Econet Wireless

Econet Wireless is a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America and the East Asia Pacific Rim, offering products and services in the core areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, satellite and fibre optic networks.

Econet Wireless is a privately held group, and is not listed on any stock exchange. One of its subsidiaries, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and its activities are confined only to the Zimbabwe market.

The Group's subsidiaries include Econet Wireless International, Econet Wireless Africa, Econet Solar International, Econet Wireless Group and Liquid Telecom.^[1]

Econet Wireless was founded by Zimbawean National, Strive Masiyiwa, who first came to international prominence when he fought a landmark constitutional legal battle for five years in the African country of Zimbabwe. The ruling, which led to the removal of the monopoly of the state in telecommunications, is generally regarded as one of the key milestones in opening the African telecommunications sector to private capital.^{[citation needed]}

Mr Masiyiwa, the founder of Econet Wireless, left Zimbabwe in March 2000, and lives in South Africa, with his family.

Econet Wireless Group

Econet Wireless is a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America and the East Asia Pacific Rim, offering products and services in the core areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, satellite and fibre optic networks.

Econet Solar

Econet Solar is a manufacturer and distributor of solar products, for the global market, and in particular developing countries. The Company's patented new solar product the Home|Power|Station has been installed around the Kwa Mashu area nestled in the valley of a thousand hills in Kwa Zulu Natal. According to the Company, these pilot units have been functioning well, and changing the lives of the people in the areas of installation. Similar pilot projects are currently being deployed in Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Burundi.^[2]

The Home Power Station was first launched by Econet Wireless Executive Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, in Durban during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ^[3]

Liquid Telecom

Liquid Telecommunications is an independent data, voice and IP provider, supplying wholesale fibre optic, satellite and international carrier services to telecommunications operators in developing countries.^[4]

Liquid owns and operate extensive fiber optical network infrastructure (in southern Africa) and multiple satellite ground facilities in the United Kingdom, Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Somalia, Burundi, Niger and Kenya, utilising three satellite transponders. It's worldwide hub is located in central London and serves as an additional point from which to provide interconnections to telecommunications operators worldwide. The Company provides a range of wholesale international carrier services.

TN Bank Limited

In February Econet acquired a controlling interest in the then TN Bank Zimbabwe, one of the commercial banks in Zimbabwe now called Steward Bank. The bank, whose shares were previously listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), were delisted when it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Econet.^[5]

External links

• Econet Wireless Group
• Econet Wireless legal dispute with Bharti Airtel Nigeria
• Kenyan Information Minister Questions Econet Viability
• Econet Wireless buys Spacetel Burundi GSM network

References