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Balancing Act's News Update 135
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COMING SOON: AFRICAN LAW AND ICT SPECIAL AND IS PHP WIRELESS LOOP RELEVANT
FOR AFRICA?
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* TOP STORY: THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE - AN AGENDA FOR AFRICAN REGULATORS IN
THE 21ST CENTURY
* NEWS: CITI AND INNOVATION HUB IN SOUTH AFRICAN BID FOR WORLD ICT MARKETS
* ON THE MONEY: SEVERAL SA IT FIRMS FIRMLY IN DIVIDEND-PAYING MODE
* WEB NEWS: GUINEA TV PROGRAMME LAUNCHES ONLINE PRESENCE
* PEOPLE: OBASANJO'S SCIENCE ADVISER LAMENTS LACK OF POLICY DECISIONS DRIVEN
BY REMOTE SENSING
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THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE - AN AGENDA FOR AFRICAN REGULATORS IN THE 21ST
CENTURY
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With certain honourable exceptions, African regulators - and the governments
who drive their policy frameworks - have been sleep-walking backwards
towards the future. Since News Update was launched over two years ago,
significant numbers of African fixed line operators remain in government
ownership and overshadow their domestic markets. Fully competitive markets
are few and far between. The rise of mobile operators has been the
continent's success story but it has not helped address fundamental
infrastructural issues. The governments have either lacked the courage or
the will to make the kind of progress made on other continents. In this
issue Russell Southwood provides a sketch of what a different future might
look like, one in which governments and regulators embrace the future and
look at how it can best benefit their citizens.
Regulatory processes are incremental. Even in developing countries that now
have over ten years or more experience of pushing out the envelope of what
is possible, it has been done in gentle steps. Nevertheless the early
benefits in terms of access price and services spur on further progress.
The difficulty with this incremental process is that it's hard to see what
it would be like when you've got there: what consultants are wont to call
the "end-state". In Africa without a clear vision of this sort, there is
only fear and loathing of the future. There is the fear of job losses and
lack of national control and a loathing of the idea of giving up a valuable,
hard currency cash cow like the incumbent telco.
One of the few people who have talked about what a practical competitive
framework would look like in Africa is Mike Van den Bergh of Gateway
Communications who chairs the South African VANS Association, a private
sector lobby group:" You would have an effective competent regulator. There
would be a minimum of three full-service network operators. There would be
well structured, competitively trading distribution channels with wholesale
and retail providers. And there would be unrestricted access to facilities.
There would also be subsidiary licences for broadband and the local loop".
Whether this is your idea of competition nirvana or not, the log-jam that
prevents progress is usually the sale of the incumbent telco as it presents
the government with a conflict of interest. The South African government
pulled the idea of a third national operator because it did not want to
prejudice the Telkom IPO. The twin headed hydra of privatisation and
regulation cannot be tackled alone and the sooner African governments sell
off the majority of their telco stake the better.
Getting from here to there will require a series of fundamental mind-shifts:
* Governments need to go from owning telcos and taking money out of them
directly (anything from profits to corrupt skimming) to taking income in
regulation fees and taxes. According to the Nigerian Vice President Atiku
Abubakar, the Nigerian government has earned N130b ($1 billion) from
telecommunications licensing since the commencement of the deregulation of
the sector. Whilst not all countries have the scale of markets found in
Nigeria the point still holds good at a smaller scale for other countries.
If governments collect tax through VAT from companies that collect the tax
on their behalf, then each one of those millions of phone calls can be
taxed. The usual problem of collecting taxes from inidividuals or companies
in Africa is greatly reduced. You are taxing a relatively small number of
companies who have the skills and systems to collect tax on your behalf.
In this way you begin to exchange the current inefficiencies, and poor
service for a stream of traffic-related income. You leave the private sector
to create greater efficiency, higher profits and better service. No world is
perfect (as Nigerian mobile users will currently tell you) but with enough
competition, not only will things get better but the market will grow
faster.
