Vodafonewatch, issue 2008.08 snapshot

1 September 2008

GROUP: Vittorio Colao was said to be considering an operational shake-up that could see the EMAPA emerging markets division split in two — Asia and Africa — but there was no more news regarding plans for Western Europe, his old hunting ground. In his departing words, Arun Sarin denied that he had been pushed out, but again seemed to rail at the UK’s corporate governance straightjacket and meddling investors. As Vodafone completed its acquisition of Ghana Telecom, M&A talk moved on to Oman and Vietnam, and, longer ago, strategic investment in MEA powerhouse and one-time Partner Zain. Colao told the media that Vodafone can adapt and presumably will thrive in the current economic climate, reiterating the firm’s emerging markets growth strategy, while keeping open options for the company’s £35bn-plus investment in Verizon Wireless. [pp.3,4,5,6,19.]

Issue: 2008.08
Covering: 31 July to 28 August 2008
Published: August 2008
Next issue: September 2008

Vodafone and its rich web of OpCos — tracked and analysed worldwide. A unique monthly report for the industry.

Summary
Extract
Table of Contents
Index

SUMMARY

WESTERN EUROPE: Vodafone again warned of unintended consequences from the European Commission’s aggressive intervention concerning mobile termination rates, with risks including: price rises elsewhere; operator bankruptcy; and driving around 40 million lower-income customers to abandon mobile services altogether. Whether prompted by EC actions, or the harsher competitive and economic climates, Vodafone operating companies made unwelcome moves to raise prices in Italy and the UK. [pp.8,9,13,14.]

SFR selected three outsourcers to take over the first phase of its IT maintenance. Vodafone Germany moved further into the enterprise services space, partnering CGI. The company also called for unused frequencies to be auctioned off to support delivery of broadband services in remote areas, as well as pushing for faster access to Deutsche Telekom’s NGN. [pp.9,10.]

Vodafone Portugal introduced a pre-paid mobile broadband service, Vita Net. Vodafone Spain and Orange protested against the CMT’s ruling that they contribute over EUR50m to the 2003-05 Universal Service Fund, arguing that incumbent rival Telefónica is the sole beneficiary. CMT market statistics showed Vodafone taking over 40% of new mobile connections in the first half of 2008, seemingly supporting claims of recent superiority. [p.11.]

Delivering on plans to rebalance itself in pursuit of mobile data, Vodafone UK is adding 50 retail outlets optimised for mobile internet and email sales. The operator entered into an arrangement whereby Wild Jack Mobile Casino customers can be billed via Payforit. [pp.12,14.]

EASTERN EUROPE: Polkomtel recorded a strong Q2 financial performance, as the operator again emphasised its differentiation from local rivals by not being an outpost of a foreign telecoms group. Nevertheless, Vodafone is said to be working to boost its minority stake. Vodafone Czech Republic is partnering rivals to form a joint mobile TV company. [pp.16,17.]

MEAA: Vodafone’s regional affiliates made multiple acquisitions, with Vodafone Egypt agreeing to take control of internet content player SARCOM, Safaricom doing the same at Kenyan enterprise services player Onecom (£1.4m), and Vodacom moving to acquire both regional connectivity outfit Gateway (£381m) and secure control of data centre specialist StorTech. [pp.18,24,30,31.]

Vodafone Egypt signed preferential roaming deals covering Saudi Arabia and the UAE, creating an Arab Region Zone ahead of Islamic pilgrimage seasons. [p.18.]

Vodafone Essar made a £136m counter-claim in the ongoing BPL Mobile dispute. The operator topped 50 million customers in July 2008, according to the COAI. Despite much hype, Apple’s iPhone 3G appeared to draw few early takers in India. Vodafone and other GSM operators were pressured by the authorities to interconnect with CDMA player RCom, which is adding GSM capabilities. [pp.20,21,22.]

Vodacom launched its Black Economic Empowerment offer, which will see 6.25% of its South African operating company sold to a mixture of employees, partners, investment vehicles, and the general public. This values the domestic operation alone at £8.6bn, and also revealed £20m-plus fees paid annually to Vodafone. A Nigerian tycoon was the latest player said to be interested in buying Vodacom shares from Telkom South Africa, potentially derailing Vodafone’s efforts to secure a controlling stake. Police were called in to investigate an alleged £0.75m fraud at Vodacom Tanzania. [pp.25-28,29,31.]

PACIFIC: Two niche MVNO deals were revealed with Vodafone Australia, one part-funded by advertising (SMSpup Mobile), the other business-oriented (People Telecom). The operator also unloaded 140 towers onto Crown Castle, in a deal estimated at £17m. Vodafone Fiji introduced TXT Top-UP, which enables pre-paid resellers to go mobile themselves. New Zealand’s Minister of Communications is apparently concerned that Vodafone and TNZ are stalling the arrival of new entrant NZ Communications. [pp.32,33,34.]

AIP: Verizon Wireless completed its £1.5bn acquisition of RCC and rejected protests over its pending £15bn Alltel deal, which it hopes to close in 2008. The operator further expanded its portfolio of services that bundle offerings from controlling wireline shareholder Verizon Communications. China Mobile booked another strong quarter in Q2, and was given the go-ahead for 3G expansion, but observers are concerned about the danger of rivals strengthened both by restructuring and superior 3G technology. Bharti Airtel topped 75 million customers — nearly all mobile. SOFTBANK MOBILE again beat its larger rivals for customer acquisition, but still saw revenue decline (although operating profit rose). [pp.35,36,37,40,41,42,43,44.]

EXTRACT

SOUTH AFRICA — VODACOM
Vodacom announces BEE offer…

Vodacom Group formally announced the details of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) deal it is legislatively obliged to offer. The company will sell a 6.25% stake in its South African (SA) operations to black investors for ZAR 7.5bn (£524m/EUR656m), which values the company’s domestic operations at ZAR 120bn.

Vodafone’s recent offer for a further 12.5% stake in the entire Vodacom Group gave an implied valuation of ZAR 150bn, suggesting that the international and other assets not included in Vodacom SA have a value of around ZAR 30bn, although this sum could also factor in a control premium.

Following the offer, Vodacom Group’s stake in Vodacom SA will fall from 100% to 93.75%. Excluded from the offer are Vodacom Properties No.1 and international subsidiaries, which are held at Group level. Vodafone will continue to hold a 50% stake in Vodacom Group, but its economic stake in Vodacom SA will be reduced to 46.875%.In total, 30% of the BEE transaction will be allocated to the eligible public, via a public offer that is being made through YeboYethu Ltd, “a ring-fenced limited purpose vehicle whose sole purpose is to buy and hold Vodacom SA ordinary shares and Vodacom SA ‘A’ shares for the benefit of shareholders”. This represents a total equity stake of 1.89%, assuming the public offer is fully subscribed. YeboYethu will actually hold the shares in Vodacom SA, rather than retail investors (who will hold shares in YeboYethu).

Eligible South African staff will receive 25% of the offering (1.55% of the total equity), which will be held via YeboYethu, with three-quarters to be allocated now, and the remainder reserved for future employees. The allocation will be skewed so lower-paid employees will be allocated more shares than those on higher salaries.

14.4 million YeboYethu shares will be available for subscription by the public, with 3.6 million of these reserved for small business partners, mainly companies that are part of Vodacom’s distribution network. Other tranches, totalling a 2.81% equity stake, will go to Thebe Investment (0.84%) and Royal Bafokeng Holdings (1.97%), which have been selected as strategic investors.

The public offer opened on 30 July 2008, and closes on 11 September 2008. It comes at a 10% discount, but has a minimum investment requirement of 100 shares.

” My hope is that we will attract about 50,000 individuals. The entry barrier was set for practical purposes. Administering a few million people with ZAR 2.50 each would cost more than the benefits. I don’t think it’s a lot for someone to raise considering what they may get out of it. ”
– Alan Knott-Craig, Chief Executive, Vodacom.

He added that Vodacom had spoken to a number of banks, which confirmed willingness to provide loans to individuals in order to help raise funds for buy-in.

In effect, for every ZAR 2,500 invested by a retail subscriber, further ‘notional vendor financing’ of ZAR 11,562 will be provided, which in turn equates to “total exposure to Vodacom SA of ZAR 15,625″, once the “10% upfront discount of ZAR 1,563″ is also factored in.

Until the financing is cleared, investors will receive only 50% of dividends, less tax and YeboYethu’s costs. For the first five years, shares can only be transferred between specific BEE participant categories, and sales will be subject to Vodacom approval for ten years.

” It’s truly broad-based, and it was our intention from the outset to empower a broad base of black South Africans…Vodacom recognises that employee participation is integral to ensuring sustained business success and enhancing our track record of retaining and developing our employees. We were thus committed to spreading a significant portion of the benefits of the BEE transaction amongst our South African staff…I am delighted for the staff because 14 years is a long time for them to watch everybody get shares in the company they work for, and it’s great ordinary South Africans [that] can buy in. ”
– Knott-Craig.

Vodacom said the deal would cost about ZAR 2bn, or 2% of the value of its South African business, which would affect earnings, although it did not specify over what time period. The cost of the YeboYethu offer was put at ZAR 40.9m, of which ZAR 20m is allocated to marketing.

” The estimated cost comprises 10% entry discount, the fact that we provide notional vendor finance at a very attractive rate, and the effects of the dilution on the Vodacom South Africa shareholders. “
– Nadya Bhettay, Financial Director, Vodacom.

…but criticised over the deal

Vodacom faced criticism on a number of fronts over its BEE plans.

Analysts and the media criticised the ZAR 2,500 minimum holding, saying that this stipulation excluded the poor. Nadya Bhettay countered this by saying that resources company Sasol’s similar empowerment deal, which required a minimum holding of ZAR 3,660, was over-subscribed, and that interest in the Vodacom deal was so strong that the company ran out of prospectuses within a week of the launch. She added that the offer aims to encourage group saving by low-income earners, and said that the minimum requirement of 100 shares encourages people to have a “meaningful investment”.

The offer was also criticised for offering only a 10% discount, compared with the 20% offered by rival MTN. Bhettay responded by saying that Vodacom shareholders have to pay only 12% upfront, whereas buyers of MTN shares had to pay 80% in cash.

Analysts also questioned the potential of Vodacom as a long-term investment, as the domestic market is becoming saturated, average revenue per user is declining, and the company is restricted from global expansion by its principal shareholders Vodafone and Telkom, in contrast to MTN. The latter point would appear moot, since the offer relates only to Vodacom’s domestic operations.

Finally, Vodacom has also suffered from a viral email campaign led by a group of Afrikaners, which claims that the offering is racist because it excludes white South Africans. The emails encourage customers to boycott Vodacom and switch to rival networks in protest.

” There are some battles you can never win.”
– Dot Field, spokeswoman, Vodacom.

[Further reference: YeboYethu Prospectus; Vodacom announces details of its R7.5bn broad-based BEE transaction -- Vodacom, 29 July 2008; Vodacom to offer a stake to blacks -- Wall Street Journal, 30 July 2008; Vodacom empowerment deal to have near $1bln impact -- AFX, 29 July 2008; Vodacom empowerment defended -- Financial Mail, 15 August 2008; Backlash against BEE Vodacom -- Business Day, 16 August 2008.]

YeboYethu/BEE — highlights from Prospectus and Terms

YeboYethu Ltd

” Vodacom SA is expected to declare at least 50% of Vodacom SA’s consolidated annual after-tax profits as a dividend to ordinary shareholders, subject to legal requirements and good business practice. “

” Royal Bafokeng, Thebe, and YeboYethu will each be entitled to appoint a board member to the board of Vodacom SA, which currently has 13 members. “

” If the YeboYethu offer is under-subscribed, Royal Bafokeng and Thebe will have the right to subscribe for the shortfall.”

Vodacom will be represented on the YeboYethu board by three of the six non-executive directors: Peter Matlare (Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Brands Limited; previously at Vodacom Group, most recently as Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer); Shameel Joosub (Managing Director, Vodacom SA); and Tlhabeli Christopher Ralebitso (Managing Director, Vodacom Ventures). The others are Deenadayalen Konar, Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe (Chief Executive Officer, Hewlett-Packard South Africa), and Zarina Bassa (Vice Chairperson, Absa Retail Bank).

Vodacom’s YebYethu advisers are Deloitte & Touche (accountancy and audit), Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala, Inc. (legal), and Rand Merchant Bank.

YeboYethu Ltd was incorporated in South Africa on 19 June 2008.

