Author: Gugu Lourie
by Gugu Lourie As part of its push into providing fast Internet to its consumers MTN South Africa, the country’s second-biggest mobile phone has paid R220 million to buy Smart Village. The company was bought from Multichoice, a subsidiary of Africa’s biggest tech group Naspers. “In November 2016, the group acquired 100% of the share capital of Smart Village for a cash consideration of R220 million and a deferred consideration of R12 million,” MTN informed investors on Thursday. The Smart Village acquisition was completed in December 2016, adding 22 000 homes passed with fibre to the network with about 7 000 homes…
by Lee Naik, CEO of TransUnion Africa It’s well into 2017 and you’ve been bombarded with more trends pieces than you know what to do with. From the many articles covering the CES and Davos to the analyses by the likes of Accenture, McKinsey, Deloitte and other major consultancies, there’s a lot to absorb. I’d like to apply a more strategic viewpoint. Sound business decisions should not be made on a whim, adopted every time a new, innovative technology claims to be the future of enterprise. To make these decisions easier, I’ve closely researched the predictions of big analysts, cross-referenced…
by Staff Writer MTN has described its performance in 2016 as reflecting “the most challenging year in the company’s 22-year history”, which was a result of the big Nigerian fine and other political challenges. This resulted in Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator to post a Headline loss per share of 77 cents in the year to end-December 2016. Headline earnings per share is the main profit gauge in South Africa. The perfect storm that has engulfed MTN has resulted in the resignation of its CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa, which led to a process to refresh the entire…
by Gugu Lourie MTN’s aggressive push into delivering digital services, such as lifestyle and mobile financial services solutions, continued to pay off in the year to end December 2016, according to the mobile phone operators’ full year results published this morning. Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator reported on Thursday that in the year to end-December 2016 it recorded a 44.2% growth in digital services revenue. The telco said its Mobile Money service accounts for 20,2% of total digital revenue. The number of MTN Mobile Money customers rose by 18,4% to 41 million, supported by a strong…
by BMW The seventh generation of the BMW 5 Series Sedan will cut a sporty, elegant and stylish figure when it hits the roads in South Africa from this month. Further enhanced dynamics, an unbeatable line-up of assistance systems, an unmatched degree of connectivity as well as new and innovative operating system are the most important new features. The new model therefore has all the tools it needs to continue the remarkable success recorded by its predecessors. The next step to automated driving A wealth of assistance systems are on hand in the new BMW 5 Series to offer the driver unbeatable…
by Ken OburaIn August 2012, terrorist group, Boko Haram, reportedly hacked into Nigeria’s secret service and acquired private data on current and former personnel. In April 2016, a group calling itself “Anonymous” was able to hack into the database of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and steal sensitive data. More recently, a number of South African companies’ systems were infiltrated by cyberattackers and data held for ransom. The firms included Johnny Bags food manufacturers, DSV Global and Gebers & Partners. These incidents illustrate the risks that the use of cyberspace poses to the African continent in the 21st Century. To…
by Staff Writer Net1, a Nasdaq and JSE-listed tech firm that is embroiled in a tussle with the South African government in its social grants contracts, is to buy 15% stake in Cell C for R2 billion. The deal will facilitate the recapitalisation of Cell C by Blue Label Telecoms, which is subscribing for 45% of the third-biggest local mobile phone operator. Net1 is also planning to acquire 49.6% of DNI-4PL Contracts (Pty) Ltd (“DNI”), with an option to acquire a controlling stake in DNI in the future. DNI is the leading distributor of mobile subscriber starter packs for Cell…
by Staff Writer US-based Quona Capital, which is a manager of the Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund worth $141 million and Netherlands-based Velocity Capital sees value in South Africa’s fintech start-up, Yoco. Both fintech-focused institutional investors have invested an undisclosed amount into Yoco and the funding details were scant. Yoco said the new capital will help it to grow its national footprint, launch new fintech services and lay the groundwork for international expansion in 2018. Yoco, which competes with Standard Bank-owned Snapscan and iKhoka, enables SMEs to accept card payments and provides card readers, and free point-of-sale and business intelligence tools…
