Kenyatta University (KU) is the first higher learning institution to provide tablets to first year students in Kenya. The China made tablets will benefit first year students enrolled in diploma, certificate, postgraduate and bachelors programs and will be distributed to students in satellite campuses throughout the country. The move will cater for the various needs of students as they learn and interact with fellow lecturers, according to Prof Olive Mugenda, the Vice Chancellor of KU. It follows a recent launch of the university’s Digital School established out of its desire to raise access to higher education via innovative technology. “Research…
Author: Robin Okuthe
Seacom, an optic fiber company, has announced the opening of a shop at Airtel house in Kampala after obtaining an endorsement from Uganda Communications commission. The establishment a point of presence (PoP) at Airtel house will help the company connect devices to the internet. According to Byron Clatterbuck, Seacom’s chief commercial officer, the company would provide different telecom services. He further added, “Our new license permits us to own and run our network all the way between Kampala and our international network. This will help bring more global connectivity to Uganda while improving the quality of the broadband experience for…
As part of electoral rigging, officers from Zambia’s ruling party PF (Patriotic Front) working within ZICTA will close down as well as cut down internet data and mobile phone service in five constituencies, according to a source close to the intelligence wings. The source further mentioned that the phone service disruption would occur in Mkushi South, Solwezi Central, Kasenengwa, Vubwi and Zambezi West as PF teams attempt to import from 500 to 1000 pre-marked ballots in each constituency. This will help prevent opposition parties and observers from reporting the rigging exercise since some places will have no coverage while others…
World’s leading information technology research and advisory company Gartner has highlighted the top ten technology trends that would be highly important for most organizations in the coming year. The trends listed at the ongoing Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Africa 2014 in Cape Town included the internet of things, the merging of the real and virtual worlds, advanced analytics, smart machines, 3D printing, context-rich systems, risk-based security and self-protection, cloud/client architecture, web-scale IT, software-defined infrastructure and applications among others. Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Africa 2014 is termed as the “world’s most important gathering for senior IT executives and CIOs.” The main aim of the event…
19 teams have so far confirmed to take part in the Safaricom Sevens tournament scheduled for the end of the month. South Africa will be represented by the Sharks and regulars Western Province while Great Britain has three teams including Welsh Warriors, England Students and Wailers. Kenya as usual will have two teams namely defending champions Shujaa and the Morans. Other countries expected at the tournament include Germany, Samurai Invitational, Stade de France, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Spain, Auckland Metro (New Zealand) and Australia Icons. Canada and Russia are yet to confirm their participation. So far, apart from Kenya, Samoa and Argentina…
Tony Elumelu, a well-known global business leader and chairman of Heirs Holdings has announced the group’s ambition to generate at least a quarter of Nigeria’s power consumption needs within the next five years. Heirs Holdings’ interests in the power sector include Transcorp Ughelli Power, a gas-fired, thermal power generating plant that was acquired under the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector. Elumelu will deliver the keynote address at this year’s West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) in Lagos from 18 to 19 November. The 11th edition of this long running, high-level energy conference and expo will once again assemble utilities, government,…
A database consisting of 4.93 million Google usernames and passwords was uploaded to a Russian bitcoin forum with the site administrator clearing the passwords, though email addresses remained intact. Speaking to Fast Company, Google’s spokesman stated: “The list, probably combed or phished from malware-infected computer, appears to contain outdated or older login information. However, the uploader claimed 60-percent of the passwords.” He further added that the security of their customer’s information is their number one priority and they have no evidence that their systems have been compromised though when they are aware that accounts may have been leaked, they will…
The Kenyan government is relying on free primary laptop project to increase power connectivity within the country. The aim of the project, which is one of Jubilee’s chief projects, is to provide free laptops to primary schools. Although the promise to donate laptops would have seen Kenya join countries such as Mongolia and Rwanda, where school children use laptops to access information on various subjects, play and learn, it has encountered several challenges with over 3000 teachers having been trained on computer courses. However, the government still insists that the project is still on course even though it has been…
Aerocomm Ltd has appointed African Press Organization (APO) the official wire service for Aviation Africa 2015, a two-day Summit & Exhibition that will take place on May 10, 2015 in Dubai, UAE. APO, as the official newswire, is providing exhibitors a 20 percent discount off news release distribution. According to APO, Aviation Africa 2015’s press releases will be distributed via Africa Wire®, the newswire service for press release distribution and monitoring in Africa. This reaches over 50,000 media outlets, bloggers and social networks, and redistributes content to more than 50 African websites, as well as to Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters,…
Kenya’s National Bank has unveiled a new mobile and internet app that will maintain the customers need for quicker and convenient banking as well as financial transactions online. The internet and mobile app dubbed NatConnect and NatMobile respectively, will provide a convergence of solutions delivering financial information and banking services through the internet and on customer’s mobile phones. Speaking during the launch, Munir Sheikh Ahmed the Managing Director of National Bank stated, “The rise in mobile phone access and internet usage has seen an increase in both mobile and internet banking transactions in the last few years and there was…
Etisalat Nigeria has announced its strong panel of judges for the 2014 Pan-African Prize for Innovation. The judges include Founder and CEO of Chocolate City Group; Babatunde Fafunwa, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Rancard Solutions; Audu Maikori, Managing Director of Kitskoo Limited; Ehizogie Binitie, Entrepreneur/Consultant; Otuyemi Otule, CEO of MainOne telecommunications solutions provider; Henrik Palsson, Chief Information Officer at Etisalat Nigeria; Funke Opeke, Vice President Commerce at Etisalat Group and George Held, Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat Nigeria. The Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation, which was launched in 2012, aims at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovative ideas and products…
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced that the 2014 SEED Awards Africa Symposium will be hosted at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. This is one of the largest gatherings of start-up social and environmental enterprises ever, as 41 green entrepreneurs are celebrated at this event. The Award winners will receive from SEED a package of individually tailored support for their businesses, technical assistance, access to other supporting institutions, and a financial contribution of US$5,000. According to UNEP, the SEED Awards identify and support innovative social and environmental start-up enterprises, which can tackle key sustainable development challenges at…
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has assigned IT & Telecom Digest and ICT Magazine, the event manager and official marketer for its forthcoming 20th Anniversary celebrations. According to Ajibola Olude, the association’s executive secretary, the appointment letter, which was addressed to Belmang Ltd, publishers of the magazine, followed a thorough process of calling for bidders, shortlisting qualified companies and final selection after a series of presentations and interviews. The letter signed by Lanre Ajayi, the President of ATCON and addressed to the company read: “We are pleased to inform you that the National Executive Council of the…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has cautioned Nigerians against purchasing pre-registered SIM cards and used GSM phones from unknown sources. The warning was given by Mike Omeri, the coordinator of the National Information Centre, in Abuja yesterday during the everyday briefing on security situation within the country. According to Omeri, such SIM cards and phones might have been used for terrorist and other indecent activities. “The warning has become essential to save members of the public the embarrassment of being arrested for criminal activities committed with phones and SIM cards found in their possession. “Members of the public need to…
UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat has announced its manufacturing and launch partners for the company’s recently announced third satellite—Al Yah 3—set to be launched in Q4 2016. Within a decade of operation by Yahsat, the third satellite extends the firm’s commercial Ka-banda coverage to extra17 countries and 600 million users throughout Brazil and Africa. According to Yahsat, it has announced a partnership with Arianespace, which will launch the new satellite into orbit from French Guiana and Orbital Sciences Corporation (“Orbital”), which will manufacture Al Yah 3. “The agreements supplement Yahsat’s world-class partnership model and knowledge-sharing vision, which aims at bringing UAE…
Mobile telecommunications company, MTC has donated 29 iPads valued at N$260 000 to presiding officers and Cabinet members in Windhoek, Namibia. The decision to donate the iPads comes after MTC realized that cabinet members needed to visit all regions of Namibia to engage with stakeholders and constituencies. While handing over the iPads, Tim Ekandjo MTC chief human capital and corporate affairs officer explained that the iPads could deepen democratic governance, attain universal service and alleviate poverty. “It is about what you use the technology for. We hope that our national leadership will desirably make use of the available technology to…
Sidmach Technologies in partnership with the Nigeria Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) have launched an advanced curriculum powered by Microsoft computer software and Intel processor. The e-curriculum solution, which brings curriculum for both teachers and students online, is a complete learning and teaching tool that assists teachers teach while students learn better. Additionally, the solution offers an interactive, collaborative and analytic learning environment for students and teachers. Speaking at the event, Akinola Babatunde, the Corporate Affairs Manager of INTEL Corporations Nigeria expressed how pleased he was at the role played by Intel in developing the e-Curriculum, explaining that it…
47 MCAs from Nyeri County and some members of staff have undergone a five-day ICT training exercise at Kenyatta University Conference Centre in Nairobi. The main aim of the exercise was to show them how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools to monitor activities within their various wards. According to Mwangi Mugo, Nyeri County assembly speaker, the training was planned to equip both the staff and MCAs with the essential ICT skills to make sure that they take information in the right forms to the correct users at the right time. Mugo further added that the MCAs…
African Press Organization (APO), the press release newswire in Africa as well as the worldwide leader in media relations relating to Africa has announced the introduction of a social media analysis reporting for press releases within Africa. According to APO, a complete social media analysis reporting will currently be included as a complimentary service to respond to client’s needs to measure the social media response to their press releases across Africa. APO further mentioned: “The comprehensive report will provide figures on social media volume on the continent, geographic location, major influencers, sentiment and other data, giving clients factors to analyze…
Gambia’s GSM operator Gamcel is to present Tobaski rams to 10 lucky winners whose numbers showed up in the Tobaski Promotion raffle draw held at the company’s head office in Kanifing. Gamcel’s supervisor of product development and research Sering Ceesay performed the draw. He said, “The main aim of the promotion is to offer Gamcel’s valued customers the chance of winning Tobaski rams.” Possessing a Gamcel SIM card and loading D100 scratch card or nopal could give participant a chance of winning a big Tobaski ram. The promotion is expected to ease the burden of buying rams for customers. Additionally, for customers stand a…
