Telecommunications
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NetOne CEO Lazarus Muchenje Together With Other Top Executives Suspended
Following the resignation of three NetOne board members including Board Chairman Mr. James Mutizwa Netone Board has suspended its CEO Mr Lazarus Muchenje and Chief Finance Officer, as the current rigorous audits continue to haunt the state-owned enterprise. RELATED READING: NETONE BOARD CHAIRMAN RESIGNS INCLUDING TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS The board had instituted 6 separate audits…
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Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini Set to Launch Bayede Mobile November 1
King Goodwill Zwelithini plans to launch a new mobile network in South Africa on 1 November – Bayede Mobile. Bayede is a Zulu salutation that translates to ‘hail the king’, and is already used in brands that have received the King Zwelithini’s seal of approval – such as Bayede! Wines. The company was born from a…
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James Makamba Wins Telecel Shareholding Battle
HIGH Court judge Justice Edith Mushore has ruled in favor of the once exiled businessman James Makamba in a long-drawn Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd share ownership battle with a war veterans organization, Magamba eChimurenga Housing Trust. In the initial application, Magamba eChimurenga Housing Trust was claiming 24% shareholding in Empowerment Corporation (Private) Limited, the indigenous…
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Vodacom Launches VodaPay Masterpass in South Africa
Vodacom has launched its new VodaPay Masterpass mobile app in South Africa, which uses Mastercard’s global digital payment service to facilitate tokenised bank card payments. The app is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, and is developed by the same company which created the Masterpass applications for South African banks. According to its…
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Orange SA CEO Stephane Richard Faces Fraud Verdict
Orange CEO Stephane Ricard has found himself in a bit of hot water with complicity in fraud and embezzlement charges dating back to his days in the French Ministry and this may result in Orange SA risking losing its CEO next week over decade-old allegations of fraud that have clouded his leadership of France’s biggest phone…
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Samsung Q2 Profit Halves After Global Industry Downturn and Trade Tensions
Samsung Electronics said on Friday that operating profit fell to 6.5 trillion won ($5.56 billion) in the quarter ended June, falling 56% year on year in the face of sinking DRAM prices. Samsung Electronics Co.’s quarterly profit more than halved after a global industry downturn and trade tensions hammered demand for its chips and high-end smartphones. The…
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Econet, Netone Sign An Infrastructure Sharing Pact
Earlier on the proposal of not duplicating infrastructure, and share what was available was point-blank rejected by our local mobile network operators (MNOs) who viewed possession of infrastructure as a competitive tool but years later today we are witnessing Zimbabwe’s two largest mobile network operators (MNOs) — Econet Wireless and NetOne Cellular — have signing…
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POTRAZ Will Continue Reviewing Telecoms Tariffs
Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says it will continue reviewing tariffs in line with cost movements and international best practices following concerns over the high cost of products in the country. Telecommunications service providers announced new tariffs effective April 1 in response to rising costs following the removal of…
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MTN Files Application for Listing With SEC, NSE
MTN Group Plc has filed an application for public listing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The company applied for registration of shares and a listing on the NSE. SEC confirmed in a statement on Monday that the commission had received an application from the telecom giant. The statement read in…
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Zimbabwe: Are MNOs Really Overcharging? . . . Evidence May Not be What Customers Want to Hear
It is not every day that you see an industry regulator defending the prices of products and services offered by industry players that it regulates. But this is exactly what the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) had to do recently. Faced with a barrage of criticism and an international report (that has…
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MTN Appoints Mcebisi Jonas S.A’s Former Deputy Finance Minister as Chairman-Designate
South Africa’s Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas
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Don’t Tempt Us To Invite MTN Says Energy Mutodi in Response to Data Tariff Adjustment
Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi
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Data Tariffs Soar As Crisis Bites
Mobile network operators became the latest sector to increase prices for their products with an upward adjustment of tariffs for broadband services following the floating of the country’s local currency against the United States dollar. Zimbabwe liberalised its exchange rate on February 22 when it introduced an interbank market for foreign currency trading. The new…
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U.N. Telecoms Chief Houlin Zhao Says Huawei Allegations Driven by Politics Not Evidence
U.S. security concerns about 5G mobile networks built by Chinese telecoms giant Huawei appear to be driven by politics and trade rather than any evidence, the head of the U.N. internet and telecoms agency said on Friday. Houlin Zhao, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), told reporters in Geneva that security of 5G networks…
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MTN Rolls-out “World-First” WhatsApp Airtime Top-up Service
WhatsApp is extremely popular in messaging app used in Africa and it is not surprise that we shall see several 3rd party services crop out around it. MTN has launched a WhatsApp channel to let its customers buy airtime and data bundles through the messaging app which becomes a world first for the telco industry…
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TelOne, NetOne to be Privatised
Government has intensified efforts to partially privatise telecommunication companies Telone and NetOne and is offering the two entities to potential investors as a joint package. Cabinet yesterday gave the nod to this arrangement after a presentation by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube. Public enterprise reforms are espoused in Government’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme…
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Foreign Partners Desert Telecom Firms Due to Inability to meet Payment Obligations in Foreign Currency.