by Gugu Lourie Global news agency Reuters’ News videos will be available on Tuluntulu’s tNews4U Channel. “Reuters is interesting in that it gives us quality international content, under our own brand tNews4U. The vision is to add local (African) news content to create a unique news offering,” Tuluntulu’s founder Pierre van der Hoven, told TechFinancials on Wednesday. He was excited to disclose the news as it will help the company to reach its half-a-million mark users in few months. Launched in August 2014, Tuluntulu app targets audiences in Africa, and globally, with African focused content delivered on its mobile content platform.…
By Ozgur Dedehayir and Tomi NokelainenThe tech giant Nokia has announced plans to release a new version of the old classic 3310 mobile phone. The original handset was popular at the turn of the century. The revised version will be a simple device that can make phone calls and send text messages, and not much else apart from play the cult game of Snake. So why would a phone company move away from the traditional route of making smart phones more smart and opt for this retro technology? We tend to appreciate technology if it allows us to lead an easier life…
Blockchain technology will enable financial transactions to take place quicker and provide an undisputed version of the truth for all parties to a transaction, Darrel Orsmond, Financial Services Industry Head at SAP Africa, said in a statement on Tuesday. He said that this has fundamental consequences for the way the financial services industry operates. However, much like the internet in its early days, Orsmond argued that the true value of Blockchain – and its potential uses – remains largely undiscovered.” Blockchain will improve trust and provide transparency to business processes running across multiple participants. “All relevant information will be available…
By Staff Writer Cell C has slammed its black economic empowerment partner, CellSaf for threatening to go to court again if a planned restructuring of the mobile phone operator goes ahead. CellSAf holds a 25% debt-free and unencumbered stake in 3C Telecommunications, the owners of Cell C. In an e-mailed statement on Sunday to TechCentral, CellSAf said that it remains “resolutely opposed” to the recapitalisation plan for Cell C, in terms of which JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms will acquire 45% of the business for R5,5bn. Other shareholders, including CellSAf, will be diluted in the process. However, Cell C’s chairman, Mohammed…
By Staff Writer Tech firm Blue Label Telecoms announced on Monday that it has entered into a binding umbrella agreement to restructure Cell C’s debt. The firm said it has entered into an agreement with Cell C, debt providers of Cell C, a third-party investor, and other relevant parties (which could be Net1). The agreement will facilitate the reduction of the maximum net borrowings of Cell C to R6 billion. As part of the agreement, the third-party investor is to subscribe for 15% of Cell C for R2 billion and Blue Label’s subscription for 45% of the share capital of…
Huawei Watch 2, which is a product for those who yearn for the freedom to explore while staying connected, without having to be glued to a smartphone, is set to be introduced in South Africa in April. The device has independent connectivity, allowing users to send messages or make calls independently of a mobile phone. With Huawei Watch 2 (4G supported version), users can leave their mobile phone at home and go running, cycling or just exploring while staying connected. Thanks to independent mobile connectivity and a built in GPS chip, users can respond to calls and text messages, use independent…
The iconic Nokia 3310, is reborn with a modern twist on design. The new phone is thin, light and incredibly durable, according to HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. The manufacturer said in a statement that the Nokia 3310 is a head turning modern twist on one of the best-selling feature phones of all time. Boasting an incredible 22-hour talk-time and month long stand-by, the Nokia 3310’s fresh, colourful, modern design brings it bang up to date. “Nokia phones stir real emotions; people know them for their beautiful design and craftsmanship, together with a built-to-last quality that you can rely…
by Ujuh Correspondent Reports of ‘xenophobic attacks‘ in South Africa against Nigerians and other Africans have caused angry reactions across the continent and mainly in Nigeria. A strong statement issued by the Nigerian presidency condemning the ‘xenophobic attacks’ has been followed by widespread angry media statements and protests. Here follows how different Nigerian media has framed the story: The Nigerian Observer “Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki has condemn in strong term the Xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens living in South Africa calling on the Federal Government, Foreign Affair Ministry and the South Africa government to protect Nigerians in that…
