Author: Gugu Lourie
Project Isizwe, which provides the Tshwane Free WiFi service, boasted on Tuesday that it had saved the City of Tshwane more than R1 billion in providing free WiFi to its citizens. Launched in 2013, Tshwane Free WiFi, currently has over 1050 free WiFi live sites and million unique users connected at speeds averaging 15mbps. The people of the City are able to enjoy 500MB per device per day and unlimited access to educational, employment-focused, entrepreneurship and entertainment content. “It’s not every day that you get to say you’ve saved a billion rand,” Project Isizwe said in a statement. “We all…
South Africa’s power utility Eskom on Sunday refuted media claims that it is facing a cash crisis and that it has only enough cash to last for the next three months. The Sunday Times reported that Eskom is sitting on its last R20-billion but wants bonuses to be paid to axed CEO Brian Molefe, suspended acting chief executive Matshela Koko and others. The Power utility said external auditors have confirmed it as a going concern, and as a result, the company sees “these reports as being inaccurate and misleading”. “It is important to reiterate that Eskom is not facing any…
Far too many urban residents spend hours stuck in traffic; no one can escape airborne pollution. “Mobility is also a critical economic factor, both and as the means of providing the goods and services that are the foundation of economic life. Finally, mobility matters to people, whether this is getting to work or school with ease, visiting friends and relatives, or simply exploring one’s surroundings,” according to a recent report by McKinsey & Company titled: “An integrated perspective on the future of mobility”. In relatively few places, however, does the reality of what is available match the public’s aspirations for…
By Staff Writer South African-based mobile phone operator MTN has agreed to pay R113 million ($8.5 million) administrative fine to settle its dispute with the Rwandan government, according to Rwanda Eye. On May 17, Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA) imposed a massive fine worth $8.5 million as a result of non-compliance with the directives issued by the regulator prohibiting the inclusion of MTN Rwanda in the MTN South and East Africa (SEA) IT hub based in Uganda. “MTN Rwanda will be the one to pay the RURA fine not MTN Group. The fine will affect cash flow not performance of…
By News Agency Staff Government has launched a broadband infrastructure project in the OR Tambo District, in the Eastern Cape, to empower youth and communities through technology and access to skills. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday said the project, which has been deliberately located in a rural area, is the beginning of a nationwide programme that has the potential to improve the quality of service delivery and rejuvenate rural economies. He was addressing the 20 years Commemoration of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders at Bhisho Stadium in the Eastern Cape. “It is essential that traditional leaders are…
South Africa’s SqwidNet is fast-tracking the deployment of its open-access Internet of Things (IoT) network infrastructure to enable developers to provide intelligent solutions to solve problems faced by their clients. SqwidNet’s IoT network has been deployed across all of South Africa’s eight major metros and cover more than 49% of the population, and expected to exceed 85% population coverage by the end of the year. For more read: SqwidNet’s IoT Network Goes Nationwide, Now Covers All South African Cities Working with partners to deliver IoT Solutions Brace yourself, IoT solutions are coming to the country, thanks to SqwidNet’s infrastructure. Industrial…
Pakamile Pongwana, South Africa’s Communications Watchdog’s CEO, has been placed on precautionary suspension. “The Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) hereby notifies all stakeholders and the media that it has decided to place the Chief Executive Officer, Pakamile Pongwana, on precautionary suspension pending an internal disciplinary process,” the communications watchdog, said on Thursday. The regulator didn’t disclose the details of the disciplinary hearing process. Icasa said its chief operations officer, Willington Ngwepe, will be acting in this position until such time that the internal processes have been concluded. Pongwana was appointed as the CEO for Icasa…
By News Agency Staff Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo will today meet broadcasters following the June 8 court ruling on digital migration. The meeting will be held with broadcasters SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation), Etv, StarSat and other stakeholders in the digital terrestrial television (DTT) programme. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Wednesday said the June 8 Constitutional Court ruling paved the way for the Minister to make a decision regarding the encrypt or non-encryption of set-top-boxes, which are required to convert digital broadcasting signals on analogue TV sets. “The meeting is a step closer to ensuring that the…
