Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is to expand internet connectivity countrywide so as to increase access to information and communication technology (ICT) services in the country.

During the third East Africa Internet Governance Forum held at Imperial Royale, Patrick Mwesigwa, the acting Executive Director of UCC, said Uganda has prioritized the expansion of internet connectivity as a mechanism of connecting the rural communities with the urban ones through the Rural Communications Development (RCD).

Mwesigwa says that under the new RCD policy, UCC aims to expand internet coverage and computer accessibility in most of public institutions like schools, administrative units and hospitals across the country.

“UCC intends to provide broadband connectivity especially to educational institutions and health centres across the country,” he said.

The policy will be pinnacle for the development of a commercially viable communications infrastructure in rural Uganda, thereby promoting social, economic and regional equity in the deployment of telephone, Internet and postal services, according to the UCC.

Mwesigwa called for a fight against internet insecurities like theft, cyber crimes and illegal information hacking.

“The region will not fully benefit from the infrastructure if online safety is not assured,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mwesigwa says UCC has drawn strategies to improve online safety to guarantee confidence to internet customers/subscribers.

This comes after Government recently passed the Regulation of Interception of Communications bill. Other bills such as Computer Misuse, Electronic Transactions, which seek to guarantee security, are in the pipeline.

Currently, Kenya has established a national Computer Emergency Response Team that coordinates responses to cyber security.

From: The Observer

World's Chip giant Intel announced its full acquisation of a security company McAfee. The deal, which was agreed by both boards of directors, is valued at US$7.68 Billion.

Both boards of directors have unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close after McAfee shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary conditions specified in the agreement.

Inside Intel, the company has elevated the priority of security to be on par with its strategic focus areas in energy-efficient performance and Internet connectivity.
McAfee, which has enjoyed double-digit, year-over-year growth and nearly 80 percent gross margins last year, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel, reporting into Intel’s Software and Services Group. The group is managed by Renée James, Intel senior vice president, and general manager of the group.

“With the rapid expansion of growth across a vast array of Internet-connected devices, more and more of the elements of our lives have moved online,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. “In the past, energy-efficient performance and connectivity have defined computing requirements. Looking forward, security will join those as a third pillar of what people demand from all computing experiences.
“The addition of McAfee products and technologies into the Intel computing portfolio brings us incredibly talented people with a track record of delivering security innovations, products and services that the industry and consumers trust to make connecting to the Internet safer and more secure,” Otellini added.

“Hardware-enhanced security will lead to breakthroughs in effectively countering the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow,” said James. “This acquisition is consistent with our software and services strategy to deliver an outstanding computing experience in fast-growing business areas, especially around the move to wireless mobility.”

“McAfee is the next step in this strategy, and the right security partner for us,” she added. “Our current work together has impressive prospects, and we look forward to introducing a product from our strategic partnership next year.”
“The cyber threat landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years, with millions of new threats appearing every month,” said Dave DeWalt, president and CEO of McAfee. “We believe this acquisition will result in our ability to deliver a safer, more secure and trusted Internet-enabled device experience.”

Ugandans expect more price reductions in the cost of internet, following the launch of the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) in South Africa last week.
EASSy, like the Seacom cable, is an undersea high speed internet cable system connecting 21 African countries from Southern Africa to the north and the rest of the world.

The cable went into commercial service at the end of July but was announced operational last Thursday, according to the EASSy Consortium, composed of the MTN Group, France Telecom, Uganda Telecom and Bharti Airtel.
The over 10,000 kilometre cable was set up with the objective of condensing the cost of telecommunication on the continent between African nations, Europe and North America.

It was built at a cost of Shs578 billion ($263m) by 16 telecom operators and international investors. In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Ken Mwai, the general manager Afsat Communications Uganda, predicted that the arrival of EASSy internet capacity, will lead to a further reduction in the cost of the service and at the same time boost reliability.

Mr Mwai further said: “Based on what I have heard about the pricing for the service, we expect further price reductions in bandwidth costs.”
He added: “This will pass on to customers in terms of low price benefits.”

From Daily Monitor

MAKERERE University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Venasius Baryamureeba, challenged telecommunications firms in Uganda to use their networks to spur development in rural Uganda.
Speaking at the launch of the MTN Mobile Internet 3G+ Experiential Week in Kampala last week, Prof. Baryamureeba said the telecommunications firms were best placed to create development in Uganda by supporting the health and education services particularly in remote areas.
“I am calling upon the telecomm companies to cater for those in the rural communities, educational institutions and health facilities. Through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and by providing extensive quality internet services you will enhance development,” he said.
Prof. Baryamureeba, a former Dean of the department of Computer and Information Technologies at Makerere University, said internet access was a key driver of development, and asked telecommunications firms to focus on making it accessible across the country.

MTN Chief Executive Officer, Themba Khumalo, said his firm considered the new 3G+ Data Network to be an aid to development because of the positive impact it would have on business and society in general.
“We believe that Internet access should not be restricted to the elite few. High speed internet access can be a tool of national development and social integration in Uganda, if made available to the millions. This is the premise of MTN Mobile Internet 3G+. With high speed internet access, businesses can do a lot more; they will achieve much higher levels of efficiency and productivity,” he said.

The new MTN 3G+ Data Network is accessible in Kampala, Entebbe, Arua, Gulu, Iganga, Jinja, Kalangala, Masaka and Mbarara. Mr. Khumalo added that within the next four weeks, the network would go further to Busia, Hoima, Kabale, Malaba, Masindi, Mbale,  Tororo and Ibanda.
“Internet access and penetration in Uganda is reported to be at 2%. This is going to change quickly with the introduction of our 3.5G data network. The internet is now more affordable and easy to reach, for all groups of people - whether you’re a housewife, a student or a large corporate,” he added.

AVG internet security company yesterday announced that over 55000 computers around the world lost data of aproximate 60GB to criminal or hackers who confortably used Botnet.
This report was produced by ZDNet

The botnet, which AVG has dubbed 'Mumba', has compromised systems in the UK, as well as in the US, Germany and Spain, the company said in a report released on Monday. The stolen credentials found by AVG's researchers includes bank account numbers, credit card details and social-networking logins.
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The cyber-gang used the botnet to host phishing sites, store collected data and spread data-stealing malware, according to the report. AVG's researchers found that the compromised computers were spreading four different variants of the Zeus data-stealing Trojan.

The Mumba botnet uses a fast-flux infrastructure to minimise the risk to the criminal of takedown by law enforcement and other agencies. Fast-flux systems hide command-and-control servers within the body of infected computers by constantly reallocating the server.

Source: ZDNet