Africa’s data market is experiencing a reset, with the aggressive rollout of satellite internet and intense competition promising faster and cheaper services, including markets with some of the world’s most expensive data plans. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | A year after the introduction of commercial-scale satellite internet by Elon …
Read More »Rise of digital activism in Africa as smartphone adoption surges
With Africa’s youth increasingly taking to smartphones to engage in a variety of activities – including civic and political activism – on social media, smart handset shipments are on the rise across the continent. They have now overtaken feature phone shipments for the first time, according to new reports. SPECIAL …
Read More »Martyrs Day: 130 phones stolen,148 arrested
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 130 mobile phones were stolen from pilgrims at the Catholic and Anglican martyrs’ shrines in Namugongo, according to a joint security forces’ report released this morning in Kampala. Security forces say that the phones were snatched by thugs who disguised as pilgrims …
Read More »Luwero schools given smartphones to track teachers and learners attendance
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government schools in Luwero district have recieved smartphones from the Ministry of Education and Sports to track the daily attendance of teachers and learners. The Education Ministry delivered smartphones to 230 Universal Primary schools, 23 government-aided secondary schools, and two technical schools in the district Tuesday. …
Read More »Mobile phones, bags barred as Mak 73rd graduation commences
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of parents and graduands attending the 73rd Makerere University graduation ceremonies are protesting the inconveniences and restrictions caused by the organizers. Notably, the attendees could not stop wondering why they are being stopped from carrying mobile phones and bags into the university premises. …
Read More »TWO-WEEK OPERATION: Traffic Police arrest 382 for driving while speaking on phone
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Traffic police has raised concern over the increasing incidents of people driving while speaking on their mobile phones. Assistant Superintendent of Police Faridah Nampiima, the traffic police spokesperson, said every day the number of drivers using their phone while driving is increasing on the …
Read More »What do you do with gadgets when they die? Recycle them, of course
In Nigeria’s Rivers State, engineering company Egoras is successfully refurbishing e-waste into affordable appliances, creating a new market for recycled and upcycled products. Lagos, Nigeria | BIRD STORY AGENCY | It was the first day of the much-anticipated Egoras Trade Fair in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria. The company had announced it …
Read More »Lockdown, mobile phones misuse fuel rampant road crashes
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The traffic police have cited the Covid-19 lockdown and distractions like speaking on phones as major causes of the rampant road crashes. Traffic police spokesperson Faridah Nampiima, said their investigations into the recent tyre bursts have established that the bursting tyres are mostly on those vehicles …
Read More »UCC, private sector partner against fake phones
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has partnered with the private sector and civil society to prepare the public ahead of the planned blocking of counterfeit mobile phones and other communication gadgets from the market. After failed attempts to rid the market of sub-standard and counterfeit phones for more …
Read More »UCC resorts to mass sensitization on counterfeit phones
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | After making various attempts to switch off substandard cell phones in vain, Uganda Communications Commission-UCC has shifted focus on empowering Ugandans to enable them to make informed decisions when buying mobile phones. UCC has for more than ten years made various attempts to get rid …
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