Tag: kenya

Mar292021 by editorNo Comments

Safaricom becomes the first institution to offer 5G Network services in East Africa

Safaricom becomes the first operator to offer commercial and superfast 5G network services in East Africa. Safaricom plans to partner with the government and corporates in revving up its newly launched 5G mobile Internet services. To deepen innovation in the health and agriculture sectors. This will be a success through value addition in other sectors and platforms. The telco on Friday launched the upgraded network in major urban centers including Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii and Kakamega, all of which routinely witness increased data traffic. “The 5G network heralds the era of intelligent connectivity and will be a key driver of this strategy by enabling us to build on the investments and successes of the last two decades to catapult Safaricom to the next level as we enable digital

Jan102020 by Lynn WandiaNo Comments

Easy Hang creates a revolutionary biodegradable hanger

Business

An innovator, identified as Shannyce Wambui, through her company, Easy Hang, created a revolutionary hanger made entirely out of entirely out of biodegradable material and can also be folded. Kenyan innovator Shannyce Wambui has been selected by Natwest Bank to participate in scheme to empower women entrepreneurs. Ms Wambui created Easy Hang, a range of sustainable hangers and is looking for financial support through crowdfunding which NatWest will supplement to help fund the business Her work and campaign can be found at www.easyhang.co The Kenya High Commission London is supportive of Kenyan innovators. High Commissioner Manoah Esipisu said: "I urge Kenyans and friends of Kenya to support Ms Wambui. We must support Kenyan talent." Meantime, Amb. Esipisu met 25 Kenyan Chevening ...

Dec132019 by editorNo Comments

Does Kenya have the necessary skills for AI?

Governance, Internet, Technology

Lack of access to free, up-to-date and machine-readable government data stands in the way of Kenya tapping into opportunities brought by artificial intelligence, a Nation Newsplex analysis reveals. The country tops Africa and ranks 52 globally out of 194 countries on the government’s readiness to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in public services but only manages positions seven in the continent and 78 out of 94 globally in availability of government data, according to two key reports. The Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index 2019 report, by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Oxford Insights, factors in 11 inputs grouped into four main categories: governance, infrastructure and data; skills and education; and government and public services. “

Jan72016 by editorNo Comments

Netflix launches in 190 countries globally including Kenya

Internet, Mobile

Las Vegas, January 6, 2016 -- Netflix launched its service globally, simultaneously bringing its Internet TV network to more than 130 new countries around the world. The company made the announcement -- and the service went live -- during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at CES 2016. “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Hastings. “With this launch, consumers around the world -- from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo -- will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously -- no more waiting. With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.” Companies such as Multichoice who have dominated the African market are set to co

Dec152015 by editorNo Comments

Central Bank of Kenya gives warning on virtual currencies like Bitcoin

Business, Mobile

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has taken a stand on the use of the virtual currencies such as Bitcoin in Kenya warning on its use. In a press release, the body says: The attention of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has been drawn to media reports on the use, holding and trading of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin in Kenya. Bitcoin is a form of un-regulated digital currency that is not issued or guaranteed by any government or central bank. Domestic and international money transfer services in Kenya are regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya Act and other legislation. In this regard, no entity is currently licensed to offer money remittance services and products in Kenya using virtual currency such as Bitcoin. This is to inform the public that virtual currencies such as Bitcoin are

Nov132015 by editorNo Comments

MTN Telecom CEO quits after $5.2bn Nigerian fine

Broadband, Business, Mobile

The CEO of Africa's largest mobile telecoms company, MTN Group, has resigned following two weeks of wrestling with the Nigerian authorities over the imposition of a massive fine. In a statement to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the company announced that Sifiso Dabengwa will leave with immediate effect, to be replaced temporarily by non-executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko. Chief executive Sifiso Dabengwa tendered his resignation with immediate effect, saying it was "in the interest of the company and its shareholders". The fine, which amounts to double MTN's profit last year, was for failing to cut off unregistered mobile users. The firm was given until 16 November, just two weeks, to pay the penalty. The fine amounts to ₦200,000 ($1,000) for every customer who should have been disco

Nov112015 by editorNo Comments

SEACOM targets African enterprise market with fibre Internet and cloud services

Broadband, Business

SEACOM has entered the enterprise market, promising best-in-class connectivity and Cloud services that bring business customers lightning–fast bandwidth at highly competitive prices. It aims to shake up the enterprise connectivity space by offering businesses high-speed connectivity and quality bandwidth at an affordable price. Reports Businesstech SEACOM’s Business division is already signing up more than 20 corporate and SME customers a month, since a soft launch of its enterprise offering a year ago. It has also appointed more than 20 business partners to support its drive into the new market. Its fibre Internet access services have been available since January 2015, and have received positive feedback from the marketplace. Last-mile fibre is a major focus for SEACOM in the corpora

Aug312015 by editorNo Comments

African cybercrime laws have loopholes, most countries yet to draft tough legislations

Uncategorized

Big loopholes lurk in African cybercrime law – where it even exists reports theconversation.com Since May 2011 the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the UN agency that specialises in information and communication technology – has worked with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to help countries mitigate against the risks posed by cybercrime. Large-scale gaps According to the ITU, out of the 52 countries that it looked at in Africa, 44 do not criminalise computer-facilitated offenses. Only two have legislation deemed sufficient to combat online sexual abuse, and 40 do not have any legislation at all addressing online child sexual abuse. Nearly all – 49 countries – do not criminalise the simple possession and distribution of indecent images of children, and 51 of the countr

Jul292015 by editorNo Comments

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella launches Windows 10 in Nairobi

Business, Mobile

Microsoft will launch a new version of their popular operating system Windows on July 29th. The new operating system, dubbed Windows 10, will be available as a free upgrade for those with licensed Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 operating systems on their devices. It will cost $199 for the pro version for new users & $199 for the Home version. Users wishing to upgrade to the Pro version will have to pay $99. Microsoft announced plans to host live celebrations around the world when its Windows 10 product launches on 29 July. The events will celebrate the role its five million ‘Windows Insiders’ played in the development of the software. Events have been planned in 13 locations: Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, New Delhi, Dubai, Nairobi, Berlin, Johannesburg, Madrid, London, São Paulo and New

Jul242015 by editorNo Comments

Did ZACR and Africa Union ignore the warning to be wary of wrong doing over .Africa?

Governance, Internet

July 9 2015 saw the much awaited IRP ruling over the .Africa domain after DCA Trust took ICANN to task over discriminatory Board decisions and actions taken with regard to DCA Trust's application for the DotAfrica. The resultant win is a culmination of wins that started with the IRP declaring that ICANN immediately refrain from any further processing of any application for .africa until this Panel has heard the merits of DCA’s Trust Notice of Independent Review Process and issued its final decision regarding the same. The final decision also sustained the suspension of the .Africa registry contract the ZACR and ICANN signed in dire disregard of the IRP. The trouble with the .Africa domain though did not start with DCA taking ICANN to the IRP, the delay has been progressing fro