Nearly one year ago amid great hype, MTC, one of two mobile operators in Namibia (leo being the other), conducted 4G trials in Windhoek. Nothing has happened since. One year later, the mobile operator is still waiting on obtaining the appropriate spectrum license. Even if MTC secures more funding, the ball is in the national regulator’s court to green-light the request for 4G.

The writing has been on the wall from the beginning. How can the Namibian user-base immediately support 4G service if only five countries in the world had deployed 4G technology at the time of the first trial in Windhoek? At the time, MTC quoted 98% national coverage with 3G speeds of up to 7.2Mbps, but actual speeds were (and are) much lower. Comments on MTC’s Facebook page suggest 3G speeds are hardly at 2G levels. Multiple MTC users ask why 4G is necessary when enhancements to 3G would be the next logical step.

The New Era newspaper uncovered that, in addition to MTC’s lack of a license and the delays with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia in granting the license, the City of Windhoek is also slowing the process with demands of revenue from the yet-to-be-built network.

A timeline of events sheds light on the drawn-out situation:

• February 2, 2011: “Prime Minister Nahas Angula has called on the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) to urgently award a license to MTC to implement fourth generation (4G) technology.” {Namibia Press Agency}
• February 17, 2011: A 4G trial in front of government officials held in Windhoek showed speeds of “over 100Mbps, which is 20 times faster than the speeds churned out by the current 3G technology.” Streaming mobile video was also demonstrated. However, MTC acknowledged a need to build some more base stations, still was waiting on clear guidelines from the authorities, and stressed the need for fibre to carry the bandwidth. {MTC}
• February 1, 2012: In a press release mirroring that of February 2011, MTC announces a second successful 4G trial. The results were identical to the test run in 2011. Now, MTC cites 29 nations operating 4G technology – but none are in Africa. The wording is very careful, but MTC says they are ready to launch and are waiting on the regulatory body to grant the proper spectrum. {MTC}
• February 2, 2012: MTC told Namibia media that the company is “facing a number of challenges in implementing 4G technology.” {New Era}

The benefits of enhancing the quality of 3G service are more important than winning the race to see which nation and/or operator can first launch 4G in Africa. MTC would be wise to compete with leo for the most robust 3G network instead of competing for a title. What would happen if MTC were to end up with sub-par 4G service but leo were to deliver solid 3G bandwidth?

For your viewing pleasure, we’ve included video of 2011′s first round of public 4G trials:

WIOCC is first to provide seamless low-latency network from Africa to Europe

Nairobi, Africa, 1^st December, 2011 – Africa’s carriers’ carrier WIOCC has entered into a strategic partnership with Cable&Wireless Worldwide, a global mission critical communications provider, to improve the reliability, performance and reach of international connectivity in and out of Africa. This initiative will enable WIOCC to provide the first truly seamless low-latency network from Africa to Europe and reinforces its position as the carriers’ choice for high-bandwidth, low-latency, EASSy capacity.

Through C&W Worldwide, WIOCC has invested in two new submarine cable systems – the Europe India Gateway (EIG) and West Africa Cable System (WACS). These additional investments enable WIOCC to create a unique, diversity-rich, high-capacity ring around Africa and into Europe, delivering the highest capacity at the lowest possible cost base – thereby extending its existing end-to-end managed regional and international services the length of Africa’s western seaboard.

WIOCC’s diversity-rich, high capacity ring around Africa provides connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world. Click to enlarge. {WIOCC}

“This strategic investment in new high-capacity submarine cable systems strengthens our existing ‘east+west coast diversity’ proposition and provides our carrier clients with even greater network resilience and redundancy. C&W Worldwide is an ideal partner as we share a similar vision of investing in strategic telecom infrastructure to support the growth of Africa,” said WIOCC CEO Chris Wood, who was recently named as one of the 100 most powerful people⁽¹⁾ in the global telecoms industry.

WIOCC already offers telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) affordable, reliable connectivity to over 400 locations across 20 southern and eastern African countries, utilising more than 50,000 km of shareholder and partner-owned terrestrial fibre. This new agreement will enable WIOCC to reach up to 10 additional countries on Africa’s west coast, extending its seamless end-to-end connectivity offering between Africa and Europe to maximise WIOCC’s EASSy investment.

C&W Worldwide Managing Director for Global Wholesale & Carrier, Diarmid Massey, added: “C&W Worldwide provisioned its first submarine cables in Africa more than 100 years ago and our commitment to this market has only increased over the years. We are committed to working with partners like WIOCC to foster the infrastructure needed for both international and local businesses to prosper in the burgeoning African market.”

