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Technology & Communications News

New strategy, new structure for the CSIR

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th May 2019 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) CEO Dr Thulani Dlamini announced on Friday both a new strategy and a radical restructuring of South Africa's world-renowned science council. The aim of the new strategy and structure is to strengthen the industrial research activities of the... →

Big data business solutions lab launched at Wits

By: Schalk Burger 24th May 2019 A new research and design laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), called Scilinx, was developed to address the needs of businesses and industries that require high-level, specialised expertise to develop solutions for their agile, freely evolving operational systems and... →

NASA executive quits weeks after appointment to lead 2024 moon landing plan

By: Reuters 24th May 2019 A top NASA executive hired in April to guide strategy for returning astronauts to the moon by 2024 has resigned, the space agency said on Thursday, the culmination of internal strife and dwindling congressional support for the lunar initiative. Mark Sirangelo, named six weeks ago as special... →

New motor released to electric drives and controls industry

24th May 2019 Automation technology solutions provider Tectra Automation’s new MS2N Synchronous Servo Motor is the company’s latest innovative product offering to the electric drives and controls industry. The MS2N servo motor range combines high dynamics with compact dimensions and energy efficiency, with... →

VERSATILITY IN APPLICATION The MS2N includes over 50 motor types in six motor sizes, five motor lengths and more than 20 fully configurable options

South Africans play major roles in international astronomy project

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th May 2019 The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) has reported that the international consortium of computing specialists, which included South Africans, which had been developing the Science Data Processor (SDP) for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project, had completed its... →

Construction companies urged to streamline businesses

24th May 2019 With South Africa’s construction sector under growing pressure as a result of slow government infrastructure spending and a tightening economy, construction companies should be looking at ways to streamline their business processes, improve cash flow management and tighten risk management,... →

ANDREW SKUDDER Challenges faced by the industry are compounded by the fact that many construction groups have not digitised operations such as cost-consulting

Software provides support for project’s design phase

By: Thabi Madiba 24th May 2019 To help avoid construction failures for building contractors and consulting engineers, construction fastening and fixing supplier fischer fixings SA’s design software FIXPERIENCE has been developed as a tool to provide safe, reliable and professional support for the design phases of construction... →

Photo by Creamer Media
ON ITS KNEES The construction industry is currently “dismal and pitiful” considering the inherent infrastructure that exists in South Africa and the opportunities that abound

New VSD software offers energy savings

By: Cameron Mackay 24th May 2019 Electrical and energy solutions provider Zest WEG Group is deploying a new plug-and-play variable speed drive (VSD) software solution that achieves automatic energy savings when used with any standard electric motor. The solution was developed by WEG Group software engineers in Brazil. →

LIGHTEN THE LOAD While there are a variety of different sized motors that will have different efficiencies, energy savings increase exponentially as the load decreases

Effective change needed for smooth transition to Industry 4.0

24th May 2019 Moving to an Industry 4.0 environment is key for future success in the industrial and manufacturing sector, but migration to this new world does not have to take place in a disruptive, big bang manner, says toy company Lego elements and moulds VP Jesper Toubol. “South African enterprises are... →

Photo by Bloomberg
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Traditional business culture and a lack of effective change management can challenge efforts to move to an Industry 4.0 environment

BMG extends supply of gearboxes and variators

24th May 2019 Engineering consumables and components distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG), as exclusive distributors for gears and drives manufacturer Varvel Group in sub-Saharan Africa for more than 40 years, has extended the supply of Varvel gearboxes and variators for small- and medium-power applications.... →

TRACKING THE SUN BMG’s Varvel worm gearboxes are installed on solar panels to ensure that they are in an ideal position to track the sun

Cloud adoption prompting new ways of using tech

By: Schalk Burger 24th May 2019 While the migration of workloads into public cloud systems requires different strategic approaches to information technology (IT) resources, transitioning to the cloud prompts companies to become more agile and more secure by exposing them to security and IT consumption best practices, says... →

CORNÉ DU PREEZ Skilled IT personnel remain crucial and should focus on supporting in-house needs and developing new products and services

Importance of scientific cooperation with South Africa reaffirmed by Japan

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd May 2019 Japan regards South Africa as an important research partner. This was affirmed on Thursday during the first session of the 4th South Africa-Japan University (SAJU) Forum Conference, at the University of Pretoria. "South Africa is a very important country for Japan," highlighted Ministry of... →

Kenya's Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore to stay an extra year in post

By: Reuters 23rd May 2019 The chief executive of Safaricom, Bob Collymore, said on Thursday that he will stay on in his role for an extra year at Kenya's biggest telecoms operator. "I'm here until the year 2020," Collymore told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting. He was due to step down in August. →

International science cooperation benefits South Africa – DST

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd May 2019 International cooperation has been most beneficial for the development of scientific capacity in developing countries, and South Africa was no exception. So pointed out South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) acting Deputy Director General for Research Development and Support Dr... →

Africa’s solutions to its challenges lie in 4IR

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd May 2019 Africa’s readiness to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will be dependent on its youth and the pressure it puts on government to create an enabling environment that will foster collaboration in developing solutions to the challenges facing communities, says Innovation Hub CEO... →

Inforcomm MD Andile Tlhoaele

Digital innovation outside of the ‘factory’ needed for manufacturing success – tech advisory

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd May 2019 The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is blurring the boundaries between how people traditionally see an organisation and what people call a “factory” in the first place, says technology advisory company On-a-Cloud CEO Geoff Scott. During a seminar at the Local Manufacturing Expo, in... →

LSE says, hello, Africa! Come list with us

By: Bloomberg 22nd May 2019 It’s not often that the LSE comes to Africa looking for listings. Traditionally companies based on the continent have to make a strong case to have their stock traded on one the world’s biggest bourses. But this week, officials are on roadshow in a bid to boost the LSE’s 115 African listings. The... →

MTN close to paying off 330bn naira fine in Nigeria – NCC

By: Reuters 22nd May 2019 African telecommunications giant MTN has paid 275-billion naira ($898.99-million) toward a 330-billion naira fine imposed on it for not disconnecting unregistered SIM cards, Nigeria's communications agency said on Tuesday. The final 55-billion naira payment from MTN, Africa's largest... →

South Africa urged to consider the benefits of 4IR

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st May 2019 Although South Africa faces many challenges, it is in a good position in terms of its uptake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), University of Johannesburg Institute for Intelligent Systems director Professor Babu Paul said on Tuesday. “While many ask what will happen to the poor once 4IR... →

University of Johannesburg Institute for Intelligent Systems director Professor Babu Paul

Airbus announces range extensions for its new A220 family

By: Rebecca Campbell 21st May 2019 Europe-based global aerospace group Airbus announced in Canada on Tuesday that it would be offering airlines an increased range version of its A220 small (100 seats to 150 seats) single-aisle airliner family, from the second half of next year. The A220 family is composed of two models, the... →

Kaspersky Lab to open Rwanda office

By: Creamer Media Reporter 21st May 2019 Cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab plans to open a new office in Kigali, Rwanda, to support the rapid growth of its business in East Africa. This strategic move will provide more room for development, as well as closer proximity to new partners in the region, allowing Kaspersky Lab to continue... →

Boeing reports 'clear and steady progress' on returning 737 MAX to safe operations

By: Rebecca Campbell 17th May 2019 Giant US aerospace and defence group Boeing announced on Thursday night (South African time) that it had concluded the development of updated software for its 737 MAX single-aisle airliner type, as well as the associated simulator testing and engineering flight test. The updated software is for... →

Photo by Boeing
A Boeing 737 MAX-8 airliner

UAV without conventional flaps, ailerons or elevators takes flight

By: Rebecca Campbell 17th May 2019 British major aerospace and defence group BAE Systems (BAES) announced on the first day of this month that its MAGMA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had become the first aircraft ever to be manoeuvred in flight using “blown air”. The MAGMA has been designed and developed by University of Manchester... →

Fourth Industrial Revolution could offer manufacturing and mining boost

By: Schalk Burger 17th May 2019 Digitally-enabled changes, called the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – the most profound changes in the past 2 000 years – can boost and reinvigorate the mining and manufacturing industries if they seize on the opportunities presented by the digital disruption. This is one of the views of... →

