DSTV Press Release: Zambezi Magic to launch

M-Net is delighted to announce the launch of a new channel, Zambezi Magic, on DStv channel 160 from Wednesday, 1 July.

This exciting new channel, dubbed “the home to Southern African TV entertainment”, will treat DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact subscribers in Zambia, Zimbabwe,Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and Swaziland to a variety of quality programming from the southern tip of Africa.

“This channel is tailor-made with the Southern African viewer in mind and will offer the most sought-after archive content that has so far not been available outside of South Africa,” said the head of Zambezi Magic channel, Addiel Dzinoreva.

“We’re bringing our Southern African viewers content they have been asking for and most importantly, the channel will also build regional entertainment brands by showcasing entertainment productions from the various Southern African countries.”

Zambezi Magic will entertain viewers with riveting plots on award-winning soapiesGenerations, Muvhango, Isidingo, Zone 14, and Jacob’s Cross while getting a healthy dose of critically-acclaimed edutainment TV series, Intersexions and Yizo Yizo, that explore various societal issues and have sparked debates around issues like the HIV/Aids epidemic, love and relationships.

Fans of lifestyle shows will be spoilt for choice by the quality entertainment lined-up onZambezi Magic. Viewers will learn how to create scrumptious meals alongside the vivaciousSiba Mtongana, the host of Cooking with Siba, and watch as long-lost family and friends are reunited on the heart-warming Khumbul’ekhaya show dubbed, “the truth and reconciliation of the soul”. Sitcoms like Stokvel, City Ses’La, The Coconuts, Kota Life Crisis, Skwizas and It’s For Life will tickle viewers’ funny bones with their cheeky humour and dialogues packed with a razor-sharp wit.

Other shows that will keep viewers glued to their screens include Our Perfect Weddingwhich will get viewers into the wedding spirit, the African way, while football fans with score their way into the private lifestyles of the rich and famous African football stars on Goal Diggerz while the trio of Forever Young – Lungile Radu, Siyabonga Ngwekazi andThomas Gumede – will showcase what it’s like to be a young go-getter in the world of entertainment.

Zambezi Magic will also feature exciting films from the Lokshin Bioskop film library with titles like Mama stole my Hunk, Poppy, Mampara, Our House, When love Hurts, Uthando Ongapheli, Mamoruti and Tin City billed for the month of July.

Viewers will also get a chance to get interactive on social media with a trendy, new lifestyle show, The Kool Roc Show from Zambia.

“We’re very excited that this channel will be showcasing its first local production, The Kool Roc Show from Lusaka. Going forward, there will be many more local shows from other Southern African countries added to the channel. Our ultimate goal is to be the go-to channel for quality Southern African produced shows and to provide viewers with a channel they can trust to bring local stories made in their own backyards,” added Dzinoreva.

The CEO of MultiChoice Africa, Tim Jacobs, also reinforced MultiChoice Africa’s commitment to support local productions.

“The launch of Zambezi Magic to the DStv platform is a significant one for us because this is proof that we listen to our viewers’ requests for content that is closer to home. Adding a channel that includes local productions also strengthens our association with the burgeoning entertainment industry in Southern Africa and reinforces our role in developing and supporting African production companies,” stated Jacobs.

Zambezi Magic will go live at 20:00 CAT on 1 July on DStv channel 160 and will be open to DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact subscribers.

For more information, follow Zambezi Magic on Facebook: Zambezi Magic TV; Twitter@zambezimagictv; Instagram zambezimagictv and WeChat ZambeziMagic.

High Court grants Telecel interdict suspending cancellation of licence

Today the High Court of Zimbabwe granted an interdict suspending the cancellation of the Company’s licence to provide national cellular telecommunications services, pending Telecel Zimbabwe’s appeals on the matter. On behalf our of customers, employees, and global stakeholders, we are pleased with this outcome and applaud the prompt and fair manner in which the legal system is dealing with the unfair cancellation of our licence. We trust that after a full and fair hearing, our license will be restored permanently so we can continue to serve our customers to a high standard and without disruption.  Telecel clients remain our primary focus and we consider the granted interdict as a significant move in the interests of the Zimbabwean people and the country. We are fully committed to working in Zimbabwe and further developing its telecom…

NB: This statement is from Telecel website as is, they may have rushed publishing it hence it has no date and is incomplete.

