• Google action:
  Street View coming to Botswana {TechCentral}

Comoros

• The project will give the population access to the internet, a sources of knowledge, and will connect hospitals, schools and Ministries, improving the quality of life of the local people:
  Comoros, Italian project brings low-cost link to islands {ANSAmed}

Egypt

• A relatively new Egyptian site offers parenting advice which is checked by healthcare professionals:
  My Business: Egyptian mothers on the net {BBC}

Ghana

• Ghana Dot Com (GDC), the current manager of the .gh domain namespace, is to begin the process of transfer of the management of the namespace to the government:
  Ghana to run .gh domain name space {Vibe Ghana}
• Up to 5,000 students at the University of Ghana’s Legon campus can connect to the network at the same time using their laptops, tablets, and smartphones:
  Vodafone unveils Ghana’s ‘largest’ WiFi zone {ITWeb}

Guinea

• Guinea wants to build 4,000km of terrestrial fibre backbone connecting to the coastal ACE cable. They estimate the project to be finished in a year, but the extensive funding remains up in the air:
  Guinean govt says backbone to cost USD 300 million {TelecomPaper}

Kenya

• The Communication Commission of Kenya has improved in recent times, but some complain about the lack of complete independence and the prevalence of red tape:
  Regulator can do much better but… {Daily Nation}

Namibia

• The University of Namibia rolls out wireless internet {Balancing Act}

Nigeria

• Eugene Juwah, chief executive officer of Nigerian Communications Commission, says that “the licenses will be issued to revive the fixed-line telecommunication services that have been comatose and will benefit our broadband initiative.”
  Nigeria Plans Fixed Phone Licenses in 2013 to Spur Broadband {Bloomberg}
• Africa’s Hottest Tech Startups: Afroterminal.com {Forbes}
• Making Nigeria Ripe For Software Exports {Leadership}
• Nigeria To Licence 2.3GHz, 2.6GHz Spectra {Leadership}

South Africa

• In South Africa an Internet connection must still have a download speed of at least 256 kilobits per second to qualify as broadband, according to the National Broadband Policy:
  Broadband speed to stay 256kbps in SA {MyBroadband}

Tunisia

• Censorship of the Internet looms in Tunisia as courts are considering filtering pornographic material. RWB fears that such censorship will be extended to ‘other kinds of content’:
  Internet filtering – danger of return to past {Reporters Without Borders}
• Smart Host will be the first B2B operator dedicated to cloud computing in North Africa:
  Tunisie: Smart Host, s’annonce premiere entreprise de cloud computing en Afrique du Nord {Ecofin}

West Africa

• A summary of how WACS and ACE cables are bringing development to West Africa:
  Internet en Afrique de l’Ouest: Le Senegal en voie de guerison {Rewmi}

General Africa

• Mending Africa’s Tech Skills Gap & Tapping into its Youthful Population to Power Innovation in Tech & the African Renaissance {Afrinnovator}
• The paper presents an analysis of these issues against the backdrop of the current status of broadband deployment in Africa, with particular interest in South Africa and Nigeria:
  Broadband Technology and Development in Africa: How Critical is Access? {Social Sceience Research Network}
• Despite the decade-long surge, Booz & Company has determined that today’s African mobile sector faces three obstacles that threaten to constrain future growth; pricing pressures, high investment costs and uncertain and uneven regulation:
  Connecting Africa: The next 10 years of mobile growth {BusinessIntelligence Middle East}

• What does the hosting of eLearning Africa 2012 mean for Benin?
  Towards a sustainable ICT policy for Benin {eLearning Africa}

Botswana

• Botswana has allocated 50 million Pula to improve its high-speed Internet network:
  Le Botswana debloque 50 millions de pulas pour developper son infrastructure Internet {Xinhua via Afriquinfos}

Algeria

• The .dz ccTLD, with just 4,000 registered domain names, has never really taken off. The “e-Algerie” initiative hopes to increase this number to one million:
  e-Algerie: un plan pour booster le .DZ {DomainesInfo}

Kenya

• Kenya: Chief Tweets His Way to Reducing Crime {IPS via allAfrica}
• Kenya: Othaya Coffee Firms to Get Computers {Nairobi Star via allAfrica}
• Kenya: Locals Abroad Push for E-Voting {Daily Nation via allAfrica}
• Kenya: State Set to Roll Out Software Certification for Local Developers {Business Daily via allAfrica}

Uganda

• Uganda: All Telecoms Are Below UCC’s Quality Standards, Report Says {The Monitor via allAfrica}

Ivory Coast

• A new law has been drafted in Cote d’Ivoire and awaits enactment:
  Cote d’Ivoire drafts cybercrime law {TelecomPaper}

South Sudan

• A retired naval lieutenant who served with UN hopes to bring a dozen laptops to one school in South Sudan:
  Laptops for South Sudan {Times Colonist}

Mozambique

• The Mozambique Research and Education Network and the Government Electronic Network will use the 20-year agreement to bandwidth to support e-learning and e-government endeavors:
  Mozambique gets a slice of SEACOM {IT News Africa}

Egypt

• Egypt IT sector sees dramatic increase {IT News Africa}
• From November 2010 to November 2011, the Internet penetration rose from 29% to 32%. Household Internet access rose, as did international bandwidth:
  Egypt passes 100% mobile penetration {TelecomPaper}

Nigeria

• A knowledge city is being planned for Cross Rivers State:
  Nigeria to boost ICT infrastructure with new deal {IT News Africa}
• The Federal Government had concluded arrangements to build four software incubation centres to enable indigenous software developers:
  FG to Establish 4 Software Incubation Centres {ThisDay}
• The Minister of Communications Technology speaks on the activities of her ministry in the last six months:
  We’ll Leverage ICT Infrastructure To Achieve Digital Breakthrough – Omobola Johnson {Leadership}

Ghana

• The 26-year-old social media guru explains why mobile tech is important for Ghana’s future:
  Interview: Peering into Ghana’s mobile future with Mac-Jordan Degadjor {ONE}

Namibia

• MTC, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in Namibia, has still not secured 4G spectrum:
  Still no 4G from mobile giant MTC {New Era}