Vodacom SA KPIs

” Vodacom SA pays annual fees from 18 February 2005 for services provided to Vodacom SA by Vodafone. The fee is calculated as a percentage of revenue, and amounted to ZAR 303.9m [£21.2m/EUR26.6m] (2007: ZAR 249.8m). “

” Vodacom SA pays management fees to Vodacom Group. Management fees paid by Vodacom SA to Vodacom Group amounted to ZAR 479.0m (2007: ZAR 332.0m), and are expected to amount to ZAR 512.0m for the financial year ending 31 March 2009. “

” Vodacom SA has international roaming agreements with 402 mobile communications network operators in 184 countries for contract services, 187 GPRS roaming contracts, 58 3G/HSDPA roaming contracts, and 33 pre-paid roaming contracts. Focus will be placed on increasing the footprint for Vodafone Passport (a roaming agreement package with Vodafone where customers can roam on Vodafone networks using local tariffs), pre-paid and GPRS roaming, as well as on reducing the inter-operator tariffs charged to Vodacom SA by other networks. “

” Vodacom SA has a state-of-the-art warehouse in Midrand that handles on average more than 80 000 handset units per day. “

Vodacom claims 32,000 BlackBerry customers.

In the YeboYethu prospectus, Vodacom SA is given market share of 55%, MTN SA 34%, and Cell C 11%. The country’s mobile customer base is put at 45 million, equating to market penetration of 94%.

Vodacom SA competive environment, outlook, and strategy

” Vodacom SA expects that the mobile penetration rate will continue to increase; however, the rate of increase is expected to slow. Consequently, Vodacom SA is diversifying its business, while placing increased focus on customer retention, maintaining its market leadership, and new corporate data services. A large part of the growth in mobile services was due to the success of pre-paid services. 85% of Vodacom SA’s customers are pre-paid customers, and 93% of all gross connections were pre-paid customers in the last financial year. A concerted effort is being made each year to convert high spending pre-paid customers to contract customers where they are tied into a 24-month contract. “

” The Electronic Communications Act, 2005, has opened up the telecommunications market in South Africa. This will bring new players into telecommunications, resulting in a more competitive marketplace that will ultimately benefit customers. Vodacom SA is in the process of converting its licence to an electronic communications network licence and an electronic communications service licence. This will give Vodacom SA more opportunities as the licences are technology-neutral and will allow Vodacom SA to provide more services into the fixed telecoms and broader ICT space. “

” Vodacom SA continues to take advantage of the convergence of voice and data services. It recently announced that it will invest approximately R 2.5 billion, over a period of five years, in repositioning from being a mobile-centric network operator to a leading provider of information communication infrastructure and related services. Vodacom SA’s activities will be spearheaded by Vodacom Business, a new division launched in February 2008, to provide converged solutions and services to corporate customers. Vodacom Business’s service portfolio will include next-generation Internet Protocol voice services, managed network and infrastructure services, access, application, and hosting services. “

” Vodacom SA is well positioned to take advantage of innovative media opportunities like advertising on cellphones. This is one of the most promising, lucrative ways to advertise, and has become a viable and growing business in its own right within a small space of time, already contributing positive cash flow during the past financial year. “

” Vodacom SA’s content strategy is largely driven by a WASP [Wireless Application Service Provider] model for ease of connectivity and standardised interfaces. A large number of content services together with consumer applications, mainly in premium-rated outgoing SMS and bulk incoming SMS services, drive the model. “

” Vodacom SA is aggressively expanding its Vodacom Business division, with a focus on becoming the selected information and communication technology (ICT) provider in South Africa. “

” Underpinning Vodacom SA’s growth in data and converged solutions, is a serious involvement in international data transmission. It is important for Vodacom SA to play a significant role, and the company is active in a number of international transmission incentives, such as the Seacom, Eassy Cable, and Infraco developments. It seems likely that a high-speed undersea cable between South Africa and Europe will be ready by 2009. Having this infrastructure in place is likely to see a meaningful reduction in international bandwidth costs, which will enhance many of Vodacom SA’s data offerings. “

[Further reference: YeboYethu Prospectus and Vodacom's Terms of Vodacom's black economic empowerment ("BEE") transaction.]

