Tunisia And Ghana Lead Africa’s Telecom Growth

Tunisia And Ghana Lead Africa’s Telecom Growth

BuddeComm has launched the Telecoms Maturity Index (TMI)

All over the world, telecommunication is growing and nations are taking advantage of ICT to improve their economy. There is a tremendous growth of the telecoms industry in Africa as the continent is gradually improving on infrastructure to enhance its steady growth in the region.

Tunisia and Ghana are in the midst with Mauritius as the leading African countries in telecoms maturity as seen from the new index from BuddeComm.

BuddeComm has launched the Telecoms Maturity Index (TMI) to analyze fixed lines, broadband and mobile markets of a country with a range of economic indices.

The rankings which are based on a scale of 1 to 100 compare points with other countries in the region.

From the recently released report on top African rankings, Mauritius is leading Africa with a TMI of 43. Ghana comes second with a Telecoms Maturity Index of 32 while Tunisia is third with 31.

Mauritius’ high score can be attributed to the country’s growing tourism market that has impacted positively on telecoms and the broadband sector.

Ghana comes second with a Telecoms Maturity Index of 32 while Tunisia is third with 31.

DSL infrastructure has been extended in the country and telecom operators have increased fiber-based services in many locations.

Mobile telecoms are arguably the popular services around Africa. Over 90% telephone lines on the continent are mobile-based. For the poor situation of fixed-line infrastructure in many markets, mobile internet access is equally dominant with over 95% of the populace using mobile internet connection.

The varied market penetration in Africa can be attributed to the scope and size of the diverse market in the African region.

In early 2018 the biggest mobile penetration was seen in countries such as Gabon with 163%, South Africa with 147%, Botswana with 159% and Mauritius with 146%.

New reports showed the intensity of high penetration depicts the popularity of telecoms service consumers having more than one SIM cards in spite of effort from most regulators to enforce measures by which service providers must register SIM card users on their network.

The Growth Of Telecoms In Tunisia

Government plans to speed up growth in the ICT sector.

Tunisia has maintained a competitive position in telecoms growth in Africa. Tunisia represents the face of telecom’s growth by dominating in the North Africa region. It occupies a comfortable third position in the whole of the African region.

On the backdrop of the rankings in Africa, a wide range of initiatives is been put in place to facilitate development in the sector. A plan has been rolled out to move Tunisia’s telecoms forward towards achieving the laid out target for the sector.

In a bid to improve access to the services, real estate developers and operators of telecoms services will be made to see it a duty to make sure planned building constructions have included fiber optic infrastructure in such designs.

In the release of the Tunisia Broadband Strategy (TBS) in September 2012, it drew out the government plans to speed up growth in the ICT sector via a wide scope of measures including mobile broadband penetration, driving up fixed lines and improving fiber optics (FO) capacity.

A pledge to put an end to the Tunisie Telecom’s monopoly on fixed-line voice services.

Towards achieving the targeted plans, encouraging healthy competition among service providers (ISPs), increasing levels of ICT literacy, working to top broadband penetration rate in the region, ensuring low cost for services to meet the needs of the country form the notable measures considered necessary to facilitate faster growth in the nation’s telecoms sector.

With Tunisia recording a good 5.1% fixed-line broadband penetration in 2011, the National Telecommunication, INT is hoping to jack it up to a high of 60% by 2020.

ICT has played a major role in Tunisia’s economy. The industry already accounts for 5% of the country’s GDP. This encourages the government to look more closely into the sector to make it better.

The measures put in place by the government’s strategy shows their readiness to keep the sector active with more efforts given to infrastructural development.

TBS calls for compulsory cooperation on infrastructure installation, calling on authorities to improve efficiency, encouraging companies to focus more on infrastructure towards developing new services and products. With efforts toward improving fixed broadband infrastructure towards enhancing primary fiber optics capacity, the TBS aims to build a strong fiber optics backbone by integrating existing telecom networks.

A major aspect of the strategic plan on sharing of fixed infrastructure was a pledge to put an end to the Tunisie Telecom’s monopoly on fixed-line voice services. This will increase competition and which invariably will result in bringing innovation and driving the cost of telecoms services downward.

Telecoms Growth In Ghana

Ghana is notably one of the first countries in the African region to deregulate and liberalize its telecoms sector. After Ghana Telecoms was privatized in 1996, a rapid growth in the market was clearly visible.

The competition was observed in the internet and mobile sectors. Many service providers were licensed to provide quality services.

In 2009, Vodafone Group acquired Ghana Telecoms and became known as Vodafone Ghana. Vodafone was the primary fixed-line provider and as well, the third largest service provider behind MTN and the merged AirtelTigo. Ghana’s second national operator Westel was equally reprivatized in 2007 to become Airtel Ghana in 2007.