 ###

⁽¹⁾ In the 4^th annual GTB Power 100, WIOCC CEO Chris Wood was the highest-ranked executive from an African business and rose to number 46 (up from 76 in 2010) in the publication’s list of the 100 most powerful people in the global telecommunications industry.

Contacts:

About WIOCC – www.wiocc.net

Nairobi-based WIOCC has firmly established itself as Africa’s carriers’ carrier, providing international and African telcos and internet service providers with unrivalled high-speed, resilient and diverse capacity into, within and out of Africa.

Operating exclusively as a wholesaler, WIOCC offers carriers affordable, reliable connectivity to over 400 locations across 20 southern and eastern African countries – utilising more than 50,000km of terrestrial fibre and 40,000km of submarine fibre-optic cable.

WIOCC’s international network reach currently extends to 100 cities in 29 countries in Europe and more than 700 cities in 70 countries globally.

WIOCC owns 30% of the 10,000km EASSy (East African Submarine System) fibre-optic submarine cable, which has landing points in every coastal country from South Africa to Sudan – as well as landings in Madagascar and Comores. At 4.72 Terabits per second, EASSy is the largest system serving Africa and represents two-thirds of all the international submarine cable inventory available to sub-Saharan Africa.

The rapid uptake of capacity since EASSy went live (at the end of July 2010) has led to an earlier and larger than expected upgrade which will be ready for service in January 2012.

EASSy has been the cornerstone for WIOCC creating a unique high-capacity ‘ring around Africa’, extending seamless regional and international services the length of Africa’s eastern and western seaboards and into Europe and North Africa.

An ‘east+west coast diversity’ proposition has been implemented to address customers’ immediate demands for improved resilience, and WIOCC continues to add diversity through strategic investments in new submarine cable systems.

WIOCC offers carriers a one-stop-shop solution that delivers seamless connectivity to Africa, within Africa and from Africa to the rest of the world. Its 24/7 Customer Service Desk provides end-to-end management of WIOCC services from customer site to customer site, and WIOCC customers can choose from a wide range of commercial terms.

About Cable&Wireless Worldwide

Cable&Wireless Worldwide (LSE: CW.) is a leading global telecoms company providing a wide range of high-quality managed voice, data, hosting and IP-based services and applications to large multinational companies, governments, carrier customers and resellers across the UK, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa, Continental Europe and North America. Established in the 1860s, Cable&Wireless Worldwide helps more than 6,000 organisations deliver their goals. The Group’s vision is to be the first choice for mission critical communications.

Reaching 20,500km in length, Cable&Wireless Worldwide owns the UK’s largest fibre network dedicated to business users of telecoms, and provides ubiquitous nationwide access through a combination of fibre, digital, microwave, radio and leased circuits. The network has presence in over 400 towns and cities in the UK, with 864 unbundled exchanges covering 56% of the population.

Internationally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide’s global next-generation network (NGN) stretches to more than 425,000km, including interests in 60 global cable systems, enabling connectivity to more than 150 countries. The Group’s IP-based Multi-Service Platform operates at the core of our NGN, offering a single environment on which voice and data applications can be converged to drive business efficiencies. Cable&Wireless Worldwide’s network is uniquely designed with inbuilt resilience.

With more than 6,000 colleagues globally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and developing long term partnerships with its customers

To find out more, visit www.cw.com

Last year, we found Chad’s progress toward information access rather optimistic, observing that, “published expectations for the Central African Backbone project and the apparent Libyan telecom stake in Sotel both are consistent with Chad’s national ICT policy outline created in 2007.” One year later, with only media reports on the well-funded Central African Backbone progress coming down the line, we are less hopeful that Chad will meet 2011 NICI goal of a completed 1,100km SAT-3/fibre backbone between N’Djamena and Adré and a 100% completed e-government network in N’Djamena.

At least work is underway on these initiatives. Lofty are the final goals for 2012. Will Chad boast 50,000 WiFi subscribers  – roughly 5% of N’Djamena’s population – by the end of next year? An August 2011 report by Research and Markets confirms that Chad lacks still true fixed-line broadband, lacks 3G, and lacks international bandwidth. Satellite is the only means to a decent web browsing experience and is unreliable given the sporadic nature of power within the country.

All hope is not lost, however. Thanks to efforts from non-profit organizations like Chad Now, the Internet is gradually (and sustainably) reaching more Chadians. Early next year, Chad Now hopes to establish a solar-powered Internet cafe as part of a broader series of small-scale, short-term development projects. Even though broadband is not available in Chad, Cyber Cafe Chari will demonstrate the significance of computers so that Chadians are ready when the time for even greater innovation comes.

The whole endeavor is described on the hot-off-the-presses ChadNow.org. We’re especially intrigued by the option to test the Internet before paying (and the low access costs to spur local competition):

Chad Now centers the Internet cafe concept on the foundations of affordable startup, sustainable operation, cultural appropriateness, and excellent service. The model cafe, located in a low-income area of Chad’s capital N’Djamena, is comprised of four laptop computers powered by a flexible solar cell system. In addition to simple internet services, the cafe also sells computer accessories and refreshments. Free educational courses make the cafe a learning environment, and free access periods allow locals to try out the internet before paying. Once they do, they pay an hourly rate 30% below market price, a step that expands internet access equity and is made possible by the savings of solar power.”

In fact, Chad Now hopes to use this model to bring Internet access to even more Africans. Guidelines are:

• launch costs not to exceed $2,000 (includes two months’ pay for two employees)
• laptops running Ubuntu Linux
• strategic location to bring immediate clientele
• reduced access costs to increase demand and cause other cafe owners to cut costs to compete
• offer computer accessories for sale
• hosting of local entrepreneurs
• free computing classes for local groups

The video at the top of this post explains the solar charging system (battery, wiring, solar panel, controller, power inverter) with the goal of helping others avoid a lengthy trial-and-error process.

The beauty here is how two parties can agree on the benefit of an information society. The Plan de développement des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication au Tchad, cites ICT as a vehicle needed to achieve a climate of peace, justice and democracy. Similarly, Chad Now also seeks to empower Chadians and improve livelihoods in Chad. The timing is certainly right with the arrival of international bandwidth via the Central African Backbone.

Follow @Chad_Now on Twitter.

Read about the effort to film a documentary in N’Djamena (including the creation of Cyber Cafe Chari).

Skim Chad Now’s recent article “Solar-powered Internet Cafés for Sub-Saharan Africa” which cites $190/month cost for 128kbps dial-up access and the unreliability of VSAT during Chad’s rainy season.

Can this roadmap bring Tanzania's ICT to the forefront? We think so. {tanzict.or.tz}

TANZICT officially started operations on August 1st in the COSTECH office.

• 3 main pillars: National ICT Policy revision, strengthen the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, and create a chain of ICT innovation.
• The group has already participated in a Mobile Monday event.
• Expect code sprints, hack-a-thons, an exchange program, entrepreneur events, demo nights, university & industry projects, and more in the coming months.
• Follow @TANZICT

DTBI describes itself as “an autonomous and private sector driven entity assisting early stage ICT companies by lowering the cost of business and increasing the chances of business survival.”

• Since June, the incubator has accumulated a client base of nine companies that employ 72 people.
• Pre-incubation programs and app training for university students have served dozens of youth.
• A rural (virtual) incubation program is also in the works.
• The open Facebook group already has 7 members.

{teknohama.or.tz}

If all goes well, these two projects will continue to create local jobs fueled by local ideas. COSTECH seems to be doing a stellar job fostering the entrepreneur mentality. I’m especially curious to see how TANZICT can encourage and support the Tanzanian government to create an information society. Like their roadmap shows, development is both a bottom-up and a top-down effort. Additionally, I’m intrigued by DTBi’s virtual incubation program with rural areas. Regardless, the future certainly looks promising for ICT progress in Dar es Salaam.

Estimates of the actual magnitude of broadband impact on GDP vary.

Just one caveat: officially, that 1.4% could be as little as 0.24% or as high as 1.50%. In reality, the percentage is impossible to pin down. The popular 1.38% comes from a 2009 global ICT study co-authored by Christine Zhen-Wei Qiang, an economist at the World Bank. A few minutes of digging through the report shows the statistically valid result is based on average broadband penetration for middle- and low-income countries between 1980 and 2006. The question remains – does such a result hold true in Africa, and if so, from the year 2011 and beyond?

Plus, what if a 10% increase in broadband results in a 2-3% increase in GDP instead of only 1%? Although a GDP range of 1% seems small, even the smallest African economies are generating around US $1 billion in net GDP. The margin of error is in the tens of millions of dollars.

Analysts are quick to point out the need for complementary investments or policies in other sectors in order to utilize the benefits of broadband. Some extremely under-developed areas need low-tech solutions, however. Broadband may not contribute much to basic needs, and consequently GDP, in these places. For example, broadband can provide tele-medicine, but it cannot directly bring basic medical supplies (although it can shorten the supply-chain).

