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Technology & Communications News

Smart, self-managing lighting the future for municipalities

By: Irma Venter 2nd November 2018 The time of humans controlling light fixtures is fading rapidly, says BEKA Schréder product development manager Daniel Kasper. “The luminaire will control itself; it will react and adjust by itself to the conditions around it. Soon there will be no need for light switches.” →

Satellite connectivity can reduce sky-high Internet prices – MzansiSat

By: Schalk Burger 2nd November 2018 Accessible and affordable broadband Internet connectivity can be achieved through an infrastructure network that uses geostationary satellite technology to provide connectivity, says local satellite operator MzansiSat CEO Bart Cilliers. A study by Point Topic revealed that asymmetric digital... →

Industry needs to adapt to new technology or risk becoming irrelevant

By: Simone Liedtke 31st October 2018 By doubling the pace at which the local workforce acquires the skills demanded by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), South Africa can significantly reduce potential job losses. This would, however, require the development of solutions appropriate for Africa, Accenture MD Eric Croeser said at... →

Oracle pursuing digital transformation in construction industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st October 2018 The construction industry is not implementing digital transformation as fast as other industries are and this presents many opportunities for companies. This was outlined at a Navigating the Future of Projects event, hosted by Oracle Construction and Engineering, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday. →

Businesses need increased awareness when managing risks – Dlamini

By: Simone Liedtke 30th October 2018 Given the fact that the world is marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and increasing ambiguity, retail property group Massmart chairperson Kuseni Dlamini on Tuesday suggested that businesses need to be “that much more aware and vigilant in terms of managing risks in the most appropriate... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Massmart chairperson Kuseni Dlamini

BBBEE ICT sector council appoints new chairperson, deputy

By: Creamer Media Reporter 30th October 2018 The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Sector Council has elected Councillor Andile Tlhoaele and Councillor Pheladi Gwangwa as chairperson and deputy chairperson, respectively. This followed the resignation of Councillor Nokuzola Ehrens... →

Nigerian court adjourns case between MTN, central bank to Dec 4

By: Reuters 30th October 2018 A Lagos judge adjourned a hearing on Tuesday in a $10.1-billion dispute between South African telecoms firm MTN Group and Nigeria's central bank to Dec 4. The central bank alleges the firm illegally sent $8.1-billion abroad, and the Nigerian government has demanded $2-billion in taxes from MTN. →

Drones helping revolutionise Gauteng’s infrastructure projects

By: Rebecca Campbell 29th October 2018 The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID), with the assistance of the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ’s) Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment, is achieving unprecedented monitoring of the infrastructure development and construction projects that it... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Gauteng infrastructure development MEC Jacob Mamabolo

ASSAf appoints Professor Himla Soodyall executive officer

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th October 2018 The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has appointed Professor Himla Soodyall executive officer, effective November 1. She will succeed outgoing executive officer Professor Roseanne Diab, who is retiring. →

Rain to launch 5G network

By: Natasha Odendaal 29th October 2018 South Africa’s newest data network provider, rain, is planning to deploy a fifth-generation (5G) broadband fixed-wireless network to support government’s drive for competition, lower data prices and improved access in the telecommunications industry. Teaming up with partners Huawei and Nokia, the... →

MTN posts positive Q3 financial results

By: Natasha Odendaal 29th October 2018 JSE-listed MTN on Monday posted positive third-quarter results after achieving an improved operational performance in many of the markets in which it operates during the three months to September 30. The group reported a particularly strong operational performance in Nigeria and Ghana, while some... →

Ramaphosa declares end to 'investment strike' and unveils R290bn in commitments

By: Terence Creamer 26th October 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa declared an end to South Africa's proverbial 'investment strike', when he unveiled firm investment commitments of R290-billion across a diverse range of sectors, from mining and energy to infrastructure and manufacturing, at a well attended and vibrant investment... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Industry 4.0 won’t be a death knell for mining jobs, but will require reskilling

By: Natasha Odendaal 26th October 2018 The rapid developments around the concept of the mine of the future and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are sending mixed reactions over jobs in what is a struggling sector. However, stalling or adopting what is inevitable, in a slow fashion, will deliver penalties for the economy on an... →