Many submarine fiber cables are entering the country and have significantly improved international bandwidth and lowered the cost of internet services.

The Roll Out a National Fiber Backbone Network adds to the development in the sector by completely bringing new life to the country’s broadband market and open doors to the convergence of technologies and services. The country’s regulatory sector are optimistic of universal access licenses to provide both mobile and fixed line services to replace the 2G license that is bound to expire in 2019.

A major development in the Ghana telecoms revolution includes Accra Digital Center, world’s most viable online company, Google’s construction of a 1,200km metro-net fiber as one of its project link programs in the regions of the country and the planned launch of Ghanasat 1 satellite in 2020.

Others are the launch of the fifth international submarine fiber optic cable, Setting up of the Ghana information Communication Technology Council set up to guide the ICT sector and the increasing growth of fixed-mobile technology.

Tunisia and Ghana telecoms are no push overs in African telecoms services. The sector will continuously see more growth in years to come if efforts on improving infrastructure are not relaxed. Also read to know why an analyst of International Crisis Group stated ‘Tunisia is seen as the land of recruitment for terrorist’.

The Circumstances Leading To The Sack Of Tunisian Energy Minister

The Circumstances Leading To The Sack Of Tunisian Energy Minister

Khaled Kaddour

The Prime Minister, Youssef Chahed of Tunisia, sacked its energy minister on Friday (August 31) over an allegation of corruption in the ministry, the government announced.

Corruption is like a plague affecting many African countries and preventing them from growing as expected.

A government which takes anti-graft cases seriously is taking a good step towards development. Tunisia is a country that has a bad history with corruption cases and why the last autocratic government was chased out of office to allow a democratic rule to charge of governance in the country.

Khaled Kaddour who was sacked along with other senior officials did not respond to the allegation at the time the sack was carried out.

The Prime minister, Youssef Chahed has given orders for a thorough investigation into the corruption in the ministry. He further ordered the merger of the energy and industry ministries according to reports from an official source to Reuters.

Iyad Dahmani

However, an official who was sacked along with Khaled denied ever getting involved in any corrupt practices and was determined to prove his innocence.

 

According to a government spokesman, Iyad Dahmani, the sacked minister and other officials were alleged of permitting a Tunisian investor to illegally explore one of Tunisia’s most important sites, the Halk Manzel Oilfield.

He was allowed without going through due process of licensing. Dahmani said the deal on the oilfield which is closed to the coastal city of Monastir also has undue tax privileges to it.

On the clampdown on corruption moved by the country last year, Kaddour happens to be the first minister to be hit by the anti-graft campaign of the administration.

The Secretary of State for Energy, Hachem Hmidi who is among the other four denied the accusations and was committed to clearing his name from the whole corruption saga in the ministry. He made it clear from his statements:

“My exit from the government helps me to devote myself to the case and prove that I am innocent of these malicious charges.”

It will be recalled that corruption was the major reason for the revolt.

The other sacked officials named in the allegation were the director general of illegal affairs in the ministry, the head of the national oil company- ETAP and the director general of fuel.

It will be recalled that corruption was the major reason for the revolt against the Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s regime in 2011. Today, many Tunisians are yet to see any difference since the transition into a democratic government the same year with a free and fair election process.

In July this year, parliament passed a law to compel senior officials to make their assets public in a bid to fight against unlawful enrichment when in government.

The committee on anti-corruption in the country agreed to the widespread of corruption in all sectors of business leading to an annual loss in billions of dollars to the government.

Following the sack of Tunisia energy minister and in the drive to rid the country of corruption, a big figure in the political circle in the country is currently under investigation for corruption accusation.

Chafik Jaraya is the man talked about here. He had been a strong financial support to the ruling party, Nidaa Tounes in 2014 elections. Also read to know why an analyst of International Crisis Group stated ‘Tunisia is seen as the land of recruitment for terrorist’.

Brexit: The Implication Of “No-Deal” To Britons

Brexit: The Implication Of “No-Deal” To Britons

Brexit- Britain exiting the EU has been the talk among supporters and others on the other side of the decision by the United Kingdom government.

Brexit- Britain exiting the EU has been the talk among supporters and others on the other side of the decision by the United Kingdom government.

Exiting the European Union without a formal agreement with the body in a No-Deal approach is another twist to it. The UK Prime minister Theresa May’s argument that a no deal in leaving will be better off than leaving the EU with a bad deal instead.

It was seen in some quarters as a move that may be too costly for the country and may not materialize. But the possibility is gradually appearing to come to fusion by March 29, 2019.