Republic of Congo

• Way-C tablet, the first African iPad rival, goes on sale in Congo {Global Post}

Tanzania

• Mobile internet costs in Tanzania {TZCRC}

Sierra Leone

• Airtel’s 3G mobile platform poised to transform customer experience {Sierra Express Media}

South Africa

• The data seems questionable, but is more accurate for larger countries:
  Google+ users at almost half a million in SA: report {MyBroadband}
• In South Africa, the rate of e-mails stopped for being malevolent was 1 in 305.9 messages:
  Symantec Study Shows Substantial Fall in Malware-Ridden Internet Sites {Spamfighter}
• A comparison of the fibre networks operated by some of the players in the national backhaul space is revealing. Includes national fibre maps:
  Fibre in SA: An eye-opener {MyBroadband}
• Numerous developer-orientated initiatives and programs are launching across the country:
  The mobile application developer community {ITWeb}

General Africa

• A high level look at how WACS and ACE cables are bringing new opportunties to Africa this year. Plus, there’s a paragraph on the importance of IXPs:
  Africa: Fast internet is coming! {The Africa Report}
• A new book by the co-foundder of Global Voices examines how we can take ownership for our digital future:
  New Book on Global Struggle for Internet Freedom {GlobalVoices Advocacy}
• Following the recent AU summit, Africa will accelerate the construction of its infrastructure and implement policies and laws:
  L’Union africaine decide dlaccelerer le developpement des infrastructures en Afrique {Abidjan.net}
• Pro-Nokia, but contains interesting points about the need to engage young people and encourage business, not charity:
  How mobile tech can transform Africa, by Microsoft’s MD {Nokia Conversations}
• Increased business confidence to drive Africa ICT sector {Computerworld}
• Research will focus on communication and conflict in Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic:
  Dutch scientists to study effects of ICT and social media in Africa {Dutch Daily News}
• Facebook Has Uncertain Future in Africa {VOA News}

• The cell’s three members frequented internet cafes and viewed jihadist websites using phony names:
  Algeria squashes Al Qaeda plan to attack U.S ships {NY Daily News}

Burkina Faso

• The network covers the capital Ouagadougou with speeds of up to 2Mbps:
  Telecel Burkina Faso to upgrade WiFi {BizTech Africa}

DRC

• There is still no 3G in the country, despite four major mobile operators. Internet penetration is estimated at 1%; mobile is near 24%:
  International fibre connectivity to boost broadband market in DRC {BuddeBlog}

Egypt

• #january25 One Year Later: Social Media & Politics 3.0 {Huff Post}
• To remember the one year anniversary of the Egyptian Internet shut-down:
  Egyptian activists call for a one-day boycott of Vodafone, Mobinil and Etisalat {TNW}

Equatorial Guinea

• GECOMSA is a joint venture between the government of Equatorial Guinea, which has a 51 percent stake, and China 49 percent:
  Equatorial Guinea Launches New Telecommunications Company {TMCnet}

Ghana

• TVGH, a free and independent channel will soon begin operation – online:
  Ghana’s First Online TV {Modern Ghana}

Kenya

• The project is facing challenges with investors and the government. After all, Sh1.2 trillion, the estimated cost to create the city, is a huge sum of money:
  Ground-breaking of Konza City delayed {The Star}
• Social media is increasing online sales for savvy business owners. Search Engine Optimisation Consulting Kenya is one company that helps promote an online presence:
  Social Media Boosts Sales for Small Businesses {Business Daily via allAfrica}
• The mobile community that entertains and educates young people on topics of love, sexual health, gender and relationships affecting the youth, has launched in Kenya. The portal has been in Tanzania since December 2011:
  YoungAfricaLive now live in Kenya {BizCommunity}
• Very few African publishers utilize Amazon’s Kindle format:
  Publishers Lag in Shift to Electronic Books {Business Daily via allAfrica}

Liberia

• President Johnson Sirleaf assured Liberians that the ACE cable will enhance educational opportunities:
  Prosperity in Sight – Citizens Told {The New Dawn via allAfrica}

Malawi

• The Sunday Times newspaper said its research, mainly in the city of Blantyre, found that advancements in mobile phone technologies have negatively affected customer volumes at internet cafes:
  Mobile phones edge out internet cafes {BizTech Africa}

Mauritania

• A summary of last year’s February 25th protests, with visuals and links to its website and social media pages:
  Mauritania’s overlooked uprising {Al-Jazeera}

Morocco

• Driven by an 90 percent uptake in 3G internet services, overall internet users increased by 70 percent to 3.2 million, for a 10 percent penetration rate. Mobile internet accounted for 81 percent of all internet users at the end of last year:
  Moroccan mobile users up 14.29% in 2011 – study {TelecomPaper}

Nigeria

• TechLoy developed the list of Nigeria’s Most Influential Internet Companies of 2011 based on the companies we felt have devised the best strategies in disrupting their respective industries:
  Nigeria’s Fastest Growing Internet Companies of 2011 {TechLoy}
• The terrorist group is using the Internet to release videos:
  Boko Haram ‘leader’ issues new threats in internet message {Times Live}
• Nigeria records 40,000 Internet domain name uptakes, NIRA says {Technology Times}

Sierra Leone

• Sierra Leone becomes the first country in Africa to launch a transparency web portal to ensure a more open and accountable Government {Newstime Africa}

South Africa

• Certain schools will soon require students to have a R5,000 iPad 2. Some fear the private schools are only widening the digital divide (both within the school and versus public schools):
  Posh SA schools insist on iPad {news24}
• Corruption Watch will use the Internet and social networking media to encourage citizens to get involved:
  S. Africa’s New Media Effort Targets Corruption {Voice of America}
• Spectrum is still not available. Neither are many LTE devices:
  SA to wait for LTE networks {news24}
• A recent survey finds that 23% of corporate employees that work in office settings in South Africa telecommute:
  One-sixth of the world’s employees now telecommute: survey {SmartPlanet}
• Industry players suggest a pending crisis, but the government says only new equipment is needed to prevent IPv6 transition issues:
  IPv6 a ‘simple transition’ {ITWeb}
• The South African government, using varying standards, has promised broadband for the past five years. Is this the year of better broadband?
  2012 – the year of true broadband? {MyBroadband}
• Universities and public research organizations will be linked with 10Gbps connections:
  R886 million invested in broadband for universities {IT News Africa}

