Kenya Telecoms News

Telcos represented in UN-backed statement urging alignment of COVID‑19 economic response with climate action. Magyar Telekom, GSMA, and Orange also pledge support.

Products & Services

M-PESA set for expansion as deal is agreed

Decentralisation billed as way to unlock new phase of expansion.

Partnerships & Alliances

Safaricom, AWS partner on enterprise IT services

Safaricom partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) on enterprise IT services

Enterprise (B2B)

Safaricom automates assurance with Amdocs

Project said to bring “more comprehensive and adaptive” safeguards.

Products & Services

M-PESA IP transfer to Safaricom hit by delays

Vodafone’s plan to transfer intellectual property (IP) rights for the high‑profile M‑PESA m‑money service to Safaricom and parent Vodacom Group looks to have been delayed

Venturing & Investments

Sendy raises $20m in Series-B funding

Package delivery platform (and Safaricom investment) Sendy raised $20m (£15.4m/€18.5m) in a Series‑B funding round, led by Atlantica Ventures and Toyota Tsusho, the car manufacturer’s trading arm

Partnerships & Alliances

Vodafone Ireland, SLA Digital partnership expands

VfIr appointed SLA Digital as its managed service provider for Direct Carrier Billing (DCB).

Products & Services

Safaricom revamps Masoko e-commerce platform

Safaricom announced a revamp to its e‑commerce marketplace Masoko, which is linked closely with flagship m‑money offering M‑PESA.

M&A

Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya secure merger approval

Safaricom rivals Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya secured approval for their merger from the Competition Authority of Kenya. Clearance of the proposed combination is still awaiting approval from Kenya’s Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission.

Financial & Performance

Vodafone savings not yet impacting African business

Vodafone’s drive to squeeze “industrial savings” out of tower infrastructure in Europe and India does not yet appear to have extended to its African footprint.

Products & Services

Safaricom to reboot MPost

MPost has been in operation for some time through the Postal Corporation of Kenya, but the Safaricom partnership is being treated as something of a relaunch

Operations

Vodafone to make Ethiopia play

Vodafone’s plan to enter Ethiopia is taking shape, but will not be what was first expected.

Network & Infrastructure

Safaricom has a peek over the edge

CDN and MEC feature in tenders. Next step to be taken in Android-based TV play.

Products & Services

Reverse Call feature introduced by Safaricom

Safaricom released a Reverse Call feature, enabling its customers to transfer the cost of a call to the receiver.

Public Affairs

Kenya’s High Court dismisses SportPesa’s case

SportPesa attempted to challenge the country’s BCLB decision to cancel its operational licence.

Public Affairs

Safaricom tagged in Airtel-Telkom politics

Rival drags Safaricom into arguments as merger hits problems.

People

Vodafone Rest of World Region People Moves, July 2019

Latest people movements inlcude: Michael Joseph, George Njuguna, Thibaud Rerolle, Jacqueline Kalaza, Abhay Parashar, Sainath Rajagopal.

Network & Infrastructure

Safaricom is the latest to introduce LTE services

Safaricom is the latest Vodafone business to launch voice-over-LTE and video-over-LTE services.

People

Tributes poured in for Chief Executive of Safaricom, Bob Collymore

Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom, died on 1 July 2019 aged 61, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Suppliers & SCM

Vodacom Group spreads supply to mitigate US-China fall-out

Political storm spreading beyond Vodafone’s European homeland.

“Great collection of information on Vodafone. I could not keep up with it myself, nor would I get some of the information internally.” – Sales Lead, Vodafone

“The detail is very good. Better than we get internally” - GM, Vodafone

“I continue to learn more from your monthly reports than I do from my own internal comms teams!” - Director, Telefónica Group

“Deutsche Telekomwatch is filled with great insights, brilliant little nuggets, and ensures you’re kept fully up-to-speed.” - Head of Business Development, Deutsche Telekom

“Really detailed overview of activity across the business, that I would not otherwise have visibility of.” - Client Director, BT Group

“Absolutely crucial to understand my Customer’s Strategy” - Key Account Manager, Nokia

“Great collection of information on Vodafone. I could not keep up with it myself, nor would I get some of the information internally.” – Sales Lead, Vodafone
“The detail is very good. Better than we get internally” - GM, Vodafone
“I continue to learn more from your monthly reports than I do from my own internal comms teams!” - Director, Telefónica Group
“Deutsche Telekomwatch is filled with great insights, brilliant little nuggets, and ensures you’re kept fully up-to-speed.” - Head of Business Development, Deutsche Telekom
“Really detailed overview of activity across the business, that I would not otherwise have visibility of.” - Client Director, BT Group
“Absolutely crucial to understand my Customer’s Strategy” - Key Account Manager, Nokia

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Kenya Telecoms News

“Great collection of information on Vodafone. I could not keep up with it myself, nor would I get some of the information internally.” – Sales Lead, Vodafone

“The detail is very good. Better than we get internally” - GM, Vodafone

“I continue to learn more from your monthly reports than I do from my own internal comms teams!” - Director, Telefónica Group

“Deutsche Telekomwatch is filled with great insights, brilliant little nuggets, and ensures you’re kept fully up-to-speed.” - Head of Business Development, Deutsche Telekom

“Really detailed overview of activity across the business, that I would not otherwise have visibility of.” - Client Director, BT Group

“Absolutely crucial to understand my Customer’s Strategy” - Key Account Manager, Nokia