3 Group
3 People
5 M&A
6 Strategy;
Financial;
Products and services
7 Operations;
Community
8 Regulatory;
Suppliers;
Technology
9 Western Europe
9 France
10 Germany
11 Spain
12 United Kingdom
13 Italy
14 Netherlands; Portugal
16 Eastern Europe
16 Poland — Polkomtel
17 Czech Republic;
Romania
18 MEAA
18 Egypt
19 Ghana
20 India
24 Kenya
25 South Africa
27 Qatar
31 Tanzania
32 Pacific
32 Australia
33 New Zealand
34 Fiji
35 AIP
35 Verizon Wireless
40 China Mobile
43 Bharti Airtel
44 SOFTBANK MOBILE
46 INDEX

INDEX

Accenture, 9
Aditya Birla Group
- Idea Cellular, 20, 22, 43
- - Indus Towers, 20, 43
Africa, 3, 5-6, 18, 24-30
- Congo, 28
- East Africa, 18, 24, 29
- Egypt, 18-19, 28-29
- Ghana, 3, 19, 29
- - Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP), 19
- - Government, 19
- Kenya, 24-25, 28-29
- - Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), 24
- Lesotho, 28
- Mozambique, 28
- Nigeria, 29-30
- South Africa, 6, 25-29
- - Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), 25-28, 31
- Tanzania, 28, 31
- Uganda, 31
ALLTEL Corporation, 35-37
Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), 34
- Telecom Fiji, 34
- Vodafone Fiji, 34
Americas
- Canada, 43
- United States of America (USA), 4, 6, 13, 35-38, 43
- - Department of Justice (DoJ), 35
- - Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC), 36
- - States, 4, 25, 35, 37-38
- - - Califormia, 4
- - - Columbia (District), 37
- - - Kansas, 35
- - - Minnesota, 35
- - - New York, 25, 35, 38
- - - Vermont, 35
- - - Washington, 35
Apple, 21, 32, 44
- iPhone, 21, 32, 44
Asia-Pacific, 3, 18, 21, 34, 36
- Australia, 32-33
- - Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), 32
- China, 7, 40-42
- - Government, 41-42
- - Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), 41
- - Province/Municipality/Region, 14, 41-42
- - - Beijing, 14, 41
- - - Heilongjiang, 42
- Fiji, 34
- Hong Kong, 40
- India, 8, 20-22, 43-44
- - Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), 21
- - Department of Telecommunications (DoT), 22, 26
- - Income Tax Department, 6, 25
- - Licence Circles
- - - Mumbai , 20-21
- - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), 5, 22
- Japan, 44
- Nepal, 4
- New Zealand, 33, 34
- - Commerce Commission, 34
- Singapore, 5, 43
- - Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), 5
AsiaInfo Holdings, 41
ASPire Group, 40
AT&T, 7, 35, 37
- Dobson Communications, 35
Axis Bank, 21

Banco Português de Investimento, S.A. (BPI), 14
Barclays, 21, 27
- Absa Group Limited (South Africa), 27
Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), 22, 43
Bharti Group, 20-21, 43-44
- Bharti Airtel, 20-21, 43-44
- - Kohli, Manoj, 43
- Bharti Enterprises, 43
- Bharti Infotel, 43
- Indus Towers, 20, 43
Bloomberg L.P., 11
Blyk, 33
BPL Mobile, 19-20
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 11, 14
Bula Communications, 34
Bundesliga, 10

CGI Group, Inc., 10
- CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants (Deutschland) GmbH, 10
Central/Eastern Europe, 16-17
- Czech Republic, 17
- - Czech Republic Association of Mobile Networks Operators, 17
- Lithuania, 9
- Poland, 16-17
- Romania, 17
China Mobile, 7, 40-42
- Wang Jianzhou, 40-41
China Netcom, 42
China Telecom, 40-42
China TieTong Telecommunications Corporation, 41-42
China United Telecommunications (China Unicom), 41-42
Cisco Systems, 8
Citigroup, 42
ComTel Corporation Limited (CommodiTel), 33
- Empowered Technologies Pty Ltd, 33
- SMSPup Mobile, 33
Comverse Technology, 36
Coolpad, 41
Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI)
- Australia, 33

Debitel, 9
Deloitte & Touche, 27
Deutsche Bank, 7
Deutsche Telekom, 10, 13, 16-17, 37
- Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), 16
- T-Mobile International, 13, 17, 37
- - Czech Republic, 17
- - UK, 13
- - USA, 37
Development Securities plc, 7
Digicel
- Fiji, 34
DigitalBiz Corporation
- iResearch, 40
du (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC, or EITC), 18

Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy), 28
Econet Wireless Group, 24-25
- Kenya, 24-25
Elisa, 6
Ericsson, 41
Essar Group, 20-22, 24-25, 43
- BPL Mobile (see also seperate listing), 20
- Essar Communications
- - Econet Wireless (see also separate entry), 24-25
- Vodafone Essar (see also Vodafone), 20-22, 43
Etisalat, 5, 19
- Etisalat Misr, 19
European Union, 9
- European Commission, 9