RTG LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE RAINBOW DELIGHTS MENU

HARARE, Rainbow Tourism Group has launched a new affordable, versatile menu – Rainbow Delights in response to market demand for fast, affordable yet world class meals. The new menu which has more than 100 meal options, will be available at the Group’s flagship the Rainbow Towers Hotel, La Patisserie coffee shop immediately, and rolled out across the Group’s local hotels countrywide by 1 June 2015.

“The Rainbow Delights campaign was carefully crafted with the customer’s needs in mind, and completes the Group’s strategic drive to deliver fresh food, and create refreshing experiences for customers each time they interact with the RTG Brand.  Affordability, consistency and choice were the key underlying considerations for the new menu, which offers value for money”, said the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Tendai Madziwanyika.
With at least 100 menu options the meals have a price spectrum ranging from as little as $3 to $15, customers can expect to be spoilt for choice. Available options are categorised into breakfast combos, pancake combos, sandwiches & burgers, nibbles (snacks) fresh salads, dinner, desserts, kiddies meals and all washed down with signature RTG Splashers drinks options. With a growing number of people living with dietary restrictions and embracing healthier lifestyles, the menu addresses these special needs with dishes such as the chicken fajita salad which is seasoned grilled chicken peppers, onions, tossed in zesty dressing with mixed greens, topped with a blend of cheeses, tomatoes, tortilla chips, fresh avocado and sour cream.  For those who prefer a hearty plateful of protein they can look forward to enjoying the Entrecote Country fried steak and eggs, which comprises fried beef steak smothered in sausage gravy, served with two eggs, hash browns, and buttermilk pancakes. An assortment of pancake options and delectable cakes are available to satisfy that afternoon sugar rush craving.
“The Rainbow Delights menu is available at all the Group’s food outlets throughout the day and can also be ordered through room service for those wishing to enjoy their meals in the privacy of their hotel rooms. Those customers wishing to host events in the comfort of their homes, offices or other outdoor venues can access this menu through the RTG outside catering unit RTG Mobile”, said George Manyumwa the Operations Director.

“While the Rainbow Delights meals are aimed at augmenting the Groups’ customer focused drive, it is in fulfilment of the Group’s campaign to drive domestic tourism by making hotel products and services more affordable and to enhance the value customers are getting from their hard earned dollar. The Rainbow Delights offering is another innovation positioning RTG as the place to go for a fulfilling food experience”, said the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Tendai Madziwanyika.

Highly recommended signature dishes are as follows;

• Chicken Fajita Salad; Seasoned grilled chicken peppers, onions, tossed in zesty dressing with mixed greens, topped with a blend of cheeses, tomatoes, tortilla chips, fresh avocado and sour cream.
• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad; Grilled chicken breast served on Romaine lettuce with Parmesan cheese and croutons, tossed in our Caesar dressing served with garlic bread.
• Steak Fajita Quesadilla; Grilled seasoned steak with onions, green peppers and tomatoes in a grilled flour tortilla with cheddar and Jack cheeses served with sour cream and salsa.
• Cheese Steak Stacker; Grilled rib eye steak and onions, topped with melted cheddar cheese on a grilled roll.
• Sirloin Tips Dinner; Grilled tender sweet select Sirloin tips grilled with onions and mushroom served with mashed potatoes and buttered corn.
• T- Bone Steak; A big juicy select steak cooked just the way you like it, served with seasoned red skin potatoes and steamed broccoli.
• Grilled Tilapia Hollandaise; Tilapia lightly seasoned, grilled, and topped with rich hollandaise, served with seasoned red skin potatoes and seasoned broccoli.
• Strawberry Banana Pancake; Four pancakes filled with slices of banana, and crowned with cool strawberries, more banana slices

Source: Rainbow Tourism Group

EcoCash gets SA approval: For direct deposits from SA to Ecocash accounts

EcoCash and its South African partners have finally secured approval from the South Africa Reserve Bank to start a cross border remittance service from South Africa.

The approval allows Zimbabweans living in South Africa to send money directly to any Econet Wireless number anywhere in Zimbabwe using EcoCash. However, Econet said in a statement that it will take several weeks for the service to be fully established. “However, we should be up and running by the end of next month.”

The approval, which took over eighteen months to secure, will come as a major relief for Zimbabweans working in South Africa, as it takes out the hassles and challenges of sending money to relatives. It will be as accessible, quick and convenient as making a “Cash-In” to EcoCash in Zimbabwe.

