Botswana
Mascom launched the first phase of its GSM 900 network with equipment provided by L.M. Ericsson. The total value of the Ericsson contract is about US$10 million and includes complete GSM infrastructure and value-added services equipment such as voice mail and short message service. The network, to be completed later this year, will cover densely populated areas as well as certain tourist attractions.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRG)
African Wireless has selected Northern Telecom Ltd. to provide a GSM wireless network to Congolese Wireless, an African Wireless subsidiary that holds the first GSM 900 national license in DRG.
Madagascar
France Telecom and Mauritius Telecom have established an offshore joint venture that initially will invest in a 66-percent equity stake in Societe Malgache de Mobiles, the Madagascan cellular provider.
South Africa
The South African Regulatory Authority granted a temporary license for a GSM 1800 MHz trial to Vula Communications and Nokia. The Vula consortium is a strong contender for the third cellular license bid.
The Vodacom board approved a R2.5 billion (US$4.1million) investment to create a capacity of 2 million users by the year 2000. The amount will be spent mostly on infrastructure equipment supplied by Alcatel Telecom, Motorola Inc. and Siemens A.G. and includes 1,000 micro base stations, six voice-mail platforms and two additional Intelligent Network platforms. Vodacom’s Alan Knott-Craig said the investment is entirely self-funded as during the financial year ending 31 March the company turnover reached R4.5 billion (US$8.1million). “At this early stage in the life of the network, our profits are re-invested in increasing network capacity,” he said. Vodacom’s prepaid product, called Vodago, accounts for some two-thirds of all new business.
