Author: Gugu Lourie
BitCo, a Tier 1 Internet and telephony service provider, is planning to install fibre network to service business in the Strijdom Park area near Randburg in the City of Johannesburg. The firm has commissioned cable infrastructure specialist Global Platinum Solutions (GPS) to lay the fibre optic network. BitCos managing director Jarryd Chatz says this initiative will provide businesses convenient and speedy access to a reliable high-speed fibre network for an unprecedented Internet experience. “GPS is committed to completing the project as quickly and quietly as possible.” “We assure businesses that all reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the work…
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned the public against a scam in which victims receive a text message stating that a SAPS case has been opened against them. The SAPS on Tuesday said once victims respond to the numbers that are provided by the fraudsters, money is extorted from them. The scam came to the police’s attention, after a case was reported in Rosebank, Johannesburg, in January 2016. It was followed by other cases with the same modus operandi that were reported in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, North West, and Limpopo. “The victims received a…
Google on Tuesday announced a commitment to train one million young Africans in digital skills in the next year. In realising this commitment, Google is supporting its partner Livity Africa to run two training programs: ‘Digify Bytes’ to give digital skills to young people looking to develop a digital career; and ‘Digify Pro’, a 3-month immersion program for digital specialists. These programs have already launched in Nigeria, Kenya & South Africa, and will be scaled to reach more people in the next 12 months. A group of 65 volunteer Googlers from around the world are helping the Livity team with…
One might be forgiven for thinking the Big Apple is a leading destination for developers simply due to its moniker. New York City is, in fact, described by Forbes magazine as one of the ‘top four big locations for start-ups and developers’. Amongst them is Brent Ozar. An award-winning SQL blogger, a Microsoft Certified Master and Microsoft MVP, Brent Ozar is a very smart guy who merely claims to “help people make SQL Server go faster”. He does this by helping DBAs (database administrators) to fully master their environments and drive the right architectural challenges with one week of intensive…
Open access fibre network and broadband fibre provider Metrofibre Networx has entered into a partnership with Link Africa, which will see the company replace all its Gauteng’s fibre links for its core network over the next two years with its own fibre infrastructure. Until now the company has leased the fibre links for its core networks, however, due to the high volumes and demand being experienced by the company, it has taken a strategic decision to replace the links and roll out its own fibre in a co-build agreement with Link Africa. The project will kick off in April 2016 and…
Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), South Africa’s provider of open-access fibre infrastructure, on Tuesday announced that it has acquired a significant minority stake in SA Digital Villages (SADV), which has a proven track record in the FTTH market segment. The transaction will see SADV reposition itself as a wholesale open access FTTH service provider in the South African market. SADV has been in existence for 8 years and is one the longest serving operators of FTTH networks in South Africa. SADV will leverage the DFA national fibre footprint to build and extend the reach of their open-access FTTH network. SADV will…
South Africa has joined the World Education Transformation Countries programme which shares different challenges and risks in the management of change and transformation of their education system. The programme is supported by the government of Finland in collaboration with the Microsoft’s Worldwide Education Initiative. The Department of Education said on Monday that South Africa, Finland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, the USA and Shangai State in China, rank among the first countries which joined the programme. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: “We have had difficulties with introducing Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in our educations system, let alone utilising ICTs.…
Tonplaygo is a new popular culture or sports trivia app that rewards its players with loads of cash each week to connect with fashion and high-tech brands. The players play against each other and the clock, down to the last millisecond! The game is built as a Brand & Product Discovery Platform where featured brand products are actual prizes that can be won. By taking part in weekly gaming challenges, players have the opportunity to engage in an immersive and friendly way with trendy retail brands and tech products, with a large number of players winning their share of up to R40,000…
This is the first in our ongoing Kitchen Science series exploring the physics, chemistry and biology that takes place in your home. By Chris Thompson We are routinely warned by earnest websites, advertisments and well-meaning popular articles about nasty “chemicals” lurking in our homes and kitchens. Many tout the benefits of switching to a “chemical-free lifestyle”. The problem is: the word “chemical” is entirely misused in these contexts. Everything is a chemical – common table salt (sodium chloride), for instance, and even water (dihydrogen oxide). The chemicals in our diet are often categorised into four broad categories: carbohydrates, proteins, fats…
The wait is over. MTN is proud to announce the winners of the Upstream competition, who pocketed R1.25 million in cash and one lucky winner received a stylish BMW 328i Sport. Sharon Mungoni, from Soweto was selected as the winner of the BMW 328i Sport prize, while both Seipati from Durban and Yandisa Dweba from Margate won R500 000 each. And another winner from Mthatha walked away with R250 000 prize. MTN launched the Upstream competition in 2015 in partnership with Upstream, a leading mobile commerce provider of digital services over mobile devices, across 43 markets. Upstream has been a…