Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      World Bank set to back South Africa’s big energy grid roll-out

      20 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Sita hits back at critics, promises faster, automated procurement

      20 June 2025

      The transatlantic race to create the first television

      20 June 2025

      Listed: All the MVNOs in South Africa – 2025 edition

      19 June 2025
    • World

      Watch | Starship rocket explodes in setback to Musk’s Mars mission

      19 June 2025

      Trump Mobile dials into politics, profit and patriarchy

      17 June 2025

      Samsung plots health data hub to link users and doctors in real time

      17 June 2025

      Beijing’s chip champions blacklisted by Taiwan

      16 June 2025

      China is behind in AI chips – but for how much longer?

      13 June 2025
    • In-depth

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025

      Digital fortress: We go inside JB5, Teraco’s giant new AI-ready data centre

      30 May 2025

      Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s big bet to out-Apple Apple

      22 May 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | AfriGIS’s Helen Hulett on how tech can help resolve South Africa’s water crisis

      18 June 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E2: South Africa’s digital battlefield

      16 June 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E1: Starlink, BEE and a new leader at Vodacom

      8 June 2025

      TCS+ | The future of mobile money, with MTN’s Kagiso Mothibi

      6 June 2025

      TCS+ | AI is more than hype: Workday execs unpack real human impact

      4 June 2025
    • Opinion

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025

      Beyond the box: why IT distribution depends on real partnerships

      2 June 2025

      South Africa’s next crisis? Being offline in an AI-driven world

      2 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » News » Vodacom in roaming deal with WBS: report

    Vodacom in roaming deal with WBS: report

    By Staff Reporter17 November 2016
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    Paul Harris
    Paul Harris

    Vodacom has reached an agreement to roam on Wireless Business Solutions’ (WBS’s) LTE-Advanced network, according to a report.

    Vodacom will benefit from WBS’s LTE-A broadband network through a roaming deal with the company, consumer forum MyBroadband said. The deal with Vodacom is non-exclusive, the website quoted WBS chairman Paul Harris as saying.

    “The new LTE-A network will have significant capacity, which [will] allow other networks to roam on it,” Harris reportedly said.

    The deal, and ones like it, will allow WBS to generate revenue while it builds out its network.

    The deal comes as the chances of the big mobile operators getting access to new radio frequency spectrum anytime soon appear to diminish.

    Government’s national integrated ICT policy white paper has proposed the creation of a national wholesale wireless open-access network for which, controversially, all unallocated mobile spectrum will be reserved. The policy even proposes the idea of taking back existing spectrum allocations from the mobile operators, a move that critics have labelled unconstitutional if enforced.

    A protracted battle between the big incumbent mobile operators and government may be on the cards, making it doubtful that they’ll get access to new exclusive-use spectrum in the short or even medium term.

    Meanwhile, WBS has also reportedly concluded a deal with Vodacom to use the company’s high sites. According to the MyBroadband report, WBS will have at least 500 sites active on Vodacom facilities by March 2017, with that number accelerating to 5 000 by 2020.

    Ironically, the reported agreement between the companies comes just two months after WBS was ordered by the high court in Johannesburg to pay Vodacom more than R40m in interconnection fees. The court ordered WBS to pay Vodacom R41,5m plus interest, and to pay the mobile operator’s legal costs.

    The agreement between the parties was entered into before the acquisition of WBS by Multisource — a company backed by Harris and Michael Jordaan, both former top bankers — and before a change of management at the company.

    In September, WBS, which owns owns iBurst and Broadlink, said it would invest billions of rand in a new, data-led LTE-A wireless broadband network.

    The network would use WBS’s existing spectrum assignments in the 1,8GHz and 2,6GHz bands, it said.

    Existing iBurst customers would be converted to the new network.

    “The network will provide superfast broadband to consumers and businesses alike. It will be superior to copper/ADSL offerings and an attractive alternative to fibre to the home,” the company said.

    Multisource’s shareholders and directors include former MTN chief technology officer Phumlani Moholi, former Leaf Wireless boss Brandon Leigh, Design Indaba founding CEO Ravi Naidoo and Multisource CEO Duncan Simpson-Craib, along with Harris and Jordaan. The company has 30% black shareholding, which will be maintained after a planned capital raising.  — (c) 2016 NewsCentral Media



    Broadlink iBurst Paul Harris Vodacom WBS Wireless Business Solutions
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleUnion threatens to restart Telkom strike
    Next Article Liquid Telecom secures billions in funding

    Related Posts

    Listed: All the MVNOs in South Africa – 2025 edition

    19 June 2025

    MTN CEO edges Vodacom rival in pay stakes – but just barely

    18 June 2025

    Vodacom CEO Joosub bags R71m in pay – but taxman will take a big cut

    17 June 2025
    Company News

    Making IT happen: how Trade Link gears up to enable SA retail strategies

    20 June 2025

    Why parents choose CambriLearn for online education

    19 June 2025

    Disrupt first, ask questions later – the uncomfortable truth about incident response

    18 June 2025
    Opinion

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    AI and the future of ICT distribution

    16 June 2025

    Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

    13 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.