* By selling off all or a large part of the incumbent telco, the role of
Government changes. It then has to express its national interests through
having a clearly expressed policy that describes what it is trying to
achieve. Then both government and the regulator should be acting in a
facilitating role: making sure that anyone who can genuinely help bring
about the policy objectives will be facilitated to do so.
No government gives up control without a struggle and the approach described
above requires a clear understanding that governments can no longer (if
indeed they ever could) bring about changes by themselves. In Africa these
difficulties are compounded by the governance issues of the continent.
Governments seek to be strong on issues like security and political control
but are weak in terms of actually implementing policy and delivering
services to their citizens.
But in order for the full benefits of liberalisation to reach a wider range
of citizens, government needs to be able to set a policy framework and then
step back and let others help deliver it. It needs to operate at
"arms-length" when policing this framework. It cannot, as currently happens
in Ghana, both have the relevant Minister as Chair of the regulatory body
and as de facto Chair of the incumbent telco. Powers have to be separated
and should vigorously contested on both sides: in public or behind closed
doors, you can take your pick.
* In an internationally competitive environment, the point of contention
is not the cumbersome but dying rate-fixing cartel of the ITU but the terms
under which competition policy operates decided by the WTO. Let's not be
misunderstood. The ITU is a fine body and may well have a role to play in
closing the digital divide and in other areas but the accounting rate system
is dead. Stop flying to those meetings and simply put the money into
something more useful.
Almost all African countries have signed up to the World Trade
Organisation¹s 1994 General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) that
covers basic telecommunications services. Algeria is on the point of joining
the fold. The exceptions are: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Seychelles,
Somalia and Sudan.
It now covers 90% of world telecommunications markets (whether in terms of
revenue, investment or traffic). On the basis of this agreement, each
country will therefore have signed what is known as the "Fourth Protocol"
laying out specific commitments to opening up markets in a document known as
"the schedule". Some have agreed to complete competition, while others have
opted for limited competition in mobile and data markets. Get in there and
argue the terms but don't resist the inevitable outcome of greater
competition. Policy statements like the Halfway Proposition from Richard
Bell provide a good starting point for these discussions (see issue 130).
- KNOWING THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING BUT THE VALUE OF NOTHING - UNDERLYING
PRINCIPLES
Without some underlying set of principles for a new policy framework, it
would be easy to view the whole area as simply an act of maximising
financial gain for the government. We would suggest the following broad
principles:
* Let go and stop trying to control everything. Regulators have tried to
control and licence everything from IXPs to cybercafes through to repair
engineers. They are even trying to licence (and charge for) access to the
ISM band that was put aside for "social" uses. You have to stop trying to
licence everything that moves and let the market decide. It's undoubtedly
scary (often even private sector Africans talk nervously of a possible "wild
west") but it will help things happen more quickly. If unsuccessful,
companies can and will "go bankrupt" or be bought out by others. Regulation
should be seen not simply as an act of control but as one way of encouraging
economic growth.
* Regulation should be "technology-agnostic". Don't try and stop new
technologies coming into the market. Things like VOIP and new mobile
wireless standards will either find a place in the market or fail. For
Africa to connect its rural areas it will require a wide basket of different
technologies including VSAT, wireless and radio. If different technologies
have consequences for incumbent players, that's one of the consequences of
being in a competitive market.
* Insist that everything interconnects. Mobile players are still
protecting their markets and minutes by not agreeing interconnection in some
countries. Make it a cardinal principle that if something is legal that it
can be connected into the main networks. Don't be put off by existing
players arguing that it can't be done. In the majority of cases it will be
possible.
* Make the processes as transparent as possible so that Africa's new
consumers can drive up expectations. Encourage lobbying from consumer
groups, NGOs and the private sector. Set clearly announced service
obligations that have costs if they are not met. For example, if someone's
fixed line phone is not working, the telco has to repair it in 24 hrs or pay
a penalty to the consumer. A financial threat of this kind would
marvellously focus the minds of those responsible for service. In this way
it would create a sense that better is possible so that telecoms and related
sectors might become the vanguard of African business practice.
