Author: Loni Prinsloo

MTN Group is set to complete the sale and leaseback of South African towers by the end of next month, while a separation of both the fintech and fibre units is also under way.

Ethiopia’s revived plan to sell a second telecoms licence to international operators received an early setback as MTN Group isn’t likely to resubmit a bid, according to people familiar with the matter.

Facebook and Liquid Intelligent Technologies are extending their reach in Africa by laying 2 000km of fibre in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Naspers spin-off Prosus is planning to expand its grocery services using “dark stores” as competition booms in the global market for food delivery.

Vodacom Group is expanding its financial and e-commerce services in South Africa through a partnership with AliPay, seeking to accelerate growth in a market hampered by a lack of new broadband spectrum.

Helios Towers plans to use an expansion into Oman to further its presence in the Middle East and North Africa, while it is also eyeing a potential deal in South Africa with MTN Group.

MTN Group is making progress towards separating the company’s fintech business and sell a portfolio of South African towers as Africa’s largest wireless carrier continues to slim down.

MTN Group and Airtel Africa were given the green light to resume the sale of new Sim cards in Nigeria following the implementation of a new policy linking them to national ID numbers.

MTN Group is valuing its mobile money arm at R75-billion, joining African wireless carriers planning to list these businesses in a region that has more mobile money accounts than anywhere else in the world.

Jumia Technologies is expanding in online food delivery as the pioneering Africa e-commerce business looks to grow beyond its main market of trading phones and electronics.