Author: Loni Prinsloo

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.

MTN Group has appointed Citigroup and Standard Bank Group to advise on a sale and leaseback of some of the carrier’s South African telecommunications towers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Prosus is investing in agritech company DeHaat in a bet on India’s $350-billion farming industry. The group led a series-C funding round of $30-million that DeHaat will use to expand.

Renergen has patented cryogenic cases that can keep vaccines at ultra-cold temperatures for 30 days, a potential way of getting some of the first coronavirus shots to be approved to remote areas.

MTN Group is looking to sell and lease back part of its portfolio of 13 000 South African towers, a sign that new CEO Ralph Mupita is looking to build on a disposal plan kicked off by his predecessor.