Mali. Une infrastructure qui va révolutionner les usages du numérique au #Mali. Merci Monsieur le Ministre pour votre engagement en faveur du numérique : #M4Dev #eEducation, #eSante ...
