Shareholders of Telkom, a South African service provider, will soon vote on a proposal to sell the company's towers and masts to a group led by private equity firm, Actis. Last month, Telkom South Africa confirmed the sale of its tower unit, Swiftnet, for ZAR 6.75 billion (USD 355 million) to Actis. This move aims to reduce debts and improve the company's financial position.
Vodacom Mozambique is reportedly investing US$25 million into the establishment of a new data center within the country. As per reports from the Data Centre Dynamics website, citing local news sources, the data center will be situated in Matola, near the capital city of Maputo. Matola, known for its port and as home to the largest industrial area in Mozambique, offers a strategic location for the installation, providing direct access to the 2Africa subsea cable, which is hosted in Vodacom Mozambique’s equipment room in Matola.
Safaricom's Ethiopian arm receives a boost as the nation's telecom regulator slashes mobile termination rates (MTR) by a quarter, reducing the cost of connecting its customers' calls with those of rival Ethio Telecom. The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) lowered the rate to 0.23 Ethiopian Birr (Ksh0.54) per minute from ETB0.31 (Ksh0.72) per minute, representing a 25.8 percent decrease.
A strategic alliance has been formed among Coronation Group, Access Holdings Plc, Safaricom Plc, and M-PESA Africa, with the aim of expanding remittance access across Africa to enhance financial inclusion continent-wide. The parties are focused on devising solutions to establish a remittance corridor linking East and West Africa, connecting some of Africa's largest economies.
In a significant move within the telecom industry, Vodacom Tanzania has announced the acquisition of Smile Communications Tanzania Limited, further solidifying its position in the market. The deal, valued at TZS 68.8 billion (£22 million/€25 million), marks a strategic investment by Vodacom to enhance its service offerings and expand its reach across Tanzania.
Telecom Egypt (TE) has teamed up with Tejas Networks, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), and the National Telecom Institute (NTI) to replicate successful projects like Bharatnet and NKN in Egypt.
Africa stands at a pivotal moment as the uptake of connectivity services skyrockets, driven by its vast and youthful population. The continent's six major operator groups—Airtel Africa, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom—are leading the charge, joining forces to forge closer collaborations with governments.
Telkom South Africa has recently concluded the sale of its subsidiary, Swiftnet, which specializes in mast and tower infrastructure, to a consortium of investors for a significant sum of $357 million. This landmark deal, unveiled in March, sees the emergence of Towerco Bidco as the new entity, with Actis securing a commanding 70% stake and Royal Bafokeng Holdings taking up the remaining 30%.
Thuraya Telecommunications Company, the mobile satellite communication arm of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC, announced the expansion of its cooperation with Algérie Télécom Satellite, the authorized partner for Thuraya services in the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
MTN Group announced the appointment of Ali Monzer as Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Sudan, effective 1 April 2024. Ali succeeds Gordian Kyomukama, who will retire after a distinguished career with MTN.