Tanzania

• 3G speeds at the Airtel headquarters in Dar es Salaam registered 1.84 Mbps down/0.29 Mbps up earlier in the week:
  Mobile Internet in Tanzania {Team Kilimanjaro}
• According to a poll by the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, 93% of those polled believe that ICT can play a big part in improving the economy of Tanzania:
  Tanzanians feel ICT is ‘vital’ {BizTech Africa}

Uganda

• 3G access has become more affordable for Ugandans now that two telecom operators offer the service, and a third is on the way:
  3G Revolution: Blowing Winds of Change in Africa {PC Tech}
• Dedication, perseverence, and word-of-mouth reviews can go a long way in determining an online business’s success:
  Growing an internet business {Daily Monitor}

Zambia

• The power company is deploying fibre-optic cables alongside its power transmission network in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone:
  Zesco to boost Zambia’s broadband {ITWeb}
• Barclays Zambia launches internet banking {Zambia Daily Mail}

Zimbabwe

• The event encouraged opportunities for collaboration and promoted a healthy ICT start-up ecosystem in Zimbabwe:
  Jumpstart, an ICT Life Saver {The Herald via allAfrica}

General

• The March 2012 summit will address rural broadband connectivity. Topics include efficient ICT policies and the potential for copper networks in rural areas:
  Rural broadband summit at Broadband MEA tackles digital divide {Satellite-Evolution}
• 10% of one Kenya-based hotel company’s reservations are now booked via mobile device. The company implemented a mobile site in 2010 and began accepting M-Pesa last year:
  Hotels see benefits in Africa’s mobile trend {HotelNewsNow}
• CNN highlights some of the best innovations Herman Chinery-Hesse and his teams have created over the years:
  Africa’s ‘father of technology’ on sparking a tech revolution {CNN African Voices}
• Microsoft to bridge digital divide through African school partnerships in six nations:
  Microsoft to bridge digital divide through African school partnership {IT News Africa}
• Eskimi, a Lithuanian-based social network, is popular in Nigeria, where the company counts around 2.2 million users. There is also a growing user-base in Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, where there are over 250,000 users each:
  Eskimi Hits 5 Million Users, Sees Solid Growth In Africa {ArcticStartup}
• Orange customers with 2G or 3G capability will no longer incur data charges to access Wikipedia. Of course, some languages lack content, and many new users lack the technology needed to remotely edit articles:
  Orange to provide Wikipedia free in Middle East and Africa {The Guardian}
• This Week in Internet Censorship: Ethiopian Blogger Sentenced, Tunisians and Polish Keep Up Fight for Free Expression {EFF}
• ITU launches Girls in ICT web portal {ITU via BizTech Africa}
• Young people Tweeting from mobile devices are driving the growth of Twitter in Africa, according to How Africa Tweets, a survey of the top 20 nations with geotagged users:
  New research reveals how Africa Tweets {Portland Communications}
• Mobile Devices Address Tech. Equity in Africa {Education Week}
• Six experts weigh-in on their predictions for cloud computing in Africa:
  WIOCC’s ‘Connected’ international newsletter, Issue #4 {WIOCC}
• Coders4Africa: building ICT capacity for agricultural solutions in Africa {e-agriculture}
• The beginning of Africa’s long, slow transition away from SMS – new browser kids on the block making mobile Internet access easier {Balancing Act}

• Flat6Labs graduates five Egyptian technology startups {The Daily News Egypt}
• Egyptian cyber activist and former Google executive Wael Ghonim talks to Steve Inskeep about his new book Revolution 2.0, which chronicles his role, and that of social media, in toppling the regime of Hosni Mubarak:
  Social Media Advances ‘Revolution’ In Egypt {NPR}

Gabon

• Internet costs in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have not decreased despite investment in other areas of society:
  We’re finally ready, Nations Cup say Guinea and Gabon {Vanguard}

Ghana

• On the potential of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology in Accra to produce successful startups:
  Ghana: Future Hub of Internet Startups {Internet Evolution}
• The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana has completed a project agreement with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) to assist with the development of its 5-year Strategic Plan:
  Ghana’s NCA Completes Strategic Plan {GBI Portal}
• Airtel upgrades 3.5G service to 3.75G {The Chronicle}

Kenya

• Dozens of Kindles have been distributed to schools in the Rift Valley:
  Longhorn launches project to supply learners with e-readers {Business Daily}
• Many fifty and sixty year-olds are communicating with their children using Facebook:
  Social Media Craze Bites the Elderly in Kenya {Daily Nation via allAfrica.com}
• World Bank lauds Kenya ICT, telecom sectors {IT News Africa}

Mali

• Boukary Konate is currently cruising up the Niger river aboard a traditional Malian barge, docking every day in a new village to train school children and villagers to use the Internet:
  Segou Villages: Cruising the River Niger for Internet Literacy {RisingVoices}

Mauritius

• A broadband policy that aims to provide all housholds with 100 Mbit/s connections by 2020 has been approved by the Council of Ministers:
  Broadband policy 2012-2020 {Grand Baie}

Morocco

• The telecommunications sector in Morocco is one of the most competitive markets in Africa and is one of the most advanced in terms of innovation:
  Telecoms: le Maroc, pionnier africain {Le Soir}

Mozambique

• 40 Million Dollars to Computerise Civil Registration {AIM via alAfrica.com}

Nigeria

• Cost of Internet Access in Nigeria January 2012 {Nigeria Technology Guide}
• Opinion:
  Has traditional media in Nigeria lost steam to social media? {The Nation}

Rwanda

• Social media is bringing Rwandans together. The President, Ministers, and police all use the medium:
  Why Locals Love Twitter, Facebook {The New Times via allAfrica.com}

