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Despite giving no clarity about the country’s choice of digital TV standard, communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda is adamant that SA is on track to switch over next year.

Nyanda sticks to digital TV deadline

But market commentators say there is no way the country could turn off analogue television next year.

• No clarity on digital TV migration
• Brazil slams ISDB-T critics

by Nicola Mawson, Tue 19 Oct

 

Telkom’s mobile unit aims to have nearly eight million subscribers in SA within the next five years.

8ta unlikely to achieve targets

The mobile newcomer's target of capturing up to 15% of the market within five years is described as “very ambitious”.

• Let the mobile wars begin!
• 8ta is copying us, says Cell C

by Leigh-Ann Francis and Farzana Rasool, Mon 18 Oct

 

Competitors will be forced to adapt, predicts Amith Maharaj, managing executive for Telkom Mobile.

Let the mobile wars begin!

With “unique” offerings and aggressive pricing, SA's fourth operator 8ta is set to incite much-needed competition in the mobile industry.

• 8ta is copying us, says Cell C

by Leigh-Ann Francis, Fri 15 Oct

Video interview with Amith Maharaj: Introducing 8ta

 

Is it Heita? Telkom Mobile keeps everyone guessing.

Window of opportunity for Telkom Mobile

With only hours before the highly-anticipated Telkom Mobile launch, analysts suggest best practice strategies for the newcomer.

• Uphill battle for Telkom Mobile

by Leigh-Ann Francis, Thu 14 Oct

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Mobile operator 8ta accuses Cell C of double standards, as the newcomer appeals to ICASA for asymmetrical interconnect rates.

Cell C is schizophrenic, says 8ta

Cell C comes under fire from the mobile newcomer for reversing its position on asymmetrical interconnect rates.

• Telkom Mobile fights interconnect norm

by Leigh-Ann Francis, Wed 20 Oct

Yahoo struggles to keep up

The search engine's forecasts prove to be uninspiring, as Google and Facebook trounce its dominance.
by Reuters, 20 Oct, 10:35 AM

Samsung to combine phone, TV software

Developers are working on the joint software platform, which will see TVs and cellphones share interfaces.
by Reuters, 20 Oct, 10:36 AM

RIM, Apple go head-to-head

The Apple CEO's barbs made no sense outside of his company's "distortion field", says RIM's co-CEO.
by Reuters, 20 Oct, 10:37 AM

Office heads to the cloud

Microsoft hopes the cloud-based Office, provided at a cheaper rate, will extend its customer base and beat back rival Google.
by Reuters, 20 Oct, 10:38 AM

Mohlala appointed consumer body head

The axed DOC DG will be named Consumer Commission head, and hopes to put the communications debacle behind her.
by Paul Vecchiatto, 20 Oct, 11:46 AM

• 'Mohlala not gagged'
• Fight brews between Nyanda, Mohlala

Cipro poised for failure

Court delays hold up a vital IT overhaul that must be ready by April.
by Nicola Mawson, 20 Oct, 11:40 AM

• Cipro heads for implosion
• Cipro begins IT overhaul

Kelly hits out at 'fronting' report

Ousted deputy CEO Mthunzi Mdwaba is believed to face charges of spending R233 000 on a report that alleges Kelly overstated its empowerment status.
by Nicola Mawson, 20 Oct, 10:46 AM

• Mdwaba settles with Tarsus
• BITF enters 'Mdwaba-gate' fray

Astronomy Desk rejuvenates SKA bid

The calibre of scientists elected to the Astronomy Desk inspires international confidence, says the Democratic Alliance.
by Farzana Rasool, 20 Oct, 11:39 AM

• Astronomy Desk appoints head
• Debacle may threaten SKA bid

DOC talks broadband strategy

The Department of Communications considers global strategies to improve broadband quality and roll-out in SA.
by Farzana Rasool, 20 Oct, 10:45 AM

• SA ranked 42nd in broadband quality
• DST, EU connect rural SA

Vodacom sees earnings growth

Last year's half-year figures were affected by the reversal of a tax asset, says the cellular company.
by Nicola Mawson, 20 Oct, 10:41 AM

• 8ta unlikely to achieve targets

Company News

INDUSTRY NEWS

Caption Competition

	Get creative and witty! The author of the funniest caption will win an annual subscription to Brainstorm magazine. Winners also enter into a lucky draw for a Xerox Phaser 6110 colour laser printer. Entries Close: 27 October 2010

Welcome to The Green Mile, a monthly look at common strategies for employing environmentally sustainable practices, what they involve and what the impacts are. Get a hands–on view of the pitfalls and paybacks involved in the green journey.

This month's focus Green printing

Columnists

• Leigh-Ann Francis

  Double Take

  

  Consumer is king... For now

  8ta's entry has bolstered competition in the market – but this will inevitably die down.

• Paul Booth

  Booth's Bites

  

  VimpelCom, Weather Investments merge

  The $6.8 billion merger will create the world's fifth largest telecoms carrier by subscribers.

