All Africa articles
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Financial & Performance
Safaricom pushes homegrown smartphones to keep mobile data momentum
Kenyan operator looks to boost 4G smartphone penetration to fuel customer and mobile data service revenue growth, but challenging economic conditions leaves consumers with less money to spend on new devices.
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M&A
Vodacom sticking with fibre co-build strategy despite blocked merger
CEO Shameel Joosub reiterates belief in co-investment and co-build fibre projects rather than overbuild, despite MAZIV setback.
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Financial & Performance
BII weighs impact of Safaricom’s shakeup in Ethiopia
A British International Investment report finds that the UK government’s backing of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia is adding energy to the market, but headwinds make for mixed picture for startup operator.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone refreshes Google partnership with $1bn, GenAI-fuelled deal
Vodafone and Google get cosier in a renewed $1bn, ten-year deal that focuses on generative AI for consumer and business services.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: fierce MVNO competition in Vodafone’s largest markets
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem as the latest UK merger concessions include MVNO compromise; O2 poaches Lyca from Vodafone Germany; fibre sharing deals signed in Germany while Vodacom South Africa works to push its only fibre JV through antitrust red tape…
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Public Affairs
Safaricom ‘calls for’ mandated MNO–SatCo partnerships as Starlink expands in Africa
Reports indicate Kenyan operator is pushing local Communications Authority to consider blocking solo foreign SatCo entrants and oblige them to form partnerships with licence-holding MNOs.
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Network & Infrastructure
US majors first, Vodafone next as SpaceMobile readies for launch
AST SpaceMobile backers AT&T and Verizon will beta test space-based cellular broadband initially, with Vodafone and Rakuten next on the list for commercial services.
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Network & Infrastructure
Safaricom claims 5G coverage lead in Kenya
Safaricom says it has the largest 5G network in Kenya with more than 1,000 sites deployed, but usage remains coverage and usage are low compared to 4G.
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Financial & Performance
Safaricom scaleup Circle Gas restructures, but yet to soar
Sharp jump in revenue as demand for pay-as-you-go gas rises, but restructuring for future expansion weighs on net losses.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: dominoes fall as European restructure takes hold
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including new and expanded deals at Vodafone Business across IoT, unified comms, and more; Tomorrow Street swapping out partners in regular fashion; and ripple effect of European M&A continueing to be felt…
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People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: Business exec changes in Africa, Europe
30+ senior/strategic changes, including: new B2B chiefs in Africa and Europe; new CFO in Greece creates opening in Czechia; and Partner Markets changes reflecting deals in central Asia and the Middle East. Plus lots more significant changes at European OpCos, Investments companies, and Group HQ…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone links 2Africa subsea cable to UK hub
Vodafone onshores another section of 2Africa submarine cable, this time in Cornwall.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: African infra in spotlight, Spanish retreat complete
Latest from Vodafone and its partners and interests as Spanish exit completes, Shared Ops leadership adjusted, and climate plans pushed back. In Africa, infra-sharing is on the cards, but Vodacom’s in-progress South African fibre deal faces backlash…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom sues regulator and MTN over alleged improper spectrum sharing
Suspicions on MTN’s perceived overperformance in Ookla testing prompted Vodacom to investigate its rival’s spectrum practices, and allege malpractice in new court filings.
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People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: Shared Ops overhaul prompts further procurement shuffle
30+ senior/strategic appointments across Vodafone Group worldwide, including: knock-on effects of ongoing Shared Operations restructure; BizDev leader Philippe Vogeleer’s departure; and new CFO at Vodafone Investments. Vodafone Germany turns attention to Broadband & Entertainment, while Business makes regional changes across Europe. Plus lots more on product and finance fronts, and in Africa, Europe, and Group HQ…
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Network & Infrastructure
Safaricom Ethiopia sources locally made towers for network rollout
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia hailed a “new era” for the country’s telecom sector as it prepares to install the first homegrown towers that come with same quality but lower price than imported equivalents.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone clarifies climate ambitions, pushes net zero back five years
With the publication of its first Climate Transmission Plan, Vodafone delivers more concrete information on the Group’s decarbonisation plans and expectations, but downgrades an ambition to reach Scope 1&2 net zero.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: Project Gigabit acceleration, African expansion, and 5G streetlights
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including: drone‑enabled 5G and IoT hidden in streetlamps; ongoing network and service building in Africa; Openreach eyeing under‑delivering Project Gigabit contracts; and plenty more…
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: nip and tuck all part of the plan, as CEO evinces optimism
In-depth analysis of FY23−24 results as Margherita Della Valle attempts to paint rosy picture of shrinking Group. Storm still to come in Germany, but Spanish exit secured, and confidence around UK merger prospects. Significant developments across (re-shaped) footprint include: changing leadership; strategic partnerships; and an M-PESA spin-off update…
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Financial & Performance
IHS Towers targets $1bn from asset disposals
Tower group’s chief executive announces ten-digit goal for proceeds from business sales, amid ongoing strategic review.