Here are the latest developments in the Telecoms and ICT sector locally and globally.
Nokia Siemens Networks is driving a mobile network technology, called Liquid Net, into Africa that is expected to enable mobile operators to prepare for LTE and 4G networks, as well as a surge in mobile broadband demand. Details
Etisalat Nigeria has partnered with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to deploy
Android-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications to map polio risk areas and track routes covered by polio immunization teams. This is in line with its commitment to promote innovation and use mobile technology to enable healthcare in Nigeria, the Guardian reported. This polio-tracking application is designed to help achieve vaccination of at least 85 percent of the child population in the mapped out risk areas. It depends on Etisalat’s data services and smartphones and uploaded server information, which are used for map creation (risk mapping) and the generation of automated reports. These reports show the distribution of risk, success, activities, findings and plans for polio teams, program managers, donors and other stakeholders.Details
Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei has overtaken Nokia Siemens Networks to grab second place in the wireless equipment market in Q4 2011. Ericsson is the market leader, with approximately $3.5 billion in wireless network equipment sales during fourth quarter of 2011. Details
Freshman Research In Motion (RIM) CEO Thorsten Heins said yesterday during a fourth-quarter earnings call that he has done his own “reality check” on where the company really is and has come to the conclusion that “substantial change is what RIM needs.” Details
Samsung Electronics is aiming to reach the US$3 billion sales mark in Africa by December this year ‑ up US$1b on the 2011 figures. The South Korean company has huge interests in Africa, with assembly plants in South Africa, Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia, Sudan and Senegal; and official distribution outlets in even more countries. The firm wants to boost its revenue from Africa to US$10b by 2015. Details
Mobile browser maker Opera Software has announced a solution that aims at protecting privacy, while also allowing advertisers to
mine user data. Opera launched App-Tribute via its advertising subsidiaries AdMarvel, Mobile Theory and 4th Screen Advertising. According to a press release, the privacy-friendly solution allows mobile publishers and advertisers to receive marketing and analytics data without taking sensitive data elements such as unique device identifiers (UDID), cookies or MAC addresses. Details
Sprint on Wednesday introduced the HTC Evo 4G LTE smartphone, adding a new phone to a stable of devices that will be compatible with the carrier’s high-speed network when it launches soon in the U.S. The Evo 4G LTE is a “superfast” smartphone that sets the “gold standard” in multimedia experience, said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, during a launch event in New York City. Details
The Government of Ghana (GoG) will initiate an e-service billing on pilot basis by April this year. This is made possible by a successful implementation of e-government network system among some 85 Ministries, Municipals, Departments and Agencies (MMDAs) to communicate efficiently and seamlessly and to do government business across the country. Details
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