At Home

A project to build a central DNA profile database for rhinos across Africa has seen 380 arrests and 25 prison sentences. The project is being run at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science’s Onderstepoort facility. Dr Cindy Harper, who is in charge of establishing the database, known as RhODIS (rhino DNA index system), says it is being used to provide forensic evidence in poaching court cases. – ITWeb

The Internet Service Providers’ Association of SA (ISPA) recently released its latest “Hall of Shame” report, in which it names and shames SA’s top spammers and e-mail address resellers, in an attempt to curtail the significant growth of local spam. The latest list names and shames 64 spammers and 34 e-mail address resellers, the largest number ISPA has listed to date. – ITWeb

Kobus <a href=

de Beer" />Despite rapid advances in data storage solutions, using tape for back-up is still a popular solution among many organisations in SA, according to the findings of the ITWeb-Dell Storage Survey, which ran online for a fortnight, attracting 154 respondents. The majority of respondents (46.82%) revealed they are still reliant on tape for back-up purposes, while 42.2% do not use this solution, and 10.92% were unsure. Kobus de Beer, enterprise marketing manager at Dell SA, says there is still a huge debate in the storage industry on whether organisations should continue using tape for back-up. – ITWeb

Cisco has rolled out an immersive telepresence solution, which it says will bridge the digital divide in African business, healthcare and government to improve the quality of video collaboration across borders. The TX9000 is a three-screen, 65-inch immersive telepresence platform that integrates with Cisco WebEx collaboration tools and is interoperable with standards-based mobile and desktop platforms from other vendors. – ITWeb

SA and Germany have strengthened their co-operation in science and technology, opening the German-South African Year of Science 2012/13, in Cape Town. This is a joint initiative between the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and SA’s Department of Science and Technology. The theme for this year of science is: “Enhancing Science Partnerships for Innovation and Sustainable Development”. – ITWeb

<a href=

Joe Botha" />TrustFabric, a rival to the Direct Marketing Association of SA, which runs an independent direct marketing opt-out list, recently launched a mobile version of its opt-out service on MXit, and recorded 32 000 registrations within the first 10 days. TrustFabric’s Web site offering has only 1 000 users, as it has not been actively promoted, and a redesign is in the pipeline, says CEO Joe Botha. – ITWeb

The chairperson of the DA Youth in the Free State, Sibusiso Tshabalala, has been announced as one of the 10 international winners of the Google Zeitgeist Young Minds competition. Tshabalala’s submission showcased his “Afrika Kusama Literacy Initiative”, which promotes literacy and the development of critical thinking skills among previously disadvantaged learners in the Free State. – ITWeb

Cisco is SA’s dominant networking infrastructure provider, according to the results of the ITWeb-Business Connexion Networking Infrastructure Survey, which ran online for 14 days, attracting 153 respondents. The majority of the respondents (56.85%) revealed that they are using Cisco’s infrastructure. This was followed by HP, used by 30.82%; IBM (13.7%); Juniper (10.96%); and Siemens (2.74%). – ITWeb

The recent IP Connect cost cutback has prompted a number of improved fixed broadband offerings and price cuts from Internet service providers (ISPs), with the industry anticipating further consumer savings. First National Bank’s FNB Connect, Web Africa, Afrihost, Internet Solutions, and MWeb are some ISPs that have lowered prices, or expect to do so soon. – ITWeb

Into Africa

Users located in wealthy parts of Kenya will soon have their mobile Internet speeds doubled, as Safaricom plans to upgrade its 3G network. Kenya’s largest telecoms company said subscribers in these areas would be able to access the Internet at 42Mbps, twice the original highest speed of 21Mbps. Areas where speeds would be boosted include Lower Kabete, Kileleshwa, Muthaiga, Lavington, Kilimani, Westlands and Kyuna. – ITWeb

The investment expected to be ploughed into African submarine cable construction this year and next is more than double that which will be spent on systems anywhere else in the world. This is according to telecommunications market research firm Telegeography. Data shows $2 billion will be invested in new subsea cable systems for Africa in 2012 and 2013, almost double the amount spent in 2010 and 2011. – ITWeb

Indian telecoms giant Bharti Airtel plans to invest $100 million in Rwanda over the next three years, to become the African nation’s third operator. Airtel’s decision to invest in Rwanda comes at a time when a price war is being waged between operators MTN and Tigo, which are competing for customers orphaned by last year’s closure of Rwandatel. – ITWeb

Issam Darwish

African telecommunications infrastructure company IHS has invested $8 million (about R63 million) to upgrade to its Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Lagos, Nigeria. According to IHS CEO Issam Darwish, 25% of the investment money (about R15.8 million) went towards the upgrade of the NOC itself, while the remaining R47 million will be used for on site monitoring systems. – ITWeb

A plan to make Kenya one of the world’s top 10 tech hubs by 2017 has been unveiled by the country’s ICT Board at the Connected Kenya Summit, held recently in Mombasa, which brought together government and industry experts. Kenya ICT Board chief executive Paul Kukubo said the aim is to produce 500 local medium-sized ICT firms and help create 20 Kenyan tech companies. – ITWeb

Huawei has appointed Wind Li as the new CEO for its Kenya representative office. Li takes over from Herman He, who served as CEO for more than five years. – ITWeb

Abroad

Facebook reported its first quarter-to-quarter revenue slide in at least two years, a sign that the social network’s sizzling growth may be cooling as it prepares to go public in the biggest ever Internet IPO. The company blamed the first-quarter decline, which surprised some on Wall Street, on seasonal advertising trends. – Reuters

Microsoft infringed Motorola Mobility’s patents in making its popular Xbox gaming consoles, a judge for the US International Trade Commission ruled. ITC Judge David Shaw said Microsoft infringed four patents and did not infringe on a fifth in the complaint. The full commission will review the judge’s decision and issue a final ruling in August. – Reuters

Toshiba is no longer bidding for bankrupt Japanese chip maker Elpida Memory, sources close to the talks said, leaving a handful of foreign firms, including SK Hynix and Micron Technology, in the race to take over the company. Toshiba has decided not to join the second round of bidding set after talks stalled on a joint bid with potential partners, including South Korea’s SK Hynix, the sources said. – Reuters

Internet and network security provider Check Point Software Technologies said it expected to meet second-quarter estimates, after reporting a rise in first-quarter net profit that beat forecasts on strong sales of its new products. That conservative outlook pushed down Check Point’s shares 8.4% to $58.70 in early Nasdaq trade. – Reuters

Alibaba.com, China’s largest listed e-commerce company, posted a 25% slide in first-quarter earnings, weighed by a stagnant paying member base and higher operating expenses. The company also said a document regarding the $2.5 billion offer made by Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group to take Alibaba.com private will be sent to shareholders. Alibaba.com said January-March net profit fell to 339.2 million yuan ($53.8 million). – Reuters