Author: Gugu Lourie
Struggling mobile network operator Cell C has long been identified as a company that is likely to be gobbled up by a big local telco or a foreign firm. Gugu Lourie takes a closer look at this potential deal, which has seen speculation about a number of potential suitors, including French telecoms group Orange, South Africa’s Telkom and multinational technology firm Dimension Data. Last month, Cell C’s parent company, Dubai-based Oger Telecom, confirmed that it is looking for buyers for its 75% stake in the mobile operator. Goldman Sachs has been appointed to help with the process. Cell C, which was launched in 2001 as the country’s third…
As part of its summer campaign dubbed “With Love from MTN, the mobile phone operator is turning five of its lucky subscribers into overnight millionaires just for being on the MTN network. By Staff Writer MTN will be giving away a monthly cash prize of R1 million to each lucky subscriber between October 2015 to January 2016 just for staying on the MTN network. This cash prize of R1 million in cash will be given at the end of each month to one lucky subscriber. That’s not all, MTN is further sharing the love by giving away approximately R5 million…
Vox Telecom, an end-to-end technology provider, has today launched a series of new uncapped ADSL bundles that are aimed at keeping South Africans connected for less. By Staff Writer Effective 01 October 2015, Vox Telecom is offering a consolidated range of uncapped ADSL bundles for home users. “We’ve created these packages in an effort to deliver best value to our customers, both in terms of data only, and bundled line rental options. In so doing we’re offering cost conscious customers more bang for their buck,” says Shane Chorley, executive head of Carrier and Connectivity at Vox Telecom. Packages will range…
As computer technology has become more advanced, it has also become more sensitive to fluctuations in the voltage and supply of electricity. On-going power issues continue to be a major cause of computer and server downtime, and can have long-term repercussions on the reliability of equipment and the availability and integrity of data. By Marco Da Silva, MD of Power Solutions, The Jasco Group An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) has thus become an essential component of any end-to-end technology or computing solution. As a critical component of these systems, it is essential to ensure the UPS is optimally maintained, operational…
The computing cloud we have created supports much of our day-to-day office and leisure activity, from office email to online shopping and sharing holiday photos. Even health, social care and government functions are moving towards digital delivery over the internet. By Bill Buchanan However, we should be wary that as we become more dependent on it, the cracks will show. The systems are often a patchwork of interconnected services provided by various companies and industry partnerships. A failure of one can lead to a failure in others. For example, Skype recently went down for almost an entire day, while…
On 29 September, almost exactly one year after iPhone 6 debuted on the site, the first iPhone 6s was sold on South African marketplace www.bidorbuy.co.za for R17 999. By Staff Writer The buyer, who is from Amanzimtoti, was happy to pay R17,999 for a 128GB Rose Gold model, although there is currently a 64GB Space Grey or Silver model on offer on the site for R15,799. Both of them are available immediately and are not on pre-order. The first iPhone 6s units appeared on bidorbuy on 27 September. “The fact that an iPhone 6s was sold so quickly after being listed…
Picture yourself as an explorer in a distant and dangerous place. Something goes wrong, and you and your team have to abandon the venture and head straight for home. But you get left behind, the rest of the team thinking you are dead, and you have no way to contact them. By Helen Maynard-Casely Now you are in the shoes of the protagonist of Ridley Scott’s latest flick, The Martian. But rather than being abandoned on an ice floe or desert island, the film’s protagonist, Mark Watney (Matt Damon), is marooned on the desolate planet Mars, roughly 225 million kilometres…
Cognition Holdings is looking to grow its business throughout 2016 financial year using its R95 million cash pile. By Gugu Lourie The firm that operates quietly to provide telecoms and IT solutions to big telecommunications operators said on Tuesday it has a strong balance sheet with cash of R95 million, which “will be used to evaluate additional acquisitions in line with our knowledge and data strategy”. The JSE-listed Cognition Holdings, formerly known as FoneWorx, has successfully traded for the past 19 years, building solid blue chip clients such as Cell C, DStv, MTN, SAB, SABC, Telkom, Unilever and Vodacom.…