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications companies are being deserted by their foreign partners that service and upgrade their systems due to inability to meet payment obligations in foreign currency. Telecommunication companies are not being prioritized in terms of foreign currency allocations by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), which has resulted in recent network problems. However, the regulator…
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Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) Record 36% Revenue Increase
Zimbabwe’s mobile network operators recorded a 36% increase in revenue to $1,1 billion in the full year to December 2018 despite a 25% increase in operating costs, POTRAZ reported. The country has three licensed operators, two of which are State-owned — NetOne and Telecel and a third which is privately-run, Econet. A sector report by…
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TelOne Gears up For Privatisation
TelOne says it has appointed a consultant who will advise the company on the restructuring of its staggering $380 million debt as it seeks to clean its books and attract private capital. TelOne is among a number of state-owned enterprises and parastatals that have been earmarked for reform as government moves to wean off the…
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Econet Nears $100K on donations from well-wishers and will match dollar-for-dollar on all contributions
Econet Wireless is almost near to reach $100K on donations from well-wishers and it pledges to match dollar-for-dollar on all contributions. Bravo!!! Will be updating this article as more donations pour in from well-wishers. A state of disaster was declared in Zimbabwe. Eighty-two people have so far been confirmed dead across the country, and a…
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Telecel Zimbabwe Woes Continue As It Faces Eviction
Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd is set to be evicted from its two rented premises belonging to First Mutual Investment Company (Pvt) Ltd after accumulating rental arrears amounting to US$40 843. First Mutual is said to have approached the High Court in order to make Telecel settle the arrears and the MNO is yet to respond…
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MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter — We Are The Best Network in South Africa
MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter says that the group’s South African operation has ‘turned a corner’ with a strong set of results. On Thursday (7 March), MTN reported a 10.7% jump in service revenue for the year ended December 2018, with revenue up 6% to R134.56 billion. Operating profit climbed to R23.6 billion, from R20.6…
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MTN Set to Launch an Instant Messaging Service Akin to WeChat and WhatsApp
MTN Group has announced it will launch an instant messaging (IM) service akin to China’s WeChat and Facebook’s WhatsApp as it seeks to expand revenue from digital services and mobile money. With the IM platform, which will form part of the group’s mobile money initiatives, MTN wants to build what group CEO Rob Shuter calls the…
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Strive Masiyiwa Buys Back Mascom Botswana For USD$300 Million
The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa, has bought back Mascom Botswana from MTN for US$300 million, 14 years after losing control of the telecoms giant. Mascom was Strive Masiyiwa’s first mobile company before he obtained a licence to launch Econet Wireless after a protracted court battle with government authorities. The name…
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Huawei Sues The US For Being Blocked From Selling to Federal Government
Huawei is suing the U.S. over a law that bans government agencies from buying the Chinese technology giant’s equipment, claiming the legislation is unconstitutional, as the company goes on the front foot following months of political pressure. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday local time, focuses on a provision in a law known as the National Defense…
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Econet Adjusts Roaming and International Calling & SMS Services Tariffs Effective February 26
Econet Wireless has revised its roaming services and international outbound calling & SMS services tariffs following the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) announced by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on the 20th of February 2019. The MPS designated RTGS balances, Bond notes and coins as RTGS dollars, effectively differentiating the same from any…
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NetOne Board Speaks on CEO Lazarus Muchenje Return
NetOne Cellular Board Chairman James Mutizwa says the company is pleased that a solution regarding the status of chief executive officer, Lazarus Muchenje, has been found, and is expecting him to continue the turnaround efforts that saw the parastatal recording its first month-on-month profit during his reign. Mr Muchenje, who was suspended in August last…
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Zim Govt National Data Centre Project 95% Almost Completion
The government says the National Data Centre Project is nearing completion and has called on industry and the continent to invest more in data centers given their importance to regional economies. The Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said they are forging ahead with the implementation of the national data center project which…
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NetOne Board Reappoints Suspended CEO Lazarus Muchenje
NetOne Board reinstated suspended CEO Mr Lazarus Muchenje as the new NetOne CEO, regardless of the challenge by Chief Secretary to the President, Dr Misheck Sibanda. Sources close to the developments have reiterated that the chief secretary is acting outside his jurisdiction and has no mandate to appoint or dismiss NetOne employees, while he has…
