AppChat, the mobile voice specialist founded recently by former ECN Telecommunications CEO John Holdsworth, will launch a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) this year and is promising, in the process, to slash the cost of mobile calls in SA. Holdsworth isn’t saying yet which network operator AppChat is partnering
Browsing: Cell C
Altech Autopage Cellular, SA’s biggest independent cellular service provider, has backed away from plans to launch a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) after giving serious thought last year to the idea of launching one. Altech CEO Craig Venter said as recently as September 2011 that Autopage Cellular was considering
The ANC has proposed a sweeping overhaul of policy governing SA’s technology sector. For the most part, the proposals are reasonably business-friendly and should be welcomed. But the lingering conviction that state intervention will ensure the delivery of services to all is still a cause for concern. The proposals, contained
John Holdsworth is known for giving SA’s mobile operators a hard time. As former CEO of ECN Telecommunications (now Nashua ECN), he was the biggest proponent of and lobbyist for the lowering of the wholesale fees the operators charge each other to carry calls between their networks. But now Holdsworth has come
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has decided to postpone the licensing of “high-demand spectrum” in the coveted 800MHz and 2,6GHz radio frequency bands “until further notice” to ensure a forthcoming policy direction from communications minister Dina Pule is taken into
MultiChoice flexed its legal muscle this week to keep the National Consumer Commission at bay, using a technicality in an attempt to squash the commission’s case against it. The pay-TV broadcaster was before the Consumer Tribunal this week because the commission believes that its subscriber contract violates the
Cell C has slammed telecommunications regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), over its invitation to apply for valuable radio frequency spectrum, accusing the authority of opening itself up to legal challenge and of producing a document “so vague so as to not be capable of proper interpretation”
Cell C is shaking up its approach to marketing and advertising. Comedian Trevor Noah, who had become synonymous with the brand, is out. In is a more “experiential and testimonial-style” approach to capturing market share. Cell C, which has just over 10% of the mobile market in SA, has released a new
Earlier this week, Blue Label Telecoms, the largest distributor of prepaid vouchers airtime in SA, revealed that 8ta accounts for well under 1% of its airtime revenues. Vodacom, MTN and Cell C contribute 53%, 34% and 10% respectively. There was little doubt 8ta, which was launched in 2010 after Telkom disposed of
Consumers can now purchase applications in the Samsung Apps Store for Android using premium SMS rather than a credit card. The company hopes this will encourage users without credit cards, or those reluctant to use one for application purchases, to use the store. “Until now, the only way to purchase from