Pushed on by the continent's robust economic growth and an increasingly competitive marketplace the number of subscriptions in Africa is set to hit one billion by 2015, London-based Informa Telecoms & Media said Monday. The group forecasts that the African market will have grown 18 percent by the end of next year, against the world average of 11%.

6. Sniffer Mice Used to Detect Bombs and Drugs

Teams of highly trained mice could be used to sniff out explosives and drugs at airports. The system is being pioneered by Israeli firm Tamar Group. It uses specially trained mice equipped with biological sensors which detect changes in their heart rate, breathing, and other factors. The animals are trained to react when they smell explosives or drugs and their reactions are recorded by a computer.

7. Access Plans KES 20 Million Fibre Network

AccessKenya has earmarked KES 120 million to deploy fibre connections in 2013. The listed IT solutions provider said this is driven by increase in demand for broadband fixed internet subscription especially by corporates. “We continue to sign up clients onto our fibre network and our expansion is entirely demand - driven. This not only underscores the need for strategic investment in the deployment of fibre technologies, but also signals the maturity of the Kenyan market in internet usage and consumption,” said AccessKenya Managing Director Kris Senanu.

8. State Seeking Ways to Ensure Banks Cut Rates

The Treasury is pursuing yet to be disclosed mechanisms to make banks cut their interest rates at a much faster rate every time the Central Bank Rate is reduced.

Finance Minister Njeru Githae said it was unacceptable for banks to take up to three months before effecting the necessary reductions after the Central Bank monetary committee slashes the CBR, the key indicative rate to banks.