FiberHome Technologies Group, 42
FirstRand Ltd
- Rand Merchant Bank, 27
France Télécom, 5, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 24-25
- Orange, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 24-25
- - France, 9
- - Mobinil, 19
- - Poland, 16
- - Spain, 11
- - UK, 15
- Telkom Kenya (see also separate entry), 24-25
Franklin Templeton Investments, 7

Gateway Communications, 29-30
Ghana Telecom, 3, 19, 29
Globacom Nigeria, 29
- Glo Mobile, 29
Goldman Sachs, 7
Google, 6, 8, 38
- Android, 38
- Google Search, 38
- MySpace, 6
GSM Association, 8
- Wireless Intelligence, 8
Guangzhou New Postcom Equipment Co., Ltd, 41

Hewlett-Packard, 27
Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala, Inc., 27
HomeServe plc, 15
Hutchison Whampoa
- 3 Group, 20
- Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd, 20

ICICI Bank, 21
Indus Towers, 20, 43
InfraCo Management Services, 28
ING, 5
Inter IKEA Systems B.V., 13

J.D. Power and Associates, 37
Jackpot Factory
- Wild Jack Mobile Casino, 14

KDDI, 44
KGHM, 16
Klausner Technologies, Inc., 36
KPMG International, 32
Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), 5

Lawrence Hunt & Co. Ltd, 15
Leap Wireless International, Inc., 36
Lenovo, 41
LG Electronics, 36

M2 Telecommunications Group, 32
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), 22
MainFirst Holding
- MainFirst Securities, 40
MCorpGobal
- Spice Communications, 22
Medio Systems, Inc., 38
MEEZA, 27
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.
- MGM Networks, 11
- - The MGM Channel, 11
Microsoft, 8
Middle East, 5, 18-19, 27-29
- Bahrain, 5
- Egypt, 18-19, 28-29
- Kuwait, 5
- Oman, 5
- - Government, 5
- - Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, 5
- Qatar, 27, 29
- - Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, 27
- Saudi Arabia, 18
- United Arab Emirates, 18
Mobile Partners Group, 13
Mobinil, 19
Mobitelea Ventures, 24
Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons Company (MAK Group, or Kharafi Group), 5
Motorola, 39, 41, 44
Mowana Investments (Pty) Ltd, 29
MTN, 5, 26-28, 30
- South Africa, 27-28
Mvelaphanda Group Limited, 29

The Nielsen Company
- Nielsen IAG, 38
- Nielsen Mobile, 38
Nokia, 8, 14
- - Music Store, 6
Nokia Siemens Networks, 41
NTT, 44
- DoCoMo, 44
Nuance Communications, 8
NZ Communications (Econet Wireless), 34

Oger Telecom
- Cell C, 27
Olympic Games
- 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing), 14, 41
Oman Telecommunication Co. (Omantel), 5
One Communications Ltd (Onecom, Kenya), 24
Open Handset Alliance (OHA)
- Android, 38
Option International, 6
Oracle, 43

P4 Sp. z o.o., 16
Palm, 8
Payforit, 14
People’s Group, 21
- Shaadi.com, 21
People Telecom, 32-33
Phones4U, 12
PKN Orlen, 16
Polkomtel, 16-17
- Bauc, Jaroslaw, 16
- Plus GSM, 16
Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE), 16
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, 11
PTC, 16

Qatar Foundation Consortium, 27
Qatar Telecom (Qtel), 27
Qualcomm, Inc., 8
Qwest Communications, 35

Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, 21-22
- Reliance Communications (RCom), 21-22
Research In Motion, 8, 9, 27, 32
- BlackBerry, 8, 9, 27, 32
Rockefeller Foundation (RF), 8
Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH), 25, 27
RSA Security, 18

Safaricom, 24-25, 29
- Joseph, Michael, 24-25
Samsung, 41
Sarmady Communications (SARCOM), 18
- Contactcars.com, 18
- FilBalad.com, 18
- FilGoal.com, 18
Saudi Telecom Company (STC), 5, 18
SEACOM, 28
Singapore Telecom, 5, 32-33
- Optus (Australia), 32-33
SNAPin Software, Inc., 8
SOFTBANK CORP, 44
- SOFTBANK MOBILE, 44
- Son, Masayoshi, 44
Sonaecom, 14
Sopra Group, 9
Spiral Solutions Ltd
- Spin3, 14
Sprint Nextel, 35, 37, 39
Storage Technology Services (StorTech), 31

