Mobile and Telecoms
Vodafone Foundation to Expand ‘Ambulance taxi’ Programme in Africa
The Vodafone Foundation has announced that it will commit $28 million to expand its ‘ambulance taxi’ programme beyond Tanzania for the first time to sub-Saharan African countries. The programme is expected to initially expand to Lesotho, with a co-investment of $4.5 million by the Foundation and the Government of Lesotho. Lesotho has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, and the programme could potentially save 200 lives over the next four years alone. “Vodafone Foundation shares the commitment of the Government of Lesotho to reduce maternal mortality and contribute to the UN’s health goal. Our long-term investment of US$28 million to expand m-mama within sub-Saharan Africa will save the lives of thousands of women through an emergency service that governments can af...
Eutelsat and Paratus Partner to Increase Connectivity in South Africa
Eutelsat and Paratus have partnered to bring high-quality network connectivity to South Africa. Thanks to a new multi-year distribution agreement, Paratus will leverage Eutelsat Konnect in an attempt to connect remote and rural locations, businesses operating in farming, game farms and the SME segment and consumers, for home working, homeschooling and general Internet use across the country. Through this collaboration, Paratus will offer a number of 10, 20 and 30 Mbps packages to consumers – all will 24/7 technical support and using small, cost-efficient dishes. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e5f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e5f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “Getting connectivity in remote locations is not easy; while the price is key to attracting customers, the quality of n...
Paratus Activates Network Line Connecting Johannesburg to Maputo
Paratus announced that it has completed a new terrestrial crossing to Mozambique by lighting up a 750km route from Maputo, through Eswatini onwards to Teraco Isando DC in Johannesburg. “It has taken months of meticulous planning and we experienced significant delays due to the pandemic sweeping across the globe. This week, we were able to commence with link testing and the first live traffic traversed the link,” says Rolf Mendelsohn, CTO of the Paratus Group. “Prior to activating this shorter route, the majority of traffic to Maputo would need to go via Mtinzini on either the SEACOM or EASSY cable systems. Latency is halved from 18ms to 9ms. For this route we decided to deploy the latest Infinera coherent technology, operating at 100Gb wavelengths.” Barney Harmse, CEO of Paratus, says, “Th...
Telkom Launches 1TB Wireless Broadband Deal
Image sourced from My Broadband Telkom SA has launched a SIM-only LTE deal that gives users 1 Terabyte (1024GB) worth of data. The telco says that with data becoming an essential need for South Africans, thanks to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, it hopes to give users more than they bargained for. This “game-changing” deal with no strings attached has: No Fair usage policy (FUP); No speed limit, truly unlimited; and No contract, it’s month to month. “More than ever, data has become an essential part of our daily lives. At Telkom, we always have our finger on the pulse and ears on the ground and we understand what people need. We are committed to giving people what they need and subsequently leave no man behind. This 1TB SIM-only deal allows you to work, learn, entertain and collaborat...
South Africa is Facing a “Massive” Mobile Fraud Problem, says Expert
Anti-fraud firm, Evina has determined that one out of every three mobile subscription attempts in South Africa is fraudulent. The company believes that South African cellular users are very often subscribed to mobile services without their consent. After Kenya, South Africa is the African country most affected by fraud that daily fleeces millions from the mobile accounts of cellular users around the globe. “As Africa’s most advanced economy, it is particularly tragic that South African mobile users are falling victim to subscription frauds that are well managed in many other countries,” says David Lotfi, CEO of Evina. This at a time when locals are under significant financial pressure following the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraud is not treated seriously enough by the various mobile ...
MTN Introduces Month-to-Month Contracts
Sourced from The Techie Guy MTN has introduced a month-to-month payment option that aims to give customers “control of their spend commitments”. With no lock-ins, no credit checks and no complicated paperwork, MTN Month-to-Month is available to anyone that either doesn’t want to be tied to a contract or who is unable to get a long-term contract due to not meeting minimum requirements. New or existing customers simply need to choose the package they want and opt for the month-to-month payment option, allowing them to experience the MTN network without a 24-month obligation. All they will be asked for is their name, SA ID and debit order details should they opt to pay via debit order. “These are uncertain times for many, so with this product, we are responding to our customer’s needs with gr...
