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MWEB, Cell C, Announce Broadband Deal
MWEB has announced its partnership with mobile operator, Cell C, aimed at extending its broadband offering.
As part of the deal, MWEB will launch an ‘exclusive promotional offering’ of a 2GB Cell C data package at a discounted rate of just R89 per month.
General manager of MWEB Connect, Carolyn Holgate, points out that, "As a consumer champion, we like the fact that Cell C is shaking up the mobile Internet space in terms of prices and simplicity, and we look forward to partnering with them to offer the best mobile internet deals.”
To read the article titled, “MWEB partners with Cell C on data deal,” click here.Source:Business Day LiveBroadband Access in SA on the Increase
According to new data contained in the final version of the Internet Access in South Africa 2012, broadband access in South Africa has more than doubled in the last two years, as mobile operators slashed the cost of data and network roll-out accelerated.
Conducted by World Wide Worx, the broadband data, which is analysed in detail in the report, shows that the number of broadband subscriptions grew from 3.6 million at the end of 2010 to an expected 8.2 million by the end of 2012 which is a total of 128 percent growth.
Many users have multiple forms of broadband access, such as an ADSL account as well as 3G, while many hop between operators to take advantage of promotional offers.
To read the article titled, “Broadband in SA doubles in two years,” click here.Source:News24100 More Transmitter Towers for SA
Eaton Towers, which owns and manages telecom infrastructure in Africa, will build about 100 towers in South Africa next year.
Eaton Towers, one of a number of specialist players to launch services in Africa in recent years, plans to build another 250 transmitter towers in 2013, increasing its portfolio by a sixth as growing Internet use on the continent drives the London-based firm's expansion.
Eaton Towers, chief executive officer, Alan Harper, points out that, "In the first half of 2013 we would be expecting to look at new business to open up in places where there's a strong economy, good GDP growth and more, rather than less, operators."
To read the article titled, “SA to get 100 more transmitter towers,” click here.Source:Fin24Blocking Internet Will Fail – WWW Inventor
Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the World Wide Web, has warned governments that attempts to block the Internet are doomed to failure due to its scattered structure.
Speaking at the launch of a league table showing which countries use the web most effectively, Berners-Lee says the lack of a global Internet ‘off-switch’ means that authoritarian regimes could not stem the influx of digital information.
"In order to be able to turn the whole thing off or really block, suppress one particular idea then the countries and governments would have to get together and agree and co-ordinate and turn it from a decentralised system to being a centralised system,” he explains.
To read the article titled, “World Wide Web inventor says Internet has no 'off switch',” click here.Source:Times LiveSA Urged to Make Internet Accessible to All
The Internet should be accessible to all, in order for the country to have an informed society, according to a comment on the Sowetan website, by Tali Munzhedzi.
Munzhedzi is not happy with the fact that currently, there are a limited number of public places where one can access the Internet in South Africa.
He says while he commends the Department of Communications for providing computers and Information and Communications Technology infrastructure to schools through its National Connectivity Plan for Schools project, Internet cafés should not be the only places young people can go to search for jobs and other information.
To read the article titled, Internet can create jobs,” click here.Source:Sowetan LiveInternet Users on the Increase in SA
A new study by research company, World Wide Worx, and the howzit MSN online portal, has found that the number of South Africans using the Internet has significantly risen.
The study, which found that the Internet usage grew by 25 percent in 2011, link the increase to the impact of smartphones and mobile phones.
The study further shows that 7.9 million South Africans accessed the Internet via their cellphones, and that 2.48 million do not have access to computers.
"Penetration is now approaching 20 percent, and for the first time we can see the mass market embracing digital tools on their phones," explains Arthur Goldstuck, managing director, World Wide Worx.
To read the article titled, “Internet use in SA growing,” click here.Source:News24NGO Stresses Need for Access to Information
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has bemoaned the current state of access to information in Africa, citing the negative impact the glaring lack of information is having on the citizenry.
This observation was made during the ongoing NGO Forum of the 51st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) in the Gambian capital of Banjul.
Referring to the African Platform on Access to Information campaign initiated in 2011, MISA regional specialist on media policy and law, Karen Mohan, said access to information is a right that many African citizens were still struggling to realise.
To read the article titled, “MISA stresses need for access to information in Africa,” click here.Source:Biz CommunitySA Universities Train Few Doctors
The shortage of doctors is ham-stringing the health services but medical schools are turning away thousands of aspirant medical practitioners each year.
Ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine rejected 5 290 applications this year because it could accommodate only 210 first-year students.
The universities of – the Witwatersrand, Medical University of South Africa, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Pretoria, Walter Sisulu and the Free State - have turned down thousands of applications.
To read the article titled, “Too few doctors in training,” click here.Source:Times LiveNGO Calls for Cheaper Broadband
The Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) says that if the government is serious about media freedom and access to news for all income groups, it should make sure everyone has access to affordable broadband.
MMA director, William Bird, points out that access to affordable broadband will ensure genuine diversity and involvement and it will force media whose models do not cater for the digital environment to evolve, adding that, “They will have to engage and cater for this growing audience which will have equal access."
His comments come as the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), established to promote media diversity in SA, in a statement to commemorate the Press Freedom Day, criticised the lack of transformation in the print media sector.
To read the article titled, “Cheap broadband paramount to media freedom,” click here.Source:Business DayVodacom Slashes Broadband Prices
Mobile operator, Vodacom, has slashed its broadband standard data prices by up to 43 percent, a move that will see customers pay as little as 14c a megabyte.
Vodacom CEO, Pieter Uys, points out that, "We hope these price reductions will contribute to making the internet more affordable and give our customers an enhanced connected experience."
The company further says that in addition to the savings, all existing and new Vodacom contract customers will be given another allocation of the same size as the subscribed data bundle to use anytime between midnight and 5am.
"This service, called Night Owl, previously only on promotion, is now available as standard to all Vodacom contract subscribers," explains Uys.
To read the article titled, “Vodacom slashes charges in price war,” click here.Source:Business Day
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