EMC has appointed former CEO of unlisted technology firm Gijima, Jonas Bogoshi as Country Manager of Southern Africa. By Staff Writer Bogoshi joins EMC from T-Systems International where he acted in the role of vice president sales. He has held executive roles in both private and public sector organisations, and his leadership experience spans South African enterprises as well as multinational companies. “One of our focus areas will be to position and demonstrate EMC as a catalyst for digital transformation. This journey for customers will require a strong ecosystem between us and our partners to make it real. Furthermore,…
Vodacom, South Africa’s largest mobile phone operator, has sold more than 2.1 million Vodacom branded handsets and tablets since August 2014. By Gugu Lourie “It’s no secret South Africans are data hungry and there is an increasing need for smart devices. I’m confident that our own branded smart range partnered with our propositions and world-class network is well positioned to provide the best mobile experience to customers,” said Vodacom’s managing executive for Terminals, Davide Tacchino. As part of its commitment to democratising access to the Internet, Vodacom on Tuesday introduced four new branded range of Smart devices at its…
Metrofibre Networx, a company led by ex-Absa boss Steve Booysen, will be deploying Fibre to the Home (FTTH) services to the surburbs of Sunninghill and Barbeque Downs. By Staff Writer Working with the local Sunninghill ratepayers association, Metrofibre was selected as the area’s preferred FTTH supplier, enabling residents access to high-speed fibre and data services right to the home. The first estate in Sunninghill went live in June 2015, subsequently a further six have been completed, with 14 more to follow suit, and further construction happening in excess of 10 additional estates. Metrofibre is aiming to connect more than…
The tungsten lightbulb has served well over the century or so since it was introduced, but its days are numbered now with the arrival of LED lighting, which consume a tenth of the power of incandescent bulbs and have a lifespan 30 times longer. Potential uses of LEDs are not limited to illumination: smart lighting products are emerging that can offer various additional features, including linking your laptop or smartphone to the internet. Move over Wi-Fi, Li-Fi is here. By Pavlos Manousiadis, Graham Turnbull and Ifor Samuel Wireless communication with visible light is, in fact, not a new idea. Everyone knows…
As part of its strategy to enhance its foothold in the fibre network space, MTN is buying Smart Village from Multichoice. By Staff Writer MTN announced on Monday it has concluded a deal with MultiChoice to acquire Smart Village, which it hopes will accelerate its fibre to the home (FTTH) strategy to be the provider of choice for high speed fibre network across South Africa. The deal is subject to approval by the South African competition authorities. Smart Village is a wholly owned subsidiary of MultiChoice that owns fibre networks in gated communities. Its expansive fibre network passes 29 000 residential homes and stands in…
Telkom, South Africa’s biggest fixed-line telephone group, may be closer to buying Cell C – the country’s third mobile phone operator. Telkom announced on Monday it was involved in unspecified talks. By Gugu Lourie “Shareholders are advised that Telkom is in discussions which may have a material effect on the price of Telkom’s securities,” Telkom released statement shortly after the market opened on Monday. The telco, which is valued at more than R35 billion, advised shareholders to exercise caution when dealing in it’s shares until a further announcement is made regarding the unspecified discussions. Last week on Wednesday, TechFinancials.co.za reported that price…
The South African cabinet taps the Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry veteran as the new CEO of state-owned signal distributor Sentech. By Gugu Lourie The South African cabinet has finally announced the new CEO of Sentech. Known industry veteran Mlamli Booi, an electrical engineer, has been named as the new boss of the state signal distributor to replace Dr. Setumo Mohapi, who left the company on 1st April 2015. Mohapi joined State IT Agency (SITA) as the CEO. Booi joins the state-owned signal distributor with many years of experience in the ICT industry with the Independent Broadcasting Authority, MNET, Telkom…
Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder and CEO of Facebook, has zoomed into the subject of internet connectivity as a tool to address poverty across the globe. By Ujuh Reporter Using an Indian example in his latest blog, he touches on the subject of ehealth in a way that resonates with recently launched initiatives in South Africa and mainly to the project called MomConnect and a youth focused Mobi-Site. “Connectivity isn’t an end in itself. It’s what people do with it that matters — like raising a healthy family,” says Zuckerberg. He was speaking about improvements via the Internet.org to help…
Cyber security experts recently discovered that the almost impenetrable Apple App Store had been hacked. While cyber break-ins have become routine news for many companies, Apple has long prided itself on providing technology for its phones and tablets that was incredibly secure. By Andrew Smith This was done by controlling how developers – the people who create your apps on your device – not only create their code but also upload it on to the app store. Steve Jobs ensured that Apple would check each app before it entered the marketplace, as well as the developers themselves, and the firm has…
