VODACOM'S FUTURE without Telkom is looking bright, with the company determined to take hold of every opportunity its new majority shareholder, Vodafone, has to offer.
"The company is going through some changes. Telkom is selling us. With it comes significant opportunities for us," said Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys, speaking at the 2008 MyBroadband Conference.
Uys explained Vodacom will now be free to participate in, and benefit from, Vodafone's massive research and development investments.
Uys said large mobile operators, like its new parent company, also have significant sway with mobile suppliers. One example is Vodafone's involvement in the development of the much-hyped BlackBerry Storm. "The BlackBerry Storm can be expected in SA soon," added Uys.
However, Uys said the biggest opportunity for Vodacom would arrive on the services level, which he said is about to be an increasingly competitive market. "We always embrace competition. It is why we are where we are now. We will respond to the market and will see what happens."
He says the licensing of the value-added network service providers will bring a stream of new competition that will keep the incumbents on their toes. "Competition is an excellent thing. Especially if you consider how much the prices for broadband have come down over the last few years."
Login.
Business Best Practise
