Vodacom

Vodacom is a pan-African mobile telecommunications company, and was the first cellular network 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 48.178 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. 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.

Vodacom is the leading cellular network in South Africa with an estimated market share of 58% and more than 23 million customers.

Vodacom says partner aims to block DRC stake sale

Vodacom's joint venture partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo has filed court papers to block the pan-African operator from selling its majority stake in the unit, a spokesman for the South African company said on Friday.

Telkom H1 profit falls, shares slump

South African fixed-line phone company Telkom SA Ltd reported close to a 40 percent fall in first-half profit on Monday as both its domestic and Nigerian units struggled, sending its shares tumbling.

India's Bharti, South Africa's MTN seek $61 billion merger

India's Bharti Airtel and South Africa's MTN have revived merger talks to create a $61 billion telecoms giant spanning Africa, Asia and the Middle East a year after their previous attempt foundered over who would control the combined entity.

Vodafone pleases bulls with raised forecasts

British-based mobile phone giant Vodafone Group Plc raised full-year profit and sales forecasts on Tuesday after a strong set of half-year results topped consensus expectations, sending its shares climbing.