This week in tech has once again been an exceptionally busy one. Some of the key highlights include a new study which revealed that E-commerce is definitely on the rise in South Africa. To add this, two major questions have been raised this week… Is Zimbabwe set to force telcos to share infrastructure… and Can E-learning bridge the national educational gap?
Moving over to South Africa, IT News Africa was given an exclusive video overview, which features Andile Ngcaba, of what the Wi-Fi Forum of South Africa is all about.
If you missed out on the IT News Africa’s Principles of IT Leadership Seminar this past week, you can view the photo gallery here. Additionally, you can register for our upcoming Strategy Seminar titled, “Selling to CIO” here. The team at IT News Africa hopes you have a fantastic weekend. Here are our top stories of the week:
News
Ghana: Govt. optimistic about meeting digital switchover deadline
The Ghanaian Government is optimistic that it will meet the digital switchover deadline. The statement comes after a commercial Court in Accra threw out an injunction application seeking to prevent government from going ahead with the digital migration process. Read More.
Study reveals that E-commerce is on the rise in South Africa
A recent study conducted in South Africa by global market research company Ipsos, on behalf of PayPal and FNB, has revealed a growing interest by South African internet users to shop online. The study reveals that 22 percent of South African internet users have said they have made purchases online, and 48 percent expect to do so in the future. Read More.
Kenya: GOtv & Startimes deny broadcast infringement
Kenyan pay-TV firms GOtv and Startimes have allegedly denied claims that they were infringing on three media houses’ broadcasting rights. Read More.
Angola’s Unitel sets sights on Guine Telecom
Unitel Angola, is allegedly waiting for the launch of an international tender to submit an offer to buy Guinea-Bissau’s Guiné Telecom. Read More.
Is Zimbabwe set to force telcos to share infrastructure?
Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira has allegedly stated that government would force infrastructure sharing among service providers. The move is set to improve telecommunication and data services in Zimbabwe. Read More.
Ghana: Parliament unveils new online digital platform
The Government Assurance Committee (CGA) of the Parliament of Ghana, has unveiled a new online digital platform project in order to engage with citizens and amplify their voices on promises made by Ministers to ensure accountability. Read More.
Ghana: MTN details contribution of telecoms industry to Ghanaian economy
The Telecom industry in Ghana has been a driver for economic growth, representing 7 per cent of investment in Ghana, 10 per cent of government income and 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010. Read More.
Opinions
Gartner: CIOs must ensure that smart machines behave ethically
CIOs must start considering how to develop ethical programming for smart machines, this is according to Gartner. Realising the potential of smart machines — and ensuring successful outcomes for the businesses that rely on them — will hinge on how trusted smart machines are and how well they maintain that trust. Central to establishing this trust will be ethical values that people recognise and are comfortable with. Read More.
OTT Debate: Challenging operators to remain relevant in the market
Over-the-Top (OTT) services delivered via the Internet have become part and parcel of the lives of consumers today. From converged multimedia services such as High Definition (HD) audio and video to social platforms, screen sharing and other bandwidth-intensive, high data volume services, OTT has revolutionised data consumption. Read More.
Rise in mobile malware calls for efficient monitoring
Africa-based smartphone users must be savvier about the sites they visit, what they download, and the apps they use on their devices. Mobile malware is becoming more prevalent. So says Richard Broeke from IT security services vendor, Securicom. Read More.
Interviews
Andile Ngcaba Details Wi-Fi Forum SA
An inaugural conference of the Wi-Fi Forum of South Africa was held on 12 March 2015 in Johannesburg, officially establishing the Forum as an active player in the development of the country’s Wi-Fi sector. The association aims to represent the views of all stakeholders in the industry and serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking. Watch the interview here.
Top Features
Can E-learning bridge the national educational gap?
The recent announcement by the Gauteng provincial government to initiate a paperless classroom project as well as the Western Cape government’s commitment to spend R1.2-billion to implement e-learning in 1 250 local schools, is a significant step toward bridging the education gap in South Africa. Read More.
In Pictures: Mobile World Congress 2015
Mobile World Congress 2015 (MWC) was definitely a highlight for mobile manufacturers and telecom providers this year. According to the event organiser, MWC attracted a staggering 93,000 attendees from over 200 countries. View the Gallery.
Top List
Top 10 Strategic Technologies for Education in 2015
Social and economic pressures are forcing senior education leaders to rethink business models and consider a range of new technologies, to bring down the cost of administering education institutions and scale the business, according to research from Gartner. Read More.
Gadgets and Gaming
DJI Phantom Drone showcases the beauty of Africa
Technology is fast becoming an essential part of life. While some use technology to keep in contact, do business, or share the latest news on social media – Relais & Châteaux Africa has used it in order to showcase the true beauty of Africa. Read More.
PlayStation Plus Free Game Lineup March 2015
The PlayStation Plus Free Game Lineup for March 2015 is one that should not be missed. Not only do we get to venture back into the world of Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, but we also get to experience Valiant Hearts: The Great War on the PlayStation 4. Read More.
Nigeria: Wiko unveils Getaway smartphone
Wiko has launched its latest device, which has been dubbed “Getaway,” in Nigeria. According to the mobile phone manufacturer, it has also partnered with online e-commerce platform “Jumia” in order to distribute the device. Read More.
Review: New Nintendo 3DS XL
Since launch in 2011, the Nintendo 3DS has evolved quite a bit. The device has seen several redesigns, as well as the introduction of the Nintendo 2DS. However, Nintendo has not stopped there. Just recently, Nintendo launched its latest handheld gaming console, which has been dubbed the New Nintendo 3DS. However, what makes the New Nintendo 3DS different from the rest? Read More.
Darryl Linington