By making the process of sending money from South Africa highly accessible, quicker and more convenient, Zimbabweans living in South Africa will be able to send remittances of even less than R50 at affordable rates.

Econet predicts that the new service will fundamentally alter the pattern of remittances which today is characterized by large, lump sum transfers of around R1 000 being sent monthly or every several months.  Econet is hoping that this innovative “micro-remittance” solution will stimulate increased remittances into Zimbabwe which will help ease liquidity challenges in the economy.

Publish Date:

Friday, June 12, 2015

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) makes APO the Official Newswire of IPRA Public Relations World Congress

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) , the world’s most influential professional association for senior international public relations executives, has named APO (African Press Organization)  the Official Newswire of the IPRA Public Relations World Congress , a 2-day Summit & Exhibition which will take place on 27-29 September 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The IPRA Public Relations World Congress is a major event in the PR calendar, bringing together PR agencies, in-house PR managers, public affairs directors, marketers from the corporate sector, government officials, NGOs and academics.

Speakers at the event include John D. Graham – Chairman FleishmanHillard, Robert Holdheim – CEO of Edelman South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Colin Byrne – CEO UK & EMEA Weber Shandwick, Jeremy Galbraith – CEO, Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Global Chief Strategy Officer, Burson Marsteller, Rod Cartwright, Global Partner and Director of the Global Public Affairs Practice, Ketchum, and Nigerian Wole Soyinka – the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature – and more.

(Dr. Amybel Sánchez de Walther, President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA)

“We are pleased to partner with APO in this important year for IPRA with the World Congress in South Africa. We believe that this event will be important for the PR community in Africa as well as in the rest of the world”, said Dr. Amybel Sánchez de Walther, President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

The 2015 IPRA Public Relations World Congress is the first ever to be held in Africa. It is expected to attract around 600 – 800 participants from all corners of the globe, with a large number coming from Africa. It will run from Sunday 27 September to Tuesday 29 September 2015 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, under the theme: “Leadership in Communication – the Way to Trust“.

A unique addition to the 2015 Congress will be the hosting on the Monday evening of the IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence awards ceremony. This event is the annual Oscars of the PR world, honouring the very best PR campaigns from around the globe.

“APO is equally pleased about this partnership as there are still many firms that come across enormous challenges when dealing with several countries for their clients’ PR activities in Africa. APO has built a reputation over the past 10 years and we continue to improve and go above the expectations of our clients. I encourage everyone who has not used APO Africa Wire® to try it once for free*”, said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Founder and CEO.

The IPRA Public Relations World Congress’ press releases will be distributed via Africa Wire® , the newswire service for press release distribution and monitoring in Africa and beyond.

Used by some of the world’s largest companies, PR agencies, institutions and organisations, APO Africa Wire® has a potential reach of 600 million and guarantees the most extensive outreach in Africa, acting as a channel that allows APO’s clients to target audiences in all parts of the continent and also the world.

APO is the NASDAQ GlobeNewswire Authorized Agency for Africa, offering unique access to 1.5 million financial media outlets in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and more. APO is also the CSRwire Authorized Agency for Africa, offering access to a global wire dedicated to corporate social responsibility, health and sustainability communication.

More information about Africa Wire®, the service for newswire press release distribution in Africa, is available at http://www.apo-opa.com/services.php.

*Conditions apply: You must be a registered PR firm; have never received a quote from APO; and book a service before 30 July 2015 for service to be rendered before 31 December 2015.

This is a joint press release by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and APO (African Press Organization).

Contact:

Aïssatou Diallo

bdm@apo-opa.org

+41 22 534 96 97

EBONYLIFE TV signed with SUMMVIEW to launch a Premium multi-screen VOD platform dedicated to content made in Africa

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, June 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/— At the occasion of the 1st edition of the DISCOP in Abidjan, EBONYLIFE TV is proud to announce a strategic partnership with  which enables the launch of a Premium multi-screen VOD platform. Thanks to this service already accessible on mobile application and online platforms, EBONYLIFE TV offers the African Diaspora users the ability to access from their smartphones, tablets or laptops, unique Africa-made on-demand content. Users can download the application, EBONYLIFE TV, on Apple Store and Google Play Store and/or go to vod.ebonylifetv.com. Users have the option to subscribe for a month or a year.

