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  • Kenya News|
  • Project Updates
  • Alphabet’s Project Loon Takes Off In Kenya

    by Kevin Davids
    March 25, 2020

    March 25, 2020 By Kevin Davids

    Alphabet’s internet-delivery balloon service, Loon, has finally received approval from the Kenyan government. To help improve communication during the coronavirus pandemic, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta fast-tracked the regulatory approval Loon and its partner, Telkom Kenya, were waiting on. Loon expects to begin providing service to remote areas of Kenya in the “near future.”

    Once up and running, Loon’s internet-delivery balloons will allow Kenyans to buy 4G service from Telkom Kenya. The project has been in the works since 2018, when Loon signed a contract with the operator. Last summer, the partners received approval for commercial testing in the country.

    Loon is now dispatching its existing airborne balloons and preparing new ones to launch from sites in the US. Those balloons will travel to Kenya via stratospheric winds 20 kilometers above Earth, a process that takes a number of weeks. Once the balloons arrive in Kenya, Loon will conduct the final stages of network integration testing with Telkom Kenya.

    “Given the global situation with COVID-19, we’re working as fast as we can to deploy the Loon service in Kenya to help in the short-term, and establish sustainable operations that will continue to serve Kenyans for the long-term,” Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth wrote in a blog post.

    While Loon is attempting to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic, like all companies, it has been impacted too. It has reduced operational capacity at its launch sites and is adjusting to necessary travel restrictions. Thanks to the groundwork already laid in Kenya, though, Westgarth says, “we’re confident that we can address these challenges and begin providing meaningful service to Kenyas in the near future.”

    Filed Under: ICT, Kenya News, Project Updates

  • Africa|
  • ICT
  • ATU Issues Guidelines For Africa’s Telecom Industry To Combat Coronavirus

    by Kevin Davids
    March 24, 2020

    March 24, 2020 By Kevin Davids

    The African Telecommunications Union (ATU), a specialized agency of the African Union in the field of telecommunications, has put together a set of guidelines to assist in combating the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that every Member State should consider.

    Africa has so far recorded relatively few coronavirus cases compared to the rest of the world. Twenty-seven African countries have recorded over 357 coronavirus cases, according to the World Health Organization on Thursday 19th March 2020. Egypt leads in cumulated confirmed cases at 196, South Africa 116, Algeria 72, Morocco 49, and Senegal 36. Other countries with over ten cases include Tunisia, Burkina Faso, D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Cameroon.

    However, Heads of States and Governments across the continent are taking no chances as they race to stop the spread of the virus by sensitizing their citizens about the pandemic and the various ways to combat the disease.

    Globally, telecoms/ICTs have become a pillar in the prevention, preparedness and response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The ATU, through the Secretary-General, Mr John Omo, is urging the Ministries of ICT, through the telecommunications regulators and operators in the Member States, to consider implementing the following recommendations/guidelines to fight COVID-19 pandemic:

    Activation of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)

    Regulators should implement the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to enable authorities to effectively prevent and mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The CAP involves the use of multiple modes of communication to educate Members of the public including vulnerable groups about the disease as well as the preventive measures. The CAP will make it possible for members of the public to receive CAP-originated information in many ways, such as through mobile and landline telephones, Internet (e-mail, Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, smartphone apps, online advertising, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, in-home smart speakers, etc.), sirens (in-building or outdoor), broadcast radio and television, cable television, emergency radio, amateur radio, satellite direct broadcast, and digital signage networks (highway signs, billboards, automobile and rail traffic control), among others.

    Collaborative Practical Measures Regulators should adopt the following:

    Network Capacity

    Fixed and mobile telephony providers should reserve some dedicated network capacity which should be made available free of charge to the authorities handling Covid-19.

    Emergency Numbers

    Fixed and mobile telephony providers should implement and enable the emergency numbers, for example 119, for voice messaging and promote short message service (SMS) as an alternative to telephony communications during this period. Emergency agencies – such as police, ministries of health and hospitals should adequately size their network capacity, e.g. lines and access trunks, to offer an efficient service when call demand is high. Also, telecommunication providers and amateur radio operators need to perform periodic emergency drills together. The public should adequately be informed of the availability of the service free of charge.

    Guidelines for action during emergencies

    Calls to emergency numbers should be free. Local and long-distance backbone providers must have redundancy networks to handle traffic from other providers that experience difficulties. Broadcasters should support communication and messaging strategies to the public in coordination with all the other agencies that are involved.

