AIRTEL has extended its coverage in more areas in Mbeya Region, a move that officials described as "keeping the promise of going rural." Airtel Public Relations Manager, Jackson Mmbando said: "As part of Airtel's plan to expand and upgrade its communications reach, we have recently added coverage in new areas in Mbeya Region and the Lake Zone. "The new areas covered recently will allow better clarity and connectivity in Tanzania rural that will offer clarity and quality calls to the South region's population." "We are connecting Tanzania with pride as we can see what communications does when one gets exposures to communications. In the past it was seen as a luxury but today it is a necessity and a tool to development", added Mmbando. Relevant Links East Africa Tanzania ICT Land and Rural Issues On Thursday, in the Lake Zone Airtel launched Utegi spots which also will benefit other villages around including Koaki, Ingili, Bukwe, Nyanduga, Otuna, Buturi, Yagoro, Kanguge, Mangra in Rorya District, Mara Region. On upcoming plans, Mmbando explained that, further coverage will proceed this year in various parts of the country, focusing in the rural areas to ensure all regions are evenly covered. "The more we expand our network, the more impact we have on the communities and people we connect by increasing and improving their quality of life by facilitating and making communications easily accessible. "All those connected will be entitled to all our products and services at a go," he said.

SEACOM appoints new CEO

SEACOM, the pan-African ICT enabler, announced the appointment of Mark Simpson as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect 5 September 2011. Brian Herlihy, the current CEO, will remain with the company as a member of the Board and take on the new role of Executive Director where he will focus on strategic projects essential for SEACOM’s continued success.

An industry veteran with more than 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry, Mark Simpson has held a number of senior international executive positions during his career, most recently as President and CEO of Pacific Crossing, a company operating a trans-Pacific cable systembetween the United States and Japan. He was also Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Asia Netcom (now Pacnet) and CEO of C2C Pte Ltd, Asia's then largest cable system.

Commenting on his appointment, Mark Simpson said: “The SEACOM system has changed the African ICT landscape and I am pleased to be joining a market shaping company with a firm plan to evolve its core infrastructure and lead Africa into the next stage of ICT Growth.

“It is a great opportunity to come to a company with a great team that has accomplished so much already and set out a clear strategic plan going forward. I look forward to working cooperatively with Brian, who has meant so much toSEACOM.”

Simpson will be responsible for leading SEACOM into a new era of data-based projects and growth assisted by Herlihy. In addition he will bring to bear his operational know-how in developing and running a best-in-class quality of service international network and ensuring that SEACOM’s customers are well served by its network, products and services.

In his new capacity as Executive Director, Brian Herlihy will retain a key role in the strategic direction of the company focusing on maximizing development opportunities and network deployment.

“I am delighted to welcome Mark on board. His experience will contribute considerably to securing SEACOM’s efforts to consistently improve network operations while maintaining our position of being first to market with new products. 

“Mark’s extended experience ensures that SEACOM can leapfrog technology evolutions and develop a best-in-class pan-African solution.

“I am confident that our cooperation will provide me the capacity to pursue the correct partnerships necessary forSEACOM’s vision to truly lead the development of the African Internet,” concluded Brian Herlihy.

Nigeria launches two satellites into orbit

NigeriaSat-2 will help with disaster monitoring and security AFRICA’S most populous nation Nigeria is playing a key role in Africa’s science and technology development as demonstrated by the West African nation’s launch of two satellites into orbit on Wednesday. President Jonathan called the event “another milestone in our nation’s effort to solve national problems through space technology”. In a move aimed at ensuring proper disaster monitoring and security of the West African nation, Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X in the late afternoon of Wednesday. NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X spacecraft were taken into orbit aboard a Russian Dnepr rocket from a launch pad in the town of Yasny, southern Russia. President Jonathan congratulated his country’s scientists for being “resourceful” and for putting the West African nation on the world map of technology. “I congratulate our nation for this new chapter in our transformational efforts as we strive for self-reliance. Let me congratulate the resourceful Nigerians who made this history possible,” said President Jonathan. Both satellites were built at Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) in Guildford, under contract with the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). But 26 Nigerian engineers worked alongside SSTL engineers in Guildford to assemble the 100kg NigeriaSat-X satellite. In a statement, the government said the two satellites would be used for forestry mapping, disaster monitoring, military applications and security, among other applications.

Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple

Steve Jobs, co-founder and two-time CEO of Apple, offered his resignation to the company’s board Wednesday.

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”

Jobs has been in poor health for some time. In January, he announced that he would be taking a medical leave of absence from the company. He returned to the public spotlight in March to help launch the iPad 2.

Jobs advised the board to “execute our succession plan” — by naming Tim Cook to replace him. Cook, formerly the COO of the company, has been standing in for Jobs since January and was widely tipped to be his successor. Cook also stood in for Jobs during his bout with pancreatic cancer in 2004. “The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” said board member Art Levinson, chairman of biotech firm Genentech, in a prepared statement.

