Author: Staff Writer

MTN has launched its Summer YouTube Contract Promotion, which is offering new and existing customers 20GB YouTube Data and up to 50GB Anytime Data when they sign up or upgrade to selected price plans. Customers can use the free data to catch up on their favourite series, upload, download, stream and watch YouTube content. The free data can be used at any time of the day and is available for the first 30 days of the customer’s contract. “MTN has been connecting South Africans for 25 years. Throughout all the years, MTN has remained committed to offering our customers solutions that…

MTN announced on Friday the appointment of Djibril Ouattara to the position of MTN Ivory Coast CEO. The appointment is effective 1 November 2019. The appointment follows the departure of former CEO, Freddy Tchala in September. Djibril is a seasoned executive with experience spanning more than 15 years in telecoms. In his most recent role as CEO of MTN Congo Brazzaville, he made significant strides in delivering on the company’s BRIGHT strategy, the company said. He has implemented a successful turnaround including a network transformation which won MTN Congo Brazzaville the award for ‘best network’ in the country for two…

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. The prize is also meant to recognise all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions. When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea. In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, the President of…

Using a speed test to indicate the likely experience of an Internet customer is like trying to gauge a car’s performance simply by looking at its speedometer. That’s according to Huge Networks Commercial Director, Rad Jankovic, who says there are other ways to more accurately measure Internet Service Provider (ISP) performance. “Internet speed tests are unreliable indicators of Internet customer experience. They are limited by factors that are not related to the capacity of the Internet line such as everything from the physical distance to the server to congestion on the local LAN. There are too many variables that can…

The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), in collaboration with Investec as lead sponsor and supported by Sanlam Investments, today announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2019 SAVCA Industry Awards. The winners across four categories will be announced at a gala dinner to be held on 7 November 2019. The official shortlist for the 2019 SAVCA Industry Awards finalists are: GoMetro: Use innovative technology GoMetro aids public transport planning in emerging markets by mapping commuter movements; Aerobotics: Utilise drone technology, Aerobotics helps to improve farmers’ yields by analysing crops to detect pests and diseases early on;…

MTN South Africa, the country’s second-biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers, announced on Thursday that it has reached 95% 4G coverage across the country. The company disclosed this in a statement celebrating 25 years of “keeping the people of South Africa connected and having a positive impact on their lives”. Looking back to 1994, the company hosted the first-ever call on its network when there were just four million landlines in South Africa and only 1% of black South Africans owned a phone. Just ten years later, MTN had signed up 10 million subscribers, with penetration into rural areas and…

Johannesburg Internet Exchange announced on Thursday it is increasing its backbone capacity. The exchange said INX-ZA has signed an agreement with Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) by which the wholesale connectivity provider will donate fibre to the community-run, multisite Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX). The DFA donation will specifically provide JINX with redundant no-cost, high-speed fibre between the Isando and Parklands Internet exchange point location. This will enable JINX to make use of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technologies, radically enhancing the exchange’s backbone capacity. Historically, one piece of fibre counted as one link. The agreement between DFA and JINX will see WDM technologies…

China Mobile is interested in buying South Africa’s struggling third-biggest mobile operator by subscribers, Cell C. On Sunday, a source with knowledge of the matter told ITWeb – an online technology publication – that talks are taking place between Cell C and China Mobile, saying “a deal is imminent”. The speculation comes as struggling Cell C continues to drag down the shares of the JSE telecoms group Blue Label Telecoms, which owns almost half of the cellphone group. Last month, Cell C reported R8 billion net loss, after-tax, for the year ended-May 2019. As of 31 May 2019, no value…

Just after a year of restoration, BMW South Africa revealed its latest classic project car as a limited edition “homologation” special developed specially by BMW Motorsport for South Africa. Today BMW South Africa unveiled its latest restoration project – the track-inspired BMW 530 MLE – at the “Home of BMW Legends”, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn. Now, the meticulously prepared BMW 530 MLE has enjoyed its first showing at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in the company of four BMW Group South Africa employees who were on hand to build the original more than four decades ago. Restored by Luis Malhou of…

FNB announced on Tuesday its plan to grow its national footprint by opening more branches. The bank said it will be adding seven more branches to its existing national footprint of 619 branches in South Africa. Before the end of its financial year, the bank plans to open additional branches in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and the Western Cape. Chief Executive of FNB Points of Presence, Lee-Anne van Zyl says on average, FNB branches service approximately 1.6 million customers per month using digital zones (self-service terminals) and in-branch service consultants. “The branch network is very important in our…

MTN today announced the launch of e-SIM technology for postpaid customers. The e-Sim technology is available on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 42mm. These watches are only available to customers purchasing a 2-4-1 deal with the Samsung Galaxy Note10 or Note10+ on the newly upgraded MTN Made For Me or Sky Price plans. Jacqui O’Sullivan, Executive for Corporate Affairs at MTN South Africa: “We invested substantially in building the best mobile network in South Africa with the aim of offering our customers the best in innovation and experience to match.” New and existing postpaid customers who sign-up or upgrade on MTN…

CredoLab, an alternative credit scoring FinTech company, has launched in South Africa to help financial institutions and other lenders credit score more people, especially those who are new to bank and new to credit. Launched in Singapore three years ago, CredoLab develops bank-grade digital scorecards using smartphone device metadata. CredoLab signed up two banks and a leading airtime credit provider in SA earlier this year. CredoLab’s sales director for Europe and Africa, Michel Massain, was in the country last week meeting other large financial institutions, credit bureaus and consumer lenders. “You need a credit score to participate in the economy but…

SA Taxi has teamed up with Bridgestone South Africa, a tyre manufacturer, to provide tyre specifically designed for the Toyota minibus taxi. The tyre has been designed to meet not only the stringent requirements of the Ses’fikile Toyota Quantum minibus taxis but also the Original Auto Equipment Manufacturer requirements. SA Taxi finances entrepreneurs who operate minibus taxis that may not otherwise have access to credit from traditional banks. The South African National Taxi Council owns 25% of SA Taxi. Through SA Taxi Rewards, an associated multi-faceted loyalty programme, operators will be able to save R400 per tyre and earn rewards…

MTN Group today launched its “We’re good together” initiative. This is aimed at demonstrating how, in partnering with our host countries, we can change lives by improving digital access, driving financial inclusion, empowering and enabling SMEs, creating jobs and broad community development, among many others. As a pan African company with roots that are deeply anchored in the continent, MTN is telling its story that doing good business extends far beyond corporate social investment initiatives. Watch the Video Below: Our approach going forward is to always ask: how far can we all go? “To harness the potential of Africa and…

The top 12 innovative and sustainable FinTech solutions have been shortlisted for the Global Fintech Hackcelerator Southern Africa. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will host a Fintech Demo Day on 29 October 2019 to select the two winning solutions. In August 2019 the SARB joined forces with KPMG Matchi to run the 2019 Global FinTech Hackcelerator Southern Africa, an acceleration programme that creates a platform for FinTech firms to demonstrate their innovative solutions to complex financial challenges in the Southern African region. FinTech firms from all over the world were invited to submit an application in response to problem…

Cape Town-based 4ORT has launched the world’s first ‘fraud-free’ dynamic QR (Quick Response) code. A globally-patented algorithm ensures mobile users’ unique identities are securely stored within the code making duplication by fraudsters virtually impossible. Primarily used today within advertising and marketing campaigns, QR codes would be familiar to cellular users as a type of visual barcode readable by mobile handsets and which typically contains information about the item to which it is attached. 4ORT’s homegrown IP (Intellectual Property) takes static QR codes and introduces a dynamic element in the form of its patented algorithm. This ensures the watertight identification of…

Several million Zambian mobile users have been successfully registered by over 3 000 local agents over the past nine months using South African SIM card registration software.   The African-developed SIM (Subscriber Identity Mobile) registration system is helping Zambian mobile network operators (MNOs) comply with ZICTA (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority) KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements.   After winning a tender last year, the system designed by Johannesburg-based firm Axon Wireless is now fully bedded down and processing tens of thousands of mobile SIMs across Zambia each day.   “This is pan-African knowledge transfer at its best. After using…

Connectivity specialist SEACOM is partnering with IT solutions provider, Accelerit Technologies, to bring a ‘first-of-its-kind’, flexible bandwidth product to the market. This move expands the services of both Seacom and Accelerit to the country’s sixth-largest city for the first time. Developed in response to market needs, the new prepaid connectivity solution is sold by Accelerit and powered by Seacom. Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) and mini ISPs in Bloemfontein will now be able to access IP Transit at competitive rates and on flexible contract terms. Empowered with expanded choice in best-in-class connectivity, product flexibility and cost-effective bandwidth rates, mini ISPs…

EdTech company Snapplify has raised $2 million (R29.7 million) to accelerate its international expansion initiatives and advance its data analytics capabilities to enhance classroom teaching effectiveness. Snapplify currently has offices across South Africa, as well as in Nairobi, Amsterdam and New Jersey. Knife Capital’s London presence will further capacitate Snapplify’s UK expansion initiatives. This round of growth funding will enable the company to gain more customers and increase its market footprint through business development, growing the team and refining customer-led product features. The funds were raised from venture capital firm Knife Capital via its SARS section 12J Venture Capital Company, KNF…

What is BeerMoney? Beer Money is the union of blockchain technology and the passion for cryptocurrencies, with the world of beer and the passion for craft beer.  Undoubtedly a safe bet, since craft beer is one of the most demanded beverages in a large number of countries and an expanding market in both total litres and totals billed worldwide. Beer Money is a complete ecosystem, which orbits the concept of craft beers.  Next, we will break down everything that can be done with them. The beer token The main element that unites the digital ecosystem is the appearance of Beer…

ICT experts say service innovation is key to reaping the upcoming 5G dividend; with a strong focus on accelerating the proliferation of 4G LTE networks during the SADC Ministerial ICT forum held in Dar es Salam last week. Innovative Services will drive the 5G Dividend 5G is now a reality in Africa as South Africa’s mobile data network operator rain and Huawei jointly announced the commissioning of Africa’s first commercial 5G network. rain has built the 5G network using its 3.6GHz spectrum, which adopts Huawei’s 5G end-to-end network products and terminals, taking the lead in rapidly deploying 5G networks. The…

South African mobile data network operator rain and Huawei have jointly announced the commissioning of Africa’s first commercial 5G network. rain has invited a select number of existing clients to experience its 5G home offering of unlimited, ultra-fast 5G internet using Huawei’s 5G CPE Pro. rain has built the 5G network using its 3.6GHz spectrum, which adopts Huawei 5G end-to-end network products and terminals to take the lead in rapidly deploying 5G networks. According to the roll-out plan, rain expects the first phase of the 5G network to cover the key areas of Johannesburg and Tshwane. During 2019 and 2020,…

At Huawei Connect 2019, Huawei announced its strategy for the computing market. The conference is an annual flagship event hosted by Huawei for the global ICT industry and is held in Shanghai from September 18 to 20, 2019. This year’s Conference is themed on “Advance Intelligence” and aims to establish an open, cooperative, and shared platform for customers and partners to explore new opportunities for an intelligent future. At Huawei Connect 2019, in his keynote address Ken Hu, Huawei’s deputy chairman outlines Huawei’s computing strategy. “The future of computing is a massive market worth more than two trillion US dollars,”…

Refinitiv today announced the 2019 Top 100 most diverse and inclusive organizations globally as ranked by the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Index. The D&I Index, launched in 2016, ranks the top 100 publicly traded companies globally with the most diverse and inclusive workplaces, as measured by 24 metrics across four key categories: Diversity, Inclusion, People Development and News Controversies. The Index is then calculated by weighing each metric based on importance in the market and how each company compares with its peers. The index ratings are informed by Refinitiv’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data, designed to transparently and objectively…

Ulwembu, a South African black-owned management consulting and ICT services company, has bought a stake in JumpCo Consulting. JumpCO Consulting is a professional service and software product business focused on delivering digital economy-ready enterprise solutions in integration and business process management (BPM), cloud and container technology, app development and DevOps. Established in 2000, JumpCO is a gold IBM and premier Red Hat business partner and solution provider. The partnership is a collaboration of the best of both companies, with Ulwembu taking a definitive step into the IBM services and product market, and JumpCO broadening its reach and consulting offering through…