Additional notes regarding the possible GDP benefits from a 10% increase in broadband penetration:

• Internet alone (vs. broadband) brings 1.12% increase in GDP in developing nations
• the 0.24% to 0.26% range is based on Germany
• 0.60% to 0.70% is based on 5 non-African nations from 2003-2004
• 1.10% is based on mobile broadband in India
• 0.90% to 1.50% is based on OECD countries
• Dial-up and broadband in China will potentially contribute 2.5% to GDP growth
• Wireless broadband should increase South Africa’s GDP by 1.8% by 2015

Data: Broadband Strategies Handbook, The World Bank / infoDev, 3-5.

African competition to be the next Silicon Valley is a driving force for innovation.

Based on measurable figures, such as the contribution of tech to GDP, the number and growth of tech jobs per capita, and prevalence of Internet access, there will always be a top city for ICT. As of 2011, South Africa is considered the top ICT center in Africa using such statistics.

Such rankings, however, are beside the point. The key is to think in the relative – not in the absolute. It’s about where the country has been and where the typical African economy stands. Africa’s Silicon Valleys may not boast the strongest economic numbers on paper, but none are afraid of failure. When TIME Magazine mentioned how “Kenya’s love for IT has earned it the nickname Silicon Savanna,” the article aptly added that the “moniker neatly encapsulates the themes of its rising influence on global technology.” The article never makes far-out claims that Kenya is the IT hub of Africa. Nor does the article cite an abundance of metrics. The takeaways are that Kenya is very tech savvy and will continue to be a hotbed for African innovation.

Similarly, last July, Garreth Bloor (staff reporter for South Africa’s memeburn news site), sought whether Silicon Valley could be reproduced. After examining technology scenes in India, Israel, Kenya, and South Africa, Mr. Bloor concluded that Kenya’s tech environment is a worthy alternative to South Africa and that the Kenyan ICT industry, although not the largest globally, is very promising “given the country’s context”. These last four words are paramount to understanding what is meant when someone declares a nation the next Silicon Valley.

Even if a city like Kano, Nigeria may take over a decade to become a tech hub by U.S. standards, the city could very well be considered a regional IT center by 2015. It’s all about the context within both Nigeria and Africa and other developing nations.

Also, radical ideology may be necessary for Africa’s economic and social success. Not only does innovation thrive on positive attitude, but investors’ interests are piqued through terms like ‘ICT hub’ or ‘next Silicon Valley’. Let the people think their city is the best in Africa if such mentality translates into greater passion and productivity. There’s a lot to be said about pride for one’s homeland. Plus, intracontinental competition to be Africa’s thought leader is encouraging collaborations (and competitions) among various locales. Africa is thriving on these types of harmony.

—–

Over the past 2 years, we’ve accumulated quite a collection of news stories touting various ICT hubs across Africa. Not surprisingly, all come from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia:

• Oct 12, 2009: Is Cape Town ready to be Africa’s Silicon Valley?
  Mother city prepares for more cliques {Times Live}
• Feb 15, 2010: There is plenty to support this argument. Ghana boasts a stable democracy, excellent ICT universities, at least 5 mobile carriers, and investment interest. Still the future hinges on careful policy-making:
  Is Ghana becoming the ICT hub of West Africa? {Ghana Business News}
• Mar 10, 2010: A look at the impressive ICT programs in Sega Village, Kenya. Another example of an African businessman returning to help his native country:
  Silicon Valley in the Making Right Inside Ugenya {Daily Nation via allAfrica}
• Mar 24, 2010: Evidence supporting the claim that Kenya is becoming a global ICT hub:
  Is Kenya inching closer to being next Silicon Valley? {Business Daily}
• Oct 18, 2010: Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos is still considered an ICT hub, but some businesses are moving out of the area once dubbed “silicon valley”:
  Will the market move out of Computer Village? {Daily Sun}
• Oct 30, 2010: Nairobi’s impressive tech hub, as seen by an outsider:
  Why Nairobi deserves the ICT innovation hub of Africa crown {Business Daily}
• Nov 1, 2010: Advice to the Tanzanian tech scene from a Tanzanian:
  So you want to be the Silicon Valley of Africa? {Afrinnovator}
• Jan 15, 2011: Groupon’s acquisition of SA-based Twangoo bodes well for the nation’s burgeoning IT sector:
  South Africa: Silicon Cape? {Financial Times}
• Jan 17, 2011: Bringing the Silicon Valley mentality to other parts of the world means encouraging start-ups despite the high risk of failure:
  Silicon Valley Executives Seek to Invest in Talent {The East African via allAfrica.com}
• Feb 28, 2011: Is Kenya Africa’s Silicon Valley? {The East African}
• March 2011: An ICT hub/city is under construction near Addis Ababa and will provide innovation for a growing tech industry. {Addis Fortune}
• Apr 2, 2011: Is Kenya ready to handle $7 billion in contracts to build the Konza super city? The tech hub would tie in to the nation’s Vision 2030 campaign:
  Silicon Savannah {Think Africa Press}
• Apr 13, 2011: Video on how Rwanda has become tech-savvy, with a focus on Kigali:
  Kigali’s ICT Hub {CNNi}
• Aug 7, 2011: KISA makes Rwanda IT hub for East Africa {The Korea Herald}
• Sep 29, 2011: Zim: Africa’s ICT hub by 2014 {The Zimbabwean}
• Oct 15, 2011: In Nigeria, the Kano state governor announced that he aims to make the region an ICT hub by 2015:
  Kano to Become Africa’s IT Hub {ThisDay}

