Tag: telecommunication

Vodacom goes solar with US$563,234 investment

Frank

SOUTH AFRICA – Vodacom has invested over R8 million (US$563,234) in three new solar-powered sites as part of the telco’s energy and carbon management strategy. The company says the new sites – in Polokwane, Vereeniging and Bloemfontein − form part of the 1,088 solar-powered sites across all of Vodacom’s markets. The company also installed rooftop solar at its Century City offices in Cape Town in 2012, and Vodacom Lesotho’s head office has been powered by solar energy since 2017.   This, the telco says, is part of Vodacom’s long-term strategy to…

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Mobile operator Afriwave Telecom joins Smart Africa Alliance project

Frank

GHANA – Afriwave Telecom, a mobile operator, has joined the Smart Africa Alliance project by Smart Africa to unite Africa into a single digital market. Smart Africa is an alliance of 32 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players which aims to define Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs. The vision…

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Africell exits Ugandan market after 7 years

Frank

UGANDA – Telecoms company Africell is to exit the Ugandan market, ceasing operations by 7 October 2021 due to what it terms as “long-term commercial outlook.” In a press release, Africell said it had worked closely with the government and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on confirming its decision. The details of this were not disclosed, however, GSMA has been notified of the termination of roaming partner agreements. Africell Uganda’s statement read:  “Africell’s decision to leave Uganda is based on a careful assessment of the long-term commercial outlook for the business…

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Africa’s largest fintech M-Pesa hits 50 million active users in the continent

Frank

KENYA – Leading mobile money payment service M-Pesa has reached 50 million active monthly customers cementing its position as Africa’s largest fintech. The milestone comes 14 years since the launch of the service in Kenya and nearly two years since the launch of the M-Pesa Africa Joint Venture. Safaricom pioneered the person-to-person money transfer service in March 2007, which has since grown to a lucrative platform also offering customer-to-business and business-to-customer services. M-Pesa today has a presence in Uganda, Tanzania, Lesotho, DRC, Egypt, and Ghana.  Safaricom and Vodafone jointly launched…

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Airtel Niger invests US$5.7 million to deploy Zinder optical fiber to the border with Nigeria

Frank

NIGER – Airtel Niger, a telecommunication company, has constructed a fibre link from the city of Zinder to the Nigerian border at Maimoujia, and has added a data centre in Zinder. The company, owned by Indian group Bharti Airtel, says it spent US$5.7 million on the infrastructure, which runs for 123km between Zinder and Maimoujia and includes an extra 12km loop in Zinder, the second biggest city in Niger. The governor of Zinder, Issa Moussa, said at the inauguration ceremony that the new network would give the country wide access…

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Telecoms company Globacom launches innovative TV streaming service Glo TV

Frank

NIGERIA – Globacom, a telecommunication company, has announced the launch of Glo TV, an innovative TV streaming service for watching live linear TV, Video on Demand and catch-up contents to redefine television viewing experience for all Nigerians. The service which is powered by the reliable Glo 4G technology and is accessible through Android, IOS and web platforms was launched at the company’s headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday. Globacom said that Glo TV will positively alter the television landscape in Nigeria as it will stream highly sought-after television content to millions…

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Vodacom Tanzania appoints Sitholizwe Mdlalose as managing director

Frank

TANZANIA- Vodacom Tanzania Plc has announced the appointment of Sitholizwe Mdlalose as the new Managing Director replacing Hisham Hendi who is stepping down after three years at the helm. Sitholizwe joins the company from Vodacom South Africa (VSA) where he was the Finance Director since 2017. Sitholizwe has previously held various roles in the Vodacom Group including that of Interim Chief Finance Officer as well as Chief Finance Officer of Vodacom Group’s International Business. Prior to joining Vodacom Group, he worked with Vodafone Group for more than 6 years holding…

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MTN Nigeria appoints Odunayo Sanya as Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation

Frank

NIGERIA – MTN Nigeria, a telecommunication company, has announced the appointment of Odunayo Sanya as Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation. She replaces Nonny Ugboma who held the position from January 2009 to March 2021. Odunayo Sanya has over two decades of experience in the education, banking, development and telecommunication sectors in Nigeria. She is versed in customer experience strategy & management, business process outsourcing, customer intelligence, contact center management, billing services, retail management, operations management, and collections and credit management. She is an alumna of the Lagos Business School and…

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Helios Towers posts 4% revenue growth as CEO Kash Pandya steps down

Frank

AFRICA – Helios Towers, a leading telecom tower infrastructure company saw revenue growth of 4% over the first half of the year, as the number of sites owned increased by 21%. Over the second quarter revenue growth stood at 5%, with a 17% increase in sites and a 9% increase in tenancies. However, cash generated from operations declined 48% over both periods, a drop of US$42.6 million from US$88.3 million in half-year 2020 to US$45.7 million in half-year 2021 – primarily driven by working “capital movements including escrow deposit payments…

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Etisalat Group raises its stake in Maroc Telecom, increasing ownership to 100%

Frank

MOROCCO – Etisalat Group, the UAE based Emirates Telecommunications Corporation has raised its stake in the Moroccan telecommunications company Maroc Telecom, after spending MAD 4.5 billion (US$505 million) on an acquisition deal. Etisalat Group CFO Karim Bennis confirmed in a regulatory filling to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange that the group had signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Fund For Development to acquire their stake in Etisalat Investment North Africa LLC (EINA) of 8.7%, increasing Etisalat Groups’ ownership to 100%. This acquisition will ultimately increase Etisalat Group’s effective ownership in…

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