Africa & Middle East – Page 27
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Products & Services
Vodafone to smarten up Paddington
Recent Vodacom acquisition IoT.nxt flags incoming Vodafone HQ smart-tech install.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Axiata swaps Vodafone for Telefónica
A score for Telefónica in global Partners Program vs Partner Markets match-up. Axiata to integrate and resell ElevenPaths cybersecurity. Deal expands Telefónica presence in ASEAN region as it strives to deliver growth through an overdue expansion in the MNC space.
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People
Joseph back in as Safaricom Chairman
Vodafone’s long-time Africa and m-money hand moves upstairs at Safaricom. Power appears re-balanced between Vodacom and state, Safaricom’s two largest shareholders.
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Products & Services
Vodacom tags Alipay to launch digital services “super app”
Partnering a world-leader may be indicative of ambitions for mobile payments, and maybe also e-commerce. Early stage African venture for Alipay, but strategic investor Alibaba has been spinning up regional strategy for several years. Where do M-PESA and Safaricom fit?
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: European towercos get new leadership
Three new managing directors at European infrastructure spin-offs in Germany, Ireland, and Spain. VfUK CEO Nick Jeffery joins COVID-19 Recovery Commission. Vodacom and Safaricom find temporary replacements for outgoing execs.
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M&A
BT Global finalises French offload to Computacenter
Asset-light playbook repeated. BT to continue serving MNCs and retain local SoC.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Vodacom Business Africa extends to Middle East
VBA now supporting IP-VPN services in twelve Middle East countries. Major footprint expansion beyond Africa — complementing Vodafone.
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M&A
Vodafone Egypt sale hit by further delay
stc seeks two more months, with due-diligence and funding in the frame. Telecom Egypt remains thornily enigmatic.
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M&A
Vodafone Egypt sale inches forward
STC reportedly completes its due diligence. Potential deal still muddied by questions over 45% stake held by Telecom Egypt.
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Public Affairs
SA preps plunger for 4G/5G spectrum blockage
Vodacom’s long wait for more network resource in its home market appears to be coming to an end, although false starts have been seen before in SA.
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M&A
Mzimba: Vodacom remains on lookout for B2B buys
South African group still on hunt for venturing possibilities; aims to become “end-to-end digital transformation partner”.
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Public Affairs
Vodacom: 2019 arrests in Tanzania were “troubling”
Shockwaves have evidently not yet subsided from strikingly severe treatment of executives in April 2019 incident.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Kenyan waterco taps Safaricom for IoT data stream
Safaricom provided network connectivity for Kenyan utilities provider, monitoring water flow with IoT devices to improve efficiency and management.
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Network & Infrastructure
Safaricom continues to eye Ethiopian expansion
Kenyan operator continues to edge towards its northern neighbour for next expansive step, with Ethiopia opening its markets to two new mobile competitors. Vodafone and associates reaching out to investment groups to back bid.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodacom’s IoT.nxt digs for in-house growth
Startup claims fears over absorption into the Vodacom super-structure have so far been unrealised. Internet of Things player wins central place in Vodafone’s private network package for mining businesses.
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M&A
BT exits Saudi JV
30-year relationship trimmed back as part of BT’s broader global operations revamp. Transformation process also sees closure of branch in Abu Dhabi.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Vodacom makes move into mobile private networks
Mining an early target for integrated IoT, edge, and analytics solution.
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Premium
Vodafone Q4 FY19–20 management update: staying the course, post-coronavirus
Read infers Group is better placed, post-Colao for economic downturn. Della Valle confirms new, AT Kearney-inspired €1bn cost-cutting plan, after trailering move in late-2019. No disruption to Read’s M&A overhaul, beyond Egypt. Targets hit but glitchy performance, both at OpCos and Vodafone Business.
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Premium
Vodafone jumps aboard 2Africa subsea cable project
Facebook features among consortium pals. Sign Vodafone Carrier Services has not been forgotten. Continent’s existing long-distance networks, including those co-owned by Group, seen as inadequate.
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Strategy & Change
Vodacom puts home market business back in action
U-turn on Vodacom South Africa as it returns to becoming a standalone business with its own MD. Group creates simplified structure to manage expanded African portfolio.