All Africa articles – Page 10
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: MTS acquires Factorin
Developments from around Vodafone’s softpower network. MTS acquires control of Factorin. SoftBank continues satellite broadband endeavours. Musical chairs at Tele2.
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People
Safaricom taps Guinness exec as Ethiopian CFO
Top finance and people hires confirmed as Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia plots build out. Startup operator aiming for 1,000-strong headcount to support 2022 launch.
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Strategy & Change
Vodacom-owned XLink lays groundwork for new MD
Fleet-footed 2016 acquisition on the lookout for new leader. MD incumbent yet to reveal next step. Recent re-positioning sees provider embrace cloud and up focus on finance and retail markets.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom starts TowerCo separation sequence
Operator looking to install managing executive, and then fuller leadership team, to drive tower separation plans outlined in May. Plan to explore stake sale reiterated. Initial focus on biggest market South Africa.
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Venturing & Investments
African energy startup borrows $100m for scale-out plan
Safaricom partner Circle Gas secures nine-figure loan to drive expansion in African (and potentially Asian) markets. Targets include Nigeria and neighbouring markets of Kenya and Tanzania, where startup is already present. Capital needed for investment-heavy distribution platform.
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People
Vodacom Tanzania names Mdlalose CEO
Former Vodacom SA CFO takes the reins from Madrid-bound Hendi. Well-travelled Mdlalose looks to settle into Tanzanian challenge.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom talks up Dialog network upgrade
OpCo “enjoying the benefits” from ST Engineering’s Newtec Dialog VSAT migration. Installation completed under lockdown, with remote support key.
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Public Affairs
Safaricom split proposal all but quashed
Overwhelming majority of MPs choose not to engage in debate over Kenyan operator’s future structure. Controversial proposal does little to revive ghosts of the past.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telecom Egypt to hold Vodafone to “strict” dividend deal
Executives of Vodafone’s Egyptian partner suggest new deal gives watertight dividend flow from their joint mobile business. Agreement creates path for Vodafone to do an internal switch of its Egyptian OpCo, following failed Saudi Telecom deal.
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People
New digs for Vodacom exec duo
Vodacom DRC sources from within for new MD appointment. Al Americani to head digital services push following Soussa’s transition to Ethiopia. Vodafone veteran Hendi swaps Tanzania for Spain.
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Premium
Vodacom optics take off with Nokia tech
South African optical network trials hailed as a success, with Nokia hardware enabling long-distance, high-capacity data transmission. Testing seen as a proof of concept for wider rollout and 5G services expansion.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Safaricom’s tax hike response
Safaricom responds to excise tax hike; M-PESA management rejig reaches Lesotho; change at top of Xlink.
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People
Vodafone’s Ethiopian OpCo gets a leader
Anwar Soussa takes job as first MD of as-yet-unnamed OpCo. Industry veteran brings M-PESA experience. EOC plans and ownership remain vague.
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Products & Services
Safaricom, Vodacom launch m-money Super Apps
Safaricom’s m-payment and remittance service leaps into the digital services realm with an experience-focused facelift. “Super App”- tag attached to revamped M-PESA, with new functionality showing resemblances with Vodacom–Alipay’s ‘app-within-an-app’ concept. Vodacom’s Super App now onboarding partners.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Vodacom debuts new products
Safaricom rival Ethio making hay in m-money; Vodacom debuts new products in youth market and SMME lending; Aziz back on radar in Tanzania.
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Public Affairs
DRC: Vodacom denounces ‘arbitrary’ engineer arrest
Vodacom DRC formally protests arrest of engineer on allegations of fraud. Controversial mobile device registry at the centre of the row, which has in recent months seen marches on the streets of Kinshasa.
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Strategy & Change
Vodacom to unify network and IT functions
Push for efficiencies encompassing rework of network and IT platforms, alongside major skills and capability upgrade. Following 2020 reorg, CEO Joosub concentrating heavily on extracting value and savings out of Group assets and operations. Programme likely to see cloud-based overhaul of Vodacom IT stacks and network functions.
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People
Fresh faces bedded in at Joosub’s Vodacom ExecCo
Vodacom Executive Committee confirmed with five newcomers. Vodacom South Africa joins Safaricom with a seat at the table, while other African OpCos grouped under International Business.
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Strategy & Change
Ethiopia: Kenyan president gets behind Safaricom entry
President Kenyatta urges Ethiopia to open up m-money market. Safaricom reveals planned ownership structure of future Opco, with Vodafone set to play a very limited role.
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People
Ralebitso fills Vodacom Lesotho’s MD vacancy
OpCo appoints “transformational leader” as it pushes into the realm of becoming digital services specialist.