* Put an end to cronyism where those who get to bid locally for licences
are the "usual suspects". Encourage local investors from outside those who
count as friends of government. Open out the regulatory debate so that a
wide range of people can get involved. You won't be able to please everyone
- there's often simply too many divergent interests - but who said being a
regulator was going to make you popular?
- IT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO BUT THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT
There are many African regulatory issues that might be tackled but we would
suggest that the strategic "high-ground" can be captured in three broad
areas:
For the rest of this article go to:
http://www.balancingact-africa.com after
25 November 2002.
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CONNECITIVITY NEWS
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* CITI AND INNOVATION HUB IN SOUTH AFRICAN BID FOR WORLD ICT MARKETS
The Cape IT initiative, a not-for-profit public-private partnership
promoting the development of the knowledge economy in the Western Cape, said
last week that it had strengthened its ties with The Innovation Hub in
Gauteng, through an informal partnership that is aimed at consolidating the
activities of both parties for the greater benefit of the ICT sector
nationally.
The Innovation Hub is a partnership between the Gauteng Provincial
Government's Blue IQ initiative and SERA, the Southern Education and
Research Alliance (a strategic partnership between the CSIR and the
University of Pretoria). With a designated technology focus, The Innovation
Hub is being established as a catalyst to spur the next wave of
knowledge-intensive industries in South Africa. It will stimulate
synergistic partnerships between investors, entrepreneurs, tenants and
service suppliers to create an influential business network and an enabling
environment for fast-growing start-ups.
In terms of the partnership both parties will work together in promoting
stronger linkages between the regions and in creating a more collaborative
focus on cluster facilitation. This includes sharing knowledge resources,
such as ICT guest speakers as well as information on high-profile
international delegations to South Africa. CITI and The Innovation Hub will
also share incubation facilities, meaning that the concept of reduced rates
for start-ups seeking lower barriers to entry, will be cross-communicated
and supported by both parties.
Marketing Manager of CITI, Judith Middleton commented: "Although CITI
focuses on developing the ICT cluster in the Western Cape, its overall aim
is to facilitate the creation of jobs and prosperity through IT. The Western
Cape offers numerous competitive advantages in this regard and has the
potential to serve as a launchpad into Africa and Europe but this does not
detract from the fact that the overriding goals of CITI and The Innovation
Hub are closely aligned. Ultimately, both organisations are working to
develop the ICT sector locally, for economic and social reasons. On the
one-hand, skills development in the fast growing field of IT offers
considerable potential for longer-term job creation and on the otherhand, at
an economic level, development of the ICT sector will strengthen the
attractiveness of South Africa for direct foreign investment and wealth
creation."
* US$4 MILLION INVESTED IN ZAMBIAN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS
Investigators from the Center for Research in Women's Health at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Zambian Ministry of Health
will receive $4 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to develop
a state-of-the-art, electronic obstetric and newborn medical record in
Lusaka, Zambia. The initiative represents a major commitment to
technological infrastructure enhancement in the linked Lusaka District
Health Clinics and the University Teaching Hospital. "
The central idea behind the collaboration is that automated recording and
assessment of obstetric and newborn care delivery, coupled with computerized
surveillance of birth outcomes, will result in better individual patient
care, as well as systematic improvements in obstetric and newborn outcomes.
"In individual pregnancies, the ability to document processes and recognize
deficiencies of care in an ongoing fashion should be of immediate benefit,"
says UAB's Dr. Dwight Rouse. "Furthermore, the data that the system will
provide to health policy makers in the Central Board of Health on the
frequency and severity of adverse birth outcomes will be invaluable as they
allocate scarce health care resources in Lusaka."
(source:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/globalhealth/reproductivechildhealth/announce
ments/announce-403.htm )
* ZAMBIA'S CELPAY INVESTS OVER US$1 MILLION ON CELLULAR PHONE BILLING
CELPAY has invested over US$1 million on its newly innovated cecullular
phone billing system. Celpay managing director, Steve Wunker, says the money
has gone into development of the software and the human resource. He said
already 700 hundred subscribers have signed up for the service. Speaking at
the launch of the service in Lusaka last week, Mr Wunker said Celpay has
been in on pilot phase in the last six months to ensure that the service is
fully proven.
