Kenya’s capital city is to receive a “smart system” of digital traffic lights and closed-circuit television cameras as part of an integrated security and traffic control system. The city, which is notorious for its traffic jams, is dependent on enormous numbers of traffic police officers for directing traffic, particularly through the city’s busiest intersections.
Efforts are also underway to illuminate the entire CBD and cover it with CCTV cameras linked to a centralised control room. These cameras will include facial and number plate recognition technology for crime prevention.
In November 2012, state-owned Chinese firm Nanjing Les Information Technology won the KSh420m (R47,2m) tender for the installation of the cameras. In the first phase of the roll-out, 51 cameras will be installed. Source: Daily Nation
Zim cracks down on unregistered Sims
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has called on mobile operators to disconnect unregistered Sim cards with immediate effect.
Potraz has noted with “grave concern” a marked increase in the number of “offensive and abusive calls and text messages” coming from unregistered Sims.
Zimbabweans have had to register new Sim cards since 2011, but Potraz’s announcement suggests the system hasn’t been meeting expectations.
Those found guilty of generating abusive calls or messages could faces fines or six months of imprisonment or both. Potraz has warned consumers against buying or selling registered Sims because they could be held liable if the Sim is abused. Source: Techzim
Uganda mobile quality questioned
The Uganda Communications Commission’s annual quality of service survey has found that most service providers continue to fall short of the set service quality limits for both dropped and blocked calls. Dropped calls are those that fail during a call, while blocked calls are those that cannot be placed due to network failure.
The commission’s maximum limit for blocked and dropped calls is 2%. It assesses all five of the country’s operators, Airtel, MTN, Warid, Orange and Uganda Telecom.
Although all operators have improved dropped call rates, only Orange is within the limits for blocked calls. Orange and Warid are ranked highest overall. MTN was ranked the least compliant among the five players, followed by Uganda Telecom. Source: Daily Monitor
New Internet tax in Tanzania
A 14,5% excise duty on Internet services in Tanzania has the nation’s Internet service providers (ISPs) up in arms and warning that the new tax will inflate access costs. The Tanzania Internet Service Providers Association argues that the duty will also limit its members’ ability to roll out services to rural areas and will widen the “digital divide” while reversing gains in Internet penetration the country has made in recent years. Source: Daily News
