Author: Gugu Lourie
By Gugu Lourie Vodacom Business Africa targets opportunistic growth in Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia Vodacom Business Africa is currently targeting growth in Nigeria and Zambia as part of its customer-led investment strategy. The firm is also looking at expanding into Morocco, where it is seeing a proliferation of multinationals setting up businesses. Vodacom Business Africa already has hubs in West, East and Southern Africa, but not yet in the North African region. The firm views Morocco as an important hub as many customers are moving or setting up operations there, chief officer of Vodacom Business at Vodacom Group, Vuyani Jarana, said.…
By Staff Writer HealthyFood Switch, which allows consumers to scan the barcode of a packaged food item and provides nutritional information on the energy, total fat, saturated fat, sugar, fibre, sodium and calcium of the product. Discovery Vitality in partnership with George Institute for Global Health has launched a novel nutrition mobile app known as HealthyFood Switch, which allows consumers to scan the barcode of a packaged food item and provides nutritional information on the energy, total fat, saturated fat, sugar, fibre, sodium and calcium of the product. The algorithm that governs the app displays nutrient composition either by a star…
By Staff Writer MTN has slashed the tariffs and extended the promotional period of its popular MTN Sky promotional period due to popular demand. The MTN Sky prepaid bundles have been extended to run until 31 December 2015, while the MTN Sky promotion has been extended until the 3rd of September 2015. MTN launched the MTN Sky tariff package in September last year. This package offers contract subscribers unlimited calls and SMSs and uncapped data in line with MTN’s quest of providing its customers with value and simplicity. Since MTN Sky was introduced to market last year, the tariff package…
By David J Galbreath The world today is facing some serious global challenges: creating sustainable development in the face of climate change, safeguarding rights and justice, and growing ethical markets, for a start. All of these challenges share some connection with science and technology – some more explicitly than others. We are currently witnessing a growth in traditional technology – with computers processing data in new and exciting ways. We’re also seeing the birth of transformative technology, such as bioengineering. But the question is not about old or new technology – rather, it is about how they are being…
By Gugu Lourie South African-based fleet management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider, Mix Telematics, attracted 60, 000 new subscribers in the year-on-year, signing up for fleet management and asset tracking solutions. The company said on Thursday that growth in subscription revenue was driven primarily by an increase of over 60,000 subscribers, resulting in a rise in customers of 13.1% from June 2014 to June 2015. It grew its subscription revenue 15% to R271.8 million ($22.1 million). The firm added that hardware and other revenue was R72.3 million ($5.9 million) in the first quarter of financial year 2016 that ended on 30 June…
By Gugu Lourie MTN customers in South Africa are among the most avid users of streaming music services in Africa. The mobile phone operator said on Wednesday that its online music streaming platform Music+ has reached 9.3 million users. Through MTN Music+, MTN have created an app that is continuously updated with original local content that music lovers can have access to 24/7. There are three subscription packages for Music+ platform. The first one being a three-day package for only R10 including 50MB. The second one is a weekly subscription fee for only R25 including 150MB free data and,…
By Yudhvir Seetharam, head of analytics at FNB Business Starting and continuing to run a successful business has always been a difficult task for any entrepreneur. While you may have a great idea, your business might not get the kick start it deserves due to issues either in or out of your control. With the age of data upon us, businesses need to go back to the basics of what they see on paper, instead of relying solely on intuition and gut feel. The typical areas a business should focus on: Sales; Finance; Operations; Product; Legal; Marketing and HR…
By Gugu Lourie MTN, which gets most of its more than R60 billion in revenues from mobile phone services, is betting big on ecommerce in Africa and the Middle East and has up its stake in Africa Internet Holdings (AIH). The mobile phone operator said on Wednesday in its interim financial results that it has exercised its rights to increase its investment in AIH to 41% from 33, 3%. The Group continues to retain joint control over AIH. The firm, which operates in Africa and the Middle East, didn’t disclose how much it spent to buy an additional…