Independently, we searched Twitter for an hour to find what everyday Africans have been saying on Twitter about the loss of Steve Jobs. The results are uplifting, and of course are interspersed with some humor:

• In at least Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, the following Tweet is being re-tweeted like wildfire: ’3 Apples changed the world,1st 1 seduced Eve,2nd fell on Newton & 3rd was offered 2 d world half bitten by him’ #stevejobs”
• In Ghana, the Tweet: “Steve has been appointed as Director of a new CLOUD BASED project named as ‘iHeaven’ #RIPsteve Jobs” is trending
• News of Steve Jobs death was trending in Zimbabwe, according to @TrendsZim
• Tweets about “famzing” (pretending to be close to celebrities) are also trending in Nigeria
• Steve Jobs RIP, Apple you need to get an office in Nigeria, your biggest market in Africa {@ianspi}
• Apple Community techno geeks will miss Steve Jobs, Talent depth, Innovation, non conventional Thinking. Cape Town, South Africa love Steve {@Dlonraz}
• RIP Steve Jobs. The visionary leader and creator of ipad, ipod, iphone, etc Technopreneurs all over Africa will miss you! {@gilautomation}
• Steve Jobs, the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of our Time! – #RIPSteveJobs from us at Junior Achievement South Africa {@JASouthAfrica}
• Interesting fact…Kenya is one of the biggest apple products consumer in Africa. Steve Jobs sure impact us {@digitalbrands}
• RIP Steve Jobs even for me a child growing up in Africa you have been an inspiration— you have touched the lives of many. {@shoxmami}
• Good Morning 50 Million Amazing People (One South Africa): Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life… Steve Jobs {@AmandaJaneWilde}
• RIP Steve Jobs Without your innovations we would never have been able to do half the things we do in Africa {@DropInTheBucket}
• Steve Jobs wasn’t known to us in the Savannah forests of Africa but we felt him by Apple {@peneshigeorge}
• R.I.P Steve #RIP Steve Jobs Created more jobs than the governments of Africa combined!!! Will be greatly missed by the gurus {@MajjorMwangi}
• South Africans and Africa at large are saying thank u to God for the wonderful creation like Steve Jobs. {@kapikapricko}
• Rest in peace Steve jobs u changed our way of life we feel u here in Africa {@davishare}
• Iconic former Apple CEO Steve Jobs dies at 56 {@MidiaHouse}
• South Africa: don’t wake up. Steve Jobs has died but maybe this is just a bad dream this early on a Thursday morning. {@ap1pel}
• No corporation in Kenya would have hired Steve Jobs. He did not have the academic qualifications. {@MachariaGaitho}
• on behalf of kenya: RIP Steve jobs {@geniusmonk}
• Was on a panel: Africa – leveraging Mauritius for exporting ICT services and b4 starting there was a minute of silence for Steve Jobs. {@AidaOpokuMensah}
• Steve Jobs Is Dead nairaland.com/775904 {@nairaland}
• Today we celebrate the life of Steve Jobs: the man behind the Mac, iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and more. {@QluQluNg}
• To say that Steve Jobs impacted the world of technology is so wrong, instead he defined it ! Good night SJ #stevejobslegacy #Nigeria {@tundewoods}
• Steve Jobs u are remembered! When can we have our steve in nigeria
  {@MSRingeem}
• The Geek in me is really coming out today. My tech-idol is dead. Truly sad.RIP STEVE JOBS {@crazynairobian}
• No one likes waking up to sad news…Today we mourn another great person;a leader, mentor,business guru just to name a few. R.I.P Steve Jobs {@CKirubi}
• A tribute to Steve Jobs on the Eve of #Uganda’s Independence http://wp.me/p6XsZ-ab {@Opiaiya}
• RIP Steve Jobs. You will be missed. You changed the worlds vision on technology {@zimleague}
• RIP steve jobs thnks 4 de iphone 4s .#zambia {@cskillzihd}
• RIP steve jobs merci pour le mac l’iphone ect… mm si tt les matériaux de constructions sont pillés ds mon pays RDC congo…. {@negus6}
• This shall be deep mourning for me. #RIP #stevejobs #fb
  {@nara_l}
• Hommage a Steve Jobs. Mes condoleances aux @CyanGirls et a tous les fans d’#Apple au Senegal {@arons3}

