Ever-shrinking personal networks and the value of the "inner circle"

[Mongezi Mtati] Our increased usage of social networks has ensured that the word "friend" is used loosely to mean someone you are friends with online, and have met offline. The value of product recommendations by "friends," according to Nielsen, has increased to a record 92%, while our trust in advertising is at an all-time low and the falling advertising spend is the proverbial proof in the pudding. 28 May 2012 11:57

Daily Maverick launches new website 'for people who matter'

The Daily Maverick has announced that it has launched a simpler, better and smarter new website. Following international trends in web design, the improved site's clear layout and fonts are designed to offer an enhanced visual and news reading experience for Daily Maverick aficionados as well as those newly won over. 22 May 2012 14:42

The brain behind Africa's first tablet

Verone Mankou (@verone), is the brain behind the first African tablet to rival the iPad. At the age of 26, Mankou designed the tablet known as "Way-C" in his hometown, Brazzaville, Congo. "Way-C" means "the light of the stars" in a northern Congolese dialect. 22 May 2012 11:09

Broadband satellite connects inland, rural Africa

Satellite services continues to fulfil an important role in providing the telecommunications infrastructure for Africa's inland and remote rural areas, while the dozens of optic fibre cable networks now reaching the continent's shores will - at least initially - have limited penetration inland. 24 May 2012 10:01

[2012 trends] Social media marketing and the youth

[Bradley Maseko] The following is a breakdown of 12 social media marketing trends for 2012 with regards to how businesses will target the youth market. The emphasis for businesses/brands in 2012 will be to avoid becoming subject to the "Social Media Burnout Effect". 10 Jan 2012 14:23

eLearning Africa Report shows ICTs transform education

Max Ahouéké, minister of communication and information and communication technologies of Benin, will this week present the results of the eLearning Africa Report, which shows the impact of new technology and improved connectivity on education throughout Africa. 22 May 2012 14:46

Apply now for the Orange African Social Venture Prize

Orange, the telecommunications corporation has launched the second edition of its Orange African Social Venture Prize. The goal is to promote social innovation that supports development through information and communication technology (ICT). 23 May 2012 13:32

Kenya gets GOtv on DVB-T2 technology

[Carole Kimutai] The new pay TV provider, GOtv, which recently launched in Uganda, officially launched the digital terrestrial television service in Kenya last week and went live on 14 September 2011. The new pay service is aimed at giving Kenyan TV lovers access to news, children's programming, documentaries, series and movies. 19 Sep 2011 11:10

[2012 trends] Five African digital trends for 2012

[Dawn Rowlands] Africa is a mobile-first digital environment with 55% of the continent's 1 billion people having mobile phones. In South Africa mobile internet penetration is 70%, whilst desktop internet penetration sits at only at 11%, whereas in Nigeria mobile and desktop penetration are both over 20%. 24 Jan 2012 12:27

West Africa Cable System officially launched

West Africa Cable System (WACS), the fibre optic cable set to meet demand for fast, efficient broadband in Africa, which links Southern and Western Africa to Europe, commercially launched today in Cape Town, South Africa. 11 May 2012 11:48

GOtv now in Uganda

Africa's first commercial operations using the next generation Digital Video Broadcast standard - DVB-T2 - rolled out with the launch of GOtv in Uganda on Monday 29 August 2011, following the launch in Lusaka, Zambia on 29 June 2011. 30 Aug 2011 15:43

Digital marketers respond to Google+ 'Hangouts on Air' roll-out

[Wikus Engelbrecht] Google recently began letting worldwide members of its social network broadcast live "Hangouts" sessions for anyone to watch - just like some performing artists and politicians have already been able to do. 28 May 2012 12:14

Airtel partners with GYADI to empower youths

Airtel Nigeria has partnered with Global Youth Awareness & Development Initiatives (GYADI), a non-governmental organisation, to host an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Summit which takes place today, 25 May 2012 at the Golden Royal, Independence Layout, Enugu State, Nigeria. The summit aims to empower youths in Enugu to succeed in their chosen career and business endeavours. 25 May 2012 09:37