(source:
http://www.dispatch.co.zm/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=73)
* 2ND CELL OPERATOR WILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN NAMIBIA IN 12 MONTHS TIME
THE long-awaited second cellular telephone operator is expected to enter the
market in about 12 months. Deputy Information Minister Gabes Shihepo said in
the National Assembly on Friday that the process of issuing a second
cellular licence, which will end the monopoly enjoyed by Mobile
Telecommunications Company, had been set in motion. Shihepo was responding
to a question from Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation
Minister Nahas Angula during debate on the Draft Policy on Information and
Communications.Angula had accused MTC of abusing its monopoly.
He called on the Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) to open up the
cellular market so that service to customers is improved. Shihepo said
Cabinet took a decision in 2000 that a second cellular provider should be
allowed in Namibia. He said consultants have been invited through "proper
tender procedures" to assist the NCC in allocating the second cellular
licence.
(source: The Namibian via AllAfrica.com)
* EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADERS RESOLVE ON NEW SUBMARINE CABLE PROJECT
Participants at the first East African Business Summit, held in Nanyuki
(Kenya) from 5 6 November 2002 resolved amongst other things to form a
consortium to an East African submarine fibre-optic cable that will serve
the region. With the inability of a previous project to get off the ground
AfricaONE, which would have seen the deployment of a cable encircling the
whole continent - the idea of pushing ahead with a submarine cable for this
region emerged during the East African Internet Forum held in Kenya during
August 2002.
* GHANAIAN GOVERNMENT GETTING COLD FEET OVER TELENOR CONTRACT FOR GT?
According to Ghanaian newspaper the Network Herald, the delay in finalizing
the contract with Telenor is attributed to "a whooping $12 million or so
performance bond" requested by the Ministry for Communications and
Technology, which Telenor finds too much on the high side and "has
vehemently objected to". According to the Herald's ministry sources, Telenor
has made it clear that it is not interested in investing in the troubled GT
but interested only in a management contract with the government. Meanwhile,
the Ministry is grumbling about "the expensive cost of Telenor Management
Consultancy, which is said to include hefty bonuses as success fees".
* MAURITIUS TELECOM AND FRANCE TELECOM STRIKE A DEAL
The government of the Republic of Mauritius and France Telecom S.A.
announced the concluding of a strategic partnership agreement with Mauritius
Telecom. According to this agreement, the Mauritius government will give
France Telecom 40% ownership of Mauritius Telecom for an amount of US$261
million US. This agreement, is part of its telecoms liberalisation policy.
(source: GSM Box)
* IN BRIEF
- Angolan head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos inaugurated the newly
installed submarine cable communication system and optic fibres at Cacuaco
district last week.
- Kenyan internet service provider launched a new, faster service for
users offering ISDN access with speeds of up to 56 kbps. Telkom Kenya's
representative at the launch said recent investments in infrastructure had
made the service possible.
- Egypt's Minister of communications and information technology, Ahmed
Nazif announced the start of the 'computer in every home' in collaboration
with the Egyptian company for communications, Misr bank and several local
computer firms. Fourteen importers and 350 computer companies will be
contributing to the project, Nazif said yesterday, adding that the "door is
open for others, on condition that they supply after sale and maintenance
services."
- Nokia and Moratel have signed a contract of a complete Nokia TETRA
system using IP technology. This is the first digital professional mobile
radio system in Morocco. Moratel, the country's sole TETRA license holder,
will use this network to demonstrate TETRA capabilities in Morocco.
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ON THE MONEY
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* SEVERAL SA IT FIRMS FIRMLY IN DIVIDEND-PAYING MODE
Information technology (IT) companies were once notorious for their
reluctance to pay dividends. At the height of the IT frenzy, boards signed
off the phrase "no dividend will be paid as the cash will be retained to
fund further acquisitive growth" in their results announcements almost as a
matter of course.
