President Julius Maada Bio, through the Ministry of Information and Communications, has on Friday, April 24th, fully kick started his agenda of digitalizing the entire Sierra Leone as promised in the last elections campaign of 2017.
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationOpen RAN Policy Coalition forms to lobby governments on 5G security plans
A new lobby group has emerged in the US, known as the Open RAN Policy Coalition, with a mission to guide policy making and encourage the promotion of the OpenRAN movement.
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationNigeria: Minister Orders New SIM Card Policy
February 7, 2020by myles
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has directed the Nigeria Communication Commission to revise the policy on sim card registration and usage. In line with Section 25(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, the minister, Isa Pantami, said the National Identity Number (NIN) will be a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards. In a statement...
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationTanzania: Legal Confusion As Millions of SIM Cards Blocked
January 22, 2020by myles
Legal confusion has surfaced over the biometric Sim card registration exercise – with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) coming under attack for what critics say is the regulator’s resolve to push for a procedure that is not provided for in the country’s statute books. At the centre of the current national chaos surrounding the...
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationSomalia: Somali Cabinet approves National ICT Policy and Strategy
December 4, 2019by myles
Somalia’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Technology (MPTT) has announced that the National ICT Policy and Strategy has been approved by the Cabinet. The five-year policy provides the framework needed to leverage the benefits of ICT to support the social and economic development of the country. It outlines the development and enhancement of ICT across Somalia over the period 2019-2024 and...
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationSouth Africa: Icasa wants to intervene in the mobile broadband market
December 3, 2019by myles
Ahead of the publication later on Monday by the Competition Commission of its final report flowing from its inquiry into the data services market, communications regulator Icasa has said there is insufficient competition in aspects of the delivery of mobile broadband in South Africa. In a discussion document (PDF) on its market inquiry into mobile broadband services in...
More Industry InsightsPolicy & RegulationKenya’s ICT industry backs data law
November 22, 2019by myles
ICT fraternity Thursday threw their support behind the recently signed into law data protection bill terming it a good regulation policy framework for the industry. Signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta two weeks ago, the data protection Act will put safeguards against commercialisation and misuse of data without approval from the data commissioner and the data...
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationStrategyGhana: Vodafone CEO Speaks Up Against Mobile Money Tax -Reports
November 22, 2019by myles
The CEO of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, has issued a statement saying that for Ghana’s digital market to grow, the government must refrain from taxing mobile money operations. She said that the taxing of mobile money operations would only discourage its usage in the country and that this would be unhealthy for the growth of...
More Africa NewsPolicy & RegulationZimbabwe aims to be one of Africa’s biggest IT hubs
November 21, 2019by myles
Government allocates ZWL$341.7-million towards ICT research and development. Zimbabwe’s Finance Ministry has allocated ZWL$341.7-million (approximately US$942,249,67) towards ICT, with research and development, and ‘modernisation’ listed as priorities. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the funds will go towards developing the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan and assist in the roll out of the national e-government program. The Smart...
Nigerian telecoms operators, among other businesses, face fresh challenges as well as opportunities once the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is implemented. However, stakeholders said adequate preparations for the challenges would put the businesses at a vantage position to profit from the opportunities. SAMSON AKINTARO reports In July, President Muhmmadu Buhari signed the Africa Continental...