Mascom offers ‘MyTime’ internet for data users (Africa)
Botswana’s leading mobile network operator Mascom is allowing users to choose the amount of time they would like to use the internet and pay accordingly. According to the company website, the MyTime internet offer provides users with a specific number of hours for a price, during which they can surf and download as much content as they would like. The company claims that this internet bundle offer is the first of its kind in Botswana.
The company website shows options such as US$ 1.4 for 1 hour, US$ 7 for 5 hours and US$ 14 for 10 hours. Users can avail for any of these plans by dialing *141# and selecting the amount of time they would like to spend on the internet. The plan availed will be valid for 30 days.
As demand for data services by users continues to rise, mobile operators across the globe are working towards better data price plans to retain their customer base as well as make up for declining voice revenues.
Mobile money services receive success in Africa (Africa)
The success of mobile banking services in Africa can be gauged by a report by FNB, highlighting a 150 per cent hike in transaction growth for its cellphone banking service and 1384 per cent growth for eWallet, for the month of December 2011 when compared to the previous December.
The report reveals that customers conducted 2.4 million cellphone banking transactions during December 2011 in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Swaziland and Lesotho, to the value of US$ 27.9 million as compared to US$ 128,485 transactions in December 2010.
Botswana, recorded over 1.3 million cellphone banking transactions, representing a 126 per cent increase year-on-year. Further, Namibia recorded year-on-year growth of 155 per cent, with Zambia at 308 per cent and Swaziland at 227 per cent.
As per the report, Ravesh Ramlakan, CEO, FNB Cellphone Banking Solutions, has said that the increasing confidence amongst consumers in using their handsets for money transcations have greatly aided in the adoption of mobile money services in the country. He added that innovation has played a key role in growing cellphone banking across Africa. Further, their ability to adapt the service for use on any cellphone has been an important driver of this growth.
Users can conduct a number of transactions using FNB Cellphone Banking, including transferring money between their own FNB accounts, buying prepaid airtime and making third party payments.
The report reveals that, FNB eWallet has generated 407,110 original sends in its four African Operations (Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zambia) as at the end of December 2011. In Botswana FNB eWallet, saw an increase in original sends of 1236 per cent year-on-year from December 2010 to December 2011.
Yolande van Wyk, CEO, FNB eWallet Solutions has said that although eWallet has only recently been introduced to markets outside South Africa, the service has demonstrated strong potential for continued growth into the future. He claims that a country like Zambia for example has 5.4 million mobile phone users and a large informal sector, making a solution such as eWallet ideal in helping bridge the financial services gap between the banked and the unbanked. eWallet reduces both risk and cost, and in African markets they have found this to be essential in any financial product offering. Simple, convenient and affordable financial services represent the future of banking in Africa.
eWallet allows FNB customers to send money to anyone within the borders of the country in which the service operates. The convenience lies in the fact that the recipient does not need to have a bank account. The money is transferred instantly and the recipient uses a pin code sent to their cellphone to access the cash from FNB ATMs.
HP and PING Collaborate on Mobile Health Monitoring to Reduce Malaria
On the heels of the United Nations Social Innovation Summit, HP (NYSE:HPQ) and nonprofit organization Positive Innovation for the Next Generation (PING) are launching a collaboration to improve the quality and efficiency of disease surveillance in Botswana through mobile health monitoring technology that can enhance protection and prevention against major malaria outbreaks.
Advancing the country toward its goal of malaria elimination, the initiative uses HP webOS and cloud computing technology to enable health workers to more efficiently predict, observe and minimize the harm caused by outbreaks.
In partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and mobile network provider MASCOM, the program equips healthcare workers in Botswana with HP Palm Pre 2 smartphones to collect malaria data, notify the Ministry of Health about outbreaks and tag both data and disease surveillance information with GPS coordinates. This data will contribute to a first-ever geographic map of disease transmission in the country, enabling faster response times and better measurement of malaria cases to monitor treatment and scale up the distribution of mosquito nets.
The program’s year-long pilot phase is the largest mobile health pilot program in Botswana, running throughout the malaria season. Future programs are planned to reach additional outbreak-prone diseases in the region.
- Data analysis in the cloud: The initiative enables healthcare workers to collect data via a webOS application on a mobile device, upload the data over a mobile network, and analyze and share the data via the cloud. Through this system, analysis now takes hours rather than weeks to complete.
- Rapid outbreak notification: When an outbreak is detected, healthcare workers can quickly upload specific case and location information from their mobile devices in the field. Health officers in the area and members of the Ministry of Health then receive a text message alerting them of the outbreak, enabling rapid deployment of preventative measures to reduce disease transmission.
