AudiencScapes

As the country gains another connection to the East Africa undersea cable, new internet providers has begun a scramble for customers. While this bodes well for consumers, obstacles to optimum connectivity persist. Masimba Biriwasha reports.

Mobile customers are enjoying lower calling costs after the Communications Commission halved the fee telecom providers charge each other to transmit calls across networks.By Dinfin Mulupi A price war sparked by mobile operator Zain has left mobile customers relishing low calling rates. The price war followed the mid-August move by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) to reduce the fee telecom providers charge each other to transmit calls across networks -- also known as the interconnection rate. The decision was intended to encourage telecommunication companies to lower the cost of calls. So far, so good, at least from the consumer’s perspective. Since the rate reduction, a heated battle has ensued to control market share.

A significant ICT upgrade for a few of Zimbabwe’s municipal governments may improve their ability to communicate and deliver services. While the installation is part of a larger project, the cities and small towns stand to benefit from the investment in their infrastructure.By Tawanda KaromboZimbabwe, Harare -- A massive project launched by a German development organization is helping to bridge the technology divide in Zimbabwe’s local municipalities.

Sierra Leone holds annual meetings bringing together consumers and the telecom industry to discuss problems.By Bai-Bai SesaySierra Leone is well-known as one of West Africa’s poorest nations. Yet in the realm of technology, it may now be known as an innovator for giving consumers a voice in the operations of telecommunications in their country. Last month, Sierra Leone held the third session of its “consumer parliament” in the southern city of Bo.Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunication Commission, which regulates the telecommunications industry, established the consumer parliament to allow stakeholders in the mobile communications sector to interact with their respective customers for efficient service delivery.