Nigeria
Intercellular Nigeria awarded a US$21 million contract to Motorola for the supply and deployment of a CDMA fixed wireless local loop (WLL) network expansion. The 800 MHz system will be expanded for up to 45,000 limited mobility subscribers.
South Africa
TETRA technology, a digital two-way radio standard, is to be implemented in South Africa for the first time by the Cape Town Metropolitan Council (CMC). It is the first local authority on the African continent to install the digital radio equipment, which offers high-quality voice communication and a call setup time of less than 300 milliseconds. CMC has awarded the 55 million rand (US$9 million) contract to Alcom, a subsidiary of the Altech group. Motorola was selected as the equipment supplier.
The candidates for the newly established Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which replaces the South African Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), were approved by President Thabo Mbeki. The new regulatory authority is currently in force.
Sudan
Cellular operator MSI Cellular announced it acquired a majority share in Mobitel in Sudan from Nile Investment Co. owned by businessman Salah Idris. The share swap agreement makes the Nile Waters Investment a shareholder in MSI.
Tanzania
Vodacom Tanzania, the third GSM operator in Tanzania, officially launched on 31 August. The network, 51-percent owned by the South African company Vodacom Group and 49 percent by shareholders in Tanzania, is to roll out in all major cities and highways and is anticipated to have 40,000 subscribers in the first year of operation. In the initial stages, Vodacom will provide services in 11 key regions, aiming to extend its coverage countrywide within two years. The carrier now provides cellular coverage in the tourist areas of the Serengeti, Zanzibar and the International Airports of Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Mwanza.