The availability of video on smartphones, tablets and laptops relies on the platform developed by SUMMVIEW . With a few clicks, users access from the terminal, a catalog of Nigeria-made on demand videos.

“We at EbonyLife TV are very excited that our teeming audiences in the Diaspora can now catch up on EbonyLife TV on-
the-go! With this Premium SVOD platform, EBONYLIFE TV expands its range of services and mobile applications and provides the African Diaspora subscribers, outside of Africa, an innovative offering of premium quality content made in Nigeria for the World. The “one stop shop” offer of SUMMVIEW allowed mastering the costs and securing the roll-out.” said Ms. Mo Abudu, Executive Chairman and CEO of EBONYLIFE TV.

Denis PAGNAC, CEO SUMMVIEW: “SUMMVIEW is pleased to deploy its Premium VOD Platform for EbonyLife TV. The SUMMVIEW Content Delivery Solution (S-CDS), a SaaS platform proposed in white label, is designed to meet the specific needs of each client, allowing EbonyLife TV to propose its unique catalog of African content, efficiently and cost-effectively to a worldwide audience.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of SUMMVIEW

Boost investment in Africa’s energy for a triple win for people, power and planet, Annan report urges- Africa Progress Report

CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, June 5, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African governments, investors, and international financial institutions must significantly scale up investment in energy to unlock Africa’s potential as a global low-carbon superpower.

That is the main message of a new report from Kofi Annan’s Africa Progress Panel, Power, People, Planet: Seizing Africa’s Energy and Climate Opportunities . The report calls for a ten-fold increase in power generation to provide all Africans with access to electricity by 2030. This would reduce poverty and inequality, boost growth, and provide the climate leadership that is sorely missing at the international level.

To download a copy of the 2015 Africa Progress Report visit www.africaprogresspanel.org.

“We categorically reject the idea that Africa has to choose between growth and low-carbon development,” said Kofi Annan, Chair of the Africa Progress Panel. “Africa needs to utilize all of its energy assets in the short term, while building the foundations for a competitive, low-carbon energy infrastructure.”

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 621 million people lack access to electricity – and this number is rising. Excluding South Africa, which generates half the region’s electricity, Sub-Saharan Africa uses less electricity than Spain. It would take the average Tanzanian eight years to use as much electricity as an average American consumes in a single month. And over the course of one year someone boiling a kettle twice a day in the United Kingdom uses five times more electricity than an Ethiopian consumes over the same year.

Power shortages diminish the region’s growth by 2-4 per cent a year, holding back efforts to create jobs and reduce poverty. Despite a decade of growth, the power generation gap between Africa and other regions is widening. Nigeria is an oil exporting superpower, but 95 million of the country’s citizens rely on wood, charcoal and straw for energy.

The report reveals that households living on less than US$2.50 a day collectively spend US$10 billion every year on energy-related products, such as charcoal, kerosene, candles and torches. Measured on a per unit basis, Africa’s poorest households are spending around US$10/kWh on lighting – 20 times more than Africa’s richest households. By comparison, the national average cost for electricity in the United States is US$0.12/kWh and in the United Kingdom is US$0.15/kWh.

This is a significant market failure. Low-cost renewable technologies could reduce the cost of energy, benefiting millions of poor households, creating investment opportunities, and cutting carbon emissions.

The report says Africa’s leaders must start an energy revolution that connects the unconnected, and meets the demands of consumers, businesses and investors for affordable and reliable electricity.

The 2015 Africa Progress Report urges African governments to:

•          Use the region’s natural gas to provide domestic energy as well as exports, while harnessing Africa’s vast untapped renewable energy potential.

•          Cut corruption, make utility governance more transparent, strengthen regulations, and increase public spending on energy infrastructure.

•          Redirect the US$21 billion spent on subsidies for loss-making utilities and electricity consumption – which benefit mainly the rich – towards connection subsidies and renewable energy investments that deliver energy to the poor.

The report also calls for strengthened international cooperation to close Africa’s energy sector financing gap, estimated to be US$55 billion annually to 2030, which includes US$35 billion for investments in plant, transmission and distribution, and US$20 billion for the costs of universal access.

A global connectivity fund with a target of reaching an additional 600 million Africans by 2030 is needed to drive investment in on- and off-grid energy provision. Aid donors and financial institutions should do more to unlock private investment through risk guarantees and mitigation finance.

Time to end ‘climate negotiating poker’

The report challenges African governments and their international partners to raise the level of ambition for the crucial climate summit in Paris in December, and calls for wholesale reform of the fragmented, under-resourced and ineffective climate financing system.

G20 countries should set a timetable for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, the report states, with a ban on exploration and production subsidies by 2018.  “Many rich country governments tell us they want a climate deal. But at the same time billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money are subsidising the discovery of new coal, oil and gas reserves,” Mr Annan said. “They should be pricing carbon out of the market through taxation, not subsiding a climate catastrophe.”

While recognising recent improvements in the negotiating positions of the European Union, the United States and China, the report says that current proposals still fall far short of a credible deal for limiting global warming to no more than 2˚C above pre-industrial levels. It condemns Australia, Canada, Japan and Russia for effectively withdrawing from constructive engagement on climate.

“By hedging their bets and waiting for others to move first, some governments are playing poker with the planet and future generations’ lives. This is not a moment for prevarication, short-term self-interest, and constrained ambition, but for bold global leadership and decisive action,” Mr Annan said.

Mr Annan added, “Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa are emerging as front-runners in the global transition to low carbon energy. Africa is well positioned to expand the power generation needed to drive growth, deliver energy for all and play a leadership role in the crucial climate change negotiations.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Africa Progress Panel (APP).

The ten-member Africa Progress Panel  advocates at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. The Panel releases its flagship publication, the Africa Progress Report, every year.

For further information, please contact:

Max Bankole Jarrett, Deputy Director of the Africa Progress Panel

Office: 0041 22 919 75 31

Mobile: 0041 79 137 1536

Max.Jarrett@africaprogresspanel.org

For media enquiries, please contact:

Reatile Tekateka, Senior Account Director at Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants

Office: +27 11 784 2598

Mobile: +27 83 374 2601

reatile@magna-carta.co.za

To download a copy of the 2015 Africa Progress Report visit www.africaprogresspanel.org.

Follow us on www.facebook.com/africaprogresspanel and @africaprogress.

FDI value jumps despite falling number of investment projects in Africa – EY’s 2015 Africa attractiveness survey

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, June 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ —

►        FDI project numbers down, but values up considerably, with Africa receiving the second highest FDI capital in the world (y-o-y growth of 136%) (1)

►        Sub-Saharan Africa will be second fastest-growing region in the world this year, with 22 economies growing at 5% or higher

►        Investor perceptions have softened, but those with business interests in Africa remain overwhelmingly positive

According to EY’s 2015 Africa attractiveness survey – Making choices , Africa’s share of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects fell 8.4% in 2014, but remained well above pre-2008 levels. However, foreign direct capital investment into the continent surged to US$128b, up 136% in 2014 – a five-year high, with the number of jobs created from FDI jumping 68% resulting in 188,400 new positions across Africa.

Download the Africa attractiveness survey

Download the infographic

Download the presentation

The report combines an analysis of FDI data into Africa since 2003, together with a survey of over 500 global business leaders, in over 30 countries, about their views on the potential of the African market.

Ajen Sita, Chief Executive Officer at EY Africa, says:

“In the past year, Africa has experienced stronger headwinds than in recent times. Consequently, economic growth this year is likely to be at its lowest in five years, dragged down by the impact of lower oil prices on the Nigerian and Angolan economies, the softening of other commodity prices, and South Africa’s sluggish growth. At the same time though, economic growth across the continent remains resilient. Sub-Saharan Africa will still experience the second highest economic growth rate in the world this year, with 22 economies growing at a rate of 5% or higher.”

North Africa rebounds

Foreign investors are regaining their interest in North Africa, particularly in Egypt and Morocco as the political uncertainty following the Arab Spring in 2011 begins to fade. North Africa attracted 22.2% more FDI projects in 2014 than in 2013, and accounted for slightly more than half (51%) of all African FDI capital inflows, against just 19.1% in 2013. And the number of jobs created as a result of FDI, in a region where they are sorely needed, more than trebled to almost 80,000.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while key economies like South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya received fewer FDI projects than in 2013, the average value of each project across the region almost doubled (from US$67.8m in 2013 to US$174.5m per project in 2014). Mozambique (88.2%) and Ethiopia (47.1%) were among the star performers, attracting growing inflows of projects. Over the longer term, South Africa has been the most popular destination for FDI projects, attracting twice as many projects over the past five years than any other African country.