This rare move that may come as an option has very little support in parliament except for groups who have limited understanding of international trade rules and legal obligations the move may carry along with it.

This may have a lot of serious consequences in the economy; affect how every Briton transacts business online and offline, and carry out inter-boarder trades.

Dominic Raab, Brexit secretary have said. Mr. Raab is optimistic for every Briton with the government’s preparation already put in place.

With the Prime minister’s promise of keeping citizens informed through notices, the first batch of government papers to alert citizens on what to expect from a No-deal Brexit have raised a lot of concern from shoppers, businesses, farmers, UK expats, and NHS patients.

The “technical notices” released by ministers on a no-deal departure covers medicine, finance, and trade, Dominic Raab, Brexit secretary have said. Mr. Raab is optimistic for every Briton with the government’s preparation already put in place.

In the twenty-four technical alerts made available in August, the implications are well spelled out:

  • Online shoppers will most likely get high cost of parcels to be delivered to the United Kingdom owing to the removal of VAT relief
  • Increase in the charges of credit or debit card payments in the European Union should be expected on the removal of surcharges.
  • Expats of British origin in the EU are more likely to lose access to their financial services including pension income.
  • NHS patients could face delays in accessing innovative treatments.
  • Organic farmers will face trade embargo and will experience delays in exporting to the European Union. They will need to apply for certification for this purpose from Brussels which may take as much as nine months to complete.
  • Delays at the borders if coming from rail, sea or by road should be expected for a large amount of supply of medicines.

From the batch of notices released, many have pointed out that the government is clearly not prepared for a no-deal exit from the EU.

They are of the opinion that the papers have shown clear information that the no-deal option will only spell disaster which they never voted for.

The anti-Brexit campaigners are asking for a second referendum instead of going for the no-deal option to quit the EU.

However, included in the released paper, Mr. Raab informed of government’s preparation to recruit additional 9, 000 staff into the civil service to facilitate Whitehall preparations when No-deal Brexit applies.

Further plans to employ additional 1,000 border staff to handle any increase in demands of duties that may occur have been taken into consideration.

Amazon Hits One Trillion In Market Value

Amazon Hits One Trillion In Market Value

The Amazon should ring a bell to everybody who shops online.

The Amazon should ring a bell to everybody who shops online. It opens doors for people to create their own stores while also making theirs alongside.

You can call it a monster e-commerce platform that everybody all the world will find a service or the other they are looking for.

Hitting the $1 trillion market value mark should just be appropriate considering the volume of activities on the company’s site.

First, it was Apple hitting the $1 trillion milestone to occupy the first position as the company with the highest market value. Recently in early September, Amazon did the same to become the second company in the US with the highest market capitalization.

As of October 23, 2009, the shares of the company reached $100. On October 27, 2017, the share value of the company has hit $1, 000 and just less than a year later; each share value went past the $2, 000 threshold on August 30, 2018.

It’s all been a great achievement that the founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos will be proud of and finding himself in the class of Bill Gates and other great men in the world who have made lots of money from their company.

Apple made the $1 trillion threshold weeks before Amazon achieved the same feat. Their high-in demand devices got them to speed in adding more value to their shares.

Today, Amazon has leveled up with Apple to have achieved this feat that may not be thought of in some years back as achievable in the shortest possible time they all did.

To get to this level, shares of the company increased to a high of $2,050.50 on a Tuesday morning to hit the $1 trillion mark before falling back to close at $2, 039.51 to exit the $1 trillion threshold market value.

What Amazon Put In To Achieve?

Amazon remains the topmost e-commerce giant in the world.

Amazon remains the topmost e-commerce giant in the world. To get to the level they did in just a couple of months shows a lot more was put to work.

Analysts were of the opinion that the many diversifications of the company are most likely to be responsible for the surge in the company’s shares. Just in 2017, Amazon entered into the grocery business by acquiring Whole Foods Markets.

The company is also working frantically on its logistics and hardware segments. It has worked on advertising to challenge the likes of Google and Facebook.

They’ve always shown investors they are capable of causing dramatic changes and make a profit in very rare areas of investment.

They added web services which have grown as far as 50% within the second quarter.

Exploring New Grounds

They kept the excitement going with books by introducing the Kindle e-books.

The Amazon investment strategy has no bounds. They are popular for online retail but they’ve taken it further up by exploring other areas of opportunities.

According to the CEO, some have led to a dead end but the most of them bring the explosion they’ve wanted to the Amazon brand. The current feat in Amazon reaching the $1trn threshold can also be traced to the success the company recorded in cloud computing.