Apple’s iPhone 6 is set to be the biggest phone ever produced by the phone maker. With a 5.5-inch screen, iPhone 6 has a special ‘one handed’ mode that allows users to easily navigate and type. Changing the iPhones’ user interface will help people type or use apps with only one hand, says the New York Times. A one-handed mode is also available. It can be switched on and off whenever necessary. Apple expected this feature to address concerns that “… a larger phone will make typing with one hand difficult”. Even though Apple is set to reveal its iPhone…
Ghana’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) has launched an online collection and payment platform called U-bills within the 19 countries it has operations. The platform allows sellers to collect or make payments for goods and services online or via mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets as long as they have internet connection. According to Yinka Adedeji, Divisional Head, e-banking, the uniqueness about U-bills platform is that it is a single payment gateway where all kinds of payment can be made to various merchants. “It is not a single-merchant platform. Each merchant can register on U-bills to receive payments…
Equity Bank and Safaricom have taken the thin SIM-card battle to the Parliament. The two have appeared before the parliamentary committee on energy, information and communications chaired by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau. Equity Bank obtained MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) license in April via its subsidiary Finserve Africa Ltd, which is to depend on Airtel’s free network capacity to function. The controversy arose when Equity announced it would roll out thin SIM-cards that would be stuck on ordinary SIM-cards to fit within the same slot. Safaricom argued that SIM could tap data on transmission and would act as an unauthorized…
Evernote has announced Chamasoft as the most worthy winner of the first ever African Innovation Award, which is part of the Evernote Platform Awards launched in May and organized in collaboration with the African Technology Foundation. The annual Evernote Platform Awards, which celebrates the best software apps that connect to Evernote from across the world, selected Chamasoft at Evernote headquarters in Silicon Valley, California. According to Chris Traganos, Evernote’s Director of Developer Relations, Evernote is excited to show its community Chamasoft’s financial tools for community-based savings. “Chamasoft will pitch live on stage during the Evernote Conference, EC4, in San Francisco,…
Global leader in real-time mobile survey platform Geopoll has appointed John Muthee as the Vice-President of Business Development in Africa. Muthee is expected to help drive execution of major growth initiatives amid the company’s mission of extending it mobile survey capacities throughout the continent. Geopoll has recently opened a regional hub office in Nairobi and employed several business development veterans, among them Gordon Grant Biaku from Ghana, Matt Angus-Hammond from South Africa and Wavinya Kiagiri from Kenya. Steve Gutterman, the President of GeoPoll, stated: “As GeoPoll becomes the go-to solution for organizations looking to gain insight into African audiences, we’ve expanded…
AfricaCom 2014, Africa’s leading telecoms event, is scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, on 11–13 November 2014. AfricaCom 2014 will bring together individuals and companies to debate on how to embrace innovation in Africa’s telecoms, media and ICT markets. The deadline for entry is midnight on October 17, 2014. Winner will be announced on October 23, 2014.
Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, has revealed a sensational lighting makeover of the iconic and historic Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa at the end of its fifth consecutive Pan African Cairo to Cape Town roadshow. The most recent LED lighting technology has been used to bring dynamic, colourful and eye-catching lighting effects that will bring to life the architectural monument, while allowing 80 percent energy savings compared to the traditional lights presently used within the Castle. According to Royal Philips, the magnificent Castle found in the foothills of the iconic Table Mountain, remains a…
Kenyan government websites are currently offline and will stay inaccessible until September 10, 2014. The tens of sites are currently undergoing security upgrade. According to Victor Kiyalo, the ICT Authority’s acting CEO, the move is to ensure that the websites run at acceptable security standards. It is also claimed that the move could been triggered by the spate of hacking on government websites in July. According to Kiyalo, “the ICT Authority has formulated comprehensive standards to protect public web content, security, appearance and accessibility of public websites. For the standards to be enforced, we carried out an audit of government…
Mobile network operator MTN has accepted to sell 9,151 base stations in Nigeria to IHS Holding, a major mobile telecommunications infrastructure provider in the country. IHS Holding issued a statement explaining the sale of the network towers as expected to cut down its operating costs, expand data and voice capacity and drive network efficiency. Later, the network towers will be sold to a newly formed company to be owned jointly by IHS and MTN Group, though IHS will have full control of the business. “The new towers company will market independent infrastructure-sharing services to internet service providers and other mobile operators within…
EnergyNet has collaborated with ‘Wind for Prosperity’, a Vestas initiative to take electricity to some of the remote areas throughout Africa. As Africa’s star proceeds to rise and governments are turning out to be increasingly aware of the importance of delivering electricity beyond industrial and city boundaries, EnergyNet is calling on African Energy Ministers to support ‘Wind for Prosperity’, a sustainable approach to deliver electricity to remote villages throughout the continent With more than 1.3 billion people throughout the globe lacking access to affordable and reliable electricity, creating dramatic consequences for human health, education, and economic well-being ‘Wind for Prosperity’ can…