Traditional investors regain interest

Regionally, Western European and intra-African investment remain the top sources of FDI; though 2014 saw traditional investors, including North America and the Middle East, refocus attention on Africa. US-headquartered companies led as the largest investors into Africa last year, launching 101 FDI projects, and accounting for 13.8% of total FDI projects in Africa, an increase from a 9.8% share in 2013. South African investors were again prominent, initiating the second-most FDI projects on the continent. UK investment was down substantially, but investors from the UAE and France were resurgent, ranking fourth and fifth respectively.

Sectors in vogue with foreign investors

A growing consumer class and rising urbanization in Africa are shaping the continent’s future and defining new trends. In line with these trends, FDI inflows into real estate, hospitality and construction (RHC) have surged, emerging as a leading sector for FDI with the percentage share in capital value at 43.8% and job creation at 33.6%.

In terms of numbers of FDI projects, the largest share of investor activity continues to be attracted by three consumer-facing sectors – technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), financial services, and consumer products and retail (CPR). One-third (31%) of the respondents to the survey also expect agriculture to emerge as a key driver of growth in Africa over the next two years.

Investor perceptions of Africa

Based on the results of the EY survey, perceptions of Africa’s attractiveness have deteriorated slightly over the past year.

Sita says: “The shift in perceptions is the lowest since we initiated our survey. However, it is important not to overstate this deterioration. Overall, a majority of respondents were positive about the progress made in Africa over the past year, and believe the continent’s attractiveness as a business destination will improve over the next three years. Africa continues to rank favorably compared to other regions, particularly among respondents who know Africa well. In fact, those already doing business in Africa remain overwhelmingly positive, again ranking the region as the most attractive investment destination in the world.”

Looking ahead

Sita concludes: “This mixed picture is not surprising. It reflects the diversity and complexity of this great continent of ours – there is never a one-size-fits-all answer. Perspective remains important. Ours has been, and remains, a glass half-full perspective. However, Africa’s future will not take care of itself. Our view is that, although tremendous progress has been made over the past 15 years, Africa and its leaders are poised at an inflection point: deliberate and urgent choices are required to raise levels of productivity and competitiveness, accelerate structural transformation and make the shift toward an inclusive, sustainable growth path.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Ernst & Young.

Media contact:

Fathima Naidoo

EY Africa Media Relations

+27 71 609 8273

fathima.naidoo@za.ey.com

Bakyt Azimkanov

EY Global Media Relations

+44 (0) 20 7980 0869

bakyt.azimkanov@uk.ey.com

Internet Society Report Points to Rapid Internet Growth in Africa; Outlines Path to Further Expansion

TUNIS, Tunisia, June 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In order to better understand what African nations need to do to reap the full benefits of the Internet, the Internet Society today released the study “Internet Development and Governance in Africa,”. The report, issued at the Africa Internet Summit 2015 in Tunis, Tunisia, provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Internet in Africa and highlights the importance of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance as an essential part of Africa’s Internet ecosystem.

Download the report ‘Internet Development and Internet Governance in Africa’

In light of the rapid growth experienced by the continent in the past ten years, the report finds that the time is right to maximize that potential.

Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa

“As Africa’s user base grows, the need to coordinate and manage the growth and development of the Internet becomes increasingly important,” said Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa. “If Africa has to make the progression towards a digital economy to reap the full benefits of the Internet, it needs to transition from basic connectivity to interconnectivity of networks and to interoperability of systems, and enable the development of applications and services that drive economic and social well-being.”

The report highlights steady adoption of this transformative technology since the introduction of the Internet to Africa in 1991, reaching just over 20% continent-wide, but these aggregate indicators mask glaring disparities in Internet development levels from country to country. Morocco has Internet penetration rates above 50%, while other African countries have penetration rates just under 2%. The majority of countries have Internet penetration below 10%–well below the 20% threshold found to be critical for countries to reap economic benefits.

IXPs

One of the ways, identified by the report, to improve the interconnectivity of networks is to establish Internet eXchange Points (IXPs) at the local level. Africa now has more than 30 IXPs and is well on the way to achieving the goal of at least one IXP per country. The establishment of IXPs can catalyze the build-out of terrestrial infrastructure which in turn would make access to the Internet cheaper and faster.

