ZTE preparing to head towards the exit door in DRC mobile joint venture
The China based ZTE is a major supplier of telecom gear in Africa; still, the firm is understood to be devising exit plans in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
ZTE is bracing up for the sale of its 51 percent stake in Congo China Telecom. The fourth largest telecom company telco in the DRC is partly owned by the government of DRC with 49 percent stakes in it.
Meanwhile, the DRC government is also mulling sale of its own stake in the telecom operator as part of a broader effort to divest some assets and transform more state-owned companies into private businesses.
ZTE facing operation problems is primarily attributed as the major cause for the company in the process of exiting the DRC mobile market.
Few international telecom operators have already shown interest to make forays into the DRC market, including South Africa’s MTN and France Telecom that see tremendous potential for growth in mobile phones; most of the towns and communities lack proper connectivity in terms of mobile communication.
The population in DRC stands at 70 million, with only 17 percent mobile penetration level.
MTN is looking at widening its geographical presence while France Telecom wants to establish itself in the DRC so as to cushion the impact of lower revenue in Europe, given that the DRC telecom market is by far less mature compared to other markets in African countries.
Meanwhile, France Telecom already operates in a number of African countries including Egypt, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Egypt. Apparently, France Telecom is the favorite to buy ZTE’s stake in China Congo Telecom whilst the company is expected to buy the government stake in the company to own it 100 percent. The combined transaction stands to run to close to $425 million.
VWV introduces Airtel brand across Africa
South Africa’s VWV Group, an experiential communications agency, was recently appointed to produce the launch of a new mobile telecommunications network into Africa.
Bharti Airtel commissioned VWV to launch the brand into 16 African countries, through events that ran simultaneously.
Airtel’s launch was conceptualized, produced and managed by VWV. The launch consisted of an interactive production which saw a tie between pre-recorded video and live theatrical presentations.
These events were staged in Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Airtel Nigeria stands by its new name
Airtel Nigeria has defended its decision to change the name Zain Nigeria.
According to Chairman and Managing Director, Sunil Bharti Mittal, the new brand identity gives the company the opportunity to present a single, powerful and unified face to customers, stakeholders and partners around the world.
He added that the new brand identity reinforces Airtel’s promise to deliver innovative services and a superior brand experience to their 200 million customers across Asia and Africa. Now the brand is modern, vibrant and friendly.
Apart from Nigeria, Airtel has operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Africell to launch tender for GSM rollout in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Africell Holding, a subsidiary of Lintel Holding, has unveiled that it is preparing to launch a bidding process with vendors to roll out a mobile network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to reports, the move follows the finalization of additional wireless frequency allocations, with the company saying that it is ready to roll out services with 9MHz of bandwidth in the 1800MHz band plus 4MHz of 900MHz band spectrum.
Africell currently operates mobile networks in Gambia and Sierra Leone. Africell is the Leading GSM Operator in the Gambia with more than 69% of the GSM market Share.
Vodafone to supply low-Cost mobiles to its emerging markets
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A couple of low-cost mobile phones will be started by Vodafone that will retail, without a subsidy, for less than US$20 each. India, Turkey and 8 markets in Africa – The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Qatar, South Africa and Tanzania will receive the phones initially.
An extensive logistics infrastructure, reaching deep rural segments where mobile penetration typically remains low will support the launches in order to maximize the availability of the handsets across countries with sizeable and isolated rural populations.
According to Patrick Chomet, Vodafone’s Group Director of Terminals, the cost of mobile handsets can be one of the most significant barriers for people in accessing and benefiting from the growing number of socially valuable mobile services and the lives of the people will be changed and improved as they become part of the mobile society.
Vodafone opens new office to target SA multinationals
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The global enterprise business of Vodafone opened its office in South Africa targeting locally-based multinational companies. The aim behind this step was to offer consistent mobile solution for multinational businesses besides providing a single service for all their operations irrespective of the country it is based in.
Global Enterprise has its office in the US, Europe and parts of Asia while Vodafone and Vodacom together operates in SA, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya (Safaricom), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Lesotho and Tanzania,.
According to Vodafone Global Enterprise CEO Nick Jeffery, the company will tackle mobile e-mails and single billing sets and can also offer a single price across the globe for its customers as single price can lessen risk across the countries it operates.
While the main focus is on countries where Vodafone operates, it can barter deals with providers in other countries where it has no offices. Both Vodafone Global Enterprise and Vodacom are expected to work together to establish its roots in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Vodacom free to spread its wings
Vodacom has been freed by co-owner Vodafone to expand its operations out of southern Africa. The firm’s other shareholder, Telkom South Africa, has been calling for Vodafone to annul a long-standing agreement which has kept Vodacom from extending its reach across the continent, a strategy which left Vodafone free to explore its own interests in Africa. However, with Vodafone now seemingly content to stick with its current operations in Kenya and Egypt, it has agreed to let Vodacom increase its international footprint to any African country apart from these two. Vodacom is South Africa’s largest cellular operator, with 20.2 million subscribers at the end of September, while its international operations in Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo serve a total of 5.6 million customers. There has been speculation that Vodacom has its sights set on entering Nigeria’s fast-moving cellular market.
Source- telegeography Wireless Mobile Telecom