Vodacom Unveils Video-Streaming Bundles
Vodacom has introduced Video Play Time bundles which allow consumers to stream their favourite movies or series without using their regular mobile data. Video Play Time can be used to access unlimited series of health and fitness documentaries, news, gospel, Hollywood and South African movies, among many other interesting things to watch on Video Play. “Vodacom is more than just a telco. Our strategy is to expand our digital content platforms and strive to become a leading go-to brand for all things entertainment,” says Zubair Munshi, Executive Head of Video Commercial at Vodacom. “With Time Bundles and Video Play’s flexible subscription model, customers are not tied down to long-term contracts and can watch what they want and when they want to” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_9d9.td-a-rec-img{ te...
Airtel Nigeria Introduces New Unlimited Data Plans
Sourced from Comms MEA Airtel Nigeria has introduced a new range of unlimited data plans – known as ‘Unlimited Ultra Plans’. These have been designed for consumers who use Routers and Outdoor Unit’s (ODU). According to Airtel, these plans will offer telecom consumers the freedom to do more and become more productive without worrying about data speed reduction and utilization. With the New Unlimited Ultra Plans, consumers have four distinct packages to choose from which come with unlimited data, uncapped speed and applicable Fair Usage Policy (FUP): Unlimited Ultra Weekly – priced at N5,000, consumers can enjoy Unlimited Data for 7 days with a FUP of 30GB plus 1GB data daily after FUP Unlimited Ultra Standard – priced at N20,000, consumers can enjoy Unlimited Data for 30 days with a FUP of ...
MTN Introduces New Region-Specific Data Bundles
MTN has introduced a new range of ‘town-specific’ data-bundles that aim to give prepaid customers data that will suit their needs and budgets. “At MTN we are committed to offering our customers increasingly personalised, and relevant, products and services. We understand that everyone is different, with vastly different circumstances, particularly at this time, and we will continue to do our utmost best to cater to every single one of our customers,” says Jacqui O’Sullivan, Executive: Corporate Affairs at MTN South Africa. “The aim with this product is not only to get – and keep – more people connected to family, friends, passions, entertainment, networking and job opportunities, it is also a way to address customer needs on a personal and community-level; ensuring that no one is left behi...
Vodacom Appoints New Group CFO
Vodacom has appointed Raisibe Morathi as its new Group chief financial officer (CFO), effective from 1 November 2020. Morathi joins the telco after resigning from her position as Nedbank CFO – a role that she has held since 2009. Morathi is also expected to be appointed to the Vodacom Group Board. “As one of the most experienced and one of very few African black female CFOs of a listed company in South Africa, Raisibe’s appointment underscores Vodacom’s commitment to driving diversity across the workplace,” says Vodacom in a statement. TechCentral reports that Morathi is a “chartered accountant and has completed an Advanced Management Programme with Insead (France). Her other qualifications include a higher diploma in taxation from Wits University and she is completing a master’s in philos...
ECA Suspends Plans to Privatise Ethio Telecom
Sourced from allAfrica. In May, the Ethiopian Telecommunication Authority (ECA) issued a statement announcing that the country would now be open to selling a 40% stake in the state-owned company, Ethio Telecom. In response to this announcement, Safaricom and, its parent company, Vodacom both expressed their interest. However, it looks as though this opportunity was short-lived as the ECA has since suspended its plans to privatize the telco. According to TechNext, Africa’s oldest telco supplies more than 40 million of 115 million Ethiopians with mobile network and Internet services. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_645.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_645.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } But in recent times, locals have began calling out the slow, unreliable internet connection and poo...
MTN Appoints New Group CEO
Sourced from The Techie Guy MTN has appointed Ralph Mupita as the new group CEO, effective from 1 September 2020. He succeeds Rob Shuter who is due to step down on 31 August. Mupita is currently the telco’s chief financial officer, and there is no word just yet on who is due to take up this position. “Ralph has served as the MTN Group CFO since April 2017 and has played a critical role in the development and execution of the group’s strategy, capital allocation processes, financial performance as well as in the resolution of a number of complex regulatory matters,” says MTN in a statement. “Ralph’s experience as the group CFO, strong knowledge of our businesses and markets, as well as successful background in financial services, M&A and emerging markets, place him in an excellent posit...