Tata Group, 22
TDC, 16-17
Technology
- 2G, 8, 20-22, 27, 35, 41-42
- - CDMA, 21-22, 35, 41-42
- - GPRS, 27
- - GSM, 8, 20-22, 35, 41-42
- 3G, 6, 8, 11, 17, 21, 25, 27, 32-33, 39-42, 44
- - CDMA2000 (EV-DO), 39
- - HSDPA, 11, 17, 21, 25, 27, 32-33, 40-42, 44
- - HSPA, 6, 8
- - HSPA+ (HSPA Evolution), 6, 8
- - HSUPA, 6
- - TD-SCDMA, 41
- - WCDMA, 41
- 4G, 24
- - WiMAX, 24
- Billing, 32, 35
- CWDM, 42
- DSL, 33
- GPS, 36
- IP, 11, 28, 36-37
- MMS, 14
- MVNO, 13-14, 32-33
- Push-to-talk, 39
- RAN, 26
- SIM, 6
- SMS, 13-14, 28, 36
- Spectrum, 36, 38
- - 700 MHz, 38
- Telemedicine, 8
- TV, 11, 17, 41
- - CMMB, 41
- - IPTV, 11
- W-LAN, 37
- Windows, 8
Telecom Egypt, 19
Telecom Italia, 13, 31
- Telecom Italia Mobile, 13, 31
Telecom New Zealand, 33, 34
- Gen-i, 33
Telefónica Group, 7-8, 11, 15, 17
- Telefónica Europe (O2), 8, 15, 17
- - Czech Republic, 17
- - UK, 15
Telekomunikacja Polska SA, 16
Telemedicine Society of India, 8
Telkom Kenya, 24-25, 28-29
Telkom South Africa, 3, 6-7, 24-25, 24-25, 24-29, 28-31
Telstra, 32
Thebe Investment Corporation, 25, 27
Tiger Brands Limited, 27
Time Warner, 9

