Author: Gugu Lourie

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, which is owned by Strive Masiyiwa, is spending more than R350m into delivering Software Defined Network (SDN) offering known as Dataport. The client-controlled network can be scaled and customised to suit the datacentre and SME user market, and South Africa’s 20 000 connected buildings. SDN connections are typically used to connect enterprise networks, including branch offices and data centres, over local and long distances. Users have complete control over their operations through an efficient, easy-to-use web portal, from choosing destinations, speed and bandwidths, managing traffic demand, checking costs, and more. With Dataport, customers have complete oversight of…

The first regional Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) adoption in Africa has to be led through policies, said Anderson Amlamba, director of the AU’s Management Information System. Speaking at the launch of “Africa IPv6 Development White Paper” by the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), African Union (AU) and Huawei at the 4th Broadband Africa Forum at AfricaCom 2022, Amlamba said that’s the only way Africa will be able to get IPv6 adoption through all the different industry sectors and verticals. This first regional IPv6 white paper on the African continent systematically analyses the development of IPv6 in Africa and shares the…

MTN SA service revenue grew by 3.5% in the third quarter to end-September 2022, impacted by loadshedding and concessions to support the Cell C recapitalisation. Service revenue in the prepaid consumer business unit (CBU) grew by 0.4%, with postpaid CBU increasing by 4.2%. The enterprise business unit (EBU) continues to deliver strong double-digit growth of 19.7%. Furthermore, the wholesale business delivered 0.7% growth despite revenue concessions amounting to R82 million on the Cell C national roaming agreement geared to enabling the conclusion of their recapitalisation. In the nine months to September 2022, MTN SA grew its subscriber base by over…

MTN announced today that its FinTech business saw revenue rose by 12.9%, with Mobile Money (MoMo) active monthly users up by 23.3% in the third quarter of 2022. In Q3 2022, MTN recorded a 32.7% increase in transaction volumes to 9.5 billion transactions, with transaction value up by 12.1% to $166.7 billion. The number of active merchants accepting MoMo payments increased by 64.4% to over 1.0 million, and the total value of MoMo merchant payments rose by 64.9% to $10.8 billion. In BankTech, MTN facilitated a total loan value of $1 billion, a 57.9% year-on-year increase, as it capitalised on…

MTN GlobalConnect, a digital wholesale and infrastructure services company and an operating company in the MTN Group, announced today that it has signed $28.2 million or R516 million fixed external infrastructure deals. MTN GlobalConnect is driving MTN’s fibreco ambitions in Africa. The telco is planning to demerge its Fibre and FinTech businesses and bring third-party investors to unlock value trapped in the company. External revenue grew by 16.9% year-on-year to $247.9 million or R4.5 billion, with Mobility revenue up by 18.3%. “Building scale infrastructure assets across Africa remained a key priority as MTN GlobalConnect expanded terrestrial fibre into its markets,” MTN informed investors. “We rolled…

MTN announced today that its Nigerian operation has added 5.7 million new susbcribers in nine months ended 30 September 2022 The telco said mobile subscribers rose by 9.7% to 74.1 million MTN aaded that active data users increased by 14.6% to 38 million, adding 3.7 million new active users. The operation’s active fintech subscribers rose by 68.7% to 11.2 million or 1.8 million active MoMo wallets since the launch of MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB). “The investments we make to enhance the quality and coverage of our network continue to yield positive results, driving higher data usage and an expansion…

South Africa’s retailer Pick n Pay has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets. The Pick n Pay Group, with a market value of R27 billion, informed shareholders that its primary listing on the JSE  and issued share capital will be unaffected by the secondary listing on A2X. “Shareholders are hereby advised that Pick n Pay’s ordinary shares have been approved for inclusion in the list of qualifying equity securities to be traded on A2X with effect from 1 November 2022,” Pick n Pay informed investors. Pick n Pay’s  Pick n Pay’s shares will commence trading on A2X…

Throughout its launch across Africa, top global streaming platform Spotify has demonstrated its commitment to bolstering the careers of African creators through on- and off-platform support programmes. In line with this, the company has announced a first-of-its-kind podcast initiative on the continent, the Africa Podcast Fund, with the goal of supporting podcasters and further amplifying their stories. The $100,000 or R1.8 million fund aims to bolster the careers of these podcast creators through financial grants, workshops and networking opportunities. The Africa Podcast Fund is offered to select creators from African countries with the biggest podcast listenerships, namely South Africa, Nigeria,…

Telkom announced on Wednesday that MTN had halted talks over its proposed takeover of the country’s biggest fixed-line telephone group. “MTN terminated discussions in relation to the MTN Proposal on 18 October 2022, as Telkom was not in a position to provide MTN with assurances around exclusivity,” Telkom informed investors. Discussions were at an early stage and had not progressed to due diligence nor had a binding offer been received by the Telkom board, said the company. “The Telkom Board has a legal and fiduciary duty to consider all bona fide offers. Shareholders are therefore advised that they no longer…

Struggling Eskom implemented Stage 4 load-shedding early Tuesday morning. The power utility said five generation units at five power stations broke down overnight. Eskom said as a result of the breakdowns, Stage 4 load-shedding was “implemented from 5-30 this morning until further notice”. Also read: Eskom Signs Leasing Agreements With Renewable Energy Companies ESKOMhas signed leasing contracts with four renewable energy companies to build new renewable energy facilities on land owned by the power utility. The four companies – HDF Energy SA, Red Rocket SA, Sola Group and Mainstream Renewable Power Developments SA – are expected to be connected to the national grid within 24…