This week mobile and telecommunications across Africa has again dominated the news.
Over the past few days, Orange Horizons, the business services division of French telecommunications operator, Orange, announced its partnership with South African mobile services provider, Nashua Mobile.
Additionally, in South Africa, Telkom announced its results and executive management reaffirmed the company’s determination to address key challenges.
There has also been more industry insight into-and focus on issues like BYOD, LTE and the cloud.
ITNewsAfrica has cherry-picked those stories that have truly grabbed the attention of readers.
We hope you enjoy!
1. Smile Uganda launches first true 4G LTE in Uganda
On June 9 Smile Communications Uganda Limited launched the first true 4G LTE broadband network in Uganda. Smile has had commercial customers using its 4G LTE services for the past six months and, with the launch, Smile becomes the only operator in Uganda to operate a full true 4G LTE service.
2. Why Virgin Mobile is failing in SA
Out of the major mobile operators in South Africa, MTN, Vodacom, and Cell C have the market squarely in their sights. However, there is another mobile operator that is flirting with obscurity.
3. All you need to know about Xbox One’s DRM
Microsoft unveiled their new gaming console to the world on 21 May, and while not a lot was explained about how the system will work exactly, rumours started to circulate about the console’s heavy use of Digital Rights Management (DRM).
4. Kenya: Safaricom’s free Wi-Fi for commuters
CIO East Africa reports on Kenyan telecommunication services provider Safaricom’s rollout of data services to local public service vehicles or matatus.
5. Nigeria, a growing technology force in Africa
From West Africa, news over the Internet and off wires is that Nigeria’s bustling technology market continues to grow in stature, relevance and volume. The country has been ranked among the continent’s most active regions according to ITNewsAfrica.
6. South Africa could see widespread 40Mbit/s connections
South Africa could see the widespread roll-out of 40Mbit/s internet connections for only R329 a month – if South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) gets their way.
7. Telkom SA explains internet outage
South African internet users last week Friday fell victim to a wide-spread internet service outage and experienced very slow connections – or no connections at all. Fixed-line provider Telkom managed to rectify the issue late on Friday afternoon and explained what happened.
8. MTN SA to launch pre-paid LTE soon
Mobile service provider MTN has announced that they have increased their LTE footprint to engage a wider audience in South Africa and will offer the service to contract and Top-Up customers.
9. Africa sees increase in tablet market growth
The tablet market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region grew by 184% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2013, to reach a total of 2.25 million units, according to the latest results released by International Data Corporation (IDC), the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm for the information technology and telecommunications markets.
10. Nigeria’s iROKO enters SA DVD market
iROKO Partners, Africa’s largest source of Nigerian entertainment with its platforms iROKOtv and iROKING, announces a major strategic development via its entry into the South African DVD market and the launch of 10,000 new Nigerian movie DVDs.
* Image via Shutterstock
Chris Tredger, Online Editor