UBS, 42
United Nations
- UN Foundation, 8

Verizon Communications, 6-7, 13, 35-39
- Strigl, Dennis, 39
- Toben, Doreen, 37
- Verizon Wireless, 7, 13, 35-39
- - Any Apps, Any Device, 38
- - Open Development Initiative (ODI), 36
- - Rural Cellular Corporation (RCC), 35
- - Unicel, 35
- Vodafone Omnitel, 13, 35
Vertex, 7
Viacom, Inc.
- MTV Networks, 6
Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Company (MobiFone), 5
Vivendi, 7, 9, 11, 16
- Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), 16
- SFR (Société Française de Radiotéléphone), 9
- - Neuf Cegetel, 9
- - - AOL France, 9
- - - Club Internet, 9
- - Tele2 France, 9
Vodacom Group
- Bhettay, Nadya, 26
- Congo, 28
- Ex-executives, 27
- - Matlare, Peter, 27
- Field, Dot, 26
- Group, 25, 27, 29-30
- Joosub, Shameel, 27
- Knott-Craig, Alan, 25-26
- Lesotho, 28
- Mozambique, 28
- South Africa, 6, 25-29
- Tanzania, 28, 31
- - Vodazone, 31
- Uys, Pieter, 30-31
- Vodacom Business, 26, 28, 31
- Vodacom Ventures, 27
Vodafone Group
- Corporate, 24, 28, 31, 34, 40
- - ASPire Group, 40
- EMAPA, 16-17
- - Africa, 3, 5-6, 18, 24-25, 27-29
- - Asia, 3, 18, 21, 34
- - Australia, 32-33
- - China (see also China Mobile), 7, 40
- - Congo, 28
- - Czech Republic, 17
- - Eastern Europe, 17
- - Fiji, 34
- - Ghana (see also Ghana Telecom), 3, 19, 29
- - India, 7-8, 19-21, 20-22, 43-44
- - - Indus Towers, 20, 43
- - Japan, 44
- - Kenya (see also Safaricom), 24-25, 28-29
- - Lesotho, 28
- - Middle East, 18, 29
- - Middle East and Africa, 5
- - Mozambique, 28
- - New Zealand, 33, 34
- - Pacific, 32
- - Poland (see also Polkomtel), 16-17
- - Qatar (see also Vodafone and Qatar Foundation and Vodafone Qatar), 27, 29
- - Romania, 17
- - South Africa (see also Vodacom), 3, 6-7, 24-31
- - USA (see also Verizon), 7, 13, 35-39
- Ex-executives, 3-4, 6
- - Sarin, Arun, 3-4, 6
- - Sinclair, Sally, 4
- Executives, 3-4, 6
- - Abdallah, Amr, 18
- - Bill, Jonathan, 18
- - Bond, Sir John, 4, 6
- - Casey, John, 32
- - Colao, Vittorio, 3-4, 6
- - Daly, Richard, 18
- - Devine, Tom, 12
- - Donovan, Paul, 3
- - Dunnett, Andrew, 15
- - Eaton, Mike, 14
- - Joussen, Friedrich, 10
- - Joussen, Fritz, 10
- - Nana Egyir, James, 19
- - Prasad, Shailendra, 34
- - Reeves, Andy, 33
- - Román, Francisco, 3
- - Saul, Alexander, 10
- - Shepherd, Ian, 13
- - Solomon, Liliana, 17
- - Tuffy, Helen, 33
- Group, 3, 5-8, 13, 15, 16, 19-21, 24-25, 27-29, 34-35, 40, 43-44
- - Headquarters, 4
- Marketing, 6, 18, 22, 32
- - Internet Services, 24
- - Vodafone Music Reporter, 6
- - Vodafone Soundbites, 6
- Partner Markets, 6, 43
- - Estonia (Elisa), 6
- - Finland (Elisa), 6
- Products, 6, 12, 18, 30, 35
- - Anytime, 14, 44
- - BlackBerry, 8, 9, 32
- - ExpressCard, 6
- - Family, 4, 13, 20
- - Flatrate (Germany), 10
- - Football Flatrate (Germany), 10
- - In Business, 30
- - Mobile Broadband, 8, 14, 25, 33
- - Mobile Internet (UK), 9, 12, 14, 38
- - MobileTV, 17
- - Passport, 27
- - Roaming Data Bundle (Australia), 32
- - - Simply, 13
- - - USB Modem, 14
- - - USB Modem Stick, 21, 33
- - Text Unlimited (UK), 13
- - Traveller, 32
- - TXT Top-Up (Fiji), 34
- - Vita Net (Portugal), 14
- - Vodafone Connect Pen (Portugal), 14
- - Vodafone Music, 6
- - World Plus Plan (Egypt), 18
- Strategy, 6, 32
- - Total Communications, 28
- Vodafone Foundation, 8, 15, 27, 29
- - Group, 8, 15, 27
- - Portugal, 14
- - UK, 15
- - World of Difference, 15
- Western Europe, 3, 9, 29
- - France (see also Vivendi/SFR), 7, 9
- - Germany, 9-11
- - - Arcor, 10-11
- - Italy, 13, 35
- - Netherlands, 14
- - Portugal, 9, 14
- - Spain, 3, 9, 11
- - UK, 3-4, 7, 12-15, 43
Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., 27, 29

Wal-Mart, 13
- ASDA, 13
- - ASDA mobile (Vodafone UK MVNO), 13
Weather Investments
- Orascom Telecom, 19
- - Mobinil, 19
Weglokoks, 16
Western Europe, 3, 9, 29
- Belgium, 6
- Channel Islands, 43
- Finland, 6
- France, 5, 9, 16, 19, 24-25
- Germany, 10-11
- - Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen (BNetzA, RegTP, FNA, or German Federal Network Agency), 10
- Italy, 13, 35
- Netherlands, 14
- Portugal, 9, 14
- Scotland, 7
- Spain, 3, 9, 11
- - Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT), 11
- United Kingdom (UK), 3-4, 7, 12-15, 43
- - National Consumer Council (NCC), 15
Wipro, 9

Yahoo!, 38
YeboYethu Ltd, 25-28

Zain Group (MTC/Celtel), 5, 24-25, 29
- OpCos (Zain/Celtel/MTC), 5, 24-25, 29
- - Bahrain, 5
- - Ghana, 29
- - Kenya, 24-25, 29
- - Kuwait, 5
- - Nigeria, 29
- - Saudi Arabia, 5
Zon Multimedia (PT Multimedia), 14
ZTE Corporation, 41

Written by AB · Filed Under KnowVodafone

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Vodafonewatch, issue 2008.08 snapshot

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