Cameroon

• 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% in 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 }