This is the resignation letter Steve Jobs sent to the Apple board:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Kikwete: ICT crucial in poverty reduction

President Jakaya Kikwete said in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that upon its completion, the NICTBB which connects all regions and districts through a 10,000km optic fibre cable will help in achieving Millennium Development Goals.

"There is need to harness ICT to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and development Vision 2025.

"The national ICT policy is geared towards making Tanzania become a hub of ICT infrastructure and solution in terms of economic development and poverty reduction efforts," he said.

Mr Kikwete was officiating at the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) Sixth Annual Connecting Rural Communities African Forum in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday
President Kikwete noted that the theme was timely and relevant for African countries where ICT connectivity in rural areas has remained a challenging task.

"We are facing various challenges in building this network which range from inadequate funds, erratic power supply and human resources...," he said.

He noted that various border posts have already been connected to NICTBB, adding that the move would help in connecting to neighbouring countries.

Available information shows that various landlocked neighbouring countries have expressed interest to use the newly built national ICT backbone to get international links via the submarine cables laid in the Indian Ocean off the East African Coast in 2009.

Such countries include Zambia, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi.

Mr Kikwete noted that in Tanzania, ICT has facilitated rural development and has increased innovation, improved health services and general well-being of people.

"Farmers in Ifakara which is about 400kms from Dar es Salaam can now communicate to a businessman in Dar es Salaam and do all the transactions through M-pesa, this is how the cell-phones have simplified life, thanks to service providers," he said.

Earlier, the CTO Chief Operations Officer, Mr Bashir Patel, noted that African governments should ensure increased access of ICT services in rural areas.

"ICT plays a vital role in poverty alleviation and if implemented thoroughly it will help in achieving MDGs for African countries by 2015," he said.

Mr Patel noted that the fact that over 60 per cent of the population in Africa lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture, lack of connectivity poses a serious challenge for their development.

He emphasized not only in making services available but in ensuring that the services are affordable to all.

"If the government and private sectors work together in this undertaking, there will be a truly sustainable rural connectivity," he said.

In another development, President Kikwete launched a logo that will be used in a campaign to sensitize on the shift from analog to digital technology.

The target is to make sure that the country is using digital system by next year. The campaign will be engineered by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

Helios Towers to invest US$100m in Tanzania

Helios Towers Africa – one of the continent’s leading telecommunications tower operators -  is set to invest US$100 million in Tanzania’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector for five years.

Helios Towers is planning to invest US$100m in Tanzania's telecoms (image: file)

Helios Towers Africa, which was issued its first licence by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority to independently operate a network of telecoms towers, is fast expanding its operations in the East African nation as well as increasing dominance in its country of origin – Mauritius.

Helios Towers Africa Chief Executive Officer, Charles Green, said his company had acquired 1 180 towers and the new investment drive of US$100 million would increase investment in Tanzania.

The US$100 million project is a five-year investment aimed at delivering significant benefits to the Tanzanian market, notably providing higher quality service coverage including in rural communities.

The telecommunications tower sharing plan would allow increased competition between telecoms operators thus lowering costs for customers, and improve  environmental conditions by reducing the number of towers built.

The investment will complement the injected US$130 million Helios directed last year in the acquisition of 1 180 towers.

“We are very pleased to be at the forefront of such an exciting and important new phase in Tanzania’s telecoms industry,” said Green.  “Helios Towers pioneered independent tower sharing in Africa – this model is the best way to ensure accessibility, affordability and the highest quality of communications service through increased efficiency and competition.

Speaking at the issuing of the operating licence, Helios Towers Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Simon Horner said the deal marked a significant moment in the development and growth of Tanzania’s telecoms industry.

“We are deeply committed to delivering the greatest value to all telecoms operators and their customers across Tanzania,” Horner said in a statement.

Dar Developers Dash D3 - Hackthon Nane Nane‏

Hello BarCampDar Attendees,

As was anounced at BarCampDar, we're organising a Hackathon for Nane Nane for all the developers out there to show their skills. 

Description:

We want YOU the best and brightest developers in Tanzania to come match up your coding skills against your fellow developers with big prizes up for grabs. This event is being organized as part of the Startup Tanzania initiative and as a follow on to the successful BarCampDar 2011 held on 7/7.  This competition will be unique in that all the details about what you need to build etc will be provided to you at the start of the event and you will have only 48hours to put together a product demo and present it.

The goal of such events is to devise an application solution on any platform PC (windows, Linux), web or mobile(Symbian, android, iOS, Blackberry OS etc) to an identified problem. The event aims to utilize the shared problem solving abilities of skilled individuals to create solutions that can be utilized in the real world.

Event: Dar Developers Dash D3 - Hackthon Nane Nane

Date: Saturday Aug 6th 9am to Monday Aug 8th 3pm.

Location:
COSTECH Building
Dar Es Salaam
For more information click here: www.startup.co.tz/site/d3

Help us spread the word as well.

YTI on behalf of the Startup Tanzania Team