Will operators swallow the NetCo-ServeCo split?
Issue 92 June 2002
Featuring:
Business: The netco / serveco split
Service & Applications: Gaming
Technology: CDMA: 1X and beyond
Multi-Links future in doubt as deal with Visafone is cancelled
South African incumbent operator Telkom has cancelled its planned sale of Nigerian subsidiary Multi-Links to Visafone. Having announced a done deal to the tune of $52m in April this year, Telkom CEO Nombulelo Moholi has said that a recent court ruling in Nigeria now means that the South African company is unable to go through with the deal. Consequently, Telkom will stop funding the subsidiary with immediate effect, leaving the future of the company in doubt.
Neotel becomes Tata Communications subsidiary
India’s Tata Communications has upped its stake in South Africa’s second national operator Neotel, making the telco a subsidiary of the company. Tata’s stake has increased from 56 per cent to 61.5 per cent. It is not clear which of Neotel’s other shareholders has sold its stake; the Neotel website lists Communitel and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner Nexus Connexion as the other shareholders.
M2M and the need for speed
One of the most attractive characteristics of the anticipated M2M explosion is that its applications and modules will be based on older network technologies. Speak to anyone looking to promote M2M and they’ll tell you that it offers operators the opportunity to carry on monetising networks that are nearing the end of their useful life as platforms for consumer services. But is this really the best approach?
Telkom SA sells troubled Nigerian CDMA unit to Visafone
South African incumbent fixed-line operator Telkom SA has sold off its CDMA operation at the embattled Nigerian Multi-Links network. The deal, worth $52m, will see the transfer of the network to operator Visafone; Multi-Links’ fibre and fixed-line elements are not included in the sale.









