After a closer analysis of the huge potential of the Nigerian telecom market, international telecom investor-operator, Orange Group, has vowed to play a big part in Africa’s biggest service space, in diversified areas including mobile, data, fixed and financial technology support services.
Kenya’s mobile network operators, Telkom, Safaricom and Airtel, announced that Kenyans can now make direct mobile money payments to an M-PESA Pay Bill Number from any network. This move follows the telcos’ announcement in April this year, which saw Kenyans being able to make mobile money payments to M-PESA buy goods and services tills from any network.
Airtel Africa PLC announced the acquisition of 60 megahertz of spectrum in the 2600 MHz band in Kenya, with the overall investment of US$40 million for a 15-year license. The newly acquired spectrum will allow the operator to expand its 4G mobile network capacity in Kenya, including mobile data and fixed wireless home broadband, and soon roll out 5G as well.
Vodacom Western Cape plans to spend over R500 million on the mobile network across the province during this year to grow coverage reach, increase capacity and improve network uptime. This significant investment into the network will help the region expand connectivity in urban spaces, deep rural areas and townships that had little or no connectivity before and enable more communities to reap the benefits of highly reliable internet connectivity.
For the purpose of extending the coverage of its telecom network in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC plans to issue a 200-billion-naira bond. In that regard, the company filed a request with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
MTN Group’s Mobile Money Application Interface (API) is inviting developers across several markets to participate in an Open API Hackathon, with a challenge to create a mobile application that uses MoMo APIs for use in their markets.
In the next five years, Telecom Namibia plans to invest N$2.3 billion in upgrading fixed and mobile network infrastructure and reducing costs.
Telkom has completed the Coast and Lower Eastern phase of its countrywide Mobile 4G/LTE network expansion, covering Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Taita/Taveta, as well as Makueni, Machakos, Kitui and Kajiado Counties.
During a recent meeting, the Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) gave an instruction to operators to improve the quality of their voice, data and SMS services. The regulator asked Vodacom Tanzania, MIC Tanzania (Tigo), Airtel, TTCL and Halotel to elaborate plans to improve their services in the districts where the services are below the quality required.
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia announced that it will begin a phased commercial launch in Dire Dawa in August 2022. The telco will switch on its network in 25 cities across the country by April 2023, said Matthew Harrison-Harvey, Safaricom Ethiopia’s Chief External Affairs & Regulatory Officer. “Currently we are in a testing period to ensure that when we switch on, we will deliver a quality experience for Ethiopians,” he noted.