    Amateur radio operators and simplification of type-approval processes

    Radio amateurs are community based and should be involved in the information dissemination mitigation processes for Covid-19. Any type-approval acceptance could be waived during the period of emergency for equipment to be used by amateur radio operators or those processes simplified in order to gain time, for example, not subjecting such equipment to taxation at all. Regulatory authorities should recognize foreign type approvals to expedite the process and rely on the guidelines of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

    3.  Streamlined Regulation Processes

    Rapid response in the wake of a disaster is critical. Consequently, regulators should streamline the process to allow telecom/ICT services to be available as soon as possible. The following strategies should be considered by regulators:

    Telecom/ICT services licensing

    As the continents fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the telecom/ICT regulatory authority should urgently grant telecom/ICT service licenses necessary to support emergency telecom/ICT efforts. Therefore, exceptional expedited licensing procedures should be in place, free of charge, for use. These licenses should be temporary and valid only during this period of emergency response and recovery until the government has determined that there is no further need for the service being provided.

    Frequency allocation

    Frequency planning and allocation are critical at this time for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Governments should make the necessary spectrum available on a national basis to allow for multiple types of applications and services, from narrowband voice services up to broadband-intensive applications. A combination of spectrum bands should be available free of charge for emergency communications, allowing both terrestrial and satellite systems to be quickly deployed with limited interference.

    Priority call routing

    During such times, networks could fail to provide service for different reasons, one of them being overload thus delaying or altogether preventing critical communication. Regulators should establish priority call routing on both mobile and fixed networks for people engaged in Covid-19 response as well as other entities and institutions involved in such activities.

    Network redundancy

    Network redundancy is a critical element of a robust network that will minimize telecom/ICT outages during this period. Disaster networks need to consider redundancy and resilience in their design, as well as increase the number of terminals. Regulators need to ensure that telecom/ICT providers have networks with adequate redundancy and multiple connectivity options for the authorities involved in combating Covid-19.

    Importing telecom/ICT equipment

    Major delays during the importation of telecom/ICT critical equipment have a negative impact on the response time to a disaster, and even impact the likely loss of lives. Delays can occur for several reasons, including duties or tariffs, restrictions based on local standards, extensive paperwork, disorganized processes, etc. Rules should be in place to expedite the importation process of critical telecom/ICT equipment that might be used for response and recovery: e.g. exemptions from duties and tariffs, clear expedited processes and streamlined paperwork. In addition, once the equipment needs to be returned to the place of origin, expedited processes should be in place to help streamline the return process.1

     Multi-stakeholder collaboration

    There should be coordinated efforts during this period and clearly defined functions for different government institutions, e.g. ministries of foreign affairs, ICT and communications, customs, regulatory agencies and first responders such as hospitals among others. Also, there should be a collaboration with the private sector, including telecom/ICT operators, private networks, and amateur radio among others to give support and insights to the government on the collection of data and dissemination of information to the public. Regulators should, therefore, carry out a set of activities and procedures to connect all actors in the ecosystem at the local, national and international levels and ensure effective flow of information as the continent fights Covid-19.

    Filed Under: Africa, ICT

  • ICT|
  • Kenya News
  • Alphabet’s Balloon Internet Project Fails to Launch in Kenya

    by Kevin Davids
    March 20, 2020

    March 20, 2020 By Kevin Davids

    Alphabet’s ambitious balloon-powered internet project in Kenya is apparently being delayed by the regulatory issues. The project has not yet kicked off despite its inception two years ago.

    ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru cites the laggard nature of Kenya’s bureaucracy process as the major hindrance.
    “Everyone is working to get it there. We are 100 per cent behind it, we are just a bit slow in our bureaucracy,” said Joe Mucheru, an ardent supporter of the project.

    Alphabet’s Loon project partnered with Telkom Kenya to enable the solar-powered balloons. These balloons are meant to provide 4G internet signals to unprivileged remote areas in the country.

    To date, Loon has already set up three ground stations; Nairobi, Nakuru and Nyeri that paved the way for the final phase of testing.

    “The start of the service will be greatly informed by the outcome of the pilot as well as the reception of regulatory approvals from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport, that we are currently waiting for,” said Telkom Kenya.

    Loon’s spokesperson says they have been working with the government on the matter and expects that the whole process will be “finalized soon”.

    The last update from the Loon project trickled last year when some balloons were expected to land in the country for initial commercial trials.

    Late 2019, Loon acquired a license in Uganda to fly its balloons over the country’s stratosphere.

    Filed Under: ICT, Kenya News

  • Africa|
  • ICT|
  • Tanzania News|
  • Tenders
  • Tanzania’s Central Bank Targets Mobile Platforms For Retail Investors

    by Peter Orengo
    March 6, 2020

    March 6, 2020 By Peter Orengo

    Tanzania’s Central Bank is responding to the ICT era by targeting to introduce a mobile platform that will capture retail investors.

