At Home

The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) has, for the second time, cancelled the hearings against the controversial e-tolling system at the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The complaint was brought against the system by the Democratic Alliance (DA). DA Gauteng transport spokesperson Neil Campbell says both cancellations were at very short notice. – ITWeb

Consumers are set to benefit from improved fixed broadband offerings and price cuts, as Telkom cuts the cost of IP Connect by 30% from this month. However, Internet service providers (ISPs) are not yet able to indicate how much of the saving will be passed onto end-users. IPC is the single largest cost for ISPs in providing fixed broadband services. - ITWeb

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) recently experienced system problems, which led to downtime. Head of communication, marketing and stakeholder relations, Elsabé Conradie, explains the office experienced a power failure towards the end of last month, which was one of the factors that led to the system issues. It has extended the deadline for annual returns due between 1 April and 31 July by three months to the end of October. – ITWeb

Marlon Parker

Social media tool MXit has recruited social change and e-democracy campaigner Marlon Parker. Parker, founder of global movement and social enterprise Reconstructed Living Lab (RLabs) joined the MXit team as head of its social impact arm, MXit Reach. MXit Reach develops platforms that help young South Africans to learn, interact and cope with the challenges they face in everyday life, says MXit. – ITWeb

Four teachers from across the country have been selected to represent SA at the annual Microsoft Partners in Learning awards regional finals, in Morocco, in July. Out of 19 finalists, the teachers who took top honours were: Caroline Adelaar, from St Mary’s School, in Johannesburg; Maxwell Funo, from Mkhanyiseli Primary, in Cape Town; Gaye Pieterse, from Durban Girl’s High; and Charli Wiggill, from Eden College, in KwaZulu-Natal. – ITWeb

Fixed-line operator Telkom has restructured its consumer fixed-line voice portfolio in what it says is a bid to “focus on simplicity, value and affordability”. Telkom has made a number of services free of charge to postpaid voice customers, including basic voicemail, the “RingBack” feature, SpeedCall, Three-Way Calling and UrgentCall. – ITWeb

Online portals offering the new iPad are inadvertently duping consumers, because they do not have conspicuous notices warning the devices are grey imports, and some are not even aware of the legal requirements. The new iPad, which was unveiled in the US on 7 March, has yet to be officially released in SA, although eager consumers can buy the tablet through several online portals, which import them directly. – ITWeb

8ta data users will now get an additional hour of discounted Internet surfing, from 11pm to midnight. Telkom’s mobile arm announced that its Midnight Surfer offering, usually between midnight and 5am, would now be known as Night Surfer, with discounted Internet rates between 11pm and 5am. Night Surfer is available as part of 8ta’s promotional data bundles. – ITWeb

There has been a decline of 5 667 matric learners taking mathematics at Dinaledi schools in 2011, when compared to 2010. This is according to a recent report. There are 500 designated Dinaledi schools across SA. The primary objective of the Dinaledi project is to ensure these schools are supported to significantly increase the participation and performance of learners in mathematics and physical science. – ITWeb

Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) CEO Phineas Moleele has been granted a settlement of seven months’ salary after being placed on cautionary suspension. Moleele, along with several other executives, was placed on suspension pending the outcome of a forensic investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement at the agency. The investigation was complete in December and disciplinary proceedings against the executives began. – ITWeb

Into Africa

Only seven Kenyan firms have so far submitted plans to invest in the $37 billion Konza Technology City, sparking fears among experts about a lack of local interest in the project. The 5 000-acre project, dubbed “Silicon Savannah”, is to form part of the Kenyan government’s 2030 plan to create jobs and boost the economy. – ITWeb

Google has announced Sh28 million in funding for Nairobi’s tech innovation centre, iHub, and the Kenya Education Network (KENET). iHub, which was formed two years ago, is a base for tech entrepreneurs, programmers and software developers. KENET is a non-profit organisation, providing educational and research institutions with high-speed Internet at affordable prices. – ITWeb

Egyptian minister of communications and information technology Mohamed Salem and his Ugandan counterpart, Ruhakana Rugunda, have signed a framework agreement on ICT sharing between Egypt and Uganda. The five-year agreement is subject to renewal. – Egypt State Information Service

Berhan International Bank SC in Ethiopia has hired Ernst & Young (E&Y) to undertake an IT security audit, which will enable the bank to introduce Internet banking. The agreement involved an undisclosed sum, and E&Y agreed to deliver the work within six weeks. This is the first such work in Ethiopia for E&Y, according to Amaha Bekele, IT advisory head for E&Y East Africa. – Addis Fortune

Tecno Mobile has said it is currently looking at setting up a mobile phone assembly plant in Nigeria to enhance its presence in the country. The company said this is part of ongoing measures to strengthen its commitment to Nigeria’s phone market. Tecno is the market leader in Nigeria in terms of dual-SIM phones and currently controls 70% of the market segment. – Daily Trust

The Rwandan government has set aside a basket fund of about Rwf400 million to cater for scientific innovations, especially in the areas of ICT, agriculture and manufacturing. The fund, known as Rwanda Innovation Endowment Fund, was initiated by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa sub regional office under the One UN Rwanda. – The New Times

TalentEdge, a consortium of Indian investors, is to establish training institutions in Zambia to provide a wide range of courses in ICT with an initial investment of about $300 000 in each centre. The firm, through its presence of a chain of five companies that it owns in India and 24 franchise centres, seeks to empower students in ICT by providing training in latest technologies. – Times of Zambia

Abroad

Facebook will pay $1 billion in cash and stock for Instagram, a two-year-old photo-sharing application
developer, in its largest-ever acquisition just months before the social media Web site is expected to go public. The price was stunning for an apps-maker without any significant revenue, even when measured by the lofty standards of Silicon Valley, where startup valuations have soared in recent years. – Reuters

Manmohan Singh

Global business groups urged Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to rescind new government rules for technology purchases that they said unfairly discriminate against foreign firms and potentially violate World Trade Organization rules. The letter is the second time in recent weeks that international business groups have written to Singh to complain about new Indian government policies. – Reuters

Japan’s Sony is cutting 10 000 jobs, about 6% of its global workforce, the Nikkei newspaper reported, as new CEO Kazuo Hirai looks to steer the electronics and entertainment giant back to profit after four years in the red. The job cuts would be the latest downsizing in Japan where companies from cellphone maker NEC, to electronics firm Panasonic are trimming costs. – Reuters

Wireless carriers representing 90% of subscribers in the US will announce the creation of a database of unique cell phone IDs to help prevent theft and reactivation of stolen or lost devices. The shared database will be up and running in the US in six months and the carriers plan to expand it globally over 18 months, said the Federal Communications Commission. – Reuters

Microdoft trumped Amazon, eBay and other tech giants with its more than $1 billion purchase of the majority of AOL’s patent trove. AOL said it was selling more than 800 patents related to advertising, search, e-commerce and mobile, surprising investors with the size of the deal and sending AOL shares up more than 40%. The sale includes technology rights from AOL’s current and former businesses. – Reuters