In 2016, a team of engineers and adventurers will travel to the South African desert and attempt to become the first people to drive a car at 1,000mph. The British-made vehicle, Bloodhound SSC, is designed to smash the current world land-speed record of 763mph to become the fastest car ever built. By Phil Spiers Amazingly, this incredible target isn’t even the project’s main goal. Breaking the land-speed record is nothing new for the UK, which has held the title for 79 of the past 100 years – and continuously for the last 32 years, most recently with Thrust SSC, driven by…
The sale of Cell C, has seen some telcos drop out of the bidding race, because the country’s third mobile phone operator’s Dubai-based parent company, Oger Telecom, has placed a price tag that seems “too high”. Sources close to the possible transaction on Wednesday said Telkom was the only serious bidder left in the race. By Gugu Lourie Last month, Oger Telecom’s chief legal officer and Deputy CEO Mazen Abou Chakra revealed to Business Day that six groups had approached the Dubai-based firm with interest in acquiring their stake in Cell C. At the time Chakra said: “No decision has been taken.…
JSE-listed technology firm Altron announced on Wednesday that Autopage’s mobile subscribers would be sold for R1.5 billion. By Staff Writer The Autopage customers would be sold to MTN, Cell C and Vodacom. The tech firm added that Autopage workers would not be transferred to the three mobile operators. As part of the transaction, Autopage has signed a 24 month restraint of trade in favour of MTN, Cell C and Vodacom not to compete with them as a cellular service provider in South Africa. During September 2014 and after Autopage entered into a sale agreement with Nashua Mobile to acquire…
Barloworld Logistics, which took the management of 25 Telkom warehouses in the supply chain area of the business, is in a process of retrenching workers it attained through the outsicng of the telco businesses. By Gugu Lourie The process by Telkom to outsource its warehouses in the supply chain area was part of the company’s strategy to unlock further cost inefficiencies and improve customer service. The Telkom employees were transferred to Barloworld Logistics earlier this year. “Yesterday, in a presentation to trade unions, Barloworld Logistics indicated that it was planning to reduce its work premises from 35 to 17. This would…
As competition intensifies in the telecommunications space Cell C, South Africa’s third mobile phone operator, is aggressively positioning itself as an LTE provider and giving customers competitive pricing for its LTE services. The LTE technology enabled fast mobile internet connection. By Gugu Lourie Cell C on Wednesday announced the commercial launch of its LTE services to subscribers in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The operator will offer 1000 customers in Gauteng and 500 in KwaZulu-Natal the chance to buy 100GB of data, valid for three months, at only R100. The deal is available on a first-come first-serve basis on 1 October and…
Internet service provider Axxess is planning to switch over to its own network and introduce mobile voice service, which is a bundle of voice minutes, SMS, and mobile data on one SIM card. By Gugu Lourie As part of its efforts to remain competitive and agile to deliver innovative products, Port Elizabeth-based Axxess is planning to switch over to its network to be able to bring more bandwidth to its customers and make internet connection better. The company revealed its plans on Wednesday in a letter to customers. “Having our own network, not only give us more control over…
Telkom is declaring war on its competitors this festive season. The telco has doubled data allotment on its plans, giving customers free data to chat endlessly with their friends and share great moments with loved on social media this summer – that it has dubbed “It’s a Summer Unlimited, Baby!”. By Staff Writer All Telkom customers are set to receive double their Telkom Internet data allocation for free from 01 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 the Company announced today. This means that customers on Telkom’s largest SoftCap package will now receive one Terrabyte of data per month. “The demand for…
The dust has now settled on the latest product launch from Apple, which for many trumped headlines about refugees, poverty and the battles for the Republican nomination and leadership of the UK Labour Party. We have new iPads, iPhones and more. But how new are they really? By Paul Levy Innovation is often characterised as being either “radical” or “incremental”. When it is radical, it sets new precedents and fundamentally changes the way we do things. From self-administered insulin to solar powered houses to driverless cars, radical innovation releases potential. Incremental innovation on the other hand builds upon what is already…