The South African telecom operator Telkom called on the Competition Commission last week, denouncing the relations between the mobile operator Vodacom and mobile data service provider Rain. As a reminder, the two partners strengthened their collaboration last year with the renewal of their roaming deal.
Telkom says the regulator should limit the partnership between Vodacom and Rain as it seems more to be a merger than a mere collaboration. According to the State-owned company, “the multiple agreements between Vodacom and Rain grant Vodacom use and control over the deployment of Rain’s spectrum, including the planning, rollout, maintenance, and service of its radio access network.”
According to Siyabonga Mahlangu who manages Telkom’s Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, Vodacom’s ability to control Rain’s spectrum consolidates its position as a dominant player in the market. “It is important that the effects of spectrum arrangements on competition are scrutinized; particularly in light of the upcoming spectrum auction which will set the ground for the nature of competition in the mobile market,” he said.
Denying Telkom’s accusations, a spokesperson of Vodacom said: “both the Competition Commission and ICASA [Independent Communications Authority of SA] investigated the agreements between Vodacom and Rain in 2018. The Competition Commission found that the 2018 agreements do not constitute a merger in terms of the Competition Act.”
• Inflation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) fell to a two-year low of 0....
Flutterwave gained a BCEAO license to operate in Senegal, expanding to 35 African countries. ...
In Africa, the private sector is widely seen as the main engine of industrialization and plays a cen...
President Paul Biya, 92, to seek eighth term in October 2025 election In power since 19...
• Interbank volumes rose 18.7% in May, while rates declined across the market• The BCEAO cut its mai...
Highlights: • New 1% US tax on outbound remittances to take effect January 1, 2026• Africa received $100 billion in remittances in 2023, outpacing...
Highlights: • Kobold Metals signed an agreement in principle with the DRC government on July 17, 2025.• The deal includes the Manono lithium project,...
Highlights: • Global cocoa processing down across all major regions in Q2 2025• ECA: Europe’s grindings at lowest since 2020, Asia at lowest since...
Highlights: • Egypt targets 42% renewable energy share by 2030.• POWERCHINA to build 130-km high-voltage line signed on June 25.• National grid expansion...
Ashenda is a vibrant traditional festival celebrated primarily in northern Ethiopia, particularly among the Tigray and Amhara communities, as well as in...
The Emerald Sea is a vast turquoise lagoon located in the northern part of Madagascar, just a few kilometers from the town of Antsiranana (formerly Diego...