South Africa’s Vodacom Group has signed what it described as a “pivotal” agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink. Starlink is not yet approved to launch its direct-to-device activity in the country. “Integrating Starlink’s satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s mobile network will accelerate network coverage expansion while increasing network performance in rural areas,” Vodacom said in a statement. Vodacom […]

Nokia has announced that it has maintained its role as Vodafone’s strategic partner in Europe and Africa as part of Vodafone’s five-year radio access network (RAN) investment programme. The deal follows Nokia’s recent RAN agreement with VodafoneThree, part of the largest privately funded telecommunications infrastructure project in Europe. The move supports Vodafone’s ambitions to deliver […]

As Starlink intensifies competitive pressures and African governments remain uncertain about intervening to protect telco incumbents, African telecom companies are increasingly focusing on underserved regions. In response, they are launching strategic initiatives to tackle the rising challenge of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to maintain their market position and tap into new growth opportunities, […]

BBC Studios has announced the extension of its partnership with Switch Media in South Africa to enable customers on the Vodacom network access to BBC Kids by paying for the service through add-to bill (for postpaid customers) or through airtime (for prepaid customers). The video destination aimed at families with children aged 0-12 can be […]

Vodafone says it will not support Starlink with the satellite operator’s plans for orbiting ‘direct-to-device’ and cellular connectivity. Starlink last week orbited an initial six satellites capable of direct connection and plans to launch more than 800 extra satellites during 2024. Vodafone has ruled out a partnership with Starlink because it has already signed an […]

London-based World Mobile Group recently launched its first ‘aerostat’ giant tethered balloon in Massingir, Mozambique, in collaboration with Vodacom. Vodacom has reportedly shared its spectrum and other key technologies to enable the balloon’s launch for a two-month trial in November and December 2023. The trial in Mozambique is more than just a technological experiment. “The […]

In November 2022, Paratus Zambia, a pan-African broadband connectivity company, announced that it had signed an agreement with Meta to build 900 kilometres of fibre optic cable across 10 Zambian cities by the end of 2023. The demand for connectivity has been accelerating in Africa for several years now, reports Dataxis. Yet, the pandemic between […]

Vodacom South Africa has announced that all new, existing and upgrading customers are now eligible to subscribe to Prime Video or Prime Video Mobile Edition, regardless of price plan, whether prepaid or post-paid. Vodacom is the first telecommunications company in Africa to offer Prime Video Mobile Edition. With Prime Video Mobile Edition, customers benefit from […]

South Africa has notified the local telco operators of its intention to end 2G and 3G cellular services by 2025. The operators, including Vodacom, MTN and Telkom, say this could be too soon and have asked for further consultation. The operators say further discussions are needed in order to ensure that consumers will not be […]

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has raised 14.4 billion Rand (€875m) in the South Africa spectrum auction. The cash raised, from 6 bidders, goes into the country’s treasury. ICASA said bidders Vodacom, MTN, Rain, Telkom, Cell C and Liquid Telecom had all bid for, and obtained, spectrum licenses. The auction took 58 […]