Is fibre-tapping becoming a threat in Africa?

Fibre-tapping, which involves bending fibre-optic cables and using hi-tech means to access light they emit to steal data, has reportedly been used by UK and US spy agencies. But experts are divided about whether fibre-tapping is a threat in Africa. Earlier this year, it was reported in the UK that spy agency, the Government Communications …

African ministers seal internet deal to accelerate broadband

Ministers from six African countries have come to an agreement to accelerate broadband access across Sub-Saharan Africa. Government ministers from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia met during the weekend in Botswana to discuss general points for consideration to expand internet access across the countries. Nonofo E Molefhi, minister of transport and communication for …

Lifting barriers to Internet development in Africa: suggestions for improving connectivity

There have been significant improvements to Africa’s Internet connectivity in the last five years. Enormous investment in telecoms infrastructure has characterised these improvements, especially in terms of intercontinental connectivity and terrestrial fibre networks: Submarine cable investment has amounted to around USD3.8 billion and terrestrial networks have seen over USD8 billion of investment. Internet exchange points …

Insufficient Bandwidth responsible for Africa’s under-development.

The outgoing Head of Region, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Lars Linden, has said lack of sufficient bandwidth penetration in Africa, is largely responsible for its under-development. This was at a recent press briefing in Lagos during the familiarisation tour of the incoming Head of Region, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa. ”Africa still lag behind in technology development …

Broadband the key to Africa’s growth

Information and communications technology (ICT) development would drive the predicted 5.4% gross domestic product (GDP) growth within sub-Saharan Africa, said telecommunications group Ericsson outgoing head of sub-Saharan Africa Lars Linden. Sub-Saharan Africa had been labelled one of the strongest-growing regions globally, surpassing the 1.4% growth predicted for developed economies. However, the region could only capitalise …

ISPs plan to hijack browsers and limit Internet access to combat copyright piracy

Comcast has confirmed that it will prevent repeat file sharers from browsing the Web until they call the company to resolve the matter. The move is part of a Copyright Alert System that was recently rolled out by several major Internet service providers(ISPs). The system has earned the nickname “six strikes,” due to its series …

Tech, telecom giants take sides as FCC proposes large public WiFi networks

The federal government wants to create super WiFi networks across the nation, so powerful and broad in reach that consumers could use them to make calls or surf the Internet without paying a cellphone bill every month. The proposal from the Federal Communications Commission has rattled the $178 billion wireless industry, which has launched a fierce …