South Africa

• Woza Online, which Google launched with help from South African government researchers and cash from mobile phone company Vodacom, offers free domain names with South Africa’s co.za tag for the first 10,000 applicants:
  Google makes websites easy for small S.African businesses, hopes to get 10,000 wired in year {}
• SA has a shortage of skilled workers in ICT {IT News Africa}
• 8+ ways social media is influencing the ANC {memeburn}
• The Western Cape provincial government and the City of Cape Town have now set themselves targets to have citizens in every town and village in the province get access to affordable broadband infrastructure by 2030:
  Affordable broadband on cards for rural SA {IOL}

Tunisia

• Barriers between stakeholders and constraints for economic development are giving way to converging media and convergent regulators:
  Reshaping Tunisian Internet Model {TEDxENSI via SlideShare}

Uganda

• Internet access has boomed, especially among the country’s growing middle class:
  Online Africa: how Internet is changing Ugandan business {The New Age}

Zambia

• The Zambian government is excited for Airtel’s “3.75G” services:
  State cites 3G as driver of ICT {Zambia Daily Mail}
• Zamtel’s broadband subscriber base has grown from 100 or so subscribers at the beginning of the year to over 4,000:
  Zamtel’s mobile subscriber growth hits 1 million customers {Lusaka Times}
• 6.7% of Zambians have Internet access:
  Few people access internet {ZNBC via Zambia Online}

Zimbabwe

• ZWRCN is an information-based organisation committed to gender equality and equity. It is currently providing free basic computer skills training to women across all age groups:
  ICTs – Opportunity for Women Empowerment {The Herald via allAfrica.com}
• Reasons how limited adoption has constrained the impact of ICTs in Sub-Saharan Africa:
  Africa ICT uptake still low {The Southern Times}

Global

• Mobile money, IT education, and the cloud:
  Three Tech Trends Shaping a Bright Global Future {Huff Post}
• Broadband costs over 1,000% of average monthly income in 4 sub-Saharan African nations:
  ITU StatShot – Issue 8: January 2012 – Who can afford broadband? {ITU via YouTube}

General Africa

• Which African country is best to do a tech startup? A Decision Framework {Afrinnovator}
• Growth of Internet use in Africa has superseded global average in the last decade reaching 2,000 percent compared to the global’s 480 percent:
  Africa internet use hits 2,000 per cent growth {The Citizen}

• The conclusion makes sense, but data points are probably limited to the largest economies:
  47% of African iPads are bought by employers {IT News Africa}
• The handset is selling substantially better in Nigeria than it is in Kenya or Angola:
  Zimbabwe’s Swav making African strides in mobile market {Bikya Masr}
• The fire that took out the SAT3 landing station in Benin is a reminder for telecoms to properly maintain their cable systems:
  Maintenance and up-time – the Achilles Heel of Africa’s new fibre network revolution {Balancing Act}
• Is the OLPC XO-3.0 the Right Education Tablet for Schools in Africa? {ICTworks}
• Broadband Delivers Strongest Growth Since 2009 {MarketWatch}
• Represents data from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Egypt regarding entrepreneurship:
  The other Silicon Valleys [Infographic] {memeburn}
• Mobile phones help refugees stay in contact with relatives. They also help others to easily locate them:
  Africa: ICTs for Refugees and Displaced Persons {GlobalVoices}
• An overview of Africa’s infrastucture propects in the coming years. Includes discussion of undersea cables, the North/South divide, the role of ICT in building infrastructure, regulatory environment, and social media:
  Africa at the cusp of Broadband Revolution {Tech Mahindra}
• The former president is right correct that social media has its downs, but nonetheless it is an important platform for discussing knowledge:
  Mbeki questions Twitter as truth tool {IOL}

Algeria

• Excitement abound in Algeria with 3G coming {IT News Africa}

Cameroon

• ActivSpaces:
  Technology Hub Launches Businesses in Cameroon {VOA}
• The agreement will link SITCOM-Chad’s optical fibre network to SAT-3, currently managed by CAMTEL. Both networks will mutually share maintenance platforms. The merger will also give Chad high-speed terrestrial internet for the first time:
  Cameroon, Chad Merge Networks {CAMTEL}

Cape Verde

• First Internet-free Facebook, email and online chat service for Portuguese speaking Africans {Cape Verde News}

East Africa

• Films to Make Money Using Internet, DVDs {The East African via allAfrica.com}

Egypt

• E-waste, Egypt and the Digital Divide {The Majalla}

Ghana

• Google Ghana on Friday launched “Africa, Get Your Business Online”, an initiative to bring most Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) online in the next two years:
  Google to help Ghana businesses online {GhanaWeb}

Kenya

• A supposed rogue Google Kenya employee attempted to poach a Kenyan startup’s business:
  Google, what were you thinking? {Mocality Blog}
• The international media has a tendency to report on the negatives of life:
  Kenya urges foreign media to highlight positive issues on Africa {Coastweek}
• Airtel Kenya says 3G still on course {The Star}
• SMEs Opt for Free and Open Source Software to Cut Costs {Business Daily via allAfrica.com}
• Newspapers Fight for Survival As Online News Click With Readers {Business Daily via allAfrica.com}

Nigeria

• #fuelsubsidy and #occupynigeria have trended on Twitter for days:
  Social media inspires Nigerian protests {RNW}
• Internet World Stats has updated Facebook data through December 31, 2011:
  Facebook Users Hit 4.3 Million – Report {Daily Trust via allAfrica.com}

St. Helena

• St. Helena would like to secure a 155 MBit/s line when the SAex cable passes nearby later this year:
  Campaign for better broadband in St Helena {Think Broadband}

South Africa

• Consumers should not expect significant broadband price cuts when WACS launches later this year:
  WACS and broadband prices in SA {MyBroadband}
• Howzit MSN, the default landing page for IE users in South Africa, has a new channel for African markets:
  MSN grows Africa reach {TechCentral}

Sudan

• Three-quarters of Sudan’s oil revenue came from what is now South Sudan:
  Sudanese angry over telecom tax hikes {IT News Africa}

Tanzania

• Lindi, Ruvuma, Kigoma, Rukwa, and Mbeya will be covered in the next phase:
  Tanzania to spend $189m on fibre optic network {The Citizen}
• The first of a three-part series that examines the role of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) in promoting the use of ICTs in Tanzania:
  TCRA – Pushing Tanzania’s ICT Agenda (Part I) {Tanzania Daily News}

Tunisia

• Orange Tunisia introduces a la carte mobile internet passes {TelecomPaper}

Zambia

• Africonnect Zambia calls on Airspan for WiMAX deployment {TeleGeography}

Zimbabwe

• TechZim foresees a year of advancements in mobile money, e-Commerce, basic phones, cheaper last mile connectivity, and IT startups:
  Our information technology predictions for 2012 {TechZim}
• Zimbabwe fibre link to South Africa delayed {TelecomPaper}

• Major newspapers need to understand what copyright means in the digital age:
  Cote d’Ivoire: Uproar Over Unauthorized Press Use of Blogger’s Photos {GlobalVoices}

Kenya

• Mobile data subscription has been the main impetus for a 68 percent growth in Kenyan internet users from 3.2 to 5.4 million over a one year period:
  Kenya mobile data fuels internet growth {CapitalFM}
• Kenya’s Android market share stands at almost eight per cent of total mobile platforms in the country. App competitions promote a love of programming, but often do not generate much revenue:
  Mobile Apps market wars set in as demand goes up {Daily Nation}
• On integrating technology with theology, and the growing digital divide in urban versus rural areas:
  Crossing the Great Digital Divide {Daily Nation via allAfrica.com}
• Everyone – the community, teachers and parents – should work together in ensuring that children don’t misuse the mobile devices or computers:
  Don’t Panic, Mobile Phones Good for Kids After All {Nairobi Star via allAfrica.com}

Malawi

• The MTL fibre optic links comprise southern optic fibre ring, Northern optic fibre ring, Metropolitan rings in the major cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe and the International links through Mozambique and Tanzania:
  Malawi benefiting from fibre optic cables {The Daily Times}

Morocco

• The 187km cable will begin operations in March 2012 with an initial capacity of 80 Gbps. Links will eventually reach Mauritania, Mali, and Burkina Faso:
  Maroc Telecom launches Loukkos fibre optic cable to Spain {TelecomPaper}

Nigeria

• Nigerian universities are connecting to internet platforms to make their library materials easily available to researchers:
  The E-Library Bug {The News Africa}
• A nationalistic article touting Nigeria’s large market size, liberal telecom policy, and new fibre cables on the way:
  Internet Explosion: How Nigeria Is Leading Africa {Leadership}
• Highlights of 2011 include voting e-registration, NCC SIM card registration, mobile money policy, the creation of a committee to establish ICT incubation centers, and the launch of NigComSat-1R:
  Nigerian ICT sector in 2011, expectations for 2012 {Vanguard}

Sierra Leone

• The transcript of a speech delivered by the Deputy Minister of Information & Communications, to open a workshop on expectations management on the landing of the ACE cable:
  Fibre optic cable expectations {Sierra Express Media}
• Telecom laws to fully liberalize Sierra Leone’s international gateway could be introduced as soon as September 15, 2012:
  Sierra Leone set to deregulate international gateway {PC Advisor}

South Africa

• South African 3G speeds compare favorably with those in the United States, within error, based on two sources:
  Mobile broadband speeds: SA versus US {MyBroadband}

Tanzania

• Low penetration in Tanzania leaves plenty of room for growth over the next five years, but operators need to capitalize on the rural market potential:
  Rural market holds the key to growth in Tanzania {Developing Telecoms}

Uganda

• Streaming music by African for Africans – and for a broad audience, not just the top of the pyramid:
  Zikify – 5 Ugandans Bringing African Music Online {HumanIPO}

Zimbabwe

• Will 2012 be the year of true electronic payments in Zimbabwe?
  Mobile & web commerce in 2012, unlocking the value of connectivity {TechZim}
• Most popular searches were Facebook, Zimbabwe, news, The Herald, and Gmail:
  The Herald Tops Searches {The Herald via allAfrica.com}

General

• Extensive CNN article covering the history of the Main One cable and the challenges the project faces:
  Underwater cables bring faster internet to West Africa {CNN}
• Sub-Sahara Africa submarine capacity to exceed 20 terabits in 2012 {Lightwave}
• Consolidation to drive telecoms M&A in Africa {Creamer Media}
• Pay-as-you-go solar chargers are enabling rural areas to access the Internet:
  A Solar Solution for Africa’s Mobile Problem {Cisco}
• A plug computer can serve up to 60 clients at once (think “micro cloud”). The hardware will be released with the OLPX XO 3.0 later this year:
  Marvell’s Classroom 3.0 includes Armada-powered SMILE Plug Computer {engadget}
• Thoughts on OLPC-XO 3.0- Is it the right tablet for Schools in Africa? {Afrinnovator}
• Some Popular Android Devices in the African Market {Afrinnovator}

Algeria

• 3G to launch by end June 2012 {Ecofin via Balancing Act}
• Algeria looks forward to 3G – the devices are already available:
  2012 sera l’annee de la 3G {nticweb.com}

Angola

• A ’10,000-foot view’ of the technology scene in Angola, from the perspective of Nyanga Tyitapeka, founder of an Angolan startup. A very interesting read:
  A young entrepreneur’s perspective on Angolan innovation {O’Reilly Radar}

Cameroon

• Bharti Airtel plans to go to South Africa, Cameroon in 2012- Report {TelecomTiger}

Central African Republic

• Policy dialogue on the pedagogical integration of ICT in educational systems {Panaf}

Eritrea

• The introduction of a new information technology system to deliver and receive messages and packages has enhanced customer satisfaction:
  Eritrean Postal Service providing satisfactory service {Shabait.com}

Ethiopia

• The first g|Ethiopia event will be held February 7-8 in Addis:
  Join us for the first-ever g|Ethiopia! {Google}

Ghana

• Good broadband policy will enable the operator to come up with business models that will enable the operator make more money by covering more people and the government will then reach more people:
  Is it possible for every Ghanaian to have access to broadband at home? {Joy Online}
• Mobile data management and security companies are interested in working in the Ghanaian market:
  Ghana receptive to technology advancement – Winbush III {Joy Online}

