Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 11 | Page 21

PROJECT LATEST MALAWI MALAWI As part of its ongoing commitment to developing the healthcare infrastructure in Malawi, the country’s Ministry of Health, through the Global Fund Project Implementation Unit (PIU), has embarked on a $3.7 million project to install solar energy at 85 health facilities nationwide. In an interview with Malawi’s The Nation newspaper, the Ministry of Health’s Chief of Health Services, Dr Charles Mwansambo, said that the initiative aims to ensure seamless delivery of healthcare services in the face of prolonged power outages the country is currently experiencing. “The goal is to prioritise saving lives and curbing power disruptions, especially in key hospital sections like theatres, maternity wings, intensive care units and the section for children under five,” he said. SOUTH AFRICA (GAUTENG) Vodacom’s Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network is now operational in Gauteng. Vodacom is the first South African mobile network operator to announce the commercial availability of its NB-IoT network. The commercial roll-out of NB-IoT is expected to accelerate IoT adoption rates, with Vodacom currently averaging 55,000 new IoT connections per month. Developers, partners and customers are now able to build and launch low-power wide area (LPWA) solutions based on Vodacom’s NB-IoT eco-system in South Africa. LPWA describes a category of wireless communication technologies designed to support IoT deployments and is seen as a catalyst for the next wave of connected ‘things’ as these networks can communicate with devices where radio infiltration has not previously been possible. GAUTENG www.intelligentcio.com www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 21 INTELLIGENTCIO 21