One example of this effort is the East African Backhaul System (EABS), which will serve Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Through this infrastructure, the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have established backbones that gain access to submarine fiber almost at the same price as that of the coastal countries.

Digital Broadcasting

An area that could be transitioned faster is the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, which offers more opportunities to increase Internet access by freeing up unused spectrum. By June 2014, only 19 countries had started on the digital transition and by December 2014 only three countries (Tanzania, Rwanda and Mauritius) had completely switched off their analogue signals.  As such, the majority of countries will not meet the ITU’s June 2015 deadline.

IPv6

Another recommendation contained in the report is that the transition to and adoption of IPv6 in Africa should be accelerated. By ensuring that there are enough IP addresses to cater to current and future expansion of the Internet, IPv6 will enable the Internet-of-Things (IoT) or the Internet of Everything (IoE), which refers to the ability to connect to the Internet anything capable of having an IP address. Statistics show that South Africa and Egypt account for 97% of the uptake to date, which means all other countries are lagging behind with regards to IPv6 adoption.

Internet Governance

As Africa’s infrastructure and user base grows, the need to coordinate and manage the growth and development of the Internet becomes increasingly important. Several institutions and processes have emerged over the last 15 years, each playing a role in strengthening Africa’s Internet ecosystem. Africa has embraced the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, which enables policymakers to draw from the expertise of the relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable Internet public policy approaches that can meet the policy challenges of the digital age.

This year has seen several significant milestones for Internet governance and development. Among these, the African Union has launched its Agenda 2065, which outlines development objectives for the next 50 years, and the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, which end in 2015, will now be replaced by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Further, the UN General Assembly will make a determination on whether or not to extend the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum, an outgrowth the World Summit on the Information Society, which marks its 10th anniversary this year.

“The growth in Internet access in Africa since 2005 can be attributed in part to the strengthening of existing institutions, the emergence of regional and national IGFs and the increased commitment of African governments to ICT development,” concludes the report. “As Africa continues to make further strides in building its Internet economy, the multistakeholder model will continue to be an important element of helping Africa reach a critical mass of access and usage that can translate into sustained economic benefit.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Internet Society.

Media Contact: Wende Cover, cover@isoc.org, +1-703-439-2773

Top global and African CEOs launch infrastructure business network on side-lines of World Economic Forum in South Africa

CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, June 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Top global and African Chief Executive Officers today launched a Continental Business Network (CBN) to fast-track high-level private sector investment into Africa’s regional infrastructure.

The launch of the CBN on the side-lines of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, is the mandated follow-up and implementation of recommendations emanating from the Dakar Financing Summit (DFS), hosted by Senegal’s President Macky Sall.

CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency , Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, said that the CBN was endorsed by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) in June 2014 and is a direct response to facilitate private sector advice and leadership in essential NEPAD and African infrastructure projects. Dr Mayaki urged the private sector to take ownership of the future of regional infrastructure development. “We are making a transition from a public-centred to a combination of public and private sector approach for the implementation of Africa’s regional infrastructure. This new culture will be framed through the instruments that CBN will offer,” he said.

The DFS identified the lack of capacity and funds in project preparation combined with a weak involvement of the private sector as the main issues that constitute the bottlenecks to the implementation of African regional infrastructure. The CBN is the missing cornerstone to address these issues, Senegal’s Ambassador accredited to South Africa, Dr Momar Diop said.

“Africa will only succeed when all public and private sector stakeholders will join their efforts”, was also highlighted by Dr Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.

This inaugural CBN event, hosted by the NEPAD Agency was convened and led by a cross-section of private sector leaders who have provided recommendations to African Heads of State on approaches and practical steps to improve Africa’s infrastructure investment climate for cross-border and other infrastructure investment projects in Africa.

The CBN is an exclusive Infrastructure Investment Advisory platform for African Heads of State, providing thought leadership and engagement on a range of strategic issues like policy, investment risk rating(s), project structuring and specifically the existing constraints to the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). The Network comprises leading African and global business and finance bodies as well as regional and international organisations.

To learn more about the CBN, PIDA and NEPAD Agency visit www.nepad.org and the Virtual PIDA Information Centre (VPic) www.au-pida.org

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:

Abiola Ajayi

NEPAD Communications

abiolaa@nepad.org

+27767461272