Much has been said, of late, about how the local print and television media company Naspers (formerly Nasionale Pers) is transforming itself - moving from traditional channels to technology-based interests in areas like online news, mobile TV and other Web businesses.
This week's purchase of a 30% stake in Russian social networking site Mail.ru was the latest feather in Naspers' technology cap. The R1.2 billion investment was not entirely unexpected, since CEO Koos Becker had alluded to a Russian Web buy just prior to the announcement.
Russia has a healthy online community, and it's understood that Mail.ru is a large player in social networking.
End of local loopiness?
The week was one of promises, on a regulatory level. ITWeb reported on Tuesday that government has set up a task team to investigate the local loop unbundling process, even as Neotel plans to roll-out without it. A preliminary report on the matter is expected to be submitted to communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri within six months.
ICASA under the microscope
Neotel needs this portability structure to be in place before it can think about offering residential services.
Dave Glazier, journalist, ITWeb
The telecoms regulator ICASA is also going to be looked at by a Parliamentary Committee, which launched a review of all Chapter Nine entities. Led by former Cabinet minister Kader Asmal, the body will investigate state-funded bodies, formed under the Constitution, to determine their effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness.
MTN pockets another Nigerian telco
MTN bought something again this week. Has any other African telephone network operator ever been on such a spending spree as MTN?
It added the total share issue of Nigerian fixed-line teleco VGC Communications to its extensive portfolio, at a cost of half a billion rand.
When fixed becomes portable?
Wednesday's ITWeb looked at the status of fixed-line number portability, something often overlooked when put next to its mobile number portability counterpart. In theory, from next month, Telkom and Neotel should enable customers to move across fixed networks and keep their (geographically linked) numbers, including area codes, of course. We don't know if this deadline will be met.
Neotel needs this portability structure to be in place before it can think about offering residential services.
Big bonuses at DiData
Dimension Data has rewarded its directors on the back of some positive financials that saw it report its maiden dividend. CEO Brett Dawson deserved his R9.5 million bumper bonus, as did chairman Jeremy Ord his R8.8 million. CFO David Sherriffs must have been annoyed - he got a skimpy R3.8 million.
Govt IT spend set to hit R35bn
Finally this week, the interesting issue of public sector IT spending. Government is expected to invest around R35 billion in ICT in the 2007 to 2008 financial year - which is a 3% to 5% increase from last year's spend, says ForgeAhead's head of research Adrian Schofield. It's a positive outlook ahead of finance minister Trevor Manuel's annual budget speech in February.
Share