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Sport and Recreation Council (SRC) Grilled Over $USD1,2m POTRAZ Loan to ZIFA
Debt-ridden Zifa has sunk into deeper financial problems, as the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) pursues the $1,2 million they loaned out to the football governing body. Zifa board member finance, Philemon Machana once mentioned that they were pinning their hopes on the government settling the Potraz debt, as it had the…
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Airtel and Telkom Are Merging to Take on Safaricom in Kenya
Airtel and Telkom are merging to create a stronger challenger to the market leader, Safaricom. Indian-owned Bharti Airtel and Telkom Kenya announced a deal to operate under a joint venture company that will be named Airtel-Telkom. The two companies said the deal comprises their corresponding mobile, carrier, and enterprises services but won’t include Telkom Kenya’s real estate…
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NetOne Two Executives, Sibusiso Ndlovu and Brian Mutandiro Sent On Forced Leave
NetOne has sent on forced leave its top two executives who are Sibusiso Ndlovu, the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) as well as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) Brian Mutandiro. “One of the two executives was force-marched off the building while resisting the suspension and suspected to be concealing evidence. The two executives will be on indefinite…
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Kenneth Makate Told Not to Accept Anything Less Than R650 Million Compensation From Vodacom
Kenneth Makate has sued his former funders, Raining Men Trade, for fraud and is fighting the company’s claim to a share of his settlement with Vodacom. Raining Men Trade was reportedly placed into business rescue this year after not receiving payment from Makate. The company helped bankroll Makate’s court case against Vodacom which sought compensation…
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Zimbabwe Businesses Negatively Impacted by The illegal Internet Shutdown
The internet shutdown by government has had an adverse impact on business operations in various sectors of the economy. Government last week switched off internet connectivity in the face of violent protests, which resulted in at least 12 deaths. The shutdown, according to the government, was necessitated by security concerns. However, the High Court this week overturned…
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Mohamed Abdel Bassit Appointed as Liquid Telecom’s New Regional CEO for Middle East and West Africa (MEWA)
Liquid Telecom announced that it has appointed Mohamed Abdel Bassit its new Regional Chief Executive for the Middle East and West Africa (MEWA), effective January 1, 2019. Based in Cairo, Bassit will oversee the group’s expansion further into MEWA following the recent news that it is investing US$400m in the Egyptian market and has completed the first fibre network to stretch all the way from Cape Town to Cairo. Mohamed…
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Bharti Airtel to Sell 32% Stake in Bharti Infratel
Bharti Airtel has decided to sell a further 32% stake in Bharti Infratel, valued at close to Rs 15,500 crore, to create a war chest to bolster its countrywide 4G networks and counter Reliance Jio Infocomm. Separately, the Sunil Mittal-led telco on Thursday also appointed a panel to explore various other fundraising options, and named Badal Bagri as…
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Kenya’s Mobile Phone Penetration Surpasses 100% Mark
Kenya’s mobile phone penetration crested the 100 per cent mark, says the Communications Authority of Kenya. It joins Morocco, Namibia and Tunisia, the only countries in Africa to achieve the milestone. The first quarter sector statistics report for the financial year 2018/2019 by CA shows that the mobile penetration – the total number of active…
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TelOne Anticipates $128 Million Revenue
TelOne is forecasting an 8 percent jump in revenue to $128 million this year, driven by broadband and data revenue, which have been performing relatively well throughout the year. The revenue is expected to rise by $10 million from last year’s $118 million. TelOne managing director Mrs Chipo Mtasa, recently said the revenue is anticipated…
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Vodacom Obtains Court Order Against MTN Staff Poaching
The labour court has issued an order, with the consent of ex-Vodacom employees, to enforce their restraints of trade after reports emerged in November that they were working with rival MTN South Africa. Vodacom said in a statement on Friday that it was “forced” to bring an application requesting the labour court to find that by being employees…
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MTN to Only Pay $53 Million to End Nigeria Dispute
Christmas has come early for MTN Group. The telecommunications operator’s shares are likely to soar when markets reopen on Thursday in Johannesburg after it announced late on Monday that it has settled a multibillion-dollar dispute in Nigeria. It will pay just US$53.2-million (about R777-million) in a settlement with Nigeria’s central bank, a tiny fraction of the…
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MTN Group Appoints New 5 Executives
MTN Group has announced the appointment of several executives, including the position of Chief Technology & Information Officer and Executive for Corporate Services & Sustainability. Charles Molapisi has been appointed as the company’s Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, effective 1 January 2019. His appointment follows Babak Fouladi’s resignation from the company to take up…