True to their word, companies were happy to fork out hefty chunks of cash to
buy out smaller rivals. And, with share prices practically doubling every
other month, many shareholders were satisfied that they were getting
wealthier without the need for old economy concepts such as cash dividends.
How times have changed. In the past few weeks several IT companies have
declared dividends, from heavyweight Altech to smaller cap players such as
ERP.com, Infowave and Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings.
Last week Paracon followed suit with a maiden dividend of 2,5c a share, a
quarter of its headline earnings.Paracon's board recently aborted an attempt
to buy Software Futures from the MGX group because they could not agree on a
fair price.
Two short years ago fair price was barely considered a criterion in
acquisitions as firms raced to secure market share.Now Paracon, like the few
other IT companies still holding cash, presumably feels there is nothing
left in the decimated domestic market that is worthy of its attention.
The board is undoubtedly also acutely aware of the need to keep shareholders
sweet.After all, a key motivation for the boardroom coup by institutional
shareholders in Comparex was frustration at the directors' perceived
inclination to hoard or spend the company's cash pile rather than distribute
it to shareholders in the form of a dividend.
(source: Business Day via AllAfrica.com)
* MAJOR UNLISTED MTN SHAREHOLDER TO SELL HOLDING
Following MTN's announcement last week that one of its major unlisted
shareholders is in the process of negotiating the sale of its shareholding,
investigations carried out by ict World have led in only one direction -
that of Ice Finance VB.
Although MTN (previously M-Cell) declined to comment further on the pending
sale of shares, the company that is thought to be selling its shares (Ice
Finance VB) acquired Transnet's 20% share in M-Cell in January last year. It
is the only unlisted shareholder which fits the criteria stated in MTN's
cautionary. In an announcement today MTN warned shareholders to exercise
caution when dealing in MTN Group shares, stressing, however, that the sale
of the shares previously mentioned will not result in an offer to minority
shareholders of the MTN Group.
The shares were originally purchased from Transtel for $475m by Ice Finance
BV, an "unlisted" passive investment company incorporated in the
Netherlands.<BR><BR>According to sources close to ict World, conditions of
the sale included Transnet retaining all voting rights attached to the
M-Cell shares, including the right to nominate directors to the M-Cell
board.<BR><BR>It is believed that Transnet entered into an arrangement to
adjust the final sale price if Ice Finance BV eventually concluded a
successful sale of the shares.
(source:
http://www.ictworld.co.za/EditorialEdit.asp?EditorialID=1603 )
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AFRICAN WEB NEWS AND USEFUL SITES
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* GUINEA TV PROGRAMME LAUNCHES ONLINE PRESENCE
Those who have launched TV5.org believe that the site will enrich its
existing TV programme: "JTA" (le Journal Télévisé Africain). This daily
programme that mixes news, culture, politics, economics and sports can now
be consulted on any of these subjects and will offer a three month archive
of previously broadcast programme material. It also brings together
complementary links and material and is aimed at the different diaspora
francophone communities across the world for whom there is a real lack of
material of this kind. It is accessible every day with updates completed by
21hrs (GMT) on:
www.tv5.org/info/jta.html The programme material on the
site is encoded in the "Real Time" format which allows users to view
streamed material as well as downloaded material.
* NIGERIA'S INTERNET CAFES REAP FROM ON-LINE JOB VACANCIES
Internet cafes in Abuja are in for good business as applicant's storm their
business houses to fill on-line job application forms. Abuja Trust visited
some of the internet cafes in Abuja and discovered that "it has become a
beehive of activities for job seekers".
At one of the internet cafés, our reporter watched as old friends either
from the same university or those who served in the same state during their
youth service exchange greetings and prayed for the job to materialise.
Philip consulting, one of the leading consulting forms which handled
recruitment exercise for key multinationals in Nigeria, no longer require
candidates to apply with postal addresses but to visit their website and
fill the application forms.
However, the latest development which has taken most applicants to the
internet cafes was the vacancy for management trainees by a new
telecommunication company, Globalcom. Although Globalcom had also made
arrangements for applicants to post their letters, most of them told Abuja
Trust that they preferred the online form.
