Africa & Middle East – Page 26
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Partnerships & AlliancesSpaceMobile lines up 2022 trials with Vodacom
Chairman Abel Avellan says six-month interconnection and testing programme will follow launch of BlueWalker 3 prototype. Lift-off of giant spacecraft may see slight slippage. US startup adds more MNO partners to go-to-market ahead of 2023 debut.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodacom in talks over rural wireless alliance
Operator scoping out partners to share investment in thousands of extra sites across its sub-Saharan African footprint. Venture adds to wider technology and business model experimentation by Vodacom, to fund network expansion.
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M&AVodacom expands into Egypt with Vodafone stake switch
Vodafone to increase its stake in Vodacom to more than 65% following the transaction. Internal deal follows STC’s failed mission to buy Vodafone Egypt during 2020.
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Financial & PerformanceSafaricom confident on Ethiopia despite ‘staff evacuation’
Staff safety and security a priority in Ethiopia, says Safaricom’s Peter Ndegwa, but progress remains on track despite distractions. Break-even forecasts braced for impact of conflict. Employees evacuated from Addis Ababa, according to reports.
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Suppliers & SCMSafaricom in talks with Kenya Power to install smart grid
Build, operate, and transfer deal reportedly under discussion.
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PremiumSafaricom to debut 5G in 2022
Kenyan operator extending 5G trials to “additional towns”; commercial launch slated for 2022. Operator looking to further boost mobile data revenue. Rival Airtel on 5G scene too.
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Public AffairsUK government defends Ethiopian mobile investment
Vodafone and CDC investment in Ethiopian mobile operator crops up in parliamentary debate on Tigray humanitarian crisis. Investment deemed to be “right” and long term. CDC emphasises role as impact investor with a lot of patience. Vodacom agrees to fund Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone sees sales dip from international tie-ups
Revenue from Group’s Partner Markets federation falls back amid pandemic and footprint reduction. Vodafone’s flow of cash from Africa takes a drop following rework of M-PESA business.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone Oman opens new HQ
Partner Markets’ greenfield operator expected to launch services “very soon”. Taps Ericsson for network and Netcracker for BSS.
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Products & ServicesVodafone commences Group wide roll out of ‘Eco-SIMs’
Group ups ante on waste reduction with launch of recycled SIM chips. ‘Eco-SIMs’ to be rolled out in 15 territories. Available in UK from spring next year.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Google extends finance initiative support
Google arrows on Africa; XLink ties with AWS; Trend Micro extends range to Africa.
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Venturing & InvestmentsElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs: TPG launches smart farming trial
INWIT banks EIB backing; TPG launches government-funded smart farming trial; Vantage shakes CRA hand for Czech IoT expansion.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Proximus launches regional fibre JV
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: Get-go for Proximus’s regional fibre JV; MTS firms up tower spin out ambitions; NZ operator parts company with Vodafone Group’s Tobi.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodacom’s Super App cushioned if “politics” plays up
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub says operator’s VodaPay Super App smarts are protected if political changes affect Alipay. Alipay technology underpins Vodacom’s financial services growth plans. Super App set for commercial launch in South Africa this month.
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M&AVodacom aims for 100m fintech users on road to sale
CEO Shameel Joosub sets sights on nine-figure base to win better bargaining position with potential buyers and partners. Vodacom taking control of fintech offerings in Ghana and Egypt, to fuel expansion.
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Enterprise (B2B)Safaricom upping B2B ante with new marketplace
Kenyan operator looking to connect better with small business requirements. Move furthers Safaricom’s “fintech-anchored” digital growth strategy.
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M&AVodafone’s nudge technique gets STC ‘back to table’
Regional media reports indicate that Saudi Telecom Company is seeking to revive a buyout of the Group’s Egyptian business, after failure of 2020 deal. Move follows Vodafone’s exploration of an internal switch of Egyptian OpCo.
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PremiumVodafone people moves: Ethiopia hierarchy laid out
Inaugural leadership team named at Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia, with remaining executives reported in local press. Vodafone Ghana opens search for new CTO after incumbent exits for MTN. Further changes at Partner Markets after meld within Vodafone Business.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone Turkey CEO signals support for three-way FibreCo
Turkey’s President is said to be in favour of a joint infrastructure company. Recently appointed Vodafone Turkey CEO appears keen too, as part of new 2025 growth strategy.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Systems Solutions: oneclick expands partnership
oneclick expands partnership; Telekom Security offers training tools.