Three counties surrounding Kenya’s planned technology megapark, Konza City, will introduce uniform bylaws aimed at stopping informal settlements from developing within a 10km radius of the project.
This is according to Kenyan technology minister Fred Matiang’i, who says the bylaws will prevent slums that could deter international investment. Matiang’i says Makueni, Machakos and Kajiado counties will have uniform bylaws to prevent slums which could deter international companies from investing in the Konza project.
The 5 000-acre facility is set to host international and local business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, a science park, a convention centre, shopping malls, hotels, international schools and health facilities. Construction will begin in December. Source: Business Daily
Senegal races to register mobile users
Senegal’s ministry of telecommunications has, through the nation’s regulator, begun a drive to register the country’s mobile users and devices. The regulator hopes to complete the exercise by the end of July. Mobile operators Sonatel-Orange, Sentel GSM-Tigo and Expresso Telecom have opened temporary shops and call centres and have deployed mobile teams across Senegal to register their users.
It’s hoped the exercise will produce reliable user statistics and assist law enforcement in obtaining access to records in criminal cases. Senegal originally undertook to register all mobile users in 2006 but after seven years had not managed to do so, prompting the ministry to set the July deadline. Source: Telecompaper
Botswana mobile penetration at 153%
The number of mobile phone customers in Botswana exceeded 3m at the end of December 2012, almost double the number recorded in 2008, according to statistics from the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (Bocra). The statistics also show the mobile penetration is nearly 153%. Bocra’s data also shows that fixed lines have grown from 144 000 in 2008 to 160 500 last year. Nevertheless, the authority says there were fewer than 19 000 broadband subscribers in the country. Source: TMCnet
Swaziland shakes up regulation
The Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation is set to lose its power to regulate the country’s telecoms sector following the passing of the Communications Commission Act. The company’s regulatory functions will pass to the Swaziland Communications Commission when the law comes into full force. Until Now, Swaziland Posts has held an incongruous dual role as service provider and regulator, leading to a number of conflicts of interest over the years. Source: Telegeography
