The Bank of Tanzania says mobile financial services regulations aimed at improving the oversight of mobile payments and the service providers that facilitate them are expected in June. The central bank drafted the regulations last year in what it says is a bid to enhance the sector’s stability and security. It says the lack of supervision in the sector leaves room for the possibility of illicit activities such as money laundering or the financing of terrorism. Source: The Citizen
Kenyan fishing goes hi-tech
Kenya’s fishing industry is set to benefit from the use of satellite technology, which will help to locate fish stocks, provide information on weather conditions and monitor fishing areas’ sea surface temperatures and chlorophyll levels.
In order to achieve this, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute has upgraded its satellite station at its headquarters.
The management of marine resources in Kenya has long been hampered by inaccurate and inadequate data, unpredictable weather and dwindling fish stocks — problems that have also meant fisherman spend a great deal of time trying to locate fish. It’s hoped the move will improve fishermen’s efficiency.
Kenya’s fishing sector contributes an estimated 5% of the East African nation’s GDP and 40 000 people are directly dependent on marine fish production for their livelihoods. Source: The Standard
Uganda gets satellite broadband
Being landlocked, Uganda is reliant on physical cable infrastructure to get access to the numerous undersea cables now landing on Africa’s coasts. The cost of fixed-line services and their lack of reliability has prompted Internet satellite company YahClick to launch services in the nation’s capital, Kampala. The service offers broadband by means of satellite and is the first service of its sort in Uganda. YahClick launched the same service in South Africa in May last year. Source: AllAfrica
Procomtel won’t wreck MTN Nigeria gear
Gbaruka Resources, a subcontractor of infrastructure company Procomtel, earlier this month allegedly threatened to demolish some of MTN Nigeria’s facilities in the Niger Delta region because the operator allegedly failed to pay for services rendered. Procomtel has vehemently denied that Gbaruka has any such plans. The company confirmed that subcontrators like Gbaruka had been tasked with constructing base stations and that loans had been secured to cover the cost of work in line with the turnkey agreement with MTN. Source: Telecompaper
