Sub-Saharan Africa

Vodafone has confirmed it is to buy an additional 15 percent stake in Vodacom, the South African mobile operator it jointly owns with regional fixed-line player Telkom.

South African fixed-line operator Telkom is to acquire Sub-Saharan African ISP MWEB Africa for US$63 million, a move that strengthens recent reports Telkom has changed its mobile strategy in its home country.

South African fixed-line operator Telkom has revealed further details of its new mobile strategy following its recent divesture of its stake in Vodacom, the country's largest mobile operator.

Cellular News notes that South Africa's Vodacom has expanded its HSDPA coverage within the Western and Northern Cape to outside of the major metropolitan centres.

MTN Ghana has launched HSDPA services. Accra and Kumasi have been selected for initial coverage under the technology, with the service being extended to the rest of the country gradually.

Africa's largest fixed-line operator Telkom said it would take at least two years to refocus the company in South Africa after selling its mobile unit Vodacom, reports Reuters.

The Financial Times reports that Vodafone faces an unexpected hurdle in its plans to advance into Africa through spending US$2.5 billion to acquire control of South Africa’s biggest mobile operator Vodacom after a trade union sought an urgent court order to block the deal.