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<p>Telkom has reported a 53.4 per cent jump in headline earnings per share, year-on-year, for the ended March. The company&#8217;s mobile data revenue rose 41 per cent, with the mobile customer base up 27.8 per cent. Telkom says that next-generation revenue contributes more than 65 per cent to group revenue. Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Telkom CEO on full-year earnings

Telkom CEO on full-year earnings, fintech plans & spectrum deadlock

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<p>As many South Africans adapted to working and studying from home, Telkom was one of the companies enabling connectivity throughout lockdown. Headline earnings per share increased by 25.4 per cent to 219 cents per share for the six months ended September. Group Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization rose by 6.3 per cent. Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Telkom CEO on H1 earnings & COVID-19 impact on business


<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s telecom operator Telkom has branched into the competitive space of financial services by launching a life insurance business that it said will initially sell funeral insurance.</p>



<p>Telkom and other mobile operators in South Africa are looking to tap more than 11 million South Africans who do not have bank accounts to offer lending and other financial services, a move that is set to threaten traditional and digital banks.</p>



<p>They are also seeking to expand their mobile payment apps into online market places to leverage their network and customer base.</p>



<p>“In recent years Telkom has made a strategic shift to digital distribution, which puts it in an ideal position to distribute insurance products using its considerable digital structure and intellectual property,” Sibusiso Ngwenya, managing executive for Telkom Financial Services said in a joint statement on Sunday with insurer Guardrisk which will underwrite the service.</p>



<p>Partly state-owned Telkom has been diversifying its income streams beyond the fixed-line business, which now contributes just over 20% to group revenue, up from 56% in 2013.</p>



<p>Underwriter Guardrisk Life is part of JSE-listed insurer Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited.</p>



<p>In a Sunday Times newspaper ad, Telkom said it will also offer business loans and soon launch a digital wallet service for customers to buy products and pay for services via its Yep! app as well as other online transacting platforms.</p>



<p>The battle to capture South Africa’s unbanked is intensifying among mobile operators after biggest mobile operator by subscribers MTN Group re-launched its mobile money app in South Africa in February and has been building the platform to include online shopping payments and micro loans.</p>



<p>In July Vodacom Group announced plans to create a ‘super app’ in partnership with digital payment provider Alipay, part of China’s Alibaba group, to allow consumers in South Africa to shop online, pay bills and send money to family from next year.</p>


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South African telecom operator Telkom moves into financial services

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<p>Telecoms Company Telkom is suspending its dividend policy for the next 3 years as it prioritises its capital investment programme ahead of its nearing auction of spectrum.</p>


Telkom CEO on the decision to suspend dividend policy for 3 years


<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s Telkom, Samsung and the government have teamed up to develop a track and trace database to identify the whereabouts of people who may have contracted coronavirus.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">virus has infected 1,462 people in the country and killed five</a>.</p>



<p>Telkom has been working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop the database, which uses data from a person’s phone to track where they have been.</p>



<p>The mobile network operator said the system collated multiple data sources such as GIS, or geographic information system mapping, to track an infected person and identify those they may have exposed to the virus.</p>



<p>“This reduces the current reliance on the patient’s own recollections of who they may have exposed unknowingly and enables the CSIR to contact people who were in the same proximity as the patient.”</p>



<p>The Department of Health will still use officials to trace primary contacts and ensure testing for secondary contacts in certain communities, it added.</p>



<p>Telkom has partnered with Samsung to distribute 1,500 handsets to people hired to <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/2020/04/02/south-africa-needs-hundreds-of-thousands-of-covid-19-tests-health-minister/">track and trace people in the provinces hardest hit by the virus</a>. The phones will be connected for free using Telkom’s FreeMe packages for the next 6 months.</p>



<p>In a media briefing late on Thursday, the Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said the government respected everyone’s right to privacy and the database would not be used to spy on citizens.</p>



<p>Other countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Russia and Germany have launched, or plan to launch similar apps.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)</p>



<p>This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN21L0WC-OZATP">https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN21L0WC-OZATP</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>



<p>For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a></p>


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Telkom, Samsung team up with South African government to track those with COVID-19

