Vodacom Group Stock

Vodacom Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides mobile communications and related services in South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lesotho, and Mozambique. The company operates as a subsidiary of Vodafone Group plc.

The company provides a range of communications products and services, including voice, messaging, broadband and data connectivity, and converged services. It offers converged business network and related IT services to the enterprise market.

Business segments

South Africa

Products and services

Vodacom SA operates mobile network in South Africa

Mobile voice: Vodacom offers contract customers a range of mobile service packages, including hybrid packages, which allow customers to contract for a specific level of airtime which can be topped-up with additional value by purchasing prepaid vouchers. Vodacom offers various prepaid products, such as Vodago, Smartstep, and 4U. Vodacom SA offers Yebo4Less in South Africa, a prepaid tariff plan offering discounts to the base call rate depending on available network capacity at a specific location at different times of the day. Voice services include outgoing and incoming calls, international roaming, interconnection and incoming visitor roaming.

Mobile messaging: Vodacom offers its customers mobile messaging services, such as SMS, MMS, premium rate SMS, including USSD, and MMS, SVS, bulk SMS and MMS, and WAP services. Vodacom SA provides the USSD-based Please Call Me service, which enables a customer to send a free SMS requesting a call back. Vodacom SA offers SVS (short voice service), which allows users to send and receive voice messages approximately 30 seconds long.

Broadband data and connectivity: Vodacom offers broadband connectivity and Internet access services using various technologies, such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiFi, WiMAX, and VSAT. Vodacom SA offers a commercial 3G product in South Africa. In April 2009, Vodacom SA launched Broadband Standard and Broadband Advanced, allowing data bundle carry for approximately a maximum of 60 days for all customers irrespective of the data bundle (Standard or Advanced) chosen.

Converged ICT services: Vodacom Business was launched in February 2008 and offers a total communications service portfolio to corporate customers. Vodacom Business services include nextgeneration IP voice, managed networks and infrastructure, Internet access, hosting, and storage.

International

Vodacom owns mobile network operations in Tanzania, the DRC, Mozambique and Lesotho. Its products and services include BlackBerry in Tanzania and 3G in Lesotho, focused sales and marketing campaigns, and enhanced network coverage were the main drivers of this pleasing growth.

In Tanzania, the company offers the money transfer service, Vodafone M-PESA, in partnership with Vodafone Group, with accelerating uptake. Vodafone M-PESA is also under consideration for Mozambique and the DRC.

Mobile voice: Mobile voice services are offered through contract and prepaid packages, as well as public payphone services. Voice services include outgoing and incoming calls, international roaming, incoming visitor roaming and national roaming.

Mobile messaging: Vodacom offers its customers mobile messaging services, such as SMS, MMS, premium rate SMS, including USSD, and MMS, SVS, bulk SMS and MMS, and WAP services.

Broadband data and connectivity: Vodacom offers broadband connectivity and Internet access services using various technologies, such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiMAX and VSAT.

Vodacom Tanzania offers a 3G offering in Dar es Salaam. In July 2008, data bundles for prepaid customers were introduced in Tanzania and BlackBerry was launched in 2008.

Converged services: In Mozambique, Vodamail (free email) and Vodakool, the news and information portal to Vodacom, are offered. Vodacom Lesotho offers Vodacom Small Office Home Office (SoHo) packages, a fixed wireless home solution. In April 2008, Vodacom Tanzania launched Vodafone M-PESA, a financial payment service in partnership with Vodafone Group.

Gateway Telecommunications SA (Proprietary) Limited

Gateway provides satellite and terrestrial network infrastructure and interconnection services for African and international telecommunications companies. Gateway also provides a range of connectivity solutions to multinational corporations operating across Africa.

Carrier voice services: Gateway offers African interconnection to international operators for the completion of calls originated internationally, as well as international network connection for African operators for the completion of international calls. Carrier voice services include intra-Africa network connectivity for the completion of calls between African operators.

Carrier data services: Gateway’s data services include national connectivity to allow mobile operators to connect switches and cell sites within a particular country. International leased-lines for voice, data and signaling traffic are provided. Gateway offer high speed Internet connectivity to mobile operators to support the roll-out of GPRS and 3G services. Gateway designed Africa IPJetDirect for African MNOs who provide GPRS, EDGE or 3G services.

Business services: Gateway offers private satellite networks (VSAT) to major multinational corporations for their IT applications, data and voice communications. These services include managed data network services using MPLS, Frame Relay and ATM for business critical communications and access to Gateway’s e-Commerce services. Corporate Internet access is provided through both satellite and terrestrial transmission links.

Acquisitions

In February 2009, the company acquired a controlling interest in Storage Technology Services (Proprietary) Limited.

History

Vodacom Group Limited was founded in 1993.