SqwidNet is keen to expand its network to the rest of Africa, its CEO, Reshaad Sha, said on Tuesday. The company is a subsidiary of Dark Fibre Africa and deploying an open access ultra-narrowband IoT (Internet of Things) radio network in South Africa licensed by France’s Sigfox. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), also known as the Industrial Internet, brings together brilliant machines, advanced analytics, and people at work. It’s the network of a multitude of devices connected by communications technologies that results in systems that can monitor, collect, exchange, analyze, and deliver valuable new insights like never before. These insights can then…
SqwidNet now has an Internet of Things (IoT) network that covers all South African cities. The IoT network will create opportunities for businesses small and large to come up with innovative solutions. The operator told Techfinancials on Tuesday that its IoT network has been deployed across all of South Africa’s eight major metros and cover more than 49% of the population. The company, which is a subsidiary of South Africa’s Dark Fibre Africa and a licensed Sigfox operator, added that the IoT network will exceed 85% population coverage in South Africa by the end of the year. “We started building…
By Staff Writer JSE-listed Cognition has moved to take full ownership of BMi Sport, a research firm specialising in consumer and industrial research. The South African firm that operates quietly to provide telecoms and IT solutions to big telecommunications operators currently holds 63% interest in BMi Sport, and has struck a deal with two remaining shareholders (David Ian Sidenberg and Wayne Deary) to buy the remaining 37% shareholding for an undisclosed amount. BMi Sport was established in 1990 as an independent research company focusing exclusively on the sport and sponsorship market. It has been at the forefront of the industry and…
The German-based carmaker has confirmed the arrival of its first ever BMW i8 Roadster. The BMW i8 Roadster will arrive in 2018. The carmaker said on Monday that in 2018, the BMW i8 Roadster will unlock the door to a whole new dimension in pioneering open-top driving pleasure – “virtually silent and with zero local emissions” Here’s a first look: Ultimate progression, ready to spread its wings. The first ever #BMWi8 Roadster. Coming in 2018. #BMWi
In a first six months of 2017 that saw the South Africa’s sovereign credit rating downgraded to BB+ from BBB grade, pushing the rating of the economy to junk status local startups are not doing bad at all. It is shaping up to be a good year for some South African startups looking for new investor money to grow their solutions. Several local startups continues to attract local and foreign investors with big pockets to expand their solutions. These startups are transforming business and everyday life in South Africa. What follows are our picks, in no particular order, for startups…
Naspers, Africa’s biggest tech and media firm, said on Friday that it has successfully priced a $1 billion (R13 billion) bond. The tech firm, which owns stakes in China’s Tencent and Russia’s Mail. Ru, said the coupon of the bond, which is due to mature in 2027, was placed at 4.85%. The company, which owns MultiChoice Africa, is raising the bond through its wholly-owned subsidiary Myriad International Holdings (MIH). “The net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, and to repay MIH’s existing notes maturing in July 2017,” the company informed investors on the JSE filing on…
The rural towns of Ventersdorp and Lichtenburg in the North West Province, seems to be the first countryside area in South Africa to be connected to broadband. True Communications has laid 110 km of fibre optic cable within Ventersdorp and Lichtenburg, providing town-wide optical connection coverage for every home in the two areas. The Ventersdorp-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) installation is a passive optical fibre network using point-to-multipoint fibre optic deployment. Eldred Ekermans, MD of True Communications, on Tuesday told Techfinancials that the ISP has connected 300 customers to the new network, with a projected total of 1 200 connections…
By Staff Writer Vox, South Africa’s integrated ICT and telco provider, on Monday announced that it has lunch fibre services in Richards Bay, an economic hub in KwaZulu-Natal. The telco said it has activated fibre services in the first three precincts in Richards Bay, the first non-metropolitan town in its National Long-Distance Fibre Project which was launched in October 2016. With a thriving industrial and mining sector, combined with the harbour, Richards Bay met the key criteria required to build a business case for fibre infrastructure investment, one that becomes the starting point of the long- distance fibre initiative. “It…
Worldwide, women are abused, killed, mutilated, raped, and abducted. We all know there is this dark side of life, and women killings, rape, mutilation, and human trafficking shows how cruel we are humans towards women. A recent spate of violent killings, rape and abduction of women have shocked South Africans. Shockingly, every eight hours a woman is killed in South Africa, according to the SA Medical Research Council. This has prompted Langelihle Zulu (28 years-old) and Tshega Mampshika (23 years-old), the founders of Algorhythm – a digital marketing and technology company based in Empangeni, a town in KwaZulu-Natal close to the industrial hub of…