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<p>Telkom has announced a R15 million pledge to South Africa’s primary health-care sector especially for those who are fighting the Coronavirus battle in vulnerable communities. The group has also announced its response to reducing data costs for educational access during these times. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Sipho Maseko, CEO of Telkom.</p>


Sipho Maseko on how Telkom is responding to COVID-19

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On Sunday the Competition Commission extended the deadline for mobile networks to reduce data prices within the next 2 months after a report revealed that South Africa has the most expensive data prices in Africa.</p>


Spectrum wars: Telkom wants Icasa to look into the current spectrum trading deals

Spectrum wars: Telkom wants Icasa to look into current spectrum trading deals, here’s why

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<p>Following the news of Telkom’s planned job cuts, the company sited spectrum and data regulations as one of the reasons for the company’s strategy change. So where does this leave the other giants in the telecoms sector with regard to the same issues. Sabelo Dlamini, Senior Research and Consulting Manager at the International Data Corporation joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


What lies ahead for SA’s telecoms sector?

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<p>The Communications Workers Union says it represents about 41 per cent of Telkom workforce and says the company is using retrenchment as a threat to toughen its case for a bigger spectrum allocation. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Karabo Letlhatlha spoke to the president of the Communications Workers Union, Clyde Mervin and asked how the 2012 retrenchments differ to 2020.</p>


Why this union believes Telkom’s retrenchment threat is a ruse to influence spectrum auction

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<p>In intraday trading Telkom’s share price was up by 5 per cent following its announcement of retrenchments of as many as 3000 jobs due to the company’s poor performance in recent months. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Aubrey Tshabalala, Secretary-General for the Communications Workers Union.</p>


Communications Workers Union reacts to Telkom’s planned job cuts


<p>JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) &#8211; South African telecoms company Telkom SA told unions on Wednesday it could cut up to 3,000 of more than 15,000 staff as it struggles with declining performance in fixed voice and fixed data services.</p>



<p>Like other African telecoms firms, Telkom, in which the government holds a stake of about 40%, is trying to keep pace with a surge in demand for the internet and data with growing smart phone usage.</p>



<p>It is also grappling with organisational and operational inefficiencies linked to fixed voice and data services, which require more staff to install, maintain and market, it said in a letter to unions seen by Reuters.</p>



<p>The telecom provider said it will consider voluntary severance and early retirement packages for employees affected by phase one of the job cut, which will affect employees at Openserve and the Consumer divisions from January to April.</p>



<p>The affected jobs include support employees, specialist, operational employees and supervisory and management levels in its wholesale division Openserve, the consumer unit as well as in its corporate centre.</p>



<p>The announcement comes two days after retailer Massmart Holdings, majority owned by U.S. retail giant Walmart , said it could cut up to 1,440 jobs under a plan to close some stores as it struggles to grow sales in a tough economy.</p>



<p>Telkom, which runs South Africa’s biggest fixed-line telecom network, is migrating customers to mobile voice and data as well as fibre, where it is one of the small players in a market dominated by Vodacom and MTN Group.</p>



<p>&#8220;The deterioration in the economic climate, increased operational, regulatory and competitive constraints, coupled with continuing rapid migration from fixed voice and data business have all had a major ongoing negative operational and financial impact on Telkom,&#8221; it said.</p>



<p>&#8220;For Telkom to survive the current and anticipated tough trading conditions, it is imperative to seek and implement measures which will drastically reduce costs, eliminate inefficiencies and improve operational and financial performance in the interest of securing its continued commercial viability and employment for the majority of the employees.&#8221;</p>



<p>Telkom said it wants a leaner structure in its Openserve and group IT division and a focused skills set in line with the new business demands of a mobile focused business. While in consumer, the unit needs to be more market driven and customer focused.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Susan Fenton and Elaine Hardcastle)</p>


South Africa’s telecoms company Telkom could cut 3,000 jobs -letter to unions

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<p>Telkom is in agreement with the Competition Commission’s final findings on its data market inquiry, that MTN and Vodacom dominate South Africa’s market. Telkom’s obligations are different to that of MTN and Vodacom as they have 3 months to engage with the commission to discuss fixed line roaming and national roaming infrastructure adjustments. Joining CNBC Africa to unpack more is Siyabonga Mahlangu, Group Executive of Regulatory Affairs at Telkom.</p>