    The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) is planning to introduce a mobile platform that will enable retail investors to apply for and trade treasury bills and bonds.

    The central bank said the platform is expected within this year after working out a methodology with stakeholders.

    The plan centered on reaching mass participation for retail investors on bills and bonds but also reducing the low amount of tender to 100,000/- from the current 500,000/-.

    Bank of Tanzania’s Manager of Financial Markets, Lameck Kakula, said next month they expect to meet stakeholders including mobile network operators to map out a way forward.

    “We are working with FSDT [Financial Sector Deepening Trust) in introducing the platform….this will enable more players to buy government securities,” Mr Kakula said during five-day BoT’s media seminar.

    Currently, he said, they are working on stage requirement system of the mobile bidding platform for bonds before launching the initiative.

    “April [next month] we will meet with stakeholders to map out process requirements and document them.

    “We’ll be in a better picture after the April meeting…but we want to launch the platform this year,” Mr Kakula said.

    The plan could potentially take investing in treasuries to the mass market by eliminating the friction in the current market infrastructure.

    “The central bank aims at creating a simple platform where retail investors will tender directly without a third part using their mobile phones,” Mr Kakula said.

    Process requirements are documented expectations, targets and specifications for business/service processes.

    They may be collected from multiple groups of stakeholders such as business units, customers, internal customers, users and subject matter experts.

    Data from BoT showed that the number of individual investors increased from 2.0 per cent in Q2 of 2018 to 6.0 per cent in Q2 last year.

    Mr Kakula said in Kenya through the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) introduced such services of using mobile phones mid last month.

    Under Kenya’s platform the new service will make it easier to process transactions of Ksh 140,000 (8.2m/-) and below.

    “The bank is pleased to inform you about the roll-out of the Treasury Mobile Direct (TMD) services, designed to facilitate investment in government securities using the mobile telephone,” CBK said in a notice to investors last month.

    Filed Under: Africa, ICT, Tanzania News, Tenders

  • Featured|
  • ICT|
  • Kenya News
  • 5G Technology Knocking On Kenya’s DoorStep

    by Peter Orengo
    March 5, 2020

    March 5, 2020 By Peter Orengo

    As the world embraces 5G technology, Kenya is not ready to be left out. The country is readying to be part of the new communication era.

    The Communications Authority of Kenya, (CA), recently hosted the second Stakeholder Sensitization Workshop on Decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), to deliberate on the adoption and roll-out of the 5G technology.

    Held at the Nairobi’s Hilton Hotel, the workshop availed the opportunity for interaction and possibly information acquisition by stakeholders, that may not be contained in the final documents (Final Acts) of the conference.

    Speaking during her keynote address, Mercy Wanjau, the AG DR at CA noted that Kenya was among the 31 Africa countries that identified usable satellite orbital slots and are set to file their satellite notices, by 22nd May this year, with the Radiocommunications Bureau (BR) based at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

    “The last WRC was held in 2019 and it addressed more than 30 agenda items related to terrestrial and space radio services and applications. This included spectrum for mobile broadband, aeronautical systems, satellite services including meteorological applications, and maritime distress and safety signals,” she said. Adding; “Kenya was represented.”

    The WRC-19 approved additional Spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2020 (5G mobile). The additional spectrum allocation to mobile services in the frequency bands 24.25-27.5 GHz, 37- 43.5 GHz. 47.2 – 48.2 GHz and 66 – 71 GHz will facilitate implementation of 5G mobile services in Kenya.

    The new allocation will further contribute to social economic development of the country by providing diverse usage scenarios and applications such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications.

    “The Communications Authority is working on the 5G licensing and rollout roadmap. Already seven firms have ongoing trials, which CA has authorized,” she added.

    The outcome of the WRC-19 provides Kenya with additional spectrum allocations that can be utilized in various services, as noted the CS ICT, Joe Mucheru, that will be useful for developing solutions to some of the challenges faced locally and equally enable better and improve services to Kenyans in areas such as universal access to ICT, food security, education, public security and climate change, among others.

    The CS pledged the government’s involvement in the adoption and rollout process to ensure that proper policies are put in place to support the domestication and implementation of the decisions of WRC-19.

    “My Ministry, in consultation with the relevant arms of government, will facilitate ratification of the Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference to ensure that Kenya is fully compliant with the Treaty,” he said. “I therefore, urge all stakeholders to take keen interest in the preparatory work for the next world Radiocommunication Conference to be held in 2023, in order to ensure Kenya submits proposals that advance our collective ICT agenda as a nation.”

