CBNL Wins Nigerian 3G Network Upgrade Contract:

UK based Cambridge Broadband Networks (CBNL) has announced new contracts with MTN Nigeria to upgrade and expand capacity of the operator's 3G network.

The contracts will see CBNL undertake the supply, installation and commissioning of new VectaStar backhaul equipment to improve the quality of services for MTN Nigeria -- an operator with over 47 million subscribers.

In addition to backhauling cell sites throughout the country, CBNL will be working in partnership with MTN to provide programme management, deployment and support services to ensure delivery of the upgrade.

"We have seen a significant growth in subscribers accessing the internet via 3G over the past few years, and as a result will be modernising our network in order to expand capacity and continue delivering the customer experience and mobile access expected by our customer base," said Olusegun Salami, Senior Manager, Transmission Access Planning, MTN Nigeria.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Southern African Governments Accelerate Mobile Access to an Extra 300 Million People:

The Governments of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia have agreed a set of common priorities to accelerate the roll out of mobile broadband in the region, with the view of creating an additional 3.2 million jobs for Sub-Saharan Africa by 2020.

Government ministers welcomed the positive impact of mobile on their digital economies. The mobile ecosystem currently contributes 6.3 per cent of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa and could grow to 8.2 per cent by 2020 with the right policies to encourage investment. Equally, mobile penetration could increase to 93 per cent of the region's population by 2020, bringing mobile access to an additional 300 million citizens.

Signing a Communique, Ministers agreed to a series of measures including the creation of a Joint Task Force strengthening regional cooperation to support investment in mobile.

"The provision of universal broadband access is vital in driving economic growth and improving the quality of life in Botswana and across Southern Africa," said Honourable Nonofo E. Molefhi, Minister of Transport and Communication for Botswana. "With greater coordination between regional governments and between the public and private sectors, mobile broadband can play a critical role in closing the digital divide."