South Africa Telecoms News
M&A
Kenyan High Court rules to unwind Vodacom’s Safaricom takeover
Just months after celebrating taking control of Safaricom as a ‘defining moment’, Vodafone’s African arm now faces prospect of enforced €1.4bn deal unwind. From Midrand to London, execs must now confront complex balance-sheet unravelling and regulatory exposure.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: partners loaded for EMEA digital infra expansion
Analyst Briefing: capital-sharing partnerships in Turkey and Egypt, and a new co-owner at German fibreco OXG Glasfaser, bring Vodafone’s digital infra expansion strategy into the spotlight; plus VodafoneThree’s convergence push and 5G SA commercialisation bid, Czech innovation, and more across Europe and Africa…
Network & InfraVodafone signs pair of data centre deals in $1bn AI bet on Egypt
Vodafone Egypt enters into potential $1bn data centre joint venture with Cassava Technologies and Elsewedy Electric, plus separate Cassava tie-up for NVIDIA-supported AI Factory collab.
Network & InfraAfrica’s fibre boom needs a commercial operating model — not just more network
Open-access analysis: Building fibre across Africa is only the first hurdle; monetising capacity is the commercial test. From prepaid township offers to carrier-neutral wholesale platforms, operators need scalable operating models to turn network investment into services and returns. Draws on market evidence and ZIRA Group’s fibre and wholesale experience…
PeoplewatchGenerational shift: DT brings in AWS’ Hofmeyr for AI/network amid wider refresh, CFO exit
In-depth analysis: German giant looks outside its own ranks to bring in AWS’ telco industry boss Jan Hofmeyr to build out its AI-Team as part of a wider leadership refresh. Group is also bidding farewell to its CFO in a move that could be clearing the path to a CEO refresh as DT also approaches its next strategic supercycle.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: tower tensions, competitive pressures
Analyst Briefing: From tower disputes in Germany and spectrum obligations in Czechia to Digi’s continued disruption in Romania, Vodafone faces a mix of competitive pressure, policy shifts, and technology-led opportunities across its footprint…
M&AMTN secures IHS deal approvals, moves closer to African towers take-back
Nigerian competition authority among multiple regulators to greenlight the deal, which could see MTN take back control of previously sold tower assets. Telco highlights IHS buy as among ‘selective’ investments in digital infra during H1, as it boasts a strong set of financial results for the period…
PeoplewatchVodafone Peoplewatch: Vodacom tightens grip on Safaricom, network chief changes in Europe
August 2026 update, with 40+ strategic and senior changes including: a set of boardroom swaps as Vodacom installs reps at Safaricom; Yago Lopez taking a Group-level job, meaning a new Chief Networks Officer comes in at Turkey; and HR swaps at VOIS…
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: Indian recovery, Greek opportunity
Analyst Briefing: signs of revival in India, a new fibre frontrunner in Greece, and carving a place in the future of ‘chaotic’ IoT. Plus, Vodacom poaches rival bosses to bolster the boardroom, and Vodafone co-develops an AI-powered disputes resolution platform with a UK startup…
PeoplewatchFormer MTN, Airtel heavyweights lined up for Vodacom board
Vodacom turns to ex-MTN M&A chief and Airtel Africa CEO to fill boardroom spots ahead of Chair Saki Macozoma’s retirement.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: one in, one out as group completes deal double
Analyst Briefing: A positive Q1 performance followed by completion of a pair of major, structural deals in Europe helps CEO Margherita Della Valle lead the Group into a new phase, and suggests multi-year footprint rethink is beginning to deliver tangible results. Elsewhere, European towers trouble, questions of SatCo revenue potential, and AI gets physical in Albania…
Financial & PerformanceVodafone: strong start to year adds traction to ‘new chapter’ growth narrative
Q1 FY26–27 overview: Vodafone has delivered one of its strongest quarterly updates in recent years, buoyed by Africa consolidation and improving conditions in key European markets, prompting management to raise FY guidance and talk with increasing confidence about a ‘new phase’.
Financial & PerformanceVodafone rises as Africa bulks up, Europe steadies
Q1 FY26–27 in-depth: Vodafone’s largest markets appear to be moving forward together for the first time under CEO Margherita Della Valle, even if challenges remain. Germany has found firmer footing, UK integration is advancing, and consolidation of Safaricom has strengthened African contribution…
Financial & PerformanceVodafone to keep cutting costs, shedding jobs — raises ‘efficiencies’ goals and guidance
Q1 FY26–27 spend & guidance: EBITDAaL outlook upgraded despite M&A integration costs, reflecting confidence in reshaped portfolio in both Europe and Africa, supported by amping-up of widescale efficiencies programme beginning to generate tangible benefits, including job cuts.
M&AVodacom chief dismisses prospect of Vodafone Egypt takeover
Shameel Joosub says no plans to replicate Vodacom’s recent move on Kenya’s Safaricom to take full control of star performance Vodafone Egypt, but suggests an interest should co-owner Telecom Egypt shift its stance.
Financial & PerformanceVodafone Business quietly enters Group’s ‘growth’ agenda
Q1 FY26–27: B2B improvements mean division is an increasingly important part of the turnaround story, driven by cloud, cybersec, and SaaS, underpinned by deals with digital services allies.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: tower turbulence and AI acceleration
Analyst Briefing: the European towers industry watches on as Vodafone-backed INWIT battles MNO discontent in Italy; Vodafone reaps the rewards of early security and compliance grunt work as it accelerates AI adoption; satco SpaceMobile continues with familiar ups and downs; and more from Africa, Europe, elsewhere…
Partnerships & AlliancesBezos trumps Musk on home turf as Amazon Leo signs South African satellite deal
Amazon Leo has secured a breakthrough route into South Africa, partnering with Vodacom-linked Herotel to launch satellite broadband services while rival Starlink remains constrained by local licensing requirements.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: Xavier Niel places multibillion-pound bet on Vodafone’s transformation story
Analyst Briefing: CEO Margherita Della Valle’s two-year restructuring programme proves enough to convince Xavier Niel of Vodafone value; satco-telco standards need work; regional outposts promote AI innovation; more from across Europe and Africa…
Network & InfraVodacom says more work needed on satco-telco compatibility
DTW Ignite: Jayesh Hargovan warns that while LEO satcoms is reaching maturity, integration challenges remain a major blocker to development of telco–satellite relationships, delaying time to revenue for both CSPs and satcos.
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: the making of a pan-African telco giant
Analyst Briefing: Vodacom takes a majority stake in Safaricom; Vodafone and Google Cloud get ‘pragmatic’ with a network autonomy blueprint; another Tomorrow Street alumnus picks up a Vodafone commercial deal; and we record the latest senior exec changes from Germany and beyond…
M&AVodacom completes ‘high-growth market arc’ with controlling Safaricom stake
South African operator completes $2.1bn deal to take majority control of Safaricom, including its Ethiopian venture and m-money platform M-PESA. CEO Shameel Joosub considers it more than a mere bulk-up as Vodacom looks to leverage East African experience across the continent.