- Higher accuracy with real-time surveys: Through the flexibility and ease of development on the webOS platform, a surveillance application enables health workers to perform real-time surveys from the field. Health workers are able to enter accurate, context-rich data through pictures, video, audio, GPS coordinates, qualitative and quantitative information about the case.
In the next phase of the program, HP and PING plan to develop a cloud-based health services package for consumers in Botswana, creating a sustainable system for delivering even more health-related information to users over mobile networks.
Advancing health monitoring
Despite progress in disease eradication, the World Health Organization reports that more than 780,000 people died from malaria-related illnesses in 2009, most of them children under the age of five. In Africa, 75 million people, or 10 percent of the population, are at risk to contract malaria.(1) Mobile technology has the potential to drastically improve malaria surveillance by speeding data collection and generating more context-aware information about outbreaks.
Health initiatives in Africa
As part of the company’s global social innovation program, HP aims to enrich society by using the breadth and scale of its technology to drive structural, systemic improvements in health access and delivery.
In addition to the collaboration with PING, HP has alliances with African social enterprise mPedigree to fight counterfeit malaria drugs through an innovative mobile phone and cloud services solution; nonprofit organization mothers2mothers to help prevent HIV transmission from mothers to infants; and the CHAI to greatly improve the speed of HIV diagnosis for infants in Kenya.
Supporting quotes
“We’re focused on addressing health and development problems by not only using technology in an innovative way, but also by creating more problem solvers in the local population. By combining our socially active core with innovation and business acumen from HP, and the scale of government organizations, we can achieve the greatest opportunity for lasting social change.”
- Katy Digovich, director, Operations, PING
“There is tremendous opportunity for mobile technology to transform public health services in both developing and developed markets. The full potential of applying mobile and cloud services to advance healthcare has yet to be reached, and we’re committed to applying our technology expertise to help address some of the world’s most difficult global health challenges.”
- Gabriele Zedlmayer, vice president, Office of Global Social Innovation, HP
Supporting resources
- Images of PING program
- Video interview with Gabriele Zedlmayer discussing social innovation at HP
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure at the convergence of the cloud and connectivity, creating seamless, secure, context-aware experiences for a connected world. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
(1) “World Malaria Report 2010,” World Health Organization, 2010.
FNB mobile phone banking reaches 150,000 users in Botswana
First National Bank of Botswana has stated that its Cellphone Banking service has reached the milestone of over 150,000 registered customers.
According to the bank’s Head of Electronic Banking, Thato Kubu, the success is attributed to FNB’s brand promise of helpfulness and the bank’s passion for innovation. Launched in 2006, FNB Cellphone Banking allows customers to perform a range of transactions, such as making payments, doing transfers, making balance enquiries, buying prepaid airtime and sending money using FNB’s new eWallet service.
Kubu added that prepaid airtime purchase is a favourite with customers, accounting for more than half of all Cellphone Banking transactions.
MTN launches borderless roaming across five countries (South Africa)
South Africa’s MTN has launched borderless roaming across five countries where it has subsidiaries – Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda, Swaziland and Zambia. The service applies to both prepaid and contract customers.
According to Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN South Africa, they realize that sometimes their customers do not want to roam or even receive incoming calls due to the costs associated with doing so. Now, with free incoming calls on offer, MTN is empowering its customers to roam with ease.
In addition, MTN’s roaming prepaid customers will be able to top-up their prepaid phones with locally purchased airtime cards.
He added that they now offer their customers another seamless way of maintaining their mobile lifestyles and encourage them to keep their phones switched on while out of the country. This will ensure they remain constantly in touch with their businesses and close contacts.
Telecom Namibia Deploys Fiber-Optic Cable for High-Speed Broadband Connectivity
Telecom Namibia is set to link the southern African country to the consortium submarine system called West African Cable System (WACS) that links Africa to Europe.
The undersea fiber-optic cable, which was installed along the West African coast, delivered higher broadband connectivity for Namibia and its neighboring cities.
The WACS consortium includes 12 companies. They are Vodacom, Togo Telecom, Telkom SA, Telecom Namibia, Tata Communications/Neotel, Portugal Telecom/Cabo Verde Telecom, Office Congolais des Postes et Telecommunications, MTN, Congo Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Broadband Infraco and Angola Cables.
It is anticipated that the high-speed fiber-optic cable will help in reducing the cost for internet users. The cable will also be expanded to Botswana. According to media reports, Telecom Namibia has installed the required infrastructure to connect its Swakopmund’s landing station to the domestic network. The cable, which is installed in Swakopmund beach, was developed by Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks and Telecom Namibia.
Telecom Namibia anticipates that the commercial operation will be initiated in the Q2 of 2011 and hopes that the country will benefit from direct access to worldwide network cable network.
