Zain vs Vodacom row in Zambia hits a raw nerve over Africa’s 3G anxieties

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rpm

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Vodacom vs Zain

Vodacom Zambia has taken out an injunction against the country’s regulator CAZ over a trial 3G authorisation it gave two years ago to Zain. All this might be a storm in a tea cup were it not for changing attitudes to 3G and what it might be used for in Africa.
 
Vodacom Zambia - I did know even existed :confused:
USAKA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Zambian regulators have suspended applications to enter the local mobile phone market, after failed bidder Vodacom Zambia Ltd took court action to prevent new entrants, authorities said on Friday.
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ok they have not started operating yet
MTN Zambia yes they bought out Telecel a few years ago

Zain bought Celtel in Zambia like all the other countries
 
Would be nice if Vodacom SA where as eager to take on their own regulator at home before running off and fighting crusades in the rest of Africa
 
I go up to Zambia quite often, trust me, it will be great if Vodacom goes up there and starts a 3G network. The internet up there is almost unusable.
 
Alchemist said:
Would be nice if Vodacom SA where as eager to take on their own regulator at home before running off and fighting crusades in the rest of Africa
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I agree 200% with Alchemist

Vodacom 3G coverage in SOUTH AFRICA IS POOR
 
Spyral SA said:
I agree 200% with Alchemist

Vodacom 3G coverage in SOUTH AFRICA IS POOR
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@rpm,

Maybe just check if this 'Vodacom' is in any way related to Vodacom SA. I suspect (pretty sure) it is not and it's another company operating under the Vodacom name. AFAIK, Vodacom SA have been trying to sort this out for a long time.
 
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jannievanzyl said:
@rpm,

Maybe just check if this 'Vodacom' is in any way related to Vodacom SA. I suspect (pretty sure) it is not and it's another company operating under the Vodacom name. AFAIK, Vodacom SA have been trying to sort this out for a long time.
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All the pages I have read it is related to Vodacom SA (I could wrong)
 
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Spyral SA said:
All the pages I have read it is related to Vodacom SA (I could wrong)
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You are :) But it can be confusing, sometimes the journos also get confused. For example, recently iBurst SA was quoted to be rolling out in Nigeria. But actually it's a completely separate entity to iBurst SA, called iBurst Africa.

Some time ago, someone in Zambia set this 'Vodacom' company up with the intention (I assume) of doing a deal with Vodacom SA.

But there is no relationship with Vodacom SA at all. I re-confirmed it earlier today.
 
Damn, but are these corporate names not then listed or protected as trademarks of some sort?
 
jannievanzyl said:
You are :) But it can be confusing, sometimes the journos also get confused. For example, recently iBurst SA was quoted to be rolling out in Nigeria. But actually it's a completely separate entity to iBurst SA, called iBurst Africa.

Some time ago, someone in Zambia set this 'Vodacom' company up with the intention (I assume) of doing a deal with Vodacom SA.

But there is no relationship with Vodacom SA at all. I re-confirmed it earlier today.
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In that case, is the Vodacom operating in DR Congo also not related to Vodacom SA?
 
I dont see how vodacom will break through in that market, Zain has taken over, on nearly every street corner you see zain advertisments.
 
Jannie, in that case, I take back my first statement... But it would be nice if Vodacom SA were a bit more "hands on" with ICASA and did take them on more.
 
Velenoso said:
I go up to Zambia quite often, trust me, it will be great if Vodacom goes up there and starts a 3G network. The internet up there is almost unusable.
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The point of the article is that Zain already has a trial licence and working network, and if Vodacom didn't object to it, the regulator could give them the go ahead to switch on commercially.

I think licences should include a nominal fee and service obligations rather than a massive upfront payment. This encourages the operator to rollout sooner and the government can get back money through taxes. There is a study which shows that broadband penetration pushes up GDP, hence everybody becomes a winner over time. During difficult economic times, Zambia can ill afford to delay such an opportunity for economic investment and growth.
 
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