Zambia has cheapest power in SADC

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

Added by Craig Wilson on 1 October 2012.
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A new study shows that Zambia has the lowest cost of electricity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with a rate of less than US$0,40/kWh. Namibia, meanwhile, charges as much as $7,83/kWh. According to the report, Malawi and SA have roughly the same end-user tariff of $4,47/kWh and $4,02/kWh respectively. However, Zambia’s chief power supplier, Zesco Limited, has applied for tariffs to be increased to meet the growing cost of power generation and transmission. Source: Daily Mail

Tanzania gets solar cell towers
Mobile network Airtel Tanzania has launched solar-powered cellular towers. The move is part of the company’s efforts to build a “green” mobile network and reduce the number of sites that are wholly dependent on diesel generators. The network has rolled out four solar towers to start with and is looking at using more to drive efficiency and provide more reliable service in rural areas. The company is also investigating other alternative natural energy sources like wind. Source: Daily News

Essar Telkom forced to pay Airtel
Essar Telecom Kenya, which owns yuMobile, has been told by a Kenyan commercial court to pay rival operator Bharti Airtel a lease debt of 474m shillings (R46m) pending the resolution by an arbitrator of a site-sharing contract between the two companies. The dispute arose after Airtel took Essar to court for nonpayment of leasing fees, but Essar raised a counterclaim of 2bn shillings (R194m) on the grounds that failures on some sites had hampered its operations. Essar sought, but failed, to have the lease debt deducted from its counterclaim. Source: Business Daily

Uganda revises TV migration standard
The Uganda Communications Commission has revised the digital migration standard specification for set-top boxes in order to ease the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. Uganda has adopted the DVB-T2 standard. Previously, the conditional access feature of DVB-T2 boxes was obligatory but is now optional for free-to-air broadcasters. It remains mandatory for those looking to offer pay television. The country expects to roll out its first set-top boxes this week. Source: Daily Monitor

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