Of course, there are a select few individuals (mostly non-Africans, it seems) who wish the world would focus more on children dying in Africa than the death of one man. Others blame Apple for exploiting mineral wealth and contributing to the war in the DRC. And, even others criticize the lack of philanthropy compared with that of Bill Gates.

The vast majority of sentiments, however, honor the man who inspired innovation. If only we all could take risks like Steve Jobs…

That said, some telecom operators in Africa are more involved in social media efforts. Not surprisingly, the most influential hail from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa. All of these nations have substantial online user bases where customers are engaged with social media. Essentially, these companies have a greater chance of having their message spread and adopted throughout the Internet.

Klout believes that every person who creates content online has influence. Their goal is to understand what they are influential about and who they are influencing. Klout analyzes interaction among 10 networks including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, with more on the way. They look at how many people you influence (true reach), how much you influence people (amplification), and the influence of the people in your reach (your network). Then, the algorithm assigns a single score from 10-100 indicating how meaningful/trustworthy/awesome an account is.

Klout scores for African telecom operators, based on @oafrica/african-telecom-operators Twitter list. {Klout}

Using a Twitter list, sourced from the Wikipedia List of mobile network operators of the Middle East and Africa and a list of operators from Africa & Middle East Telecom Week, Klout is able to run each account through its algorithm to determine how strong of an influence the brand has across the Internet.

According to Klout, MTN Nigeria, Vodafone Egypt, Safaricom Kenya, and Vodacom SA are the most influential telecom operators in Africa. Impressively, Orange Kenya, Tigo Tanzania, MTN Rwanda, MTN Zambia, and and inwi Maroc all have Klout accounts. The PR teams at these telecoms are certainly ahead of the game in Africa, let alone globally.

Also:

• Nigeria: MTN leads with a score of 78. Etisalat and Glo are near equals in terms of influence (64 and 60, respectively), with Airtel and Starcomms behind (38 and 29, respectively)
• South Africa: Vodacom leads with a score of 69. Cell C, 8ta, and MTN are nearly equal (59, 57 and 55, respectively), with Virgin Mobile back at 41.
• Kenya: Safaricom leads with a score of 71. Orange is at a healthy score of 57.
• MTN clearly has a social media strategy in place. The company’s Twitter accounts for South Africa, Cameroon, Uganda and Rwanda are considered influential (having a score over 40). Ghana is at 55. Even more impressively, MTN Sudan yields a Klout score of 24 – very strong considering the small user-base of Sudanese Twitter users. The account only has 48 followers!
• Speaking of Sudan, Zain Sudan’s score of 39 is on par with respectable telecoms in SA, Kenya, and Nigeria.
• Zambia: MTN is well ahead of Zamtel in terms of social media influence.
• Less influential, but active accounts include Telecom Namibia, Airtel Tanzania, MTN Ivory Coast, QCell (Gambia 3G), and Malawi Telecommunications.
• Other accounts have the lowest Klout score possible (10). Most of these were created but have sat dormant for at least a few months. They include Orange (Madagascar, Niger), Airtel (Niger, Uganda, Malawi), Comium (Gambia, Ivory Coast), and Sonatel (Senegal).
• Orange Niger actively Tweets, but only has 16 followers, suggesting a lack of social media users in Niger.
• Comium Gambia (3rd GSM operator in the country) Tweets a few times per month, and has 123 followers, but the influence appears nil. Similarly, QCell, a 3G+ provider, only has 22 followers despite actively Tweeting.
• MTL (Malawi) has fairly low influence (16) despite a decent number of followers given the prevalence of Internet in Malawi (170).
• In Mauritania, Mauritel has essentially no influence. Neither does MTN in Guinea-Bissau.
• Egypt’s telecoms – Vodafone, Mobinil, and etisalat – are considered very influential.