Ivory Coast

• The Minister of ICT announces the arrival of 3G:
  La Cote d’Ivoire passe en 3G {Afrik.com}

Kenya

• KENIC hits 20,000 .KE Domains! {African Domain Names}
• The project, a partnership between KIE and the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK), aims at digitising the current syllabi to enhance e-learning in the country:
  e-Learning Project for Primary and Secondary Education On Course {Business Daily via allAfrica.com}
• Sales of 130,000 in just over one year:
  Ideos Phone a Big Hit On Mobile Market {Nairobi Star via allAfrica.com}
• A sign of the times:
  Citizens Abandon Cards in Favour of Electronic Greetings {Business Daily via allAfrica.com}
• Specifially, 3G competition (this has been said over and over since SEACOM in 2009):
  Competition set to lower Internet costs, says Ndemo {Daily Nation}

Malawi

• Users have been complaining of the disruption to internet and most times are unable to use BBM:
  Operators disappoint Malawians on BlackBerry services {Nyasa Times}

Mali

• Bluetooth has become a popular means of file-sharing in Western Africa (among others):
  Inside the Cell Phone File Sharing Networks of Western Africa (Q+A) {Vice Motherboard}

Namibia

• In southern Namibia, some farmers have been forced to drop landlines and adopt WiMAX phone service – at a much higher cost:
  Telecom Network Switch Hurts Farmers {The Namibian via allAfrica.com}
• An increase in IT learning capacity can strengthen the gender dialogue, among other things:
  Gender education needs boosting in rural areas {New Era}
• Internet Fraud Cons the Country Out of N$3,5 Million {The Namibian via allAfrica.com}

Nigeria

• Cyber hackers flex their muscle after the government removes the fuel subsidy. An ‘Occupy Nigeria’ movement emerges as well:
  #OccupyNigeria: Local Hacking Group Hijacking Nigerian Cyberspace {ConnectedAfrica}
• Costs are still high despite landings of Main One and Glo-1. What’s in store for 2012?
  Nigeria yearns for broadband internet in 2012 {BusinessDay}
• ‘Govt should enact policies to aid ICT growth’ {The Nation}
• Out of over 40 million Nigerians already connected to the internet, only about 12 million, representing around 3 percent, have access to efficient broadband internet:
  Telcos not offering Nigerians real broadband, tariffs high {BusinessDay}
• The satellite covers over 40 African countries:
  NigComSat-1R Begins Commercial Service February 6 {ThisDay}
• A Nigerian article on the risk of becoming obsessed with the Internet. Kenyan media published a similar article last year:
  Dangers of Internet Addiction {Leadership via allAfrica.com}
• While the present market of tablet computers in Africa is centred on middle class professionals and business executives, there exists a vast market that decreasing prices will in time open up:
  Africa: Benefiting From The Tablet Wars {Business in Africa via Nigeria Village Square}
• Freedom of speech is powerful: thousands of comments have appeared on the President’s Facebook page since the new year:
  Facebook ‘Friends’ Attack Jonathan {Daily Trust via allAfrica.com}
• The leading tech news blog in Nigeria summarizes top stories from the past year:
  TechLoy’s 11 Most Popular Articles of 2011 {TechLoy}

Rwanda

• Carnegie Mellon University will be opening a technological research campus in Kigali later this year, in conjunction with the Rwandan government:
  US university unveils Rwanda tech campus {ZDNet Blog}
• Internet users in the country rose by 65 per cent to 14.3 million in the third quarter of 2011, according to CCK:
  Web surfers increase by 65pc {The Standard}
• On the wait for Airtel’s 3G service in Kenya (going on 1 year now):
  Airtel Kenya 3G, where art thou? {Larry Madowo}

South Africa

• How South Africa Googled in 2011 {IOL}
• The online retail sector saw growth of 30% to 40% on the whole last year:
  Festive e-shopping ‘SA’s biggest yet’ {ITWeb}
• Smartphone data usage grew by 100% year-on-year while dongle data consumption only grew by 10%:
  Data usage: Smartphones vs dongles {MyBroadband}

Sudan

• The Central Bank’s website registered the highest scores amidst other winning websites in all categories, which means that this website is ‘the best in the Sudanese domain (.sd) on the international web’:
  Central Bank of Sudan’s Website Wins the Award of the Best Governmental Services Website {dot.jo}

Swaziland

• Available bandwidth is still difficult to obtain:
  MTN having problems with 3G {Times of Swaziland}

Tanzania

• 11% of the population reportedly uses the Internet:
  Number of Tanzania Internet users is 5m {The Citizen}

Tunisia

• Microsoft Engages Youth in Rural North-West {Tunisia Live via allAfrica.com}

Uganda

• All students at A-level will soon be taught either information and communications technology or mathematics:
  Govt Initiates ICT At A-Level {The Observer via allAfrica.com}

Zambia

• The card is the first to be introduced in Zambia by a bank, and is expected to increase the appetite for online shopping in Zambia:
  UBA introduces Africard in Zambia {ITWeb}

Zimbabwe

• An interview with the Zimbabwean ICT ministry suggest a digital economy & vision for 2015:
  Zim should be digital by 2015 – Chamisa {The Independent}
• Lots of debate around the intricacies of this event. Either way, a paperless office policy is good practice:
  Minister’s missing iPad sparks security fears {New Zimbabwe}

