Africa & Middle East – Page 18
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Partnerships & AlliancesM-PESA gets interoperability boost in Kenya
Airtel, Telkom, and Safaricom customers granted access to M-PESA till payments. Central Bank of Kenya says first phase will “deepen digitalisation” for businesses. Airtel Money and T-kash equivalents still some way off.
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Network & InfrastructureDT committed to high-flying partner despite write-down
HAPS specialist Stratospheric Platforms remains loss making, but DT stays on board. Pilot in Saudi Arabia beamed a 5G signal from a mast 45,000ft in the air.
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OperationsCost-cutter and digitiser _VOIS: Vodafone’s agent of change lands in three new Local Markets
Vodafone Intelligent Solutions said to have created new bases in Albania, Turkey, and the UK. Group’s long-term centralisation efforts netted over €1.2bn in savings in the three years to March 2021.
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Partnerships & AlliancesUiPath highlights RPA tie-ups with T-Mobile, Vodacom
T-Mobile has been working with RPA specialists to handle the Sprint integration. Vodacom sees RPA as key to operational efficiency and customer experience.
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Venturing & InvestmentsUK’s rebranded BII embarks on new impact investing
British International Investment (BII) embraces broader digital strategy.
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Operations“A country with enormous potential”: Safaricom poised for Ethiopia launch
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia aims to go live on 9 April 2022. Hopes to add M-PESA within the next 12 months. Over 300 staff recruited to work in the country.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: corruption in Lesotho?
Allegations of corruption in Lesotho said to be hampering 5G deployment; Vodacom appeals Please Call Me High Court ruling.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: VfNZ exploring tower sales
Entel sells four data centres to Equinix; VfNZ kicks off towers sale process, and acquires majority share in cybersecurity provider DEFEND.
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Public AffairsSafaricom stands alone against tariff changes
Kenyan communications authority set to cut mobile termination rates by 88%, with Safaricom seen as biggest loser. Rate cuts said to level playing field, and enable greater competition and lower barriers for new market entrants.
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Public AffairsPlease Call Me inventor resolute against Vodacom appeal
Nkosana Makate will pursue compensation “until the end of the road” after Vodacom lodged a formal appeal against High Court rulings. Vodacom offers millions to Makate, who claims billions are owed.
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Innovation (R&D)UAE lab provides blueprint for BT’s university partnerships
BT using success of EBTIC collaboration to inform university partnerships in Ireland and India, building ties with local academics to support Adastral Park R&D. BT- and Khalifa University-backed EBTIC showcases collaborative innovation projects as partnership enters “Phase 3”.
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Products & ServicesClaws out for M-PESA from Central Bank, Treasury
Bank Governor Njoroge tells Senate ICT Committee that a standalone m-money business will improve regulation and customer protection in Kenya. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Yatani adds that M-PESA transaction charges are too high. Njoroge and Yatani’s submissions are part of probe into alleged monopolistic practices by Safaricom. Central Bank opens ...
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Network & InfrastructureVodacom is big spender in SA spectrum auction
Long-awaited auction finally complete, but legal challenge looms. Vodacom is highest bidder, just ahead of MTN, and snags most spectrum. Government halts plan for controversial Wholesale Open Access Network.
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Products & ServicesM-PESA not threatened by talk of central Kenyan e-money
A central digital currency would not step on M-PESA toes, says MD Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, but cooperation key to finding efficiencies in a market dominated by Safaricom’s e-money offering. M-PESA at 15: 51 million users in seven markets; Kenyan strength; Super App prospects on the horizon, as is competition.
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Network & InfrastructureVodacom on starting line for SA spectrum auction
Rain Networks and Telkom win spectrum in the initial ‘opt-in’ auction for tier-two operators. Telkom court case is still due to take place in April 2022. ICASA insists there is no legal impediment to the main auction on Thursday.
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PremiumSetback for Vodacom in Please Call Me legal battle
High Court orders operator to pay inventor 5% of Please Call Me revenue. 20-year dispute not over yet, but end is in sight.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Little Cab launches in Addis Ababa
Safaricom out to block CA mobile tariff slash; Little Cab arrives in Ethiopia.
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PremiumJoosub says ‘all systems go’ for spectrum auction
Telkom secures court hearing dates in April 2022, after the auction is due to take place. President Cyril Ramaphosa says auction will start by early-March 2022. Six operators apply to take part, including MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom.
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PremiumSafaricom builds up for Ethiopian launch
Ethiopian OpCo signs up VMware as telco cloud partner, and flags Huawei and Nokia as main network suppliers. Second data centre opened. Talks begin with rival Ethio on network access. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance anticipates service launch “sometime in April”.
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Network & InfrastructureHigh-flying DT partner pilots stratospheric 5G network
Stratospheric Platforms claims success in a demonstration of its High Altitude Platform System, beaming a 5G signal from a mast 45,000ft in the air. The DT investment and strategic partner ran the pilot above Saudi Arabia.