Telkom reacts to Commission’s findings on data prices

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<p>Joining CNBC Africa to discuss the mix of global and local market news is Mila Mfanyana, interim CEO and Head of Equities, Afena Capital.</p>


Telkom in talks to acquire Cell C but only on reduced gearing levels

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<p>President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Digital Economy Summit which seeks to create a national response embrace to the 4th industrial revolution in South Africa .CNBC Africa reporter Karabo Letlhatlha spoke to Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko.</p>


Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko on spectrum, leveraging technology to solve social problems

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<p>CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters spoke with Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko about the company’s concerns on trade war, tech escalations following the US ban on Huawei goods and what this means for business with China for the country. Maseko also reveals his hopes for Ramaphosa’s new cabinet list.</p>


Sipho Maseko on Telkom’s position on US tech wars, Ramaphosa’s cabinet

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<p>Telkom, South Africa’s semi privatised telecoms giant has investors buying more shares following its financial full year results. The company have committed more than R3 billion to expand its network reach. Despite growth in capital the company faces the challenge of fast pace technology changes yet was able secure 109 per cent more subscribers in the last year. Shareholders earnings have are also up with HEPS at 722 cents, a 22 per cent increase and dividends declared of 362 cents increasing by 2 per cent per cent from the previous period. CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters spoke to Sipho Maseko, CEO of Telkom, about the possibility of unbundling its property business.</p>


Telkom FY earnings rise 22%, share price up

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<p>Fibre has finally made it from the suburbs to Soweto; this morning Telkom launched its first rollout of Fibre at Orlando West High School which is believed to be one of many. CNBC Africa Yolanda Mabanga spoke to Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko for more.</p>


Telkom

Telkom CEO on full-year earnings, fintech plans & spectrum deadlock

Telkom CEO on H1 earnings & COVID-19 impact on business

South African telecom operator Telkom moves into financial services

Telkom CEO on the decision to suspend dividend policy for 3 years

Telkom, Samsung team up with South African government to track those with COVID-19

Sipho Maseko on how Telkom is responding to COVID-19

Spectrum wars: Telkom wants Icasa to look into current spectrum trading deals, here’s why

What lies ahead for SA’s telecoms sector?

Why this union believes Telkom’s retrenchment threat is a ruse to influence spectrum auction

Communications Workers Union reacts to Telkom’s planned job cuts

South Africa’s telecoms company Telkom could cut 3,000 jobs -letter to unions

Telkom reacts to Commission’s findings on data prices

Telkom in talks to acquire Cell C but only on reduced gearing levels

Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko on spectrum, leveraging technology to solve social problems

Sipho Maseko on Telkom’s position on US tech wars, Ramaphosa’s cabinet

Telkom FY earnings rise 22%, share price up

Telkom to connect fibre to Soweto

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Telkom

Telkom CEO on full-year earnings, fintech plans & spectrum deadlock

Telkom CEO on H1 earnings & COVID-19 impact on business

South African telecom operator Telkom moves into financial services

Telkom CEO on the decision to suspend dividend policy for 3 years

Telkom, Samsung team up with South African government to track those with COVID-19

Sipho Maseko on how Telkom is responding to COVID-19

Spectrum wars: Telkom wants Icasa to look into current spectrum trading deals, here’s why

What lies ahead for SA’s telecoms sector?

Why this union believes Telkom’s retrenchment threat is a ruse to influence spectrum auction

Communications Workers Union reacts to Telkom’s planned job cuts

South Africa’s telecoms company Telkom could cut 3,000 jobs -letter to unions

Telkom reacts to Commission’s findings on data prices

Telkom in talks to acquire Cell C but only on reduced gearing levels

Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko on spectrum, leveraging technology to solve social problems

Sipho Maseko on Telkom’s position on US tech wars, Ramaphosa’s cabinet

Telkom FY earnings rise 22%, share price up

Telkom to connect fibre to Soweto

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