By Gugu Lourie MTN South Africa, the country’s second biggest mobile phone operator, said the business continues to show encouraging growth in service revenue, driven mainly by data revenue despite total revenue dropping by 1.4% to R18.8 billion in the six months to end-June 2015. The mobile operator attributed the poor performance to industrial action that took the company months to resolve and led to the departure of its CEO Ahmad Farroukh, who was replaced by Mteto Nyati. The strike took place between 20 May 2015 and 16 July 2015 The firm also blamed handset supply chain challenges for…
By Gugu Lourie MTN South Africa on Wednesday announced its earnings for the six months to end-June 2015 and revealed that data users on its network was up 18.1% to 17.3 million. The country’s second biggest mobile operator by customers added that the number of smartphones on its network rose 9.1% to 5.8 million. The cellular operator said the growth in smartphones and data users was constrained by low handset availability, “Corrective measures have been implemented to improve handset sales,” the firm said on Wednesday. MTN and Vodacom are bringing out their own-branded devices, including tablets and…
Sipho Maseko might not be a favourite among trade unions, especially because he is unwavering when it comes to right-sizing – but the Telkom boss cannot be faulted for innovation and turning around the fixed-line telephone firm. By Gugu Lourie Maseko accepted what many may consider a poisoned chalice in 2013 to become Telkom CEO. At the time Telkom was in the doldrums and the public were obviously not impressed. As a result more people opted for cellphones. But like a true turnaround artists, Maseko has made inroads towards turning Telkom into a relevant Information Communications Technology (ICT) firm in South…
By Gugu Lourie Telkom ‘finally’ has managed to convinced the country’s regulators that it is in the interest of the sector for the country’s biggest fixed-line operator to buy Business Connexion (BCX). It can now unleash one of its secret weapons in its turnaround strategy. “We wish to inform shareholders of BCX and Telkom that the Competition Tribunal of South Africa has approved the acquisition by Telkom of the entire issued share capital of BCX with conditions, which conditions are acceptable to Telkom and BCX,” said Telkom and BCX in a joint statemnt to investors. The last remaining condition precedent to…
The CEO of ICASA, the country’s telecommunications regulator, Pakamile Pongwana sent to TechFinancials.co.za a 1400-word long opinion piece addressing various issues affecting the Information Commutations Technology (ICT) industry. For more, read his unedited piece below in which, he argues: “The Authority is committed to radically transform the ICT sector to facilitate growth and employment in line with government’s national policy objectives” By Pakamile Pongwana, ICASA’s CEO Main point of this opinion piece: As a Chapter 9 institution which supports democracy it is of utmost importance that ICASA acts in terms of the law in fulfilling its constitutional and statutory…
By Staff Writer Turrito Networks, a MICROmega Group company, has been awarded an IT infrastructure upgrade contract from Antalis South Africa to modernise its network. Antalis is one of the largest distributors of printing and digital papers in the country, as well as a range of printing and finishing equipment and consumables (inks and plates), Visual Communication media, Industrial Packaging supplies and Logistic Solutions. Alwyn Miller, executive IT manager at Antalis, said: “Bandwidth was a constant challenge for us. We wanted to enhance our services by incorporating things like video conferencing but the infrastructure was not able to cater…
By David Glance Windows 10, it seems, is proving a hit with both the public and the technology press after its release last week. After two days, it had been installed on 67 million PCs. Of course, sceptics may argue that this may have simply been a reflection of how much people disliked Windows 8 and the fact that the upgrade was free. For others, though, it is the very fact that the upgrade is free that has them concerned that Microsoft has adopted a new, “freemium” model for making money from its operating system. They argue that, while Apple can…
By Staff Writer MTN Business SA has appointed an industry veteran, Mariana Kruger, as General Manager of Private Sector. Kruger’s appointment comes on the backdrop of MTN Business’ ambitions of aggressively growing its market share in the enterprise space and venturing into new markets. Kruger is a seasoned professional who has a wealth of experience in the ICT space. She started her career at IBM as a junior Systems Engineer in 1988 working in the mainframe environment. She later moved into the Systems Management Consulting, Project Management and Business Unit Leadership space. In her different roles, Kruger worked with…
By Staff Writer In light of media reports yesterday that e-Toll revenues are increasing, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) warned on Tuesday that e-toll revenues are grossly down by 35% and is almost 70% off SANRAL’s original target of R260 million per month. “When comparing revenue growth and business performance, it is important to equate this to the same period last year, as well as to one’s original targets. OUTA categorically states that any attempt to talk the e-toll numbers up as a result of May and June’s e-toll revenues at R78 million is nothing but a farce,”…
By Gugu Lourie The Zambian gross domestic product remained largely unaffected by the global economic crisis and was expected to grow at about 8% per annum, according to market research. Predictably, telcos are seeing growth opportunities in Zambia. Vodacom Business sees growth opportunities in the enterprise information communications technology (ICT) market in the landlocked African country. The company, which is currently operating in Zambia through an Internet service provider (ISP), is seeking ways to raise its revenue base. Vuyani Jarana, the chief officer of Vodacom Business, wants to beef up Vodacom Business’ in Zambia in order to provide more…
By Greg Singh There was a time before Facebook and social media and text messaging. But for the current and subsequent generations they’re already here, whether or not they’re aware of them. Inevitably this can lead to ill thought-out or regrettable public posts. It’s said that “the internet is forever”, but a campaign that has garnered ministerial backing aims to give those reaching adulthood a second chance. Not unlike the right to be forgotten applied to Google’s search results, the campaign from iRights calls for a means for those turning 18 to be able to scrub their foolish, childish ways…
By Gugu Lourie Vodacom Business Africa is looking for opportunities in adjacent markets in Nigeria – Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country. It is targeting small companies with growth potential. Vodacom Business chief officer Vuyani Jarana said the cellphone giant was looking at how to address the small medium enterprises (SMEs) market in Nigeria. “SMEs means scale, a lot of automation, network that has a right capacity, quality, right price points,” said Jarana in an exclusive interview with TechFinancials.co.za. “That’s what we are currently looking at, how you break into the SMEs market in Nigeria. You need to…
By Staff Writer Silicon Valley-based venture capital fund and startup accelerator, 500 Startups, has announced its 14th batch of startups, which includes the South African home cleaning service, SweepSouth. This is the first time a local company has been selected by 500 Startups, with only a handful of African companies being chosen to join the programme in the past. Of thousands of applicants for each batch, only 2% are successful, and the prestigious and effective 4-month accelerator programme also comes with $125,000 in funding. In the last five years, 500 Startups, lead by Silicon Valley veteran Dave McClure, has…
By Gugu Lourie Vox Telecom is taking big bets on acquisitions and fibre rollout as part of a five-year strategy to make the company more competitive and agile. The company, which was delisted from the JSE’s AltX in 2011 after a R500m buyout by shareholders including Lereko Metier Capital and Investec, offers voice solutions, data access and internet service provider (ISP) services, cloud services, a variety of PABX (private automatic brand exchange) and video conferencing services, telephony management systems, faxing and text messaging applications. PABX is an automatic telephone switching system used by corporates. After the withdrawal of an exploratory…
By Gugu Lourie More than 2, 300 employees at the country’s fixed-line telephone group Telkom have accepted voluntary severance packages, trade union Solidarity said late on Thursday. Solidarity said Telkom has approved 2, 293 applications for voluntary severance packages and added that these employees’ services will officially end tomorrow. Marius Croucamp, Solidarity spokesman, said this number of applications comes as no surprise to the union. “Given the volatile climate within Telkom, we anticipated that a significant amount of employees would prefer to leave the company. Nonetheless, we remain highly concerned about the exodus of skilled Telkom workers and how this will affect…
By Staff Writer. South African prisoners have access to communication devices that include: sim cards, chargers and DSTV walkers, and the DA is calling for the state to put signal jamming devices in prisons. This emerged from a reply to a DA parliamentary question from the Minister of Correctional Services, Mike Masutha, who revealed that the department is losing the battle against crime in prisons. The ministry has confiscated 98 413 illegal communication devices from inside prisons in the past five years. It said of the 98 413 devices, a total of 64 123 cellular devices have been confiscated from remand…
By Melissa Luu-Van, Facebook’s product manager We want everyone to have a safe experience on Facebook. That’s why we have dedicated teams and intelligent security systems working around the clock to help keep your account secure. We also provide optional security controls that you can turn on for added protection—you get to decide which features you want to use. Starting today, you can try a new tool called Security Checkup that makes it easier to find and use the security controls for your account. Sometime over the next few weeks, you’ll see a reminder at the top of your…