Author: Gugu Lourie
No person within ICASA is in denial about the problems (both internal and external) that the organisation faces and the reasons why the organisation has performed so poorly. Neither are we ignorant about the mammoth task that lies ahead if we are to turn the organisation around. By Willington Ngwepe, chief operations officer of ICASA The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa today tabled its 2014-15 Annual Report to Parliament. The report presents an overview of the Authority’s performance for the 2014-15FY. It paints a bleak picture of the Authority’s performance during the past financial period. The organisation is…
Technology firm HITec Sure, which supports security company SOS Protec with its infrastructure and IT requirements, is rolling out wireless internet access and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs. By Gugu Lourie HITec Sure is based in the suburb of Gillview in the South of Johannesburg and is promising customers’ internet access that is wireless, fast and affordable. The tech firm that supports SOS Protec with its infrastructure and IT requirements has launched an internet access service, known as MYiweb. The service is available on “special offer”. Customers can buy 4Mbps line capped 20GB at R399/month, 2Mbps uncapped at…
The art of futurology – predicting what future society might look like – is plagued with difficulties. Books, films, TV shows and plays that feature such efforts are all judged through the prism of hindsight. By Stewart Boogert The 1989 film Back To The Future Part II (BTTF2) saw its characters travel in time to 21 October 2015 and experience a world hugely different to the 1980s one they came from. Now we have reached 2015, it is clear that some of the predictions have proved surprisingly accurate – while others have fallen woefully flat. But we’re also surprisingly close…
Bond villains have always been interesting characters: sophisticated, intelligent and supremely well-equipped with futuristic and cutting-edge toys. Aptly, the new official car of evil, a Jaguar C-X75 driven by henchman Mr Hinx in the latest Bond movie Spectre, is as advanced as it gets. By Chris Ebbert A 850-horsepower hybrid with four electric engines and diesel-fuelled micro turbines, it can reach a top speed of more than 200mph. The prototype was too costly to go into full production but has been dusted off specially for the movie. It can cover the first 60km of any journey in purely electric mode, and…
MTN Group on Tuesday announced that MTN Cameroon will receive $100 000 (R1,3 million) to invest in community projects, as recognition of the outstanding and selfless work of employees in that country, during the group’s annual employee volunteer programme. By Staff Writer MTN Cameroon employees rallied together during the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign to build eight classrooms and a dormitory at two schools for visually impaired learners. The team also constructed and equipped three libraries in centres for the disabled. The activities are estimated to have impacted more than 4500 beneficiaries. Y’ello Care is an employee volunteer…
Telkom, the country’s biggest fixed-line telephone group, plans to offer the Sim-Sonke and Telkom More prepaid plans users R10 000 funeral cover by simply recharging with R100 or more airtime. By Gugu Lourie The firm, which owns Telkom Mobile, has partnered with Africa’s biggest insurer Old Mutual, which would underwrite the cover valued at R10 000 at no additional costs for the telephone group subscribers on the Sim-Sonke and Telkom More prepaid plans. This innovative solution has been developed by Telkom as a loyalty funeral cover for prepaid users. Telkom said customers on the Sim-Sonke and Telkom More prepaid plans will…
MTN Business has given further weight to its intentions of supporting open access fibre networks by announcing a multi-tier model that leverages off MTN’s fibre infrastructure and applies equally to enterprise end-users, households, and SME users. By Staff Writer MTN’s multi-tier model gives MTN the ability to cater to the individual needs of each customer segment. This service is a step up from traditional offering where other service providers are able to piggy-back off MTN’s fibre infrastructure. The next level up from this is the reseller service that smaller IT service providers or residential property managers can offer as…
JSE-Listed technology firm EOH acquires Mehleketo Resourcing, a turn-key rail automation and technology solutions. By Staff Writer The software and computer services firm didn’t disclose the amount it paid to but Mehleketo Resourcing. Mehleketo has a turnover of over R300 million, technology partnerships with the major international rail automation technology OEMs and about 350 employees. They are the leading rail signaling and communications engineering and systems integration solutions provider in South Africa and have a number of long-term project and maintenance & support contracts with the major operators in the country. “It’s very exciting to have Mehleketo join the EOH family.…
JSE Listed Adapt IT announced on Monday it has agreed to buy value added distributor CQS Investments for more than R200 million, enabling the technology firm to diversify into the auditing and accounting professions and will enhance its technology. By Gugu Lourie The software and computer services firm said it has entered into a share purchase agreement with Ethos to buy CQS Investment, which has a footprint in Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe through a direct and a distributor network. This targeted acquisition is in line with Adapt IT’s strategy of planned acquisitive growth and allows the company to further…
One of the next great frontiers of consumer technology will be the humble automobile. No longer just a piece of physical engineering, the car of the future will soon connect us to the digital world in ways that stretch the imagination and excite our ambitions. And that future is not very far away. By Michael Frans, head of business operations: Automotive at T-Systems South Africa For consumers, connected cars promise to make our lives simpler, more convenient, and safer – augmenting our digital lifestyles in a variety of ways. For vehicle manufacturers, dealers, and workshops, connected cars will open…
Today marks the beginning of the 8th Open Access (OA) week, a global event to highlight all things open access. By Virginia Barbour It also marks three years since the Australasian Open Access Support Group (AOASG) – a coalition of nine Australian universities and now the Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL) – came in to existence to advocate for OA in this region. So it’s a good time to reflect on where we are with open access today. It’s now 25 years since the birth of the web, and more than 15 years since people started discussing open…
It is easy to get lost in a sea of information when looking at cybersecurity issues. And hearing about hacks and cyberattacks as they happen is a surefire way to feel helpless and totally disempowered. By Robert Potter What follows is a sort of future shock, where we become fatalistic about the problem. After all, 86% of organisations from around the world surveyed by PwC reported exploits of some aspect of their systems within a one year period. That represented an increase of 38% on the previous year. However, once the situation comes into focus, the problem becomes much more…
BMW South Africa received the first green energy at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria on 10 October 2015. The plant received energy generated from renewable sources such as cattle manure and mixture of organic waste. By Staff Writer Last year, BMW signed power purchasing agreement with energy company Bio2Watt. Through this agreement, between 25% and 30% of BMW Plant Rosslyn’s electricity requirements will now be generated from renewable sources. The BMW South Africa / Bio2Watt renewable energy partnership is the first commercially viable biogas project. The Bio2Watt biogas plant in Bronkhorstspruit is located on the premises of one of South…
Cartrack, a South African new player in the vehicle tracking industry is actively pursuing global opportunities, is targeting growth prospects in the United States. By Gugu Lourie Cartrack provides services related to stolen vehicle recovery, fleet management and insurance telematics through Software as a Service (Saas). The company has more than 430 000 units installed in cars globally, after recording 24% growth in its maiden results. Its technology solutions have so far helped to recover stolen vehicles in South Africa valued at R450m. “The board of directors of the company is pleased to announce that the company is planning to…
The fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) market is now so competitive big telcos are doing all they can – including snapping up smaller competitors – to stay ahead of the game. By Gugu Lourie Oddly, the FTTH market rose out of the ashes of Telkom’s dwindling fixed-line telephone business that provides internet access to South Africans. It is not a surprise that rival telcos and new players are taking Telkom on as they push for a market share of FTTH. But the proliferation of companies that deploy fibre across the country is raising fears about the South African market becoming over traded. JM…
Dial a Nerd is set to bolster the offering of Turrito Networks in the small medium enterprises (SMEs) market. By Gugu Lourie Dial a Nerd, a technology support company known for 17 years for sending a nerd to fix your computer, has been snapped up by Turrito Networks, a subsidiary of JSE-listed investment group MICROmega. Turrito Networks, a converged communication provider, is buying a 51% stake in Dial a Nerd. The deal will be finance through equity and shares. Colin Thornton, who founded Dial a Nerd in 1998, and his brother Aaron will both remain substantial shareholders in the…
With less than a week to go before the start of MyWorld of Tomorrow, Business Connexion (BCX) is pleased to announce that a host of sponsors and exhibitors will be present at the second annual technology and lifestyle expo. By Staff Writer Taking place from 22 – 24 October at the Sandton Convention Centre, MyWorld of Tomorrow is an African-led movement inspired by technological innovation and bringing thought leaders, communities and experiences together under one roof, creating discussion and solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and its meaning for Africa. Far more than just a conference and exhibition,…
The argument for the use of police body cameras is gaining momentum in South Africa, amid growing demand for greater police accountability, especially in the wake of the Marikana massacre. By Gráinne Perkins The cameras are typically worn on the chests of police officers. Their use is becoming common globally. The chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on policing, Francois Beukman, recently asked for serious discussions on introducing body cameras in the South African Police Service. The police say they are discussing the use of technology, including body cameras, to improve communications and for the safety of officers. South Africa has…
The first Vodacom store to start selling the device will be Vodacom World in Midrand, which is set to open at 6 am today (Friday 16 October 2015). Breakfast snacks and coffee will be on offer for eager customers. By Staff Writer Vodacom packages include: iPhone 6s 16GB Available on a range of contracts including the Vodacom Smart S for R549 per month for 24 months. This deal includes an extra 1GB of data for the first three months. Customers can trade in their iPhone 6 128GB for an iPhone 6s 16GB and pay only R299 on a Vodacom Smart…
At a glittering event attended by the A-list celebrities in the entertainment world, MTN launched and unveiled the pricing of its iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. By Staff Writer MTN’s head office store in Johannesburg, and its flagship shops in Cape Town and Durban were doing brisk trade way past midnight catering to customers who wished to be among the first to acquire this iconic handset. “MTN is excited to once more provide its customers with the opportunity to own the most advanced iPhone ever made. We have made a substantial investment of R12 billion into our network to…
Mozido Africa, a subsidiary of Mozido, Inc., a global digital commerce and payments solution provider, has selected Johannesburg as its African headquarters. By Gugu Lourie The Africa head office of Mozido will be based in Fourways, Johannessburg. Mozido’s mobile payments solution already benefits millions around the globe by addressing key financial payment challenges. Mozido is committed to the growing movement of innovative mobile payments technology to help future generations live well both in Africa and across the globe. The firm said the opening of an office in Johannesburg represents a key milestone in its expansion and its commitment to the…
Adrian Ephraim, Independent Online (IOL) managing editor informed readers in a letter on the group’s website on Thursday that IOL will be closing comments on its online articles with immediate effect. By Staff Writer The move by IOL follows a similar strategy by News24 last month. “The freedom of expression guaranteed by our Constitution was never meant to override the personal freedoms and human rights of our fellow citizens,” says Ephraim. He added that let me be clear that commenting on an article is not a right, but a courtesy afforded to you by IOL as a reader. “If you are prone to being…
Cell C today announced it will offer iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the most advanced iPhones ever, beginning on 16 October. iPhone 6s 16GB will be available starting at R449 per month for 24 months on the Epic 150 plan. By Staff Writer iPhone 6s Plus 16GB will be available starting at R499 per month for 24 months on the Epic 150 plan. iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s will also be available. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus bring a powerful new dimension to iPhone’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface with 3D Touch, which senses force to enable…
Telkom on Thursday announced it will offer iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the most advanced iPhones ever, from 16 October 2015. An iPhone 6s 16GB will be available starting at R559 per month for 24 months on SmartPlan 50. By Staff Writer iPhone 6s Plus 16GB will be available starting at R659 per month for 24 months on the same plan. iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s will also be available. For additional pricing details, please visit http://www.telkom.co.za/today/iphone6/pre-register/ iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus bring a powerful new dimension to iPhone’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface with 3D Touch,…
Turrito Networks, a division of JSE-listed investment group MICROmega, has snapped up a majority stake in IT support specialist company Dial a Nerd for an undisclosed amount. By Staff Writer The full Dial a Nerd staff complement of 65 employees will be retained as part of the acquisition and will take Turrito Networks to just over 100 employees, nationwide. “We wanted to be the first service provider to encompass every aspect of IT for the SME (small medium enterprises) customer – from managed desktop and LAN solutions through to high-speed connectivity and converged communications. This acquisition makes that all…