Ultimately, the Klout scores cited above are just numbers that give a ballpark estimate of how likely it is for telecoms’ to interact with a customer base using social media. Interaction via phone, SMS, and in-person are not factored in here, so the scores by no means reflect how successful a company is overall. Instead, the scores can be used to gauge 1) how active social media users are in certain areas and 2) which telecom operators are most progressive in terms of online communication.

The hope is that telecom operators can make the online experience as enjoyable as possible. An operator with a strong online presence can deal with technological, product, and other user issues that could prevent first-timers from using the Internet. Plus, businesses can heed the example of telecom operators to promote services and interact with customers. The strong influence of telecom operators in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt is promising. However, smaller nations must make an effort to produce content online – even if it’s in the form of social media.

{WikiLeaks}

Next up are four cables from 2007. The main themes are Ghana’s ICT initiatives, Kenyan fiber projects (which will succeed – SEACOM, TEAMS, or EASSy?), and fiber investment in Ethiopia (via U.S. or China?) :

Ghana

• Summary: As of 2006-7, Ghana has multiple ICT projects underway that should vault the nation into a regional leader. Further privatization is needed, as is rural connectivity, but mobile growth and ICT training facilities look promising.
• U.S. viewpoint: Ghana’s ICT sector is promising but faces challenges in privatization, regulatory gaps, power supply, and general business climate. Government projects should have positive results for the private sector.

Notes:

• 60% of investment in ICT has failed since 1992.
• ICT contributed 6% to the GDP in 2005 versus 1.8% in 2000.
• In 2003, >50% of fixed lines were in the Accra area. Only 10% of the Ghanaian population lives here.
• Four mobile operators all offer broadband as of 2006.
• Internet cafes charge US $0.45 – $1.60 per hour.
• Ghana is extending an existing 600km fiber optic cable ring connecting Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
• Broadband over power-line was explored.
• E-government, m-banking and e-agriculture intiatives were discussed.
• Run-down of 7 education initiatives.
• Link: Ghana’s ICT Development: Is The Glass Half Full?, October 11, 2007

Kenya

• Summary: Numerous (3 or 4) fiber-optic services are ready to undergo construction. Last-mile solutions are not far behind.
• U.S. viewpoint: High-speed broadband will allow East Africa to connect with opportunities for job growth and a global marketplace starting in 18 months. The upside is enormous.

Notes:

• SEACOM expects their undersea cable to be live by March 2009. (was eventually July 2009)
• The perception of progress on EASSy is a distraction that has caused potential customers to delay in committing to SEACOM.
• Link: Kenya And East Africa: A Step Closer To Fiber Optic Connectivity, August 13, 2007

Ethiopia

• Summary: Ethiopia plans on purchasing 14,000km of fiber cable from China. Negotiations to connect via Djibouti have been flat for 3 years.
• U.S. viewpoint (adopted from Ethiopian Minister’s comments): Ethiopia needs approximately ten years to transform its ICT sector. There is debate whether to use Chinese or American companies as examples or investors. State-owned ETC must lower rates in order to accelerate development.

Notes:

• A massive US $158 million project will bring fiber transmission backbone, mobile services in 9 cities, plus hundreds of thousands of wireless phone lines. The goal of completition is September 2007.
• Plans are in the works to connect to cables in Kenya, Sudan, and Djibouti.
• Ethiopia needs major human capital over the next 5-8 years.
• The ICT Minister has traveled to India, Egypt, and China. He has plans to visit Silicon Valley.
• Link: Ethiopia: Laying Groundwork For Development Through Fiber Optics, May 3, 2007

Kenya

• Summary: U.S. firms, along with Kenya, are racing to give East and Southern Africa broadband connectivity to the rest of the world. SEACOM look to be completed within two years.
• U.S. viewpoint: Kenya must decide whether it will merge with SEACOM or go ahead with its TEAMS cable. Additionally, the U.S. strongly favors the SEACOM cable over TEAMS or EASSy, writing how, “the good news is twofold: first, that at least one of the three cables is moving towards fruition; and second, that the current frontrunner will be owned, managed, and built by U.S. companies.”

