DRC: Helios to invest in backbone
Helios Towers are building a 1,800km backbone in the DRC. The backbone network will include dozens of 80-100m towers, which will reach above the forest canopy onto which will be mounted huge backhaul dishes. The towers, each around 40km apart will bring 2G for the first time to many regions, and will also bring 3G and 4G to remote parts of the country.
Ethiopia: Viettel eyeing market entry
Vietnamese telecom company Viettel is considering opportunities to enter the Ethiopian market, following the government’s plans to liberalise the telecoms sector. The opening up of the Ethiopian monopoly on the telecoms sector is a huge opportunity, and could take the form of a sale of a stake in state-owned Ethio Telecom, the granting of new licenses or some combination of both options. Viettel currently operates or holds licenses in Mozambique, Burundi, Cameroon and Tanzania, but is not the only interested party, with South African MTN and French Orange expressing an interest as well.
Ghana & Uganda: GSMA launches Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity plus countries target 100% population coverage.
The GSMA has launched the Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, backed by the UK’s Department for International Development (DIFD). The fund is designed to test innovative ways to deploy mobile broadband in rural areas in partnership with Vodafone Ghana and MTN Uganda, and will provide grants of up to £300,000 to eligible companies. Ghana’s Minister of Communications has announced that the country aims to achieve 100% population coverage by 2020, with the Uganda Communications Commission stating that its expects 100% mobile coverage by the end of 2019.
Kenya: Alphabet Loon to launch with Telkom Kenya
Telkom Kenya and Alphabet’s Project Loon will deploy balloons to beam high-speed internet access to cover rural and suburban populations from next year, marking Loon’s first commercial deal in Africa. After being used to provide connectivity to more than 250,000 people in Puerto Rico following a hurricane in 2017, it’s hoped that the technology can help Kenya achieve full internet coverage for its population.
Mozambique: Vodacom launches 4G
Vodacom Mozambique has launched 4G in four cities (Maputo, Matola, Nampula and Beira) and in the municipality of Dondo following their receipt of a new Unified Telecommunications License earlier this year. Although Vodacom are the first to launch 4G in Mozambique, telecoms regulator the National Communications Institute of Mozambique Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique, INCM) is expected to launch an auction of 4G-capable spectrum in the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands in late 2018.
Nigeria: Globacom carrying out major network upgrade
Nigerian MNO, Globacom is undertaking a major upgrade of its network, increasing capacity in major cities whilst extending 4G coverage to new urban areas. The company is adding new base stations and laying over 4,000km of fibre.
South Africa: Long awaited spectrum auction expected March 2019
ICASA has announced that it will hold an spectrum auction before March 2019.
South Africa: ECA bill tabled in parliament
The South African cabinet has approved the tabling in parliament of the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill. The controversial bill proposes the introduction of a wireless open access network, through which spectrum would be pooled and given to a national wholesale open access network operator joint owned by the government and industry. The bill also proposes the removal of barriers to enable more rapid deployment of broadband connectivity, delivering universal service and universal access.
Tanzania: Bids received for Tigo Tanzania
Millicom has received non-binding offers from several parties for its opco Tigo Tanzania. Operators rumoured to have expressed an interest in the opco include Econet, MTN, Airtel and Vodacom (with the latter two companies already having a presence in the market). The operator has recently exited several other African markets, selling their Rwandan opco to Airtel, their Senegalese opco to a consortium involving NJJ, Sofima and Teyliom Group and merging their Ghanaian opco with Airtel.
Uganda: Regulator steps in on Eaton – Smile dispute
The Uganda Communications Commission has stepped in to resolve a dispute between Eaton Towers and Smile Communications in the Ugandan market. Eaton Towers had disconnected Smile’s network after unpaid bills; access to the network has been restored since the dispute has been resolved.
Uganda: Teleology takes over Uganda Telecom
Private Equity firm, Teleology Holdings has announced the acquisition of Uganda Telecom for a total of US$71mn, fighting off competition from Mauritius Telecom and Afrinet. Teleology Holdings will take a 67% stake, with the government retaining a minority position. Teleology Holdings made headlines earlier in the year, announced as the winning bidder in the acquisition of 9mobile (formerly Etisalat) in Nigeria
Regional: Intelsat invest in Africa Mobile Networks
Satellite company, Intelsat, has made a strategic investment into rural connectivity provider Africa Mobile Networks. Africa Mobile Networks deploys low cost, solar powered rural base stations for mobile network operators, offering a network-as-a-service (NaaS) solution. The agreement will see Africa Mobile Networks use Intelsat’s satellite network to connect base stations to operator core networks.