"With only N75 for three minutes or N90 in some internet cafes, you get a
good type setter to fill the forms on-line and you are sure it has reached
your destination.
"It is even cheaper. If you are to post the letter, you make photocopies of
CVs and credentials, buy stamp, buy envelop and writing pad. So you see why
we prefer this online system?" one of them told Abuja Trust.
A staff of one of the internet cafes told Abuja Trust that the e-mail and
internet business is booming "we make as much as N20,000 a day from people
who come to surf, send mails or just download materials from internet. We
sell ten, twenty and thirty minutes. We have arrangement for night browsing"
he said.
He observed that for that day over 80 percent of people who had visited the
café had come to fill forms for the Globalcom job.
(source: Daily Trust (Abuja) via AllAfrica.com)
* KALAHARI.NET TURNOVER UP 115.9%
Kalahari.net, continues to prove itself in the online retail environment
with turnover rising by 115.9% for the six months to September 2002, as
compared to the same period last year. This growth translates to the first
six months of this financial year representing turnover that comes close to
total turnover for the previous year. This places Kalahari well on the path
to break-even for 2004.
"We have introduced a range of additional payment options such as a budget
facility for credit card transactions, direct deposit feature and a Standard
Bank Autopay option," says Hein Pretorius, general manager of Kalahari.net.
"Kalahari.net has also launched four new shops in the past six months and
customers can now buy anything from airtime to Verimark products and PC and
Playstation games."
(source: Media Toolbox)
* IN BRIEF
- Global Vision International has recently launched its new website,
www.gvi.org.uk, which will assist charities,
non-profits, NGO's and
governmental organisations around the world to source volunteers and raise
funds for their conservation, research, and community development projects.
- HP SA has unveiled an e-commerce site for consumers and small
businesses:
http://www.ictworld.co.za/EditorialEdit.asp?EditorialID=1606
- SAPO has launched an interactive website for the maritime industry:
http://www.ictworld.co.za/EditorialEdit.asp?EditorialID=1611
- Students from the Asesewa school in Ghana and the Kingsmead school in UK
are using the Internet and e-mail to know more about each other's countries.
http://www.plan-uk.org/action/ghanaproject/
____________________________________________________________________________
DIGITAL TOOLBOX
____________________________________________________________________________
* CISCO GEAR HOOKS SMALL OFFICES TO VPNS
Cisco is wheeling out a string of new security routers for small offices
this month that make it possible to network small and home offices into
business VPNs.
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=768600
* TEN RULES FOR TAMING THE E-MAIL MONSTER
Without it? We didn't think so. For something so necessary, e-mail sure can
be frustrating to work with. Here are some ways to grab the tiger by the
tail.
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=768602
* COMDEX: GALLIUM NITRIDE SHOWS LOW-POWER BRIGHT POSSIBILITIES
Notebook and color phone displays could be more vivid and suck up less power
with an old semiconductor material that's attracting new interest.
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=768127
___________________________________________________________________________
PEOPLE
___________________________________________________________________________
* Nigeria's President Olusegun obasanjo's Senior Special Assistant
adviser on Space Science and Technology Adigun Ade Abiodun has lamented that
while remote sensing was a critical tool for Africa's development scientists
at the heart of this satellite driven technology had yet to influence
Africa's policy decisions in ways that would help to harness the strategy
for the overall progress of the continent."Scientists in Africa must get
involved in the political decisions made on Africa's development if space
science and technology is to make a difference in Africa," Abiodun told The
Perspective in an interview in Paris.
* The NITTA Awards in Lagos recently honoured Engr Ernest Ndukwe CEO,
Nigerian Communications Commission and Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, CEO Zinox Ltd for
their contribution to ICT development in Nigeria. Ndukwe lead an
internationally acclaimed transparent Frequency Auction in Nigeria while
Stan Eke is one of the country's leading computer entrepeneurs.
* Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku Minister of Trade and Industry says the
government plans to make Ghana an internet and communications hub for West
Africa. He said currently, the government is implementing programs for
information and communication technology (ICT) that will enable Ghana become
global ICT partner. Dr. Apraku said this during Africa Industrialization Day
celebrations on Wednesday last week under the theme "Industrialization of
Africa and the New Information Communication Technology" organised by the
Association of Ghana Industries at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre in Accra.
Presumably once the mess at Ghana Telecom has been sorted out?
* Webmaster for the Nigerian speaker Olsupo Oyedepo will marry Gbemisola
Aramide Coker on 4 January 2003. Congratulations.
___________________________________________________________________________
JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
___________________________________________________________________________
- The Community Information Network for Southern Africa (CINSA) is looking
for a Project Manager.The Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing
the day-to-day functions of the project and ensuring that the project
deadlines are met. He/she will be based in Johannesburg, at the SANGONeT
offices. He/she will work with an Information Co-ordinator based at SANGONeT
and with three Information Co-ordinators based at nodal points in the
region. Please send CVs to Alan Finlay, SANGONeTs Information Services
Manager: alanf@sangonet.org.za.
Deadline for applications: December 1st,
2002.
____________________________________________________________________________
EVENTS
____________________________________________________________________________
* 5TH AFRICAN TELECOM SUMMIT (MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE, 12-14, MARCH 2003)
The 5th African Telecom Summit will this year move from Ghana to Mozambique
in response to extensive requests from delegates for rotation of this very
successful summit to other African countries. This year¹s Telecom Summit in
Maputo Mozambique, which is being co-hosted by the Ministerio Dos Transporte
e Communicacoes of Mozambique, is once again expected to offer an
opportunity for African and non-African experts, business people, and
practitioners in the Information Technologies and Telecommunications
industry to deliberate on practical and cost-effective solutions to
developing the ICT business in Africa. The Summit will focus on
"Technologies, Networks and Applications for Least Cost Access².
* SATELLITE AND WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY FOR RURAL SCHOOLS AND DEVELOPMENT
The African Connection in collaboration with SchoolNet Africa, SchoolNet
Namibia and World Links for Development are hosting a workshop titled
³Satellite and Wireless Connectivity for Rural Schools and Development².
The workshop will be held in Windhoek, Namibia from the 1st to 4th December
2002.
The workshop will bring together stakeholders from the policy-making
community, civil society, telecom regulators and low cost delivery device
manufacturers/suppliers and users to engage in dialogue with regards to the
following issues:
- Efficacy/sustainability of wireless technologies for rural schools and
rural development
- Discuss a research project commissioned by SchoolNet Africa relating to
the use of wireless technologies in African schools
- Discuss the efficacy of using rural schools as centres for ICT access and
ICT applications for rural development
- Discuss the application of wireless technologies and importantly too,
address policy implications.
- Allow for consultations for possible partnerships and collaborations
between the various stakeholders present.
