Author: Gugu Lourie

Telkom Business on Thursday launched its new Pocket WiFi solution offering businesses affordable mobile data connectivity in over 140 countries across the globe. By Staff Writer Pocket WiFi is a portable, pocket-sized mobile hotspot that business people can travel with and use for global internet access. The mobile hotspot can connect up to 10 devices – smartphones, tablets and laptops – to the internet via 3G connectivity. At R599 per month over 24 months the offer includes 10GB of international data, made up of 34 daily 300 MB data bundles, as well as 2GB of local data per month to…

MTN is re-imagining its smartphones deals on its network.  By Gugu Lourie South Africa’s second biggest cellular operator is offering a Samsung Galaxy S7 LTE smartphone at R599/month on 24 months contract on a MyMTNChoice 100 plan and R609/month on MyMTNAnyTimeTopUp 200 plan. The mobile giant is also offering its subscribers a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge LTE smartphone at R649/month on 24 months contract on a MyMTNChoice 100 plan and R659/month on MyMTNAnyTimeTopUp 200 plan. In addition, the mobile phone operator is giving away an additional free LTE 30GB of data as an added value. MTN subscribers can also add any Samsung Galaxy…

Vodacom is redefining upgrades of its smartphones packages on its network.  By Gugu Lourie South Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator is offering a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge LTE smartphone at R699/month for a 24 months contract on a Smart plan. The telco, which is owned by British mobile phone giant Vodafone, is also offering its subscribers a Samsung Galaxy S7 LTE smartphone at R599/month for 24 months contract on a Smart plan. In addition, the mobile phone operator is throwing in an additional 6GB of data as an added value, access to Deezer free music streaming for six months…

Around 32% of small and medium enterprises in South Africa run the risk to fall bait to cyber and phishing attacks, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele said in parliament on Wednesday. By Liesl Peyper, NewsAgency Cwele was among cabinet ministers who were responding to questions about the economic cluster in government and he was responding to a question about the Cyber Security Hub that was launched in October last year. IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe asked in a follow-up question if Cwele’s department has the capacity to prosecute perpetrators – even international ones. “Do you even have…

   #FeesMustFall has been named as the Newsmaker of the Year for 2015. By Wim Pretorius, NewsAgency The announcement was made by the National Press Club on Wednesday. The award is allocated based on the amount of media coverage a topic receives, as well as its impact. “The decision to name #FeesMustFall as the newsmaker for 2015 was unanimous,” said club chairperson Jos Charle. “This was a major game-changer in our country. There is no doubt that tertiary education in South Africa will never be the same again.” Charle said the support for #FeesMustFall came not only from South Africa, but…

In an effort to help increase vocational skills, access to education and life skills in previously disadvantaged communities, MTN, through its MTN SA Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Social Development donated a special needs computer laboratory to the Itsoseng Handicradft Centre today. The centre, which is located in Itsoseng Township is the only one of its kind in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality that caters for persons with disabilities. The centre offers services like sheltered employment, vocational training and social rehabilitation. MTN SA Foundation, General Manager, Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi says: “MTN SA Foundation believes that the centre is the…

Convergence Partners, the investment management firm established in 2006 by businessman Andile Ngcaba, announced on Wednesday an equity injection into inQuba, a global specialist in managed customer experience software. By Staff Writer The South African-based firm said the undisclosed funds invested by it will be used to accelerate inQuba’s global expansion. The inQuba investment will be housed in Convergence Partners Fund I (CPI), the vehicle through which Convergence Partners invests in software businesses among other key pillars of the African ICT market. Convergence said in a statement that CPI will hold a significant minority interest in inQuba post transaction. Founded by…

Vodacom announced on Wednesday that it will supply renewable energy to the Vuvu Junior Secondary School in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape, and to the community through its solar-powered base station in the area. By Staff Writer The school will have access to access to electricity for the first time since it opened its doors in 18 June 2004. Providing renewable energy to Vuvu follows a successful pilot project launched in Emfihlweni, Northern KwaZulu Natal in 2012 as well as a second project in Kisarawe, Tanzania in 2013. The Vuvu school project consists of a 7.5kW solar array which is sufficient to…

The new Telkom Digital Gaming League (DGL) travels to Cape Town this month for the rAge Expo 18-20 March 2016, where the first event in the Telkom DGL Masters series will be taking place. The tournamet will be streamed live on Twitch.tv/dgl. By Staff Writer The tournament set the tone for the DGL’s Masters main event taking place at rAge Expo, Johannesburg in October, with a prize pool of R1 million. The Cape Town tournament is a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament and will feature eight teams representing each of the eight Masters Multi-Gaming Organisations (MGO’s) respectively for the R100,000 prize pool. “Reliable high…

While Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is in the United Kingdom trying to woo international investors and prevent a sovereign ratings downgrade, Moody’s Investors Service has placed South Africa’s Baa2 bond and issuer ratings on review for downgrade. By Liesl Peyper, NewsAgency “The decision to place the ratings on review was prompted by the continuing rise in risks to the country’s medium-term economic prospects and to its fiscal strength, notwithstanding the tighter fiscal stance undertaken in the 2016/17 budget,” Moody’s said in a statement. If Moody’s does indeed downgrade South Africa, it will become a junk country, which has a considerable…