Notes:

• Payment and signed contracts have secured SEACOM in the global queue of fiber cables.
• The government of Kenya has promised an operational fiber system by 2008. They may feel that TEAMS can be completed before SEACOM due to its shorter length.
• Some feel that EASSy’s monpolistic ownership structure will preclude cheap bandwidth delivery, and even if it success there, it may not return profits given the competition with SEACOM.
• Link: U.S. Companies In Lead To Bring Fiber Optic Connectivity To East And Southern Africa, April 20, 2007

Tentative Post Schedule:
9/8/11: (2009) Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia
9/9/11: South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania
9/10/11: Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa
9/12/11: (2008) Senegal, South Africa, Uganda
9/14/11: (2007) Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya
9/19/11: Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya

{WikiLeaks}

Next up are three cables from 2008. The main themes are Ethiopian efforts to develop its monopolistic ICT sector, Rwanda’s drive for tech in East Africa, and Kenya as African broadband leader:

Ethiopia

• Summary: Ethiopia’s telecoms sector remains in a state of monopoly.
• U.S. viewpoint: Government policies will prevent development in the ICT sector, despite efforts to bolster infrastructure. E-government applications are promising, as are plans for an IT park. There remains to be incentives for foreign investors.

Notes:

• In 2006, Kenya had 18 times as many mobile subscribers per capita as Ethiopia. Somalia had 6x as many.
• In 2006, Ethiopia had one Internet subscriber for every 3,330 people. Kenya had one for every 200 and even Somalia had one for every 900 citizens.
• Goal of 85% GSM coverage by the end of 2010. 3G service to begin “soon”.
• ETC also is eyeying “universal coverage,” or the presence of one phone within 5km walking distance.
• VOIP is illegal, but an estimated 100 cyber cafes offer the service. ETC loses an estimated USD 9 million annually in revenue from clandestine VOIP.
• Broadband costs $10,000 US for set-up and $5,000 monthly for a 2MB line. Moreover, the connection isn’t true broadband speed.
• Many opposition websites blocked after 2005 elections.
• 4,000km of fiber optic cables exist in Ethiopia, with six times that amount in the works. As of 2007, ETC is in talks with SEACOM and EASSy.
• Link: Ethiopia: Telecommunications Sector Update – Part I Of II – Infrastructure, December 10, 2007

Rwanda

• Summary: The well-attended 2007 Connect Africa Summit proved to kick-start infrastructure development in Africa. Multiple donors committed US $50 billion. Paul Kagame effectively painted Rwanda as a technological force.
• U.S. viewpoint: Rwanda’s goals are a mixed bag of emotions. Paul Kagame and Rwanda have made a name for themselves and have succeeded in attracting technology investment and unifying African leaders to focus on ICT. It remains to be seen if the promises introduced at the summit (for all nations) will materialize.

Notes:

• Summit was attended by Presidents of Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Djibouti, Senegal, and Burundi.
• Dr. Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel Corporation and the Global Alliance for ICT and Development, estimated that an increase of 10 percentage points in mobile penetration could increase the annual growth rate of GDP by up to 1.2%.
• Debated broadband infrastructures, rural connectivity solutions, business-friendly policies and regulatory environments, an ICT skilled workforce, and the right balance between private and public investment.
• More than 70% of Internet traffic within Africa is routed internationally.
• 0.07% Internet penetration rate in Burundi, according to President Nkurunziza.
• Rwanda has goal of Internet backbone by the end of 2008. (This goal was not met on time.) The nation also set sci/tech spending at 1.6% of GDP.
• Microsoft, World Bank Group, AfDB, Huawei, Carnegie Mellon, and ITU all made commitments or investment promises.
• Link: IT For Africa: Rwanda Leads The Way, November 16, 2007

Kenya

• Summary: The Kenyan government and private sector is pushing for infrastructure reform as elections near. Projects include the privatization of Telkom Kenya, a public sale of 25% of Safaricom, Kenya’s first 3G license, a 3rd mobile provider, two fiber-optic cables by mid-2009, and a fiber backbone.
• U.S. viewpoint: East Africa will benefit from affordable broadband Internet if all projects go according to plan. Kenya rightfully sees itself as a telecoms leader in Africa.

Notes:

• In 2000, industry analysts estimated that Kenya would have 400,000 users within five years, but Kenya instead has 8.1 million after seven.
• Kenya’s call center industry pays $3,000 per megabyte per month vs. the global norm of $300-600.
• Kenya’s satellite capacity will max out in July 2008.
• Limited interest in a continental terrestrial broadband network outlined in August 2006.
• Telkom Kenya completed a 310 mile fiber cable linking Mombasa to Nairobi in July 2006.
• Link: Kenya’s Big Push For Ict Reform And Infrastructure, October 25, 2007

Tentative Post Schedule:
9/8/11: (2009) Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia
9/9/11: South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania
9/10/11: Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa
9/12/11: (2008) Senegal, South Africa, Uganda
9/14/11: (2007) Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya
9/19/11: Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya