Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Thursday April 23rd, 2015

CA gives Airtel, Orange nod to test 4G technology…. Safaricom ships in decoders to take on Zuku’s triple play… Cisco’s Girls Power Tech Initiative to inspire youth to create Digital jobs for tomorrow…and much more

CA gives Airtel, Orange nod to test 4G technology

Airtel and Telkom Kenya’s Orange have received regulatory approval to start testing 4G technology on their networks using their current frequency spectrum. The authorisation by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) means the two mobile operators can eventually launch the service commercially, and increase competition in the data market segment.

Safaricom ships in decoders to take on Zuku’s triple play

Safaricom TV decoders are finally in the country with triple play capability. The boxes which will retail for Sh3,499 run on Android software will be equipped for high-speed internet, high-definition TV, Video on Demand and Gaming. After rolling out its fiber cable extensively across major towns in Kenya, Safaricom looks set to take on Zuku’s similar offering of triple play services: TV, Internet, telephony.

CA, IFC sign agreement on competition regulation

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) that will strengthen the Authority’s regulatory capabilities especially in promoting market competition and efficient investment in the telecommunications sector. CA and IFC intend to cooperate in promoting market competition and efficient investment in Kenya’s communications sector through developing a collaboration framework in light of the concurrent jurisdiction over competition matters between CA and the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), developing a pro-competition framework for spectrum management in Kenya to increase economic efficiency in spectrum usage, ensure a level playing field for investors and facilitate the expansion of wireless communications and supporting capacity building on competition policy and regulation in the communications sector.

Cisco’s Girls Power Tech Initiative to inspire youth to create Digital jobs for tomorrow

Cisco hosted its second ‘Girls Power Tech’ mentoring sessions in Kenya this week, as part of a global mentoring initiative to support and complement the United Nations’ Girls in ICT Day’ on the 23rd April 2015, an annual day of activities organized by the International Telecommunications Union aimed at improving the understanding of careers in ICT among girls. Cisco has supported Girls in ICT for the last 4years since its inception in 2011.

Girls ages 13-18 from Maina Wanjigi Secondary School, Kariobangi North Girls and Embakasi Girls High School were invited to participate in Girls Power Tech mentoring opportunities with Cisco employees, allowing girls to make informed career choices about working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). They also experienced Cisco technologies first hand and met with other Girls participating in ICT Day across the region via Cisco TelePresence. The day’s agenda included a site tour to the local office, group or individual mentoring, an immersive telepresence experience, a learning session regarding the Internet of Everything and the IoT Young Women’s Innovation Challenge.

Ushahidi, iAfrikan partner to help fight xenophobia in SA

Ushahidi has partnered with iAfrikan to help fight xenophobia in South Africa, where over six lives have been lost several injured since the attacks started two weeks ago. The two have come up with a tool dubbed as Report Xenophobia, to help authorities, local and foreign citizens continue the fight against these inhumane acts. The Report Xenophobia website is a real-time tool that anyone can use to submit reports and alerts of incidents in their areas via SMS, email, Twitter, the Ushaidi app and directly on the site.

Vodafone, MTN deal expands M-Pesa access to 7 African countries

M-Pesa users can now send money through their mobile phones to recipients in seven African countries following the signing of an agreement with South African telecommunications company MTN. This is according to Business Daily. British telecommunications giant Vodafone, which owns 40 per cent of Safaricom, has entered into a deal with MTN that will see their respective mobile money customers transfer money to each other across the seven Eastern African countries. The inter-connect agreement between the region’s two biggest mobile money operators now enables convenient sending of cash between M-Pesa customers in Kenya, Tanzania, DRC and Mozambique, and MTN Mobile Money customers in Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia.