Author: Gugu Lourie
Telkom has finally shed its image as South Africa’s “poster child for bad customer service” – thanks to chief executive Sipho Maseko and his management team ably supported by the board led by Jabu Mabuza. By Gugu Lourie Investors, who were patient with the once struggling telco, also played their part in turning around the giant telecoms company. The shareholders include the South African Government, Public Investment Corporation, Old Mutual, Allan Gray, Investment Solutions and retail investors. Telkom earnings published on Monday indicate that the turnaround is yielding positive results under the stewardship of Maseko and Mabuza. This positive development…
Shareholders at Telkom must be smiling from ear to ear as Africa’s largest integrated communications firm announced on Monday that it would reinstate a dividend payment. Telkom declared its first dividend in more than 3 years, announcing it will pay a dividend and a special divided totaling 245 cents per share. However, it will take the firm a while to pay the kinds of dividends that its rivals do. During the year to March, Telkom reduced its net debt by 92.8% to R151 million and free cash flow increased to R3.9 billion. “Our healthy financial position will not only allow us…
By Gugu Lourie South Africa’s Telkom extended a run of strong subscriber growth, added 73, 428 new broadband subscriber line customers to its network. The gains by the once struggling telco has prompted it to create a new infrastructure network business. The company said on Monday ADSL customers rose 7.9% to more than 1 million in the year to end-March 2015 compared to 931 858 in 2014. But Telkom is being challenged by its rivals and new players in the market dominated by mobile broadband. Rivals such as Afrihost, owned by MTN, Neotel, Vodacom, OpenWeb and others are competing seriously with…
Telkom Mobile, a business unit of information and communication solutions provider Telkom, posted a 21,2% rise in customers to 2.19 million total subscribers in the year to end-March 2015. The number was driven by the addition of 383 099 new subscribers. The Pretoria-based firm said on Monday Telkom Mobile increased mobile data revenue by 50.6% to R988 million. Data revenue now constitutes approximately 35,9% of group revenue, which increased 4,5 percent from the prior year. Telkom added that the mobile business managed to reduce the EBITDA loss by 48,7% by increasing service and subscriptions revenue (excluding equipment sales) by 48,0…
MTN has noted the statements attributed to the Communications Workers Union (CWU) which seek to defile the reputation of MTN by levelling unfounded allegations against the company. By Staff Writer MTN has welcomed the audit of CWU membership at MTN by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to verify whether it meets the required 30% membership threshold to qualify for recognition. MTN has repeatedly maintained that it is not opposed to collective bargaining and recognition of the CWU provided its membership at MTN is fully audited. MTN has tabled an offer of 8% to the CWU and the organisation…
The launch of mobile service by FNB is the latest attempt by a bank to win new customers as technology converge between banks and mobile phone operators. FNB, the oldest bank in South Africa, will offer its own SIM cards to its customers from 15 June 2015, setting its sights on growing market for customers to take all telecoms service from it and becoming the first South African bank to offer mobile services. The move by FNB will be welcomed by the market and this will benefit its more than 2 million customers, who are topping up with airtime and bundles monthly.…
By Staff Writer Telkom on Thursday announced that it will be rolling out the first phase of SmartBroadband Uncapped High Speed Wireless packages to select areas in Gauteng. An online sale will take place on 10 June to offer the uncapped packages to customers on a 24 month contract at prices starting at R599. As part of the promotional offer, customers will also receive an antenna and installation by Telkom technicians at no additional cost. Promotional packages will be capped at 150 per base station to ensure a high quality customer experience with the service. “We are rolling out this…
With Africa experiencing an e-Commerce revolution, more and more African consumers are looking for ways to protect themselves against scammers. By Cristobal Alonso, CEO of MOBOfree.com “African consumers need to adopt some key habits in order to avoid fraudsters.” Tips on how to shop safely on an online social marketplace: Keep things local. Meet the seller in person, check the item and make sure you are satisfied with it before you make a payment. Do not pay in advance, not even for delivery. Buyers – don’t make any payments before receiving an item. Sellers – don’t send an item before receiving payment.…
By Staff Writer AlwaysOn, a Wi-Fi provider, launches AlwaysOn Calling for Android smartphones. AlwaysOn Calling lets users make calls over Wi-Fi or their cellular data package, a much cheaper way of calling then using your mobile network. All users have to do register from the AlwaysOn Website, they will receive a sms then just need to follow the instructions. Once installed, the user’s phone will then automatically choose Wi-Fi or other data networks to make calls. A launch starting Monday the 8th of June will include 60 minutes of free talk time to any local cellular or landline service. In…
By Staff Writer MTN has dropped the price of its own-branded smartphone Steppa 2 to entice more customers to buy the device. MTN has slashed the price of its popular Steppa 2 smartphone from R999 to R799 effective immediately. MTN launched the Steppa 2 smartphone after a resounding success of the original Steppa smartphone which was South Africa’s most affordable smartphone when it launched in 2013. The MTN Steppa 2 runs on the popular Android 4.3 operating system which gives users access to thousands of Android-based apps. Steppa 2 has a 5 megapixel camera and comes preloaded with popular starter apps…