Algeria

• For almost four years the operator Algeria Telecom has announced the introduction of digital television over the Internet:
  Algérie – A quand la télévision par Internet? {Slate Afrique}

Angola

• Angola’s ICT Minister has highlighted connectivity plans including a satellite and 10,000 km of fibre-optic cable to link the country’s 18 provinces:
  Angola plans satellite, fibre optic links {BizTech Africa}

Botswana

• The tariff plan is designed to offer young customers added value and low tariffs on the products they use the most such as the Internet and SMS:
  Orange to launch a ‘cool’ offer for the young {Mmegi Online}
• PCs in all Botswana schools by June {BizTech Africa}

Ghana

• Ghana’s University of Cape Coast is marking it’s 50th anniversary with the consruction of a new ICT centre:
  Ghana’s UCC to get ultra-modern ICT centre {BizTech Africa}
• Microsoft commends Ghana’s effort in promoting ICT {Vibe Ghana}
• About 18 months ago Internet Service Providers (ISPs) bought bandwidth for US$4,500 but now buy the same bandwidth capacity at less than US$1,000, which Internet providers expect to further fall as competition from other carriers such the West Africa Cable System (WACS) is expected to be operational and available for use this year:
  Cost of Internet goes down…capacity goes up 65 times {Business & Financial Times}

Kenya

• Airtel has finally launched 3G services in Kenya. However, rumor has it that coverage is limited to a tower around the Airtel headquarters:
  Airtel Kenya launches its 3G network {CIO}
• Kenya has entered into a deal with a United Nations agency to create a central desk to handle cyber crimes:
  Telcoms Regulator Signs Deal With ITU On Cyber Security {Business Daily via allAfrica}
• Tourism firms lag behind in technology {Business Daily}
• And it was hacked right away:
  New Kenyan party goes social {BizTech Africa}
• Safaricom and Telkom Kenya Orange want the Communications Commission of Kenya to further reduce spectrum costs to promote network expansion to rural and economically unattractive areas:
  Operators want Kenyan regulator to reduce spectrum rates further {Computerworld}
• Targeted efforts to mitigate all the causes of start-up mortality in the technology sector are a welcome relief:
  Growth of Start-Ups Key in Technopolis {Business Daily via allAfrica}
• The contribution could surpass that of agriculture in the next seven years:
  Telecommunications to Be Top GDP Earner {Capital FM via allAfrica}
• Why Kenya is country to watch for ground-breaking innovations in ICT sector {Business Daily}
• Technology will not grow in a proprietary and expensive eco-system:
  For start-ups, tech hub anytime, not Konza city {Daily Nation}

Libya

• Etisalat declares interest in Libya {TMT Finance}

Malawi

• Unstable internet connectivity has plagued Malawi for three weeks and counting. Many are blaming MTL:
  Erratic internet affects businesses {The Daily Times}

Morocco

• Maroc Telecom blocked several VoIP sites in an attempt to establish a monopoly in the market:
  Skype blocked in Morocco {Wireless Federation}

Mozambique

• Portugal Telecom’s SAPO brand launched its Mozambican portal in February 2009. It now has over 2 million views monthly and over 200,000 unique visitors:
  SAPO marks three years in Mozambique {BizTech Africa}

Namibia

• Interesting op-ed on how Facebook is causing harm to Namibian society:
  Face Book, is it a necessary evil? {New Era}
• The Namibia Business Innovation Center (NBIC), together with Rlabs Academy, is hosting its first session of three workshops aimed at training young people in social media and its applications:
  Youth Enlightened on Social Media {Namibia Economist via allAfrica}
• Telecom Could Monopolise Industry {Namibia Economist via allAfrica}

Nigeria

• Nigerian Telecom Market Set For 5.9% Growth {Leadership}
• ICT park to save Nigeria $5billion {The Nation}

Senegal

• Senegal is one of West Africa’s leaders in telecom infrastructure. But, with an Internet penetration rate of barely 16%, you have to wonder if online information resources and social media can make a difference in February 26th’s presidential election:
  Will social media influence Senegal’s presidential election? {TNW}

Sierra Leone

• The government-owned operator will lose substantial revenue once its gateway services are liberalized on July 5th:
  Liberalization of international gateway may close Sierratel, chairman says {PC Advisor}

Somalia

• A draft law expected to be enacted later this year will create an independent telecoms regulator:
  Telecommunications and broadcasting law for Somalia {Horn of Africa News}

South Africa

• No surprises here: MXit (10mm users), Facebook (4-5mm users), BBM (3.3mm users):
  Biggest social networks in South Africa {MyBroadband}
• Vodacom now has 3,000 43Mbps enabled sites in South Africa:
  1,000 terabytes per month and 5000 3G towers {MyBroadband}
• A new Wikipedia page has been created on the subject of telecoms in South Africa:
  Digital Divide in South Africa {Wikipedia}
• An entire town in Western Cape is planning to provide residents with free Wi-Fi access:
  Free Wi-Fi for Stellenbosch {MyBroadband}
• Technology Director Turns Cellphones Into Classrooms {The Chronicle}
• UniForum SA to administer .africa domain {MyBroadband}
• S. African officials use Twitter for Mandela news {AFP}

St. Helena

• A thorough look at the proposal to connect the island to the SAex cable next year:
  Wiring up St Helena: the campaign to connect a remote Atlantic island {Wired UK}

Swaziland

• MTN to bring back music downloads {Times of Swaziland}
• An independent telecommunications regulator would be established in the country at a cost of E1.8 million:
  Telecoms regulator to boost investor {Weekend Observer}

Tanzania

• On the need for greater cyber security:
  ICT accelerates Tanzania`s giant leap in development, prosperity {IPP Media}
• The hope is that governments increase investments in economically sound projects:
  EAC Secretary General launches Microsoft Office 2010 Kiswahili local language pack {StarAfrica.com}

Tunisia

• Court Quashes Verdict Ordering the Filtering of Pornography {GlobalVoices}
• The Tunisian Ministry of IT and Communication was due to launch an international tender for a licence offering 3G and fixed telecom services on February 9:
  Tunisia launches 3G licensing {TMT Finance}

Zambia

• All cyber cafe owners need to register with ZICTA:
  Government to clamp down on illegal Internet Cafés in Zambia {Lusaka Times}

Zimbabwe

• Social media could hinder Zanu PF’s chances on maintaining control after this years’ elections (assuming they are fair):
  Zim opposition urges social network use {ITWeb}

East Africa

• Timeline of quotes, tweets, and highlights from the conference:
  Live Blog: Mobile Web East Africa Day 1 & 2 {Afrinnovator}

Southern Africa

• Mimiboard is still in beta testing, but Nel says he plans for it to become available in 30 days on Umuntu Media’s six existing content portals in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Angola:
  Bulletin board site to ‘boost’ African trade {ITWeb}

General Africa

• Three Africans will be the first African app developers to pitch live at the Mobile Premier Awards:
  Watch this space: African apps gain global recognition {TNW}
• More and more, African leaders are arguing that freedom of the press and human rights are unattainable so long as poverty persists:
  In Africa, Development Still Comes At Freedom’s Expense {CPJ}
• Identity and value:
  Why Africa needs more home grown brands {TechZim}
• The cable is due to launch in May 2012:
  West Africa Cable System ‘completed’ {Global Telecoms Business}
• Infographic: The 2013 map of the internet {Wired UK}
• Technology is the perfect refuge for African capability stifled elsewhere by badly run governments and years of misplaced foreign aid:
  Frustrated Innovation {Technology Review}
• Broadband Spreading Across Africa {IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis}