Airtel passes 60m active users

TechCentral wraps up the major technology news from around the African continent. Compiled by Craig Wilson.

Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel says it now has more than 60m active users in Africa. It added 10m subscribers in less than 12 months and says this growth has helped make it the fourth largest mobile operator worldwide and Airtel one of the largest players in Africa. The company has operations in 17 countries on the continent.

It says it has also seen growth in its mobile commerce solution, Airtel Money, which is now available in 14 of the African markets in which it operates and was recently launched in Madagascar and Burkina Faso. Source: African Press Organisation

Telkom Kenya increases data prices
While most operators are scrambling to reduce prices, Telkom Kenya — owned by France Telecom — has increased the price of its daily unlimited data bundle from 39 shillings (around R4) to 50 shillings (R5,15). It says the move was necessary because of its increased investments in data infrastructure as well as its need to shore up its top line in the face of declining voice revenue. The operator claims that, despite the pricing adjustment, it remains the most attractive proposition in the Kenyan market. Source: The Standard

Mozambique puts universal access to tender
Mozambique’s communications regulator, the Instituto Nacional das Comunicacoes de Mocambique, has launched a public tender for the implementation of network infrastructure to provide universal access to telecoms services. The tender is for the provision of voice and data services for rural communities. The project’s 50 target locations have been divided into three geographic regions for purposes of the tenders. The technology to be used will be defined by the operators themselves and bids can be submitted until the end of January next year. Source: TeleGeography

Tanzanian bank launches mobile banking
Amana Bank, a wholly Tanzanian-owned bank that offers a full range of Sharia-compliant banking services, has introduced mobile banking for its customers, offering the ability to make mobile payments in addition to regular banking services like transfers and balance enquiries. Users of the bank’s mobile services can also use transfer services like M-Pesa, Tigo-Pesa and Airtel Money. Source: Daily News

Zambia to get fourth mobile operator
Zambia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has welcomed the forthcoming entrance of a fourth mobile company, saying it will boost competition in the country’s telecoms sector. The commission says competition is “cardinal to the development of a liberalised economy”. It’s unclear when the operator will be launched. Source: Daily Mail