On-demand cleaning service Domestly has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The funds will be used by Domestly to gain market traction and promote job creation. The start-up also said that the institutional funding from the IDC will help the business in expanding not only its national footprint, but will also allow it to grow its in-house technology team. Domestly is aiming to advance the way the world cleans their homes. It utilises technology to connect cleaning professionals directly to homeowners through its app, making the service affordable and accessible to everyone, and creating…
Ansys, a South African-based firm that develops technology based solutions to enterprises, today unveiled its plans to reposition the business during the company’s result presentation and celebration of 10-years of being listed on the JSE’s Alt-X board held in Sandton, Johannesburg. CEO Teddy Daka, who informed investors that the company’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) jumped 203% to 14.71 cents for the year to end March 2017, said the group will be reposition as a digital technology solutions provider. HEPS is South Africa’s main profit gauge. The tech firm, which also celebrated its 30-year anniversary, is to be repositioned along…
South Africa’s Intact Software Distribution, which is being pursued by Nasdaq-listed supplier of cyber security solutions Cognosec AB, has opened a local office in Nairobi, Kenya, to better service its growing African reseller base. The South Africab IT security software distributor has hired Nathan Wohoro to run the Kenyan operations. Wohoro has many years’ experience in the local market, and boasts an in-depth knowledge of both the market and of security solutions. He will be responsible for overseeing business development, and will work closely with local Intact partners and end-users throughout Kenya, and the region as a whole. Intact Software Distribution…
Gamers (or electronics and software engineering talent) who can break the code of the Gorillaz’s virtual band’s app stand a chance to be fast-tracked through the recruitment process at Jaguar. Jaguar Land Rover and Gorillaz are working together to recruit the next generation of world-class electronics and software engineering talent, with a code-breaking challenge found in the virtual band’s app. The challenge is open globally – including South Africa. The recruitment drive is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to next-generation technology and connected cars. The Gorillaz app is available on iOS and Android. The Gorillaz are an English virtual…
South-African based tech start-up WhereIsMyTransport has announced an investment of £1.2 million (R19.8 million) from Goodwell Investments and Bombardier. Last August, the investment firm invested £1.165 million (R22.1 million) in the tech start-up. The Cape Town and London-based public transport data and technology start-up said in a statement on Tuesday the investment has been secured as the company completes the digital mapping of informally run public transport in South Africa’s major metropolitan areas. WhereIsMyTransport offers integrated data solutions for formal and informally run transport in cities across South Africa. Inspired by their own frustration with public transport, co-founders Devin de Vries,…
MTN SA makes five executive appointments to bolster operational efficiency MTN announced on Tuesday that it has strengthened its executive team even further by appointing five new members in a bid to enhance operational efficiency across the operation and provide more in-depth commercial skills and experience. “We are pleased and emboldened by the calibre of people we are bringing on board to bolster our management team. These appointments give credence to the veracity of our succession planning,” Enzo Scarcella, chief operations officer at MTN SA, says. “Our new operations management line-up will ensure that MTN has the operations executive…
Vodacom has once again delayed it’s public listing on the Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), despite its successful initial public offering. The Vodafone-owned telco announced on June 5 that more than 40 000 Tanzanians, many of them first-time participants in the capital market, have subscribed for shares in the IPO. The company described this as a milestone that executes on Government’s vision to empower more Tanzanians to own stakes in local companies. The South African-based firm was expected to list its shares on May 16, but this was postponed to June 12 and this has been missed also. However, Vodacom Tanzania has…
The digitisation of our economy is changing various sectors of the economy – and the agricultural industry is no exception. By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The organisation points out that to feed this larger, urbaner, and richer population, food production (net of food used for biofuels) must increase by 70%. Nearly all this increase in population will take place on the part of the world comprising today’s developing countries, which includes Africa. The greatest relative increase, 120 percent, is expected…