The diversification drive of Amazon has not been limited to some investment opportunities alone. In fact, they go to the extent of exciting customers and investors on their new additions to expand the brand the more.

Amazon today sells anything you can think of even computing space to the smallest of home items and services.

This it has successfully done with assistance from its over 500, 000 employees to reach a profit of $178 billion annually.

People who are familiar with the brand won’t forget so soon how they started to offer people new ways to buy books online.

People who are familiar with the brand won’t forget so soon how they started to offer people new ways to buy books online. They kept the excitement going with books by introducing the Kindle e-books and then came up with an interesting way to publish books online. They introduced Amazon Prime to bring innovation to how people get deliveries.

They launched into the tech world with Alexa, Fire, and others. Amazon is involved in Hollywood to make its movies and currently working on using drones to bring new ways to deliveries of its orders.

The company continues to evolve through the innovative mindset of the administrators to keep the drive going.

Behind Amazon’s successes are a dogged commitment and strong ambition to reach beyond where others will naturally feel they’ve reached the peak of their success. According to Jeff, they like to go down to unexplored alleys to discover what is at the end.

The company is committed to satisfying the commitment of their loyal consumers. Amazon is indeed a strong value addition to the US economy.

Implications Of The China-U.S. Trade Wars

Implications Of The China-U.S. Trade Wars

Close attention is given to what may result from the trade war between the two.

The business world has been agog with the trade stand-off between the top two largest economies in the world, the US and China. Close attention is given to what may result from the trade war between the two. As the trade confrontation between the two countries rages, the effects are bound to reach other parts of the world besides the two warring countries.

Recently, the administration of President Trump has increased tariffs on imports for some countries. The $34 billion increase in goods from China caused some uproar with a retaliatory move from China doing the same with a $34 billion tariff increase on US exports.

What could this portend for the world economy and how does it affect the US and China?

The trade tension went further higher when Donald Trump threatened one more time that he was prepared to impose tariffs on other Chinese goods to the tune of $267 billion in addition to the $200bn in duties he had warned on imposing on Chinese products.

Consumers And Producers Will Also Bear The Brunt In The US

No doubt, there are risks involved for both countries.

No doubt, there are risks involved for both countries. Both consumers and producers alike will have a share of the consequences. Consumers in the US may have to live with changes and so will should it be for the Chinese people.

Should the dispute between the two countries worsen, consumers will need to suffer some increase in import goods, US businesses may need to go back on more hiring. The purchasing power of many US citizens will be lowered when a tariff increase is implemented.

From the minutes of the Fed meeting, policymakers agree to the fact that extended trade rift between the two countries can harm business sentiments, employment, and investment spending.

Already, the agricultural sector had seen noticeable declines in livestock and stock prices. It is among the sectors in the US that were hit by the Chinese retaliatory action on $34 billion of US goods.

 The US economy may be shaken for this.

Implication On China

The impact on China may not have an immediate effect.

The impact on China may not have an immediate effect. It takes some time. Trade flows move slowly. These were the assertions of Jonathan Slone, the chief executive officer of an investment group.

On the Chinese part, the tariff increase could lead to lowering the productivity of the manufacturing sector and altering of the supply chains. Other possibilities include a significant increase in oil prices and negative effects on the housing sector. The impact already seen was the check on capital spending downwards to forestall any uncertainty by the government. The agricultural sector has, however, got upward improvements afterward.

Talks have been on between the two countries but no breakthrough has come their way.

Trump strongly affirmed he wasn’t ready to make any deal with China that China will like to commit to. However, he said his administration will continue talks with China.

Effects On Global Economic Ties

Not quite long, a successor came in to take the place of the US.

What may seem to be a battle with grave economic consequences for some may be a blessing in disguise for others. From the trade war between the US and China, Trump’s administration  may be creating a good opportunity for Asia and the EU to open up their trade relationship for better improvement. The war may stand to make the trade relationship between the two regions grow faster than they’ve been in the past. Already, outside the US, a kind of urgency to catch on the development may have been capitalized upon by Europe and Asia by working on regional trade agreements and policies between their regions.

This scenario played out when the Trump’s administration withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Not quite long, a successor came in to take the place of the US. As China is seen as a major player in the Asian economy, Japan is already looking to unite with the Regional and Comprehensive Economic Partnership which China is one of the major components.

If it goes the way of Asian and EU forming closer economic ties, they’ll come to agree on the lower tariff on each other’s goods. Businesses in this open market will spark off competition which will also lead to more dynamism and improvement.

More expansion and productivity will be experienced outside of the US market as a result of this move between Asia and the EU. The implication of the US-China trade war may cause some drastic changes in the global economy.