Al-Shabab Bans Mobile Money in Somalia

Somali rebel group al-Shabab has imposed a ban on the mobile money transfer service known as ‘Zaad’, according to a report by Reuters.

In a statement issued by the militant group, al-Shabab has ordered local telecoms companies to stop offering Zaad by 31 December 2010, stating the service poses a threat to the economy. The group claims that use of Somali shillings has declined in recent months.

Al-Shabab also says that mobile banking could expose Somalia to interference by Western countries through the international partners of the Somali telecoms firms.

Southern Sudan’s Hormuud Telecom, Golis Telecommunications in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland and Telesom in the breakaway republic of Somaliland all offer Zaad, which allows customers to use their mobile handsets to transfer money, make purchases, pay bills and recharge airtime.

In a country that has lacked an effective central government for almost two decades and where the banking sector remains underdeveloped, the Zaad service has become a popular means of moving money.

EASSy Formally Launched

Seven months after commencing cable installation, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), the specially created African investment company jointly owned by 14 African telcos and additionally funded by a number of global development finance institutions, has formally announced the launch of its 1.4Tbps, 10,002km fibre-optic submarine cable system.

East African Submarine System (EASSy) runs along the east coast of Africa, from South Africa to Sudan, and boasts onward connection to global markets. Completed on time and on budget, EASSy promises to enable affordable, reliable delivery of fast internet access for African users and enhanced voice and data services for the international marketplace. EASSy will enhance global connectivity to and from 21 countries in eastern and southern Africa, landing at nine countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, the Comores, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan.

WIOCC CEO Chris Wood commented: ‘Not only does our cable system provide the lowest latency internet connections and best ever voice and data service reliability to this region of Africa, but our unique approach to contract capacity and duration also provides businesses with the crucial flexibility they desire’.

Investor Celebrate's EASSy Launch

Seven months after commencing cable installation, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), the specially created African investment company jointly owned by 14 African telcos and additionally funded by a number of global development finance institutions, has formally announced the launch of its 1.4Tbps, 10,002km fibre-optic submarine cable system.

East African Submarine System (EASSy) runs along the east coast of Africa, from South Africa to Sudan, and boasts onward connection to global markets. Completed on time and on budget, EASSy promises to enable affordable, reliable delivery of fast internet access for African users and enhanced voice and data services for the international marketplace.

EASSy will enhance global connectivity to and from 21 countries in eastern and southern Africa, landing at nine countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, the Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan. WIOCC CEO Chris Wood commented: ‘Not only does our cable system provide the lowest latency internet connections and best ever voice and data service reliability to this region of Africa, but our unique approach to contract capacity and duration also provides businesses with the crucial flexibility they desire’.

EASSy Lands In Tanzania

According to a report in the Tanzanian Daily News, the ship laying a 5000km long submarine fibre-optic component of the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) landed in Tanzania, at Msasani Peninsula, on 6 April. Once completed the EASSy cable will be capable of delivering data transmission of 1.4Tbps.

West Indian Ocean Cable Company CEO, Chriss Wood, who was present at the landing site, said: ‘Interconnection with other undersea international cable systems will enable traffic on EASSy to seamlessly connect to Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia, thereby enhancing the east coast of Africa’s connectivity to the global telecommunications network.’ The new submarine cable has landing points in nine African countries and will provide backhaul for a further dozen landlocked countries, enabling improved connectivity for the East African region. EASSy comprises of a 10,000km submarine cable system along the east coast of Africa, with landing stations in Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa.

Somalia's Hormuud Telecom Orders Harris Stratex radios

Wireless network solutions provider Harris Stratex Networks has announced that Somali telecoms operator Hormuud Telecom has placed an order for 100 of its high capacity Eclipse radios to extend its microwave backbone.

The new deployment forms part of a long standing relationship between the two companies; Harris has already installed over 200 Eclipse series radios for Hormuud. ‘We are happy to sign this expansion agreement with Harris Stratex Networks, and we are looking forward to building upon our existing relationship,’ noted N. Olo, Hormuud Telecom's chief procurement officer, adding, ‘We work well with the regional team of Harris Stratex Networks in Nairobi, and find their service and support capabilities a crucial aspect of partnership and operational success.’

Hormuud Telecom was founded in 1992 and today provides fixed and mobile telephony, as well as data services in Southern and Central Somalia.