• Carel Alberts

  Guest Columnist

  

  A man for the hour

  Altech's CEO has done what few leaders have the courage to – stand up to government.

• Paul Vecchiatto

  Double Take

  

  DOC must explain itself

  It's no use telling the most dysfunctional state department to sort itself out; rather it must justify why it should exist.

• Ivo Vegter

  The Spike

  

  Testing anarchy

  The implosion of the government's Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office would be a very big deal. It would, at a stroke, reduce South Africa's entire economy to "informal" status.

• Nicola Mawson

  Double Take

  

  Mindless legislation

  Companies could avoid costly system upgrades and the risk of falling foul of the law if South Africans just paid more attention.

• Christo van Gemert

  Technically speaking

  

  Media, media everywhere

  There are a ton of set-top boxes capable of playing any video format around.

• Lezette Engelbrecht

  Double Take

  

  Bloggles the mind

  Blog awards contradict the very nature of the medium.

Off the Wires

 

 

 

 

Industry Insight

• Contact Centres and CRM

  

  Make contact count

  Optimise agent performance in a real-time world to make the contact centre more efficient.
  by Dave Paulding

• Business intelligence

  

  Avoid a Crimson Tide disaster

  Improve flexibility through a comprehensive business intelligence system.
  by Yolanda Smit

• Printing and Imaging

  

  It pays to assess

  Cost-savings for SMEs can be predicted and achieved with the careful assessment of printing output needs.
  by Rabin Ram

• Business Intelligence

  

  When content and data collide

  The massive amount of content gathering means the data warehouse is taking strain.
  by Dr Barry Devlin

• Virtualisation

  

  Virtualisation: people and processes

  The IT management expert's perspective on the real advantages of virtualisation.
  by Andrea Lodolo

• Networking

  

  Vendor redundancy

  Mitigate risk by limiting an organisation's exposure to a single vendor's decisions.
  by Andy Robb

• Cloud Computing

  

  Be cloud prepared

  Gear up for cloud computing with a multi-tenant network.
  by Martin May

• Contact Centres and CRM

  

  More than just software

  Workforce management needs process definition and organisational consideration.
  by Dave Paulding

IT Personality & Visionary CIO 2010 finalists The 2010 IT Personality and Visionary CIO finalists have been named.  IT Personality 2010 finalists Brett Dawson Arthur Goldstuck Mark Levy Zibusiso Mkhwanazi Jene Palmer Visionary CIO 2010 finalists Rael Lissoos Patrick Monyeki Julius Segole Liam Terblanche

News around the world

In-Depth

Overview

Water vapour

Outsourcing and managed services are old news, and cloud computing is old new technology. What does the combination mean for end-users?
by Samantha Perry

Breakout

Big business

Outsourcing and managed services is big business, and with the advent of cloud computing, it's only going to get bigger.
by Samantha Perry

After hours

Your Career

MOST READ

• Cell C ordered to drop '4G' branding
• 8ta is copying us, says Cell C
• Answer to ICT skills shortage?
• Window of opportunity for Telkom Mobile
• 'Broadband is not about speed'

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LATEST COMMENTS

• Kelly hits out at 'fronting' report
• Strong lady
• BRAZIL AND DOC LEFT SOUTH AFRICANS WITHOUT DIGITAL TV DURING THE WORLD CUP!
• DVB-T2 IS SUPERIOR AND MORE ADVANCED (FACT)
• Cut it Out!
• I'm a fan of Android, but...

MUST READ

Switch-off looms, limited-time telecoms bonanza, and 8ta's sky-high ambitions.

Nyanda sticks to digital TV deadline

But market commentators say there is no way the country could turn off analogue television next year. By Nicola Mawson » Full story » Comment

Consumer is king... For now

8ta's entry has bolstered competition in the market – but this will inevitably die down. By Leigh-Ann Francis » Full story » Comment

8ta unlikely to achieve targets

The mobile newcomer's target of capturing up to 15% of the market within five years is described as “very ambitious”. By Leigh-Ann Francis and Farzana Rasool » Full story » Comment

 

Quote of the Day

Analysis

Video

Money Minute with Nicola Mawson - 15 October 2010

This week: Telkom wiggles, DiData sold, valuing Comztek, and Datatec up.

Pic of the Day

	Smiley spy This smiley face badge doubles as a spy cam. Beneath its happy exterior, the Smile-DVR smiley face button conceals a 720×480 resolution video camera. Photograph by Technabob

An ITWeb Executive Forum in partnership with McAfee ITWeb, McAfee executive summit and networking forum 3 November 2010 | La Toscana, Montecasino Exclusive half day event - network with McAfee experts McAfee’s exclusive C-level executive briefing on the latest security research and cyber crime tactics will he held on 3 November. If you’re a CSO or CIO with an interest in information security, reserve your seat today! Attendance at this forum is FREE, but seating is limited. Reserve your seat today!

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