The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has informed all short-listed bidders for the data and voice networks tender, worth about R1.5 billion, that it will be sent back to the drawing board. Some of the companies spent about R1 million in bidding for the tender, so understandably the decision has been met with a strong reaction.
BCX gives thumbs up to Telkom buy-out
Early on Monday, Business Connexion (BCX) shareholders huddled together at a scheme meeting and quickly decided that being bought out by Telkom would be a good idea.
However, its not quite a done-and-dusted deal, as the meeting`s chairperson (attorney Andrew Mitchell) reminded everyone the deal remained subject to court sanction, the registration of a court order and approval by competition authorities.
ADSL price reductions investigated
While Telkom was watching these takeover plans progress smoothly, it was shot down by 'ADSL activists`, after it became apparent the fixed-line operator`s broadband price cuts were not quite as magnanimous as the company originally announced.
Maybe it`s a matter of how you count things, but MyADSL is sure the effective price cut is only about 12%, not the 24% originally stated by Telkom.
Post Office CIO resigns
The most worrying thing is a bank exec being quite happy to say there are plenty more of these e-banking scam syndicates operating in SA.
Dave Glazier, journalist, ITWeb
Monday also brought news that the man named IT Personality of the Year 2005 by the Computer Society, Ntsundeni Madzunya, has resigned from his position as SA Post Office CIO.
Acclaimed for his development of the Post Office`s biometric payment system - and involvement in banking, mail delivery note and electronic payment systems - the reasons for his premature departure are unknown.
Yes, he`s Nigerian
On Tuesday, ITWeb managed to collect more details on the Internet banking fraudster, understood to be the kingpin in a syndicate that affected about 50 Standard Bank and FNB clients. The Nigerian man is alleged to have a history of fraud, and was in SA illegally.
More people are still being questioned. But the most worrying thing is a bank exec being quite happy to say, totally unprompted, that there are plenty more of these e-banking scam syndicates operating in SA.
iBursting with confidence
Wireless broadband provider iBurst has declared it now has 20 000 subscribers. It has seen a 122% rise in customers over the last five months, and base stations are also growing rapidly, it says.
Govt invests healthy half-billion in project
News surfaced on Wednesday of a large-scale project to manage information in hospitals and clinics throughout SA, and co-ordinate information to better track and research health trends.
A senior SITA staff member hints at a project value of R500 million at the least - the kind of money that should attract more than the 29 companies that submitted responses at the request for information stage.
Kenya looking at 3G
Finally, Kenyan cellular operator Safaricom revealed this week it is piloting third-generation (3G) technology, in a study costing just under $14 million. It plans to begin network upgrades, assuming the pilots go well, later this year.
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