VoiceSA to unpack industry challenges
The second annual VoiceSA event, a telecommunications industry conference taking place at the Bytes Conference Centre in Midrand on 22 September, will explore some of the big challenges facing the sector. The event — it’s the second time
‘Government must intervene in broadband’
ECN Telecommunications says government needs to set tangible goals for Internet provision that private business can use to measure itself. Speaking at the sixth annual broadband summit
Why Reunert bought ECN
JSE-listed Reunert’s acquisition of ECN Telecoms will be good for both companies and for the industry, says ECN CEO John Holdsworth. Reunert announced the deal on Monday, confirming speculation
Reunert buys ECN
JSE-listed Reunert has acquired privately held ECN Telecoms in a deal that could presage further consolidation in the telecommunications sector. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed and is
Cell C tower-deal billions to pay off debt
It’s a deal that’s been a long time coming. After many months of careful planning and negotiation, Cell C will sell 3 200 of its cellular base stations to US-based American Tower Corp (ATC) for US$430m (R2,9bn). The company will use the money to restructure its balance sheet.
Ofcom rates decision could pressure SA mobiles
Vodacom, MTN and Cell C should be thankful they don’t have the UK’s Ofcom regulating them. Ofcom, which is the UK’s equivalent of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), has proposed reducing mobile termination rates to just 0,5p/minute — that’s 5,5c in SA currency. The British regulator wants the rate to fall from 4,3p [...]
TechCentral’s ICT Newsmakers of the Year (part 1)
SA’s technology industry grabbed more public attention in 2009 than it has in years. In spite of the recession, the news flow has been constant, and not all of it has been bad. Undoubtedly, the biggest story of the year on the business front was Telkom’s sale and unbundling of its 50% stake in cellular [...]
Cellular operators agree to cut interconnection rates
Interconnection rates are coming down. SA’s three mobile operators, MTN, Vodacom and Cell C, have agreed to cut the peak rate they charge other operators to carry calls on their networks by 36c, from R1,25/minute to 89c/minute. Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda, pictured, made the announcement in parliament on Thursday evening. The cuts will take effect [...]
ECN accuses mobile operators of ‘sabre-rattling’
ECN Telecommunications CEO John Holdsworth says there is no reason mobile interconnection rates should not come down in one fell swoop rather than over a period of years. MTN, Vodacom and Cell C have all argued that the rates should come down on a “glide path” over a number of years to avoid what is [...]
ECN in talks with international operators as it eyes mobile opportunities
ECN Telecommunications is in talks with a number of large international mobile operators with a view to setting up a cellular carrier in SA that will compete directly with incumbents Vodacom, MTN and Cell C. ECN CEO John Holdsworth says the company is considering selling a majority stake to the right foreign partner. He confirms [...]
DaveVanZyl: 
Gibbgodd: 
Rob: 
Gjldev: 
Dieter Gottert: