This week embattled Cell C informed the market that it had started migrating its contract and broadband customers to rival Vodacom.
TechFinancials first reported in October 2020 that the embattled mobile phone operator was trying to appoint a managed services provider to handle its contract and broadband customers.
At the time Cell C would neither deny nor confirm the development.
We reported that the troubled mobile phone company was in talks with Comm Equipment Company (CEC), a handset financing company owned by JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms, which also owns 45% of the operator.
The move to seek a commercial agreement with a managed services provider could spark the evolution of the mobile network operator space in South Africa.
Such a development would enable the embattled mobile phone company to partner with two of its biggest rivals – Vodacom and MTN – who are the two big infrastructure players in the market.
However, we have been vindicated by Cell C’s announcement that it was migrating its contract and broadband customers to Vodacom.
Inexplicably, some recent media reports on the movement of Cell C contract subscribers to Vodacom claim the move was a “surprise”.
For more read: Blue Label Telecoms, Vodacom To Manage Struggling Cell C’s Contract and Broadband Customers
They said they were taken aback by the move because the struggling operator already has a national roaming agreement with MTN.
We continue to pride ourselves – with good reason – as a source of reliable tech news in South Africa.
Also read: Is Cell C sustainable?
For more on our exclusive coverage on the embattled mobile phone operator, click here
