Vodacom selects Alcatel-Lucent to design, and deploy it’s upgraded 3G network. The project costs EUR22 million and will enhance 3G network’s capacity and coverage. Alcatel-Lucent will supply its UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) solution, including radio network controllers, node B base stations and a flexible wireless network management system. ‘Achieving an improved end-user experience with superior mobile voice and high-speed mobile broadband data services is our key objective in expanding our 3G network,’ said Andries Delport, Executive Director of Engineering and Technology at Vodacom South Africa.
Wireless Federation » archive for 'South Africa'
Vodacom selects Alca-Lu for 3G upgradation contract (South Africa)
- October 15th, 2008
- 1:16 pm
MTN plans to compete with Bharti Airtel and RCom (India)
- October 14th, 2008
- 11:06 am
MTN which has earlier been in talks with both Bharti Airtel and RCom, now plans to enter the Indian mobile market as a rival to both the incumbent Indian operators. The South Africa’s largest mobile operator is looking for potential partners. This time it plans to target the new licencees and Aircel is the one speculated.
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Neotel to raise USD1 bln of funds for network expansion (South Africa)
- October 14th, 2008
- 5:26 am
Second national operator of South Africa is intending to raise USD1 billion of funds, mainly through debt, to finance its network expansion. Tata Communications of India owns 56% of Neotel which is in talks with various financial institutions that includes original investors Nedbank Capital, Investec Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa.
South African mobile market experiences a slow growth in Q2′08 (South Africa)
- October 13th, 2008
- 5:11 am
South African mobile market has seen a growth in Q2′08 and added 0.82 million new subscribers taking it’s subscriber base to 43.15 million.
The mobile penetration rate 98.5% was recorded in the country. The annual growth of 10.7% was half of that earned last year and lowest in past six years.
Though Vodacom experienced a loss 0.11 million subscribers, it remained the market leader with a subscriber base of 22.16million subscribers, 6.6 million more in comparison to MTN.
The operator saw a falling market share of 51.4%, the lowest since 2004, driven by MTN’s continous subscriber growth. On an Annual basis, the operator added only 0.21 million subscribers, at a growth rate of 0.9%.
MTN experienced a fall in it’s growth since last one year, falling from 28.4% to 14.6%, though it saw a rise in it’s subscriber growth.
The annual subscriber base growth was recorded as 1.99million.
The third operator, Cell C has seen the the highest quarterly gain in comparison to it’s rivals with an addition of 0.51million. The total subscriber base grew to 5.40million, with a market share of 12.5%. On the annual basis, it added 1.98million with a market share of 57.9%.
Telkom shares ascend 5% with Vodafone-Vodacom deal (South Africa)
- October 10th, 2008
- 10:38 am
With the news ‘Vodafone agrees to buy 15% in Vodacom for 22.5 billion rand’ hitting the headlines, South Africa’s Telkom shares mounts 5%. According to British’s Vodafone, it offered 22.5 billion rand in cash, minus Vodacom’s net debt, for a further 15 percent stake, which will give it control of South Africa’s biggest mobile operator and a foothold in fast-growing African markets. Telkom said that as part of the deal, it would unbundle its remaining 35 percent stake in Vodacom to shareholders by listing it on the Johannesburg stock exchange.
Earlier Vodafone offered to buy a further 12.5 percent in Vodacom for 18.75 billion rand. Vodafone has shadowed rival MTN across the continent in part due to the 50-50 ownership and a constraining shareholder pact. With this deal Vodafone have the freedom to expand and give tough competition to MTN. It will also let Telkom to purchase another operator and fully integrate its wireless and fixed-line businesses.
Vodafone futher acquires 15% stake in Vodacom (South Africa)
- October 10th, 2008
- 7:11 am
Vodafone is offering $2.4bn for further 15 per cent stake in Vodacom. Telkomthe South African government has given the approval. This marks a big step forward in Vodafone’s strategy of seeking to boost growth through expansion in emerging markets. Under this deal, Vodafone buy the shares from Telkom, the South African state-controlled telecoms company that owns half of Vodacom. This will add to the 50 per cent of shares that Vodafone already holds. An Analyst believes, There’s obviously a control premium in there but it doesn’t look too expensive. The question for Vodafone going forward is how to manage all these separate African assets.
Vodafone is intending to use Vodacom as a hub for businesses across Africa. This deal is dependent on Telkom distributing the remaining 35 per cent of its holding to its shareholders. Vodacom’s net debt, which stood at R5.2bn at the end of March, would be deducted from the final price. Pieter Uys, the incoming chief executive, has sought to assert a pan-African strategy with the proposed $700m purchase of Gateway, a company that provides connections between different African networks. Mr. Uys further said that “gives us a springboard to launch into the continent”. “gives us a springboard to launch into the continent”. Vodacom posted R48bn revenues last year, up 17% on the previous 12 months. It has an estimated 55 per cent market share of the telecoms market in Africa’s biggest economy.
Nigeria becomes the No.1 mobile market in Middle East and Africa
- October 10th, 2008
- 5:58 am
The Nigerian mobile market has reportedly become the largest mobile market of Middle East and Africa in Q1′08, overtaking the South African market. The subscriber base has crossed the 50 million mark lately, and ended August with 55million mobile subscribers, says Engr Ernest Ndukwe, Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), becoming the 18th largest market of the world.
South Africa which is nearing the mobile penetration of 100% will be falling down to the third position in near future.
Iran has taken an upward leap from 6th to 3rd position by adding subscribers at a pace four times faster than South Africa. Following Iran comes Egypt with 30.8 million active mobile subscribers from 29.4m in March. This rise was driven by the arrival of new entrant.
Algeria and Saudi Arabia have fallen to fifth and sixth as Iran took a leap. Algeria at the end of August had crossed the 30.8 million subscribers, while Saudi Arabia had a total of 29.8million, the sudden rise comes only when nearly a million people come to visit Haj, leave the SIMs inactive once they leave.
Morocco, Kenya and Iraq, shared the same place during March. In August, Morocco stood at 21.4 million, Kenya at 14.3 million and Iraq at 12.75 million. Tanzania retained the tenth position with 10.1 million subscribers.
Telkom SA and Huawei Technologies roll out W-CDMA (South Africa)
- October 6th, 2008
- 4:56 am
Telkom South Africa rolls out the W-CDMA services developed by Huawei Technologies. Telkom Souh Africa plans to compete in cellular service provision and the small- and medium-business sector.
The roll out of this new technology will allow Telkom to provide high-speed Internet access, video and high-quality voice transmission. “The new technology is addressing customer needs by increasing investment in customer-centric technology that aims to enhance their experience with Telkom,” said Motlatsi Nzeku, Telkom chief of operations. “Telecommunication services is no longer just about innovative technologies; it is about matching with customer demand.”
Telkom services were not a rage among small businesses because of the relatively high prices for voice and data calls, which were contributing to high overheads.
With the roll out the operator declares it’s intentions of Challenging the domination of the cellular services market by piloting W-CDMA voice services with select subscribers. It is testing W-CDMA voice services in Gauteng with 38 base stations in the Gauteng metropolitan area and plans to have more than 200 base stations in the Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban metropolitan areas by March 2009.
Vodafone nears the closure of Vodacom deal (South Africa)
- September 22nd, 2008
- 5:23 am
Vodafone is nearing the closure of the Vodacom deal. The deal is to secure controlling stake in the largest South African operator, Vodacom.
Vodafone, presently owns 50% of stake in Vodacom and is looking forward to increase it to 62.5% through a deal, which was offered in May to the South African fixed-line operator, Telekom, to buy the 12.5% of Vodacom for $2.5billion.
Vodafone, which looking for establishment in growing markets is taking Vodacom as a hub for growth in Africa.
Any delay in finalisation of the Vodacom deal with Vodafone is likely to be because the South African government, Telkom’s largest shareholder, is in disarray.
MTN will focus on investment in deregulated African Markets (South Africa)
- September 18th, 2008
- 1:50 pm
According to MTN spokesperson Nozipho January-Bardill, the operator will focus on investment in Africa and take advantage of the ongoing deregulation of the telecoms industry in many countries. Bardill further said in line with the vision to be the leader in telecommunications in the emerging markets, we are continuously seeking value enhancing opportunities that meet the company’s investment criteria in existing and new territories. Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia are among the 16 African countriers where MTN is alreday operating.