Telecom Namibia’s Managing Director, Frans Ndoroma stated that the 14,900 km WACS will provide direct connectivity between the UK, West Africa and Namibia.
BTC wireless to enjoy monopoly for next 2-3 years
If reports are to be believed, Cable & Wireless (LIME) has negotiated for the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to enjoy a further ‘two or three years’ exclusivity in the wireless market. It said that the British company should either defer, or not proceed with, plans to cut BTC’s workforce by up to 30%.
Cable & Wireless is believed to be close to agreeing the acquisition of a 51% stake in BTC. However, the privatization has been tortuous, having been on the table for over a decade.
According to the company, it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the government of the Bahamas and aims to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2011. The company and the government will work together to complete due diligence, finalize terms and obtain regulatory clearances. The acquisition of Bahamas Telecommunications will be funded from existing cash and debt facilities and is expected to be earnings and cash flow accretive excluding restructuring expenses.
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana’s national and international telecommunications services. BTC is a parastatal in which the Botswana government holds 100% equity.
The Corporation’s range of communication products and services include wired and wireless networks, basic voice telephony and voice messaging, Internet Protocol (IP) based networks and solutions, high speed Internet access, data networks, customer premises equipment (PABXs), optical fibre connectivity solutions and online directory services.
MTN reduces international roaming rates (South Africa)
MTN South Africa has announced that it will reduce the retail rates for international roaming on both voice and data with effect from today.
According to Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA, MTN Roaming is now an even more affordable and convenient means for MTN Pay-As-You-Go, Contract and Top-Up customers to always stay connected when travelling abroad.
MTN had introduced Seamless Roaming in March this year to provide MTN Pay-As-You-Go and Top-Up customers with the ability to load airtime using foreign airtime vouchers in Southern and Eastern Africa regions where MTN operates.
Serame Taukobong added that MTN has now decided to further reduce roaming rates to encourage customers to stay connected on the MTN network while travelling in Southern and Eastern Africa regions. This means that all MTN Pay-As-You-Go, Top-Up and contract customers can now travel with their MTN cell phones to MTN Uganda, MTN Zambia, MTN Swaziland, MTN Rwandacel and Mascom Botswana, and enjoy one of the most affordable roaming call and internet rates.
The new roaming rates have been revised substantially and will be charged as: International calls or calls to home (South Africa) at R5.00 per minute, Local calls at R3.00 per minute, Receiving calls at R4.00 per minute, Sending SMSs at R1.50 per SMS and Data at 25c per 25KB
According to Taukobong, with the new voice and data rates, it is intention to encourage company’s loyal customers to make the most of the MTN network, no matter where they roam in Southern and Eastern Africa. The company is also encouraging customers to ensure they comply with RICA requirements by simply taking their ID and proof of residence to their nearest MTN store, thereby ensuring they experience uninterrupted service during their travels.
MTN-Orascom will be over twice the size of Airtel & Orange Africa.
MTN-Orascom’s joint subscriber base will surpass the 100 million mark if the deal goes through. This would mean that it will be over twice the size of Airtel Africa & Orange. MTN will get a boost of over 20 million subs from the Orascom deal.
That said, if a deal were to happen, here’s a quick analysis of whats for sale in the Orascom portfolio and why 2 assets are particularly interesting:
1. Djezzy in Algeria: Top line of $1.86 billion with a 46% market share (14.6 million subs) and a 57% EBITDA margin! This is the jewel in the crown. However, there is a downside here as well for some key reasons. Orascom’s relationship with the government and the regulator is strained and Q4 2009 results suffered on account of backdated taxes and penalties. Djezzy has actually seen market share decline by 5 percent and ARPU declined by 16% in 2009. Mobile penetration is in excess of 90% and Q-tel owned Njedma has proven to be an aggressive competitor. Numbers are big and exciting but the hay-days might just be getting over pretty soon though.
2. Tunisiana in Tunisia: Orascom owns half of Tunisiana alongside it’s arch rival in Algeria, Q-Tel (Wataniya) which owns the remaining 50 percent. With 53 percent market share (5.2 million subs) and 54% EBITDA margin this is another rock and roll story. However, with Orange launching and that too with an exclusive 3G license, pressures will build up sooner rather than later.
3. CellOne Namibia, Telecel Zimbabwe, Telecel Central African Republic & U-com Burundi together have 1.8 million subscribers and contribute only $81 million to the top line.
If the deal were to go through then Djezzy will be the third largest operation in the MTN-Orascom combine, after Nigeria and South Africa.
Here’s a snapshot of what the MTN-Orascom would look like (Figures are sourced from Wireless Intelligence)