Africa in General

• Question Box is currently expanding its presence in South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, and Sierra Leone:
  Google In A Box Helps Bring The Internet To Remote Villages {PSFK}
• The arrival of submarine cable links therefore leaves infrastructure providers with the task of accelerating the deployment of national backbones and cross-border links between coastal countries and landlocked countries so as to ensure that as many Africans as possible can share in the benefits of international capacity and access to data services:
  Making best use of international cable capacity: a real wind of change for Africa in 2012? {Balancing Act}
• Broadband prices could drop by 10-20% when the ACE and WACS cables go live later this year. It could take up to 18 months, however:
  Broadband price drop expected {Mail & Guardian}
• iPhone 4S will be available in Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda, among others. Nigeria will not receive the device, however:
  iPhone 4S in Africa next week {Biztech Africa}
• 3G is coming to numerous French-speaking African nations in 2012, including Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and DRC:
  3G growth and revolutions in Africa {The Africa Report}
• The humanistic touch to Africa’s innovations is just as important as the digital links:
  Building a ‘Knowosphere,’ One Cable and Campus at a Time {The New York Times – Dot Earth}
• Africa is now the world’s second largest mobile market by connections after Asia, and the fastest growing mobile market in the world:
  Africa: The new pot of gold for cellphone telecoms {The Economic Times}
• Startups can’t function with talent, no matter how promising their ideas:
  The Lucrative Skills African Talent Should Acquire in 2012 {Appfrica}
• On meeting the challenge of connecting undersea cables with national backbones:
  Making best use of international cable capacity: a real wind of change for Africa in 2012? {Balancing Act}
• A recap of successful Kenyan happenings (iHub, m:lab, AfriLabs, Pivot, Ushahidi, etc) and how 2012 will mean more funding for good ideas and business pitches:
  What’s on Tap for 2012 {WhiteAfrican}
• A journalist traverses Africa to see how widespread 3G coverage actually is. He finds it is common enough in Eastern and Southern Africa, but access costs are high:
  Taking a tablet to Table Mountain {The Economist Blog}
• The 144-page report identifies specific opportunities and challenges, and recommends areas of intervention for governments, educational institutions, the private sector, NGOs, and development partners, with a particular focus on five general themes:
  eTransform Africa Final Report {Edu Tech Debate}
• Are we overemphasizing the IT success in Africa? Have technology firms lost their edge to IT firms?
  Information Technology’s Dangerous Trend in Africa {Harvard Business Review Blogs}
• A run-down of 3G launches in South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, and Madagascar:
  Afrique: la course a la 3G est lancee {Ecofin}

Global

• Top 1% of Mobile Users Consume Half of World’s Bandwidth, and Gap Is Growing {The New York Times}
• Internet not a human right, says Internet’s dad {msnbc}
• A group of German hackers is trying to start a movement to build a communications satellite that could support unrestricted channels on the Internet:
  Hackers to launch pirate satellite to help build pirate Internet {ITWorld}
• Amazing growth (5.3% CAGR) considering the state of the global economy:
  Telecoms to earn $2.7 trillion by 2017 {Mobile Entertainment}
• Many global investors seek to own a responsible portfolio. That means staying away from cyber-surveillance companies:
  Avoid Investing in Repression {The Motley Fool}

We attempt to present information in well-rounded manner with limited bias. Unfortunately, none of our news roundups contained a dedicated story featuring the nations of Central African Republic, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Western Sahara, or the island of Comoros.

To counter the lack of media attention on these areas, we made an effort to research the Internet scene in Centrafrique and spread word of a cyber cafe project for Chad.
We also mentioned how Sonatel’s market share is growing in Guinea-Bissau and how Comoros saw bandwidth increase 1,000% after connecting to a submarine cable in 2010.

How diverse were the African ICT news articles we found in 2011? The following table gives a breakdown of how often a country was tagged in OA News posts.

Nation	% of OA News Posts w/ Mention
South Africa	84%
Kenya	68%
Nigeria	64%
Ghana	48%
Zimbabwe	44%
Rwanda	36%
Uganda	31%
Egypt	23%
Zambia	23%
Cameroon	21%
Ethiopia	16%
Malawi	13%
Namibia	13%
Sierra Leone	13%
Tanzania	13%
Tunisia	13%
Morocco	12%
Sudan	12%
Angola	10%
Botswana	10%
Liberia	10%
Senegal	10%
Algeria	9%
Cote D'Ivoire	9%
Libya	9%
Mozambique	9%
Swaziland	9%
Burundi	8%
Gambia	8%
Somalia	8%
Mali	6%
Mauritius	6%
Cape Verde	5%
Congo	5%
Dem. Rep. of Congo	5%
Seychelles	5%
Togo	5%
Benin	3%
Burkina Faso	3%
Djibouti	3%
Equatorial Guinea	3%
Eritrea	3%
Gabon	3%
Lesotho	3%
Niger	3%
Guinea	1%
Madagascar	1%
Mauritania	1%
Mayotte	1%
Reunion	1%
Sao Tome And Principe	1%
Central African Republic	0%
Chad	0%
Comoros	0%
Guinea-Bissau	0%
Western Sahara	0%

Also worth noting is that 2011 marked the first time visitors came to oAfrica.com from Central African Republic, Gabon, and Somalia. However, no visitors from Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, Chad, Comoros, or Mayotte made their way to the site. Hopefully such trends will change in 2012 as Internet access increases in these nations and as this site’s content ranks higher on search engines.

Visitors to oAfrica.com, by African country, 2011. {Google Analytics}

• Set’Mobile becomes the 3rd mobile operator in the country. It will be interesting to see if Samuel’s influence attracts first-time mobile users:
  Footballer Samuel Etoo Launches Own Mobile Network in Cameroon {TechMtaa}
• A 50km fibre ring is now in place in Douala, with bandwidth of 10 Gbps:
  Optical Fibre Network – Douala Becomes First Smart City {Cameroon Tribune via allAfrica.com}

Kenya

• 2011 will be remembered as the year of the mobile in East Africa:
  Mobile apps take centre stage in Kenya {Daily Nation}
• Kenyan advancements in mobile software development, digital marketing, and the adoption of cloud technology bode well for 2012:
  Top Kenyan tech brains raring to take the new year by storm {Business Daily}
• Government services (ie. tax registration) now offered online are saving Kenyans time and resources:
  Kenyans embrace online access to government services {Xinhua}
• The 1st Annual East Africa ATMs, Cards and Mobile Banking Security Summit was recently held in Nairobi:
  Kenyan government shifts focus from connectivity to cyber security {CIO East Africa}

