Vodacom Group is actively pursuing fibre joint ventures (JVs) across its African markets while maintaining its FinTech business as a core operation, with no plans for unbundling.
The Vodafone-owned telecom giant remains committed to expanding digital infrastructure despite regulatory hurdles in South Africa.
Maziv Deal Appeal and Fibre Strategy
Vodacom continues to challenge the Competition Tribunal’s decision to block its proposed stake in Maziv, which houses Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel.
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub stated:
“While we were disappointed by the Tribunal’s decision, we have lodged an appeal. Fibre is critical for economic growth and we believe this transaction holds significant public interest benefits.
If the deal isn’t approved, we’re still in a strong position – the funds remain available for alternative fibre investments.”
With over R20 billion in annual capital expenditure, Vodacom is prioritising partnerships to expand fiber networks.
Fibre JVs Across Africa
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DRC: Partnering with Orange on 2,000 solar sites, a model to be replicated for fibre
Joosub added:
“We’re setting up 50-50 JVs in each market, not necessarily seeking control. Our goal is universal connectivity, collaborating with MTN, Airtel, and Orange where possible.”
87.7 million customers (up from 53.2 million in 2020)
$2 billion+ annual revenue from FinTech
$450 billion+ in processed transactions
On whether Vodacom should list any businesses separately, Joosub
“What we’re trying to do is ensure we maximize value, because for us financial services are deeply integrated into our operations. This is core business for us – both the telco and FinTech components. We’re now generating ovee $2 billion of revenue across the group from financial services and processing more than $450 billion of transactions.
“So, it’s its key to us, and you know by what we want to do with the stronger earnings growth, We hopeful that the market will recognize that we offer something different from a normal telco, with the with the FinTech part being and being the largest FinTech player on the continent.”
Despite regulatory setbacks, Vodacom is pushing forward with:
Fibre JVs to bridge Africa’s digital divide
FinTech integration to drive financial inclusion
Collaborative infrastructure sharing with competitors
The company’s appeal on the Maziv ruling remains pending, but its multi-market fiber expansion ensures growth continues.
