Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko said communications regulator Icasa is making a grave mistake in the way it proposes to license access to the 5G-suitable 3.5GHz radio frequency spectrum band.
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Communications regulator Icasa on Wednesday moved to caution those involved in various efforts to rescue mobile operator Cell C that any deal must meet “regulatory compliance requirements”.
In the past year, Telkom lost 186 141 copper broadband lines but only gained 55 577 fibre connections. This has caused tremendous pressure on its revenue line.
Telkom wants to buy Cell C in a plan that will include reducing its troubled rival’s debt and renegotiating contracts with suppliers, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Though Telkom continues to invest in fibre-to-the-home broadband, the number of fixed lines in service fell by almost a quarter year on year in the six months to end-September 2019.
Telkom’s spending on its mobile network has skyrocketed – with capital expenditure well above guidance – as it invests big money to ensure its network can keep pace with rapidly growing demand.
Telkom will terminate 2G services in March 2020, CEO Sipho Maseko said in an interview with TechCentral on Tuesday. It will be the first national operator in South Africa to do so.
Not enough attention is paid to the extent to which Vodacom, the country’s largest mobile operator, leverages resources from (and executes the global strategy of) parent Vodafone.
Telkom issued a cautionary notice to shareholders on Tuesday saying it is in discussions in relation to a possible acquisition – and the most likely target is Cell C.
Vodacom spent almost R4.8-billion on expanding and improving its network in South Africa in the six months to 30 September 2018, an 18.2% jump from the same period a year ago.