by Christopher Markou Get used to hearing a lot more about artificial intelligence. Even if you discount the utopian and dystopian hyperbole, the 21st century will broadly be defined not just by advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, computing and cognitive neuroscience, but how we manage them. For some, the question of whether or not the human race will live to see a 22nd century turns upon this latter consideration. While forecasting the imminence of an AI-centric future remains a matter of intense debate, we will need to come to terms with it. For now, there are many more questions than answers.…
by Joe Moran During the three years I’ve spent researching and writing about shyness, one of the most common questions people ask is about the relationship between shyness and technology. Are the internet and the cellphone causing our social skills to atrophy? I often hear this from parents of shy teenagers, who are worried that their children are spending more time with their devices than with their peers. This anxiety isn’t new. At the first international conference on shyness, organized in Wales in 1997 by the British Psychological Society, Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbardo was the keynote speaker. He noted that…
by Staff Writer After a week of speculation that Telkom, South Africa’s incumbent fixed-line telephone group, may be interested in reviving talks to buy Cell C, which is in a process of being recapitalized by Blue Label Telecoms, the country’s third-biggest mobile phone operator is not going to be owned by Telkom. Within few days of being mum about the media speculation that Telkom has tabled an offer to buy Cell C, its chairman Mohammed Hariri said on Thursday that Cell C has rejected Telkom’s proposal. Media speculation suggested that Telkom has tabled a $1 billion offer to buy Cell…
by Elizabeth C. Tippett Uber has suffered a spate of bad publicity in recent days after allegations of harassment and discrimination from a former software engineer. In a blog post, Susan Fowler described being propositioned by her supervisor within weeks of starting her job. She complained to the human resources (HR) team. According to Fowler, the supervisor received a “warning and a stern talking-to” but no other discipline at the time because he was a strong performer and it was his “first offense.” Uber then offered her a choice: Transfer to another team or stay and risk a retaliatory performance review…
By Staff Writer African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED) has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its solar kiosk that charges over 30 phones at once and brings free Wi-Fi. The Rwandan-based start-up wants to support life-changing access to electricity and the internet in Africa to about 600 million people, who must make the long journey into the next town with electricity to just charge their phones and access the internet. The firm founded by entrepreneur, Henri Nyakarundi, wants to bring digital access to all of Africa, Him and his team want to produce many more solar kiosks to be able to…
by Gugu Lourie Anyone who seriously thought that the South African government was going to spend more money into implementing broadband access in the country simply hasn’t been paying attention and the budget delivered on Wednesday confirmed that politicians don’t see fast Internet access as a priority for its citizens. South Africa will spend a mere R1.9 billion to implement broadband in the country, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday in a budget speech. Gordhan said the 2017 budget allocates funds over the mini budget period of R1.9 billion versus R1.6 billion in 2016. These funds are aimed at…
by Staff Writer South Africa’s health informatics firm LifeQ has collaborated with Silicon Valley-based Striiv to develop a high-scale, low-friction & personalised health information platform for the corporate wellness, insurance, care provider and pharmaceutical industries. They will jointly develop a wrist-based body monitoring platform. Together, Striiv and LifeQ will deliver a solution that removes the two major barriers to a scaled health information platform, namely: lack of quality biometric information and up-front technology and program costs. Building on the technical depth of Striiv’s wearable platforms, the two companies will combine expertise to deliver wearable devices that extract maximum relevant physiological…
by Staff Writer JSE-listed tech firm EOH has collaborated with German-based STEAG Energy Services to deliver world-class energy solutions to the region. The two companies have created a joint venture business to be known as STEAG EOH Energy Services South Africa. The aim of the joint venture is to bring leading expertise to the energy sector in South Africa. “STEAG EOH Energy Services brings together leaders in technology and engineering innovation in a unique partnership which will deliver world-class energy solutions to the region, spanning; design, engineering, operation and optimisation of all types of power generation facilities,” said Zunaid Mayet,…