IoT unlocks potential for valves data storage

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th May 2019 The Internet of Things (IoT) has unlocked massive potential for valves, piping and associated accessories maintenance providers to store vast amounts of data on behalf of clients, says industrial valves specialist Brimis Engineering technical director Moeketsi Mpotu. Mpotu adds that Brimis... →

MOEKETSI MPOTU The Internet of Things will enable valves, piping and associated accessories maintenance providers to store vast amounts of data

Collaboration seen as key as SA moves to position for 4IR epoch

By: Natasha Odendaal 17th May 2019 While President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) visions for South Africa are gaining some traction, the success of a new digital future will require extensive coordination and deep collaboration across every sphere and sector. Following a technology-centred State of the... →

Digital education offers new experiential training opportunities

By: Schalk Burger 17th May 2019 Digital technologies are helping to improve education and leading to experiential training – a learning-by-doing approach that helps students to apply fundamental learning and merging experience and training, says Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (Lausanne Hospitality School) associate professor Dr... →

Finance professionals urged to become proficient in digital technologies

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 16th May 2019 The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Cima) has emphasised the need for finance professionals to embrace digital technology. This was highlighted during a Future of Finance discussion, hosted by Cima on Wednesday, which explored how finance is being redefined in terms of a digital... →

Datatec expects continued improvements following a strong 2019 performance

By: Simone Liedtke 16th May 2019 International information and communications technology (ICT) company Datatec’s integration and managed services division, Logicalis, produced strong results for the financial year ended February 28, despite emerging market currency headwinds, especially in its key Latin America region, CEO Jens... →

User experience lab could assist in product development, government programmes

16th May 2019 Global consulting firm Nihilent officially launched its first user experience laboratory on the African continent last month. The facility, located in Bryanston, is the second of its kind globally and was inaugurated by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Nadine James has the story. →

User experience lab could assist in product development, government programmes

MTN receives green light for listing of Nigerian unit

By: Natasha Odendaal 15th May 2019 JSE-listed telecommunications powerhouse MTN’s plan to list its subsidiary MTN Nigeria on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will go ahead on May 16. MTN Group on Wednesday said it had received approval for the listing on the NSE Premium Board. The listing will create a new telecoms and technology... →

South African nuclear corporation CEO axed

By: Rebecca Campbell 14th May 2019 South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) CEO Phumzile Tshelane has been dismissed from his post and removed from the State-owned organisation’s board. This was announced on Tuesday by Energy Minister Jeff Radebe in a short press release. The decision was made because of the serious... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Jeff Radebe

UJ designs mobile lab to aid in water contamination testing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th May 2019 The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has created a mobile lab for water testing, amid various sewage spills in South Africa. The Transnet National Ports Authority reported earlier this month that it had prohibited angling and diving activity at the Durban port, owing to a massive sewage spill in... →

MTN raising $555m in Nigeria this year for expansion

By: Bloomberg 14th May 2019 MTN Group’s Nigerian unit plans to raise about 200-billion naira ($555-million) this year from a variety of sources including bank loans and bonds to expand operations in its biggest market. The funds will enable Africa’s largest wireless carrier to finance capital expenditure to increase the... →

Huge Group gains Panasonic distribution rights through Pansmart acquisition

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th May 2019 JSE-listed Huge Group on Monday announced that it had acquired an interest in Pansmart, giving Huge Group control over an authorised distributor of Panasonic’s voice, video and surveillance products. Huge Group has issued a number of its shares to Pansmart as payment. →

Vodacom reports full-year profit decline, but rise in service revenue

By: Natasha Odendaal 13th May 2019 JSE-listed Vodacom on Monday posted muted growth in earnings and a rise in service revenue for the financial year ended March 31. The telecommunications giant reported earnings a share of 867c for the 12 months under review, an 8.7% decline on the prior year, along with a 6.6% year-on-year... →

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub outlines the company's performance for the year ended March 31, 2019. Videowork and editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd

Working group meeting to address impact of neonicotinoids in Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th May 2019 The potential risk of neonicotinoids in Africa will be assessed at a working group meeting hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 13 to 15. The working group meeting follows on a workshop held in... →

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