South Africa Telecoms News

South African group bets on mobile money and Ethiopian growth engines as it secures majority stake in Kenya incumbent — as Nairobi government finally cedes economic control to Vodafone cabal…

Analyst Briefing
EMEA Infrawatch: telcos advance fibre plans; data centre pledges keep coming
Latest on EMEA digital infra: Telefónica, Vodacom, and Vodafone Spain press on with fibre joint venture plans; 4iG and Magyar Telekom emerge as main winners of Hungary rural fibre scheme; Brookfield and PPC among the latest to make big pitches in the data centre space…
Public Affairs
Vodacom clears final hurdle to get Maziv fibre JV over the line
South African telecoms authority greenlights the creation of Vodacom’s fibre joint venture with CIVH. Having overcome the final obstacle on Maziv’s journey to launch, CEO Dietlof Mare is aiming to have the business “operating at full speed” by April 2026…
Partnerships & Alliances
Vodacom partners Google Cloud on AI-focused services overhaul
Telco to migrate its data platforms onto Google Cloud infra with the goal of developing new generative AI-based services in Africa, with customer service and network optimisation among initial focus areas…
Financial & Performance
In-depth: defiant Vodafone CEO eyes European rebound
Q2/H1 FY25–26: unwaveringly positive CEO claims right-sizing initiative has Vodafone moving in the right direction, and earnings largely back up the claim, but as some headwinds wane others are gathering on the horizon…
Network & Infra
Vodacom brings Starlink into growing satco partner circle
Operator gains additional backhaul and preps new broadband services using Starlink’s LEO constellation, further expanding its roster of satellite alliances…
M&A
Vodacom ‘keeping powder dry’ for fibre, data centre M&A opportunities
Q2/H1: CEO Shameel Joosub teases more deals and partnerships to come as South African fibreco deal nears completion, with more wireline infra and potential data centre tie-ups under consideration. While tower deals in Egypt are off the table, ears are open for a change at Safaricom…
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch: satellite deals, towers sales
Latest Vodafone Analyst Briefing: including moves in satellite and direct-to-device; a progress report from VodafoneZiggo on performance and a planned wireless infra divestment; installation of a new CEO at Vantage Towers; and more share price volatility at Vi…
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: pragmatic Vodafone finds subsea ‘niche’
Latest from Vodafone, including the Group’s latest subsea venture “off the beaten track” as the operator concedes transatlantic routes to hyperscalers; UK fibre challenger Netomnia chooses VodafoneThree for imminent MVNO; and more open RAN vendors shout about Vodafone deals following Spring 6 procurement…
People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: exec secures place at head of open networks body
October 2025 update: 25+ senior and strategic moves across the operator and its interests, including TM Forum and TIP berths for Voda execs; regional leadership changes in Europe; ex Iberian CEO closes the book; more from around the Group…
Suppliers & SCM
Vodafone elects winning quartet in diluted RAN mega-tender
Vendor foursome reel off Vodafone RAN wins as the Group’s long-awaited Spring 6 procurement closes out, short of expectations but set to propel operator towards open RAN at scale by 2030.
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: local innovation paves way for regional network upgrades
Latest from Vodafone as the Group shouts about various innovative network initiatives with partners Nokia, Huawei, Samsung; and others; M&A completes in Romania ahead of integration programme kick-off; Telenor tapped for procurement savings; satco investment’s share price soars; more from Europe, Africa, India, elsewhere…
Analyst Briefing
EMEA Infrawatch Analyst Briefing: fibrecos hit the accelerator; digital divestments develop
Latest on EMEA digital infra: French operators progress copper-to-fibre migration; German government mulls regulatory changes to speed up fibre rollout to flats; TDF becomes latest subject of French tower divestments; fibre players GlobalConnect and XpFibre reportedly up for sale…
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: Group spends billions on UK network upgrade; millions on Romanian bulk-up
Latest from in and around Vodafone, including the first £2bn investment of VodafoneThree’s network infra upgrade programme; Della Valle’s latest ‘right-sizing’ initiative in Romania; and significant ExCo changes at Group and OpCo level in Europe and Africa…
People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: HR overhaul at HQ and beyond
September 2025 edition: series of changes to HR, regulatory policy, external affairs, and legal leadership positions make for refreshed Executive Committees in Europe and Africa; plus senior and strategic appointments at Group and OpCo level around Vodafone…
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: Group targets strategic spend
Latest from Vodafone and its global interests, including Procure & Connect eyeing more strategic tail spend management; one legal case replaced by another in the UK; renewable energy milestone reached in South Africa; AI in action for Vodafone via Celfocus tie-up…
People
New boss brought in at Telefónica’s home security venture
Operator’s partner Prosegur promotes from within to fill vacant Exec Chair spot at their six-year-old connected-security joint venture.
Network & Infra
Power-play: Vodacom’s ‘game changing’ virtual wheeling system goes live
South African operator becomes the first to deploy renewable energy sourcing concept, with co-developer Mezzanine and IPP SOLA Group. Solution made available to peers as Vodacom looks to proliferate the tech…
Analyst Briefing
Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: Indian, Kenyan govs seek change at Vodafone outposts
India’s Vi gets knocked back as government hints at funding pullback; long-mooted split-up of Kenya’s Safaricom back in the headlines; Australia’s TPG sees recent overhaul bear first fruit…
Public Affairs
Union slams Capita’s offshoring plans for Virgin Media O2 contract
Contact centre provider Capita has sparked outrage at the Communication Workers Union over plans to move 150 jobs that support Virgin Media O2 from the UK to South Africa.
People
Execs reshuffled at Orange MEA after fintech boss exits
Departure of Orange Money Group chief Aminata Kane prompts a change at top of fast-growing regional fintech business and operator’s Tunisian outpost.
Analyst Briefing
EMEA Infrawatch Analyst Briefing: AI infra competition ramps up; infra carve-out trend continues
Latest on EMEA digital infra: Vodacom secures another regulatory win for Maziv fibre JV; Kenyan gov mulls Safaricom infra separation; OpenAI ponders play in GPU-as-a-service segment; fresh DCs and subsea cable links across EMEA…