Fair Mobile – Two Years On

In which I re-assert my self-appointed role of digitally holding African mobile operators’ feet to the fire for their rent-seeking behaviour.  In today’s spotlight is Vodacom South Africa. Vodacom recently announced their Annual Report for 2010.  Vodacom is doing very well thank you very much and industry pundits gather to laud them for their hard [...] [...]

Africa and Television White Spaces

If you google “televisions white spaces”, you’ll see a small storm of news generated last week by the FCC’s finalising the rules for the use of television white spaces spectrum in the U.S. TV white spaces spectrum was first announced in Nov 2008 by the FCC but was bitterly protested broadcasters and wireless microphone manufacturers, [...] [...]

SA Minister of Communications – Reading the Tea Leaves

Arthur Goldstuck has written a thoughtful piece on the newly appointed South African Minister of Communications, Siphiwe Nyanda, and his new deputy Dina Pule.  He does a good job of highlighting their key strengths and weaknesses. Based on their lack of experience in the telecom sector, much will depend on who they choose to be [...] [...]