Nigeria

• The Nigerian Communications Commission shut down two telecoms service provideers for illegally using wireless spectrum:
  NCC Shuts Bank, 2 Telcoms Firms Over Illegal Use of Spectrum {Leadership}
• Results of the annual Socio-Economic Report suggest a national Internet access rate of 3.6% and Internet device ownership rate of 0.5%. 12% of Nigerians in urban areas have Internet access compared to less than 2% in rural areas:
  ‘Over 95% of Nigerians have no access to PCs, internet’ {The Nation}
• Nigeria needs a greater investment in ICT if the populous nation is to boast a true digital economy:
  Digital Economy: Why FG Should Leverage On ICT Sector {Leadership}
• Goodluck Jonathan created the Ministry of Communication Technology in 2011. Under it are 5 agencies:
  2011 – Year of Ministry of Communication’s Birth {Daily Trust via allAfrica.com}
• Co-Creation Hub is enabling passionate youths to achieve their business and tech goals:
  Broadband Revolution: How MainOne challenges innovative youths {Vanguard}

General

• Technology is attracting investment in Africa, which in turn, creates jobs. Up to 27 million new jobs could be created by 2025. 240 million mobile broadband connections are expected by 2015:
  Africa’s quest for prosperity {Guardian Blog}
• The mobile phone is contributing to what it means to be middle class in Africa. This article has great stats on mobile ownership, subscriber trends, geoegraphic coverage, and growth rates:
  Africa’s burgeoning middle class brings hope to a continent {Guardian Blog}
• Microsoft software is now available in KiSwahili, Igbo, Hause, Yoruba, and Amharic:
  Microsoft launches Africa package in six languages {Computerworld}
• South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Tunisia have set up Computer Emergency Response Teams that will work with information security professionals to report vulnerabilities and detect DDoS attacks:
  Rising cybercrime pushes African governments to take action {Computerworld}
• The charity has raised funds for eight computing rooms made from used shipping containers and powered by solar panels:
  Computer Aid logs on to solar to support African villages {Business Green}
• A severe lack of extension workers in Sub-Saharan Africa could be partially filled by new ICT tools:
  ICTs Could Fill Agricultural Extension Gap, Says Meeting {SciDev via allAfrica.com}
• This year, the focus shifted from infrastructure to content and value added services to capitalize on investments, as both the public and private sectors provided incentives to developers:
  Open data platforms, innovation hubs among Africa’s top tech stories {Computerworld}
• The $75 XO-3 tablet will soon debut and OLPC hopes to sell their own branded versions:
  One Laptop Per Child Redux {Miller-McCune}
• As much as $25bn needs to be spent on networks if web-enabled smartphones are to enter the African mainstream:
  African mobile firms face obstacles {Warc}
• France’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is contributing to the emergence of an information society by donating to AFNIC (manager of Reunion and Mayotte Internet domains):
  Support for Internet development in Africa {France Diplomatie}

Ghana

• Three books on Information Communication Technology (ICT) have been launched in Accra to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject in educational institutions:
  Three books on ICT launched {Joy Online}
• The system will help to decentralize responsibilities from one area to 10 regional offices:
  USAID-funded internet system to enhance efficiency in Ghana’s education sector {Ghana Business News}
• Ministry of Food and Agriculture launched its website (www.mofa.gov.gh) in Accra, to serve as a reference source for critical agricultural data and information in Ghana:
  MoFA launches website {GhanaWeb}

Zimbabwe

• Official stats from Zimbabwe’s TelOne:
  2,600 ADSL subscribers in Zimbabwe {TechZim}
• The Zimbabwean government cites an Internet penetration 13% an an ICT policy which aims to increase the rate by 20% every year:
  ICT, Fast Growing Sector {The Herald via allAfrica.com}

Uganda

• Google search trends (both international and regional) can give cheap insight into public opinion:
  What Is the (global) Village Gossiping About? {The Independent via allAfrica.com}
• The apparent first virtual university in SSA launched in mid-December. All courses will be taught online:
  Nation Gets Virtual Varsity {The Monitor via allAfrica.com}

Ethiopia

• Customers of Ethio Telecom often complain about various elements of internet service in the country including the slow speed of the connection, constant breaks in service, and ineffective customer service:
  Internet Connection a Persistent Problem in Ethiopia {Ezega}
• An IT trainer was charged by police in Ethiopia last year after showing people how to use Skype in the internet cafe in which he worked:
  Student arrested for using Skype in Ethiopia allowed to stay in UK – for now {Manchester Evening News}

Rwanda

• A summary of how Rwanda has enhanced its ICT capabilities this year. Notable were Kagame’s push for broadband, NICI 3, better e-banking, and university programs:
  Yearender ICT – ICT Industry Making Great Strides in the Country {The New Times via allAfrica.com}

Tunisia

• HackerSpace, the first organization of hackers to be officially founded in Tunisia, will advocate for free access to information:
  First Community of Cyber-hackers Founded in Tunisia {Tunisia Live}

Sierra Leone

• Social networking sites are growing in political importance:
  New media and the public {Sierra Leone View}

South Africa

• Forty seven percent of South Africa’s population finds that using the internet has improved their self confidence:
  Internet boosts self confidence {News24}
• The building blocks that will turn cloud computing into a reality for South Africans in 2012 are just about in place:
  Cloud on horizon – in a good way {Times Live}
• South Africa’s price of $39.17 per Mbps is also much higher than the global average of $9.90 per Mbps. Plus a broadband subscription costs 16% of GDP per capita:
  Broadband value in SA improving, but only a little {MyBroadband}
• Portals mean sales revenue. MSN has seen success in Africa and Yahoo is soon to follow:
  Why regionalised Yahoo! portals make sense {Memeburn}

Egypt

• 29% of Egyptians access mobile internet through an iPad, according to a recent study:
  Apple makes up 56 per cent of MENA’s mobile internet users {Ahram Online}

Sudan

• Sudan’s telecoms taxes are to increase in 2012 to cover lost oil revenues from South Sudan:
  Sudan to hike telecoms taxes in revenue push {Reuters}

Zambia

• First Lady Christine Kaseba feels Zambia has a conducive environment for ICT which is currently being underutilized:
  Country Has Conducive Environment for ICT – First Lady {The Times of Zambia via MenaFn}

Liberia

• 2012 is poised to be a dynamic year for ICT in Libera. iLab hope to capitalize on the developments:
  Liberia: Despite High Costs, New Initiative to Promote ICT {allAfrica.com via AfricanBrains }