Vodacom Group has announced a strategic repositioning of its Vodacom Business Africa operations. The company is selling off the activities and instead partnering with local operators in Nigeria, Zambia, Angola, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Internet Technologies Angola has agreed to acquire Vodacom Business Africa’s Angolan operations and assets, and Synergy Communications will acquire 100 percent of VBA operations in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire. The companies are in the process of concluding the acquisitions, which are subject to approval of regulatory authorities in these markets. No financial details were disclosed.
Subject to various regulatory and statutory body approvals, Vodacom will enter into service provider agreements with Synergy Communications in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire; Internet Technologies Angola (ITA) in Angola and Vodafone Ghana in Ghana. In each of the five Vodacom Business Africa markets, the respective partners will acquire all of the operations and assets held by Vodacom.
Going forward, the company will no longer directly service global enterprise customers in these five markets. Vodacom said it will continue to operate as a pan-African telecommunications network provider through local service provider agreements. Vodacom said the new model is better suited to the digital economy as it will encourage greater local collaboration.
Synergy Communications already has operations in Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique. The acquisition represents a significant milestone in its aim to be a leading provider of cloud and digital services in key markets across sub-Saharan Africa and provides key additional assets in its build-out of a regional footprint.
