MTN plans to spend US$3bn (about R31bn) on its network in Nigeria over the next three years to improve quality of service. The company has previously had quality problems with its network in the West African country.
According to website BDlive, the Nigerian Communications Commission banned MTN and two other mobile operators from selling Sim cards for a month, forcing them to improve their service before it would lift the ban.
MTN has 57,2m subscribers in Nigeria, where its market share is just shy of 50%. Nigeria is the company’s biggest and most profitable market. Source: BDlive (pay wall)
WhatsApp data dominates in Zimbabwe
Traffic generated through smartphone instant messaging application WhatsApp constitutes 23% of Internet traffic carried across the network of Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operator, Econet.
The high WhatsApp use it due to unlimited access to the service provided through bundles by Econet. It has become the main platform for sharing multimedia content at low cost. Source: TechZim
Botswana assesses readiness for open data
Botswana will conduct a study to assess the capability of the country to implement an open data programme. The study, to be conducted in partnership with the World Bank and the Partnership for Open Data, will be led by the Botswana Innovation Hub and the e-government unit in the office of president Ian Khama.
Open data initiatives make useful and non-sensitive data, often from government departments, available in raw form so others can re-use it. Kenya and Tanzania have already made commitments to open data, while Uganda is also working on a project. Source: IT News Africa
Facebook, Microsoft in Ghana white-spaces project
Microsoft and Facebook have joined forces to launch a project in Ghana to offer low-cost Internet access using white-spaces spectrum, the gaps in radio spectrum between television channels.
A number of pilots are already underway in Africa, including two in South Africa and one in Kenya. The pilot scheme in Ghana falls under Microsoft’s 4Afrika programme and is based on a commercial deal between the software maker and Ghanaian Internet service provider SpectraLink Wireless.
The project will build coverage across the campuses and student hostels of All Nations University College and Koforidua Polytechnic. Source: Gigaom
