Vodacom
 | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | South Africa |
| Key people | Shameel Joosub,Group CEO |
| Products |
GSM-related products Internet services |
| Parent | Vodafone |
| Website | www.vodacom.co.za |
Vodacom is a pan-African mobile telecommunications company, with the largest number of subscribers of cellular networks in South Africa. It provides GSM service to more than 35 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2008 was 48.18 billion South African Rand. It was owned on a 50:50 basis by the South African telecommunications group Telkom and the British mobile phone operator Vodafone.[1][2] On 6 November 2008 Vodafone announced that it had agreed to increase its stake to 65%, and Telkom said that it would spin off its remaining holding by listing it on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.[3] On April 1, 2011, Vodacom officially unveiled its new change in branding from blue to red. This is in keeping with its UK parent company, Vodafone.[4]
Vodacom provides coverage to Mount Kilimanjaro, which used to make it the highest point in the world to be covered by GSM. It no longer is, as TeliaSonera now provides coverage at the top of Mt. Everest, the highest point in the world. Vodacom was aided by its optimistic advertisements at the early stages of the democratic South Africa, this includes the yebo gogo campaign which is still in effect today in South Africa. Vodacom is the leading cellular network in South Africa with an estimated market share of 58% and more than 23 million customers.
Technology
Vodacom is also the number-one provider deploying 3G and UMTS networks in South Africa and is also offering HSPA+ 21.1 Mbit/s, HSUPA (2100 MHz) and 42 Mbit/s. LTE should become commercially available by the end of 2012.[5] In terms of other technology Vodacom has its hand in Wi-Fi,WiMAX and LTE. Vodacom to date is upgrading the whole South African system to introduce these new technologies.
Sports sponsorship
Vodacom is a sponsor of South African sports. In provincial rugby union, they are the sponsors of the Pretoria-based Vodacom Blue Bulls.
In soccer they sponsor two clubs in the Premier Soccer League, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. They also sponsor the South African Football Association and the national teams Bafana Bafana (men), Amajita (under 20's), and previously Banyana Banyana (women). However, MTN was the sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.
Vodacom also owns the naming rights to several stadia, among them Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein and Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Recent news
In October 2013, Vodacom announced it would be acquiring Neotel in a potential $590 million deal.[6]
Controversies
On May 17, 2009, a court dismissed a joint COSATU and ICASA application to stop Vodacom's JSE listing. Chegoane Mabelane, the South African article writer and prominent supporter of both African National Congress and its alliance; in one of his articles stated that the interdict to stop listing was fair.
In January 2010 the Sunday Times alleged that Alan Knott-Craig, former Vodacom CEO, helped his son with business ventures using Vodacom resources. He also allegedly awarded a multi-million-rand contract to a marketing and advertising company run by family members.[7] [8]
See also
- Telephone numbers in Africa
- Telephone numbers in South Africa
- MTN (South Africa)
- Cell C
- 8ta
References
- ↑ Introduction Page on Vodacoms Website. http://www.vodacom.com/vodacom/about_vodacom/introduction.jsp
- ↑ Vodacom Business article by the BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4434862.stm
- ↑ Vodacom article by the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122596655256404705.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
- ↑ http://www.techcentral.co.za/vodacom-goes-red-restructures-its-business/22265/
- ↑ MyBroadband
- ↑ South Africa's Vodacom looks to boost data with Neotel purchase, International: Reuters, 2013
- ↑ Knott-Craig denies any wrongdoing at Vodacom M&G
- ↑ Knott-Craig hits out at claims News24
- ↑ 2nd is Nothing - Creating a Multi-Bilion Rand Cellular Industry by Alan Knott-Craig with Eunice Afonso - 2009 Business Day
External links
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