The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Portraz) has released a draft national frequency allocation plan for public comment. All contributions will be tabled for discussion at a consultative workshop that will precede the publication of a final plan.
The document details current and expected spectrum use. Portraz says the plan considers spectrum in number of frequency bands and specifies the general purposes for which — and conditions under which — the bands may be used in Zimbabwe to support a wide range of business, personal, industrial, scientific, medical research and cultural activities, both public and private.
Meanwhile, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa continues to consider its own options for spectrum use and has even been considering of spectrum trading or sharing. Source: The Herald
Main One Nigeria secures US grant
Undersea cable operator Main One Cable Company has secured a US$550 000 grant from the US trade and development agency to extend its services to the Niger Delta region by rolling out about 480km of fibre-optic cable and supporting infrastructure between two of Nigeria’s most important commercial centres.
The investment will connect Port Harcourt to the existing Main One cable system and provide additional international capacity. Source: Biztech Africa
Uganda to beat digital TV deadline
The Ugandan government says the country is on track to beat the 15 June 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to switch off analogue terrestrial television broadcasts.
Uganda, along with some of its neighbours, had set 2013 as the region’s deadline for the switch, but only Kenya and Tanzania have to date managed a partial move to digital broadcasting. The delay is being attributed to a lack of funds and public awareness as well as a lack of the necessary equipment to complete the process.
Though the ITU deadline won’t result in analogue broadcasts necessarily ending, it will lead the international body revoking protection from interference for analogue broadcast bands. South Africa has encountered its own obstacles to successfully completing the transition to digital broadcasting and looks increasingly unlikely to meet the deadline. Source: The Monitor
Vodacom Tanzania adds tax collection
The mobile operator has partnered with the Tanzanian Revenue Authority to allows citizens to pay their road licence fee using the mobile payment solution, M-Pesa. In its first two weeks, the system collected over TSh2bn (R12,4m), according to the TRA’s service and education director, Richard Kayombo. “Vodacom will be of great importance in the coming days since the mobile system simplifies tax payment.” Source: The Citizen