    Filed Under: Featured, ICT, Kenya News

  • Featured|
  • ICT|
  • Public Spaces
  • Africa Tech Firm Hits $71 Million; Focuses 12 Start-Ups

    by Peter Orengo
    March 3, 2020

    March 3, 2020 By Peter Orengo

    An Africa tech company, VC firm TLcom Capital, closed its Tide Africa Fund at $71 million in February and is now focusing to invest 12 startups in the next 18 months.

    The group — with offices in London, Lagos, and Nairobi — is looking for tech-enabled, revenue-driven ventures in Africa from seed-stage to Series B, according to TLcom Managing Partner Maurizio Caio.

    He told TechCrunch the fund was somewhat agnostic on startup sectors, but was leaning toward infrastructure, logistics ventures vs. consumer finance companies.

    On geographic scope, TLcom Capital will focus primarily on startups in Africa’s big-three tech hubs — Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa — but is also eyeing rising markets, such as Ethiopia.

    TLcom’s current Africa portfolio includes Nigerian trucking logistics venture Kobo360, Kenya’s Twiga Foods, a B2B food supply-chain company and tech-talent accelerator Andela.

    Both of these companies have gone on to expand in Africa and receive subsequent investment by U.S. investment bank, Goldman Sachs .

    For those startups who wish to pitch to TLcom Capital, Caio encouraged founders to contact one of the fund’s partners and share a value proposition. “If it’s something we find vaguely interesting, we’ll make a decision,” he said.

    One $50 million round wasn’t enough for South Africa’s Jumo, so the fintech firm raised another — $55 million — in February, backed by

    Goldman Sachs led the Cape Town based company’s $52 million round back in 2018.

    “This fresh investment comes from new and existing…investors including Goldman Sachs, Odey Asset Management and LeapFrog Investments,” Jumo said in a statement — though Goldman told TechCrunch its participation in this week’s round isn’t confirmed.

    After the latest haul, Jumo has raised $146 million in capital, according to Crunchbase.

    Founded in 2015, the venture offers a full tech stack for partners to build savings, lending, and insurance products for customers in emerging markets.

    Filed Under: Featured, ICT, Public Spaces

  • Featured|
  • ICT|
  • Uganda News
  • Uganda Needs $150 Million For Major ICT Project

    by Peter Orengo
    March 2, 2020

    March 2, 2020 By Peter Orengo

    In a bid to keep up with the ever improving digital world, Uganda has stepped up efforts to upgrade its infrastructure with a plan to secure at least $150 million.

    The government of Uganda has since approached China to partner on the initiative.

    Uganda has set its request on the table to borrow USh550 billion ($150mln) from Chinese Exim Bank to set up digital projects that will improve populations’ lives across the country.

    The plan was revealed by the ICT Minister, Peter Ogwang, during a ceremony to hand over computers to Agwata Secondary School in Dokolo District on February 22.

    He said e-learning development is now a priority and the government is making moves to improve access to broadband Internet connectivity over the entire territory. Health and local administration are also sectors that the government wants to make digital.

    According to Peter Ogwang, on the health segment, digital technology can help fight drug smuggling thanks to better tracking.

    “This will allow government to track service delivery such as how government drugs are delivered by National Medical Stores to health units and then to patients,” he explained.

    Filed Under: Featured, ICT, Uganda News

  • Africa|
  • ICT|
  • Tanzania News
  • Tanzania secures $1.5 billion financing for SGR project

    by Kevin Davids
    February 24, 2020

    February 24, 2020 By Kevin Davids

    Tanzania has secured USD 1.5 billion in financing from Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania to build a railway from Dar es Salaam to Matukopara.

    The Tanzanian Finance and Planning Ministry and Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania said that the loan, which was coordinated by the bank, was the largest ever raised by the ministry. The main funders were the Export Credit Agencies of Denmark and Sweden.

    Philip Mpango, Tanzania’s finance minister, said the project financing will increase employment in Tanzania, and enable communities to thrive as they gain access to social services.

    “I would like to thank the governments of Sweden and Denmark. These two nations have shown us their true friendship not only in words but also in action. Please convey our country’s sincere appreciation to the Export Credit Agencies and lenders in your countries,” he said.

    Other contributors to the loan were the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Trade and Development Bank and the African Export-Import Bank.

    The rail link is part of a USD 14.2 billion plan to build around 2,500km of standard gauge rail lines in the country over the next five years. The rail will reduce road congestion and lower freight costs by 40%. Each freight train can transport up to 10,000 tonnes, equal to 500 lorry-loads. It will also connect Tanzania to Burundi, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Filed Under: Africa, ICT, Tanzania News

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    Uganda News

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    Ugandan Truckers Stuck At Busia Border

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