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MetroFibre buys Link Africa’s fibre assets in Gauteng, KZN
MetroFibre, the fibre telecommunications company that recently concluded a R2.5-billion debt funding round, said on Monday that it is buying Link Africa’s fibre-to-the-home network in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The deal, the value of which has not been disclosed, is effective from 1 April, with a “transition period” that is expected to be completed by the end of June,
Google introducing a feature in Chrome 90 to create links to highlighted text on a webpage
An upcoming feature in Chrome 90 will allow users to create a link to a section of a website that they’ve highlighted. First launched as a browser extension called Link to Text Fragment last year, Google has now added the feature within Chrome itself. The new feature is still rolling out to users; I wasn’t
Co-founder of Adobe and co-inventor of the PDF, has died at 81
Charles “Chuck” Geschke, a co-founder of Adobe who helped develop the PDF, has died at age 81, the company said in a statement. “This is a huge loss for the entire Adobe community and the technology industry, for whom he has been a guide and hero for decades,” Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen said in an
Showmax reduces mobile streaming plan to R39/month
Showmax, the video streaming platform launched by DStv parent MultiChoice Group, has cut the price of its mobile-only plan to R39/month, from R49 previously. The video streamer said on Monday that Showmax mobile subscribers across Africa will pay, on average, 20% less (20.4% less in South Africa), giving them the full Showmax catalogue, though only viewable
FNB launches MoneyGram on App for customers
19 April 2021: FNB and MoneyGram’s longstanding partnership has now made the world of remittances easier for customers to send and receive money across borders. Clients can now complete their MoneyGram transactions on the FNB App, from anywhere. Previously, MoneyGram services could only be accessed via Cellphone Banking, ATM or in branch. To perform a
Amazon tries to bully Ecobee into collecting private user data
Amazon tried to use its power to coerce Ecobee into using its smart home products to collect user data by threatening Ecobee’s ability to sell its products on Amazon, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. As of now, Ecobee’s products can still be purchased on Amazon, but the WSJ claims that negotiations
Free Market Foundation calls for the legalization of spectrum trading in SA
The prohibition on the private ownership and free trading of radio frequency spectrum is an “artefact” that has “neither a technological basis nor is supported by economic theory”. This is the view of the Free Market Foundation (FMF), which this week published a socioeconomic impact assessment on spectrum. It found in its report that spectrum trading
Nigeria cleans up its energy act
Nigeria is one of the most underpowered countries in the world. Despite being Africa’s largest economy, its per capita consumption of electricity is just 150 kilowatts per hour (kWh), compared with 3,500 kWh in the continent’s second largest economy, South Africa. According to PwC, only one in five people has access to power from the
Capitec is pulling the plug on its old banking app
Capitec has announced that it will ‘switch off’ its old app at the end of the month – 30 April 2021. “We’re switching off our old app on 30 April,” the lender said. “Don’t worry, our new Capitec Bank app has everything you love and more. You don’t have to visit a branch to get
African agriculture sector continues to draw high interest from investors
The trade and investment landscape in Africa has continued to draw interest from lenders, particularly in West Africa, with notable changes in origination strategies. In Q1 2021, Orbitt reported a 26% increase in the number of unique enquiries from lenders originating funding opportunities when compared with the same period in 2020. Some lenders have seemingly
FNB terminates Ayo Technology's banking facilities
First National Bank has terminated the banking facilities it provides to Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions, Ayo said in a statement to shareholders after markets closed in Johannesburg on Thursday. “Shareholders are advised that the company’s current bankers, First National Bank, have given the company notice to close its transactional banking facility with effect from 3
From small-time farming to supplying Shoprite and Checkers with about three tons of spinach
Though Kepas Melodi’s farming enterprise started off small, it has since grown into a sizeable operation that has seen him operate from communal land, based in Hazyview and employ nine people full-time. He’s also managed a partnership with a major retailer and learnt valuable lessons. His is a story that may motivate other would-be farmers
Facebook signs renewable energy deal with India
Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm’s wind power project, the social media giant’s first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday. The 32 megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and
Kennedy Bungane appointed as African Bank CEO
African Bank has appointed Kennedy Bungane – a former Standard Bank, Absa Group and Barclays Africa executive – as its new CEO effective from April 14. Announcing the move on Thursday morning, African Bank noted Bungane “brings over 20 years of banking experience” to the position. Bungane, who was most recently CEO of Phembani Group,
Microsoft discontinues Windows 10’s Timeline feature
Windows 10 is officially losing its once-ambitious Timeline feature, Microsoft announced today. Timeline, first launched in 2017, was designed to make it easier for users to swap between multiple devices — transitioning seamlessly from a Windows 10 PC to an Android or iOS phone and back again. It’s no surprise that Timeline is getting deprecated:
Dell Technologies spins off VMware stake
Dell Technologies Inc announced on Wednesday it would spin off its 81% stake in cloud computing software maker VMware, in a move that will help the PC maker reduce its debt. VMware will distribute a special cash dividend of between US$11.5-billion and $12-billion to all its shareholders, including Dell, which will receive between $9.3-billion and
48-megapixel cameras and no mini option: next year’s iPhones will feature substantial changes to the camera system
The 2022 iPhone lineup will feature substantial changes to the camera system, according to analyst Ming-chi Kuo in an investor note reported on by MacRumors and AppleInsider. Kuo says the high-end iPhones — presumably the Pro range — will use a larger 48-megapixel sensor for the primary camera. Separately, the analyst suggests that 2023 iPhones
Avian flu outbreak hits SA commercial poultry farm
An outbreak of avian influenza has been detected on a chicken farm in South Africa’s central province of Gauteng, the agricultural ministry said on Tuesday. Around 300 birds died of avian flu at the commercial chicken-layer farm in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, with samples from the farm testing positive for the H5 strain, the Department
FNB reveals upsurge in consumer spend on home delivery, video and music streaming subscriptions
14 April 2021 – A year since SA went into lockdown, FNB data is showing an upsurge in customers who are spending on home delivery, video and music streaming apps for convenient access to services. This has led to booming usage of platforms like Mr D Food, Netflix, Showmax, iTunes, and Spotify. Raj Makanjee, CEO of
Hydrogen charging station to be built on N3 highway
Sasol plans to build a charging station in South Africa to test the viability of fuel-cell powered heavy duty vehicles. Sasol and project partner Toyota will install hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along the N3 highway connecting Johannesburg and Durban, CEO Fleetwood Grobler said in a statement on Wednesday. The South African fuel maker plans to use