Kenyan gov't embraces open source

10 Sep 2012

TechCentral wraps up the major technology news from around the African continent.

The Kenyan government is ditching proprietary software in favour of free and open-source software alternatives in a move it hopes will save it money.

According to a report in Business Daily, the migration away from proprietary systems will see related costs go down by 20% initially but by as much as 80% within three years of the move having taken place.

...Sanlam, Bharti partner on financial services

Indian-controlled mobile operator Bharti Airtel, which has operations in 17 countries across Africa, has partnered with SA's Sanlam to offer insurance products on a non-exclusive basis in seven countries on the continent.

...Airtel, Essar want lower wholesale rates

Bharti Airtel and Essar Telecom Kenya have written to the Kenyan government asking for a reduction in the country's mobile termination rates, the fees operators charge each other to carry calls between their networks. The rates are set at 2,21 shillings, or about R0,21/minute.

Read the full story on www.techcentral.co.za.

Source: TechCentral

Founded by Duncan McLeod, TechCentral is the leading quality news and information resource for people involved in South Africa’s fast-growing information and communications technology industry and those interested in the fast-changing world of information technology. It provides quality news, reviews and comment relevant to its quickly expanding audience. Follow TechCentral on Twitter at TechCentral, become a Facebook fan and subscribe to the daily newsletter.

Go to: http://www.techcentral.co.za

Duncan McLeod

About Duncan McLeod: @mcleodd

Award-wining Duncan McLeod is the founder and editor of TechCentral (wwwTechCentral.co.za, @TechCentral]]), South Africa's latest technology news site offering breaking news, in-depth analysis and opinion that launched in September 2009. Before that, he was associate editor at the Financial Mail/FM. Contact Duncan on email duncan at techcentral dot co dot za and follow him on Twitter at @mcleodd.