It is hoped that the workshop will contribute to further research,
enrichment of experiences and eventually conclude on priority follow-up
projects in Africa. For more information on the workshop please visit
http://www.schoolnetafrica.net/Wireless%20conference.htm or contact the
SchoolNet Africa¹s Executive Director Ms Shafika Isaacs at
shafika@schoolnetafrica.org.za,
or Mr. OleKambainei, Coordinator (Policy &
Regulation), African Connection at
emmanuelo@dbsa.org
____________________________________________________________________________
BACK NUMBERS - AFRICA'S DIGERATI: PEOPLE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
____________________________________________________________________________
We are now only listing back issues from issue 20 onwards. If you want to
search previous back issues offline you can buy our new CD-ROM (see bottom
of this e-letter) or go online and search at
http://www.balancingact-afric.com
122. Eric Osiakwan on the growing momentum of Kampala
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act122.html
91. Africa Online's Ben Parker on growing a portal
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act91.html
90. Mali's Seydou Coulibaly on the internet in Mali
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act90.html
87. Metrocomia's Charles Musisi on developing a web design business
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act87.html
86. UNECA's Mercy Wambui on ICT in rural comunities
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act86.html
83. Internet Ghana's Leslie Tamakloe on GISPA's ambitions
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act83.html
77. Ensquared's Craig Levy on local internet exchanges
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act77.html
76. Zamnet's Daniel Mpolokosa on the state of the Zambian market
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act76.html
74. Brian Longwe on Kenya's local internet exchange
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act74.html
73. Eric Osiakwan on the launch of Afrispa
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act73.html
70. Kechil Kirkam on donor-funded, IT implementation in Uganda
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act70.html
69. Cordelia Salter-Nour on the need for skills transfer
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act69.html
64. CyberTwiga's Adam Messer on its pre-paid service launch
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act64.html
62. Gambit Technologies' Andrew Myers on market growth
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act62.html
61. Amos Maleka on 3piCom's Smart Card
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act61.html
60. Peter Nsanze on Uganda, Africa's Digital Pearl
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act60.html
59. CITI's Peter Frampton on the launch of Bandwidth Barn
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act59.html
58. Jacques Perpetus Houngbo on the importance of INET to Africa
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act58.html
56. Michel Mavros, Metissacana on bandwidth
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act56.html
55. Seymour Howe on VOIP
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act55.html
___________________________________________________________________________
PAID FOR ADS
___________________________________________________________________________
In response to an increasing number of enquiries from companies wanting to
advertise their products and services, we have drawn up a rate card for ads
in this section (or in other parts of News Update) and for banner ads on our
web site. To see a copy of our rate card, e-mail a request
(info@balancingact-africa.com)
****************************************************************************
ENTREPREURSHIP AND ICTS - THE ART OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
The CD-ROM covers the following:
-> What does it mean to be an entrepreneur
Successful African ICT entrepreneurs talk about what it means to start up a
company, what kind of personal qualities you need and the type of mistakes
they made that you can easily avoid.
-> Starting with a good idea
The CD-ROM looks at the kind of ICT ideas that have fuelled the growth of
ICT sector across the continent and highlights a number of recent examples
to give you a flavour of what you might come up with.
-> Planning a business idea
It provides a list of questions that need to be answered for most new ICT
business ideas and offers some templates for the structure of your business
plan. Whether you're a first-timer or are already running your own business,
these questions provide useful ways of thinking about new ideas or planned
expansion.
-> What skills do I need to make it work?
Every ICT business needs a particular combination of people and skills to be
successful. This section looks at what skills you need to bring together in
your team.
-> How do I get finance and at what stage do I need it?
It offers the distilled wisdom of a range of individuals from different
African finance institutions who explain what they look for in a fledgling
business. It also explains when you might need finance, how equity
shareholders can help develop your business and what it means to have an
exit strategy.
-> Strategic alliances and partnerships
Few African ICT start-ups have the resources to do everything they want to
achieve. To overcome this, this section describes how you might approach
making strategic alliances with other companies that will help your company
grow.
-> Sources of information
An information archive that provides everything from where to find ICT
information relevant to Africa to local and international sources of
finance. It also includes an archive of past issues of Balancing Act's News
Update up to issue 114 with a search engine to help you find what you want.
As a bonus, it also has the following free software: ACDSee, Adobe Acrobat,
Eudora, GetRight, Netscape Navigator 3.04 - 4.5, Paintshop Pro, Shockwave
and Flash and Winzip. Most are available in either Windows or Mac versions.
If you would like to order a copy, you need to do two things:
1. Please send an e-mail to
info@balancingact-africa.com with your name,
company or organisation, and a secure postal address.
2. Transfer US$50 (which includes postage and packing) to the following bank
account:
Account Name: Southwood Consultants Ltd
Bank: Nat West
145 Clapham High Street
London SW4 7SN
UK
Account No: 08732663
Bank sort code: 60-05-34
When the US$50 payment has been credited to this account, we will send your
copy of the CD-ROM to the address you've sent us.
****************************************************************************
____________________________________________________________________________
All material printed in Balancing Act's News Update is subject to copyright.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the express
permission of the publisher.
____________________________________________________________________________
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