Prototype soil sampling device being tested for use in agriculture

By: Schalk Burger 26th October 2018 A cost-effective, handheld soil and water chemical testing device for use in agriculture is being developed and tested by information technology research subsidiary IBM Research, says IBM Research Brazil Industrial Technology & Science manager Dr Mathias Steiner. The AgroPad is a business... →

AGROPAD SCAN Farmers can gain meaningful information to optimise conditions to grow a specific crop

More data to train machines set to change business functions

By: Schalk Burger 26th October 2018 Machine learning, underpinned by massive volumes of data, and the cognitive systems they enable will be key to business in the future, says data management company CommVault Europe, Middle East and Africa senior marketing director Nigel Williams. Whether it is computational fluid dynamics or... →

MMP announces shortlist of three in rock-drill innovation challenge

By: Irma Venter 25th October 2018 The Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) has announced the three winners of phase 1 of its Isidingo Drill open innovation challenge. They are Novatek, HPE and Fermel. Fermel is a Gauteng-based manufacturer of mechanised machinery for underground hardrock and flameproof mining operations. →

Clen Cook and Alastair Macfarlane

ICT company continues to deliver on growth plans in H1

By: Simone Liedtke 25th October 2018 Information and communications technology (ICT) provider Allied Electronics (Altron) continued to deliver on its growth plans and reduce its debt, and completed the divestment of noncore assets in the six months to August 31. During a conference call on Thursday, the JSE-listed company noted that... →

Altron group CE Mteto Nyati

Siemens launches distributed energy system as solution to Africa’s energy transition

By: Simone Liedtke 25th October 2018 German electronics manufacturer Siemens on Wednesday launched, at its headquarters in Midrand, its end-to-end distributed energy system (DES) as a solution to assist the African continent in its energy transition. The DES provides for the targeted use of renewable energy, combined heating and... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Siemens HQ and its solar car park in Midrand, Johannesburg

Kenya sets aside funds to develop domestic mobile phone industry

By: Reuters 24th October 2018 Kenya's minister of information, communication and technology said on Tuesday that the government had set aside one-billion shillings ($9.90-million) to help local start-ups in the mobile telephone software and hardware segments to grow. Joe Mucheru, the ICT minister, told the annual meeting of... →

SKA South Africa confident radio interference issues with aviation will be solved

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th October 2018 South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) strategy and business systems head Dr Adrian Tiplady told Engineering News Online on Tuesday that he was certain that concerns regarding radio frequency interference (RFI) on the SKA telescope from aircraft, and the need to maintain aviation... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
The MeerKAT radio telescope array

Pollutec 2018 shines the spotlight on Burkina Faso

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd October 2018 Pollutec 2018, which will mark the fortieth anniversary of this international environmental trade show, is set to cover 14 key industry sectors, and focus keenly on Africa – notably Burkina Faso – as well as other key regions, such as South America and South-East Asia. Pollutec has featured an... →

International space probe en route to Mercury

By: Rebecca Campbell 22nd October 2018 The joint European-Japanese twin-probe BepiColombo space mission, to the Solar System’s innermost planet, Mercury, was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana on Saturday. The spacecraft, built by Airbus and launched by an Ariane 5 rocket, has four main elements: the Mercury Planetary... →

Photo by Airbus
Artist’s impression of the complete BepiColombo spacecraft, before it separates into its component elements, approaching Mercury

Court to hear MTN's case against Nigeria's central bank in $8.1bn transfer row

By: Reuters 22nd October 2018 A hearing in the court case between MTN and Nigeria's central bank in a dispute over the alleged transfer of $8.1-billion of funds by the telecoms firm, has been set for Oct. 30, a lawyer for MTN said on Friday. MTN has denied claims that it depleted Nigeria's forex reserves, the South African... →

Data underpins urban growth in South Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 19th October 2018 The use of census data, and modern cloud-based software, as a tool in urban growth modelling is a sustainable route for long-term urban planning, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) senior researcher Quintin van Heerden said on Friday. In this regard, he told delegates at a CSIR... →

South Africa renews bid to accelerate digital migration process

By: African News Agency 19th October 2018 The South African government on Friday announced steps to join fellow African nations which have migrated to broadcast digital terrestrial television, despite missing the June 2015 target. "The mere fact that 11 years since Cabinet has approved this project, and we are still this far behind... →

Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane

Mokonyane to give update on progress of digital migration

By: News24Wire 19th October 2018 Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane will brief the media on the progress made by the Broadcasting Digital Migration Advisory Council on the country's digital terrestrial television (DTT) plan on Friday. The council and the project director for the DTT programme management office headed by... →

Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane

Tech, fashion showcased in iconic African designs

By: Natasha Odendaal 19th October 2018 A successful campaign aimed at bringing to life the transformative capabilities of data has revealed the combination of the power of technology and fashion and turned a concept into a dialogue. A thought-provoking project under the bannered theme “Fabric” undertaken by Siemens in August... →

University hosts Africa’s first virtual reality press conference

By: Natasha Odendaal 19th October 2018 As Singularity University (SU) works to prepare global leaders and organisations for the future, it has showcased Africa’s first virtual reality (VR) conference, hosting SU leaders from around the world to discuss, in real-time, SU’s global vision and how to future-proof Africa. While SU global’s... →

Aventics offers online service and product portal

19th October 2018 Pneumatic components and systems manufacturer Aventics will now offer their customers in Germany, France and Spain an innovative service and product portal. The online portal helps to quickly and easily find information on components and solutions tailored to the requirements of engineers and... →

AVENTICS PORTAL The online portal helps to quickly and easily find information on components and solutions tailored to the requirements of engineers and purchasers

Electronification prompts data-based services

19th October 2018 As part of the electronification of mobile hydraulics, drive and control technologies group Bosch Rexroth is developing new, data-based services for all aspect of rail vehicles. Until now, the maintenance of rail vehicles has essentially happened at fixed intervals, whereby the service engineer... →

INTERNET OF THINGS An Internet of Things solution manages the transfer, processing and visualisation of measured data for PredictDrivetrain and NextGenSpec

EOH hopes restructuring will create new growth platform

By: Schalk Burger 19th October 2018 JSE-listed information technology group EOH has separated into two companies as part of its work to renew the business and position it for growth. The EOH-branded information and communication technology (ICT) business will focus on digital services in a digitising economy and the Nextec company... →

Altron appoints another acting CFO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th October 2018 JSE-listed Allied Electronics (Altron) has appointed Andrew Holden acting CFO, effective October 19. This follows the resignation by acting CFO Tim Jacobs, who will assume a permanent CFO role at a multinational group as from October 19. →

Telecommunications industry loses billions of rands on the back of regulatory uncertainty

By: Natasha Odendaal 18th October 2018 The South African telecommunications industry needs regulatory certainty or it will continue to lose billions of rands in investment, Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub warned on Thursday. Speaking during a question and answer panel at the MyBroadband conference, in Midrand, he explained that the... →

Liquid eyes further expansion as Cape to Cairo links up

By: Natasha Odendaal 18th October 2018 Pan-African telecommunications group Liquid Telecom is eyeing further expansion across the African continent after completing its Phase 1 decade-long project of connecting a 60 000 km network from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt. The group on Thursday reported that, following the... →

Africans fear trend towards levies on data, services

By: Reuters 18th October 2018 The brisk business Julius Kirya did from his cash transfer kiosk in the Ugandan capital has slowed right down with a new tax on mobile money. Many of his customers have returned to sending banknotes by hand, in some cases via motorbike taxi. How to tax digital revenues, from fintech to social... →

Nigeria central bank, MTN getting closer to settlement – Minister

By: Reuters 18th October 2018 Nigeria's central bank and South African telecommunications firm MTN could soon strike a deal in their dispute over the repatriation of $8.1-billion, Nigeria's information minister said on Wednesday. The central bank says MTN transferred $8.1-billion of funds out of Nigeria in breach of... →

African countries can leapfrog technologies, if they understand the requirements

By: Rebecca Campbell 17th October 2018 The world, in trade and industrial terms, is being disrupted by both technological and political developments, providing opportunities but also posing risks to African countries. So highlighted University of Cape Town Mandela School of Public Governance Professor Carlos Lopes. On the... →

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Business Innovation Refining Resources SECURITY System Systems Technology Africa Operations ... more

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