{"id":265180,"date":"2025-11-10T08:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T09:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=265180"},"modified":"2025-11-10T11:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T11:02:36","slug":"vodacom-well-on-its-way-to-reach-2030-growth-target-of-260-million-customers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/vodacom-well-on-its-way-to-reach-2030-growth-target-of-260-million-customers\/","title":{"rendered":"Vodacom well on its way to reach 2030 growth target of 260 million customers"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>\n

Vodacom\u2019s 32% interim headline earnings growth reported Monday was at the lower end of guidance it revised days ago<\/span> following the one-off payment to Kenneth Makate to settle the Please Call Me matter<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the settlement payment of an undisclosed amount, but now widely speculated to be close to R500 million, Vodacom still delivered \u201crobust growth\u201d – service revenue increased 13.6% for the six months to September 30 to R65.8 billion, which is above their five-year target of double-digit growth. Earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation in the South Africa business however fell by 5.3% to R8.76bn, due to the revenue performance and the one-off payment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The settlement agreement reached last week arose after former employee Makate and Vodacom had been involved in legal action over the Please Call Me idea for 18 years, with Makate initially claiming R10bn for inventing the Please Call Me service, while Vodacom had put the figure closer to R50 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

The interim dividend increased by <\/span>15.8% <\/span>to <\/span>330 cents <\/span>per share. The group served 223.2 million <\/span>customers, a figure <\/span>8.6% <\/span>higher on the same period a year before, and it includes <\/span>93.7 million <\/span>financial services customers.<\/p>\n

Group revenue was up <\/span>10.9% <\/span>to <\/span>R81.6bn. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased <\/span>14.7% <\/span>to <\/span>R30.5bn. Regional highlights included Egypt\u2019s <\/span>42.3% <\/span>local currency service revenue growth, a stable performance in South Africa and a strong recovery from the International business.<\/p>\n

CEO Shameel Joosub said an encouraging revenue trend in the first three months continued in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Beyond mobile \u2013 including financial and digital services, fixed and IoT – contributed <\/span>21.8% <\/span>of group service revenue, moving the group closer to its Vision 2030 target of exceeding <\/span>30%.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, service revenue increased <\/span>2.2% <\/span>to <\/span>R31.7bn, underpinned by the contract segment, beyond mobile services and <\/span>R54.1bn <\/span>investment in network resilience over five years.<\/p>\n

This investment, in addition to increased smartphone penetration and new prepaid LTE offerings, contributed to a data traffic increase of <\/span>31.1% during the six months.<\/p>\n

The acquisition of a <\/span>30% <\/span>stake in Maziv was in the final approval phase. Separately, the Please Call Me matter was settled by the parties out of court.<\/p>\n

The International business \u2013 comprising DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania \u2013 reported 13.3% service revenue growth <\/span>to <\/span>R16.7bn, with customer numbers increasing by <\/span>13.6% <\/span>to63.7 million.<\/p>\n

Double-digit growth in DRC, Lesotho and Tanzania was supported by strong momentum in M-Pesa and data services and improved commercial traction in Mozambique. All four markets produced accelerated growth rates in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Safaricom report another strong performance in Kenya and was continuing to scale in Ethiopia. Safaricom service revenue increased <\/span>11.1%.<\/p>\n

In Kenya, M-Pesa revenue grew 14% <\/span>on the back of heightened platform engagement and a <\/span>13.3% <\/span>increase in customers.<\/p>\n

Over the past twelve months, the volume of M-Pesa transactions in Kenya has risen <\/span>22% <\/span>to <\/span>39.8 billion. In Ethiopia, losses at our greenfield operation continue to moderate while the business scales with customer numbers reaching <\/span>11.1 million, up 83.7%. Safaricom reported net income growth of <\/span>52.1%.<\/p>\n

M-Pesa continues to be Africa\u2019s largest mobile money platform, processing over <\/span>$476.8bn <\/span>in transaction value over the year, including Safaricom.<\/p>\n

Egypt service revenue of <\/span>R17.6bn <\/span>now contributes 26.8% <\/span>to the group total. This was supported by a strong summer campaign, a <\/span>5.9% <\/span>increase in Egypt\u2019s customer base to <\/span>51.1 million, data traffic growth of <\/span>21.9% <\/span>and the rapid adoption of Vodafone Cash.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn June, we launched <\/span>5G services in Egypt, leveraging existing investment into <\/span>5G ready sites. As we roll out this technology, we expect this will help sustain Egypt\u2019s growth in the foreseeable future,\u201d said Joosub.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, service revenue increased <\/span>2.2% <\/span>to <\/span>R31.7bn, underpinned by the contract segment, beyond mobile services and <\/span>R54.1bn <\/span>investment in network resilience over five years.<\/p>\n

This investment, in addition to increased smartphone penetration and new prepaid LTE offerings, contributed to a data traffic increase of <\/span>31.1% <\/span>during the six months.<\/p>\n

The group ambition is to grow its customer base to over <\/span>260 million, and financial services to <\/span>120 million <\/span>customers by the <\/span>2030 <\/span>financial year, while delivering double-digit EBITDA growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we\u2019ve expanded our customer base to <\/span>223.2 million <\/span>and now serve <\/span>93.7 million <\/span>financial services customers shows we are well on track to deliver on targets that reflect our relentless focus on digital and financial inclusion,\u201d said Joosub.<\/p>\n

Investments into technology and networks amounted to <\/span>R9.4 billion <\/span>in the past six months, with a plan to spend <\/span>R23 billion <\/span>across our markets in the current financial year. Including Safaricom, we have added <\/span>1 881 4G <\/span>and <\/span>3 524 5G sites year-to-date.<\/p>\n

He said a good example of their recent initiatives to drive inclusion were scaling programmes to upskill the next generation for careers in science and technology, and partnering across our markets to expand rural and fibre network coverage.<\/p>\n

An example was the infrastructure sharing partnership signed with Airtel Africa in August in markets including Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Further, an agreement was reached with Orange earlier in the year to form a first-of-its-kind rural towerco partnership, that will see the partners collaborating to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of DRC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will not only enhance customer experience but also assist with providing access to digital services for a broader population, particularly those in underserved areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

BUSINESS REPORT<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vodacom\u2019s 32% interim headline earnings growth reported Monday was at the lower end of guidance it revised days ago following the one-off payment to Kenneth Makate to settle the Please Call Me matter.Despite the settlement payment of an undisclosed amount, but now widely speculated to be close to R500 million, Vodacom still delivered \u201crobust growth\u201d – service revenue increased 13.6% for the six months to September 30 to R65.8 billion, which is above their five-year target of double-digit growth. Earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation in the South Africa business however fell by 5.3% to R8.76bn, due to the revenue performance and the one-off payment.The settlement agreement reached last week arose after former employee Makate and Vodacom had been involved in legal action over the Please Call Me idea for 18 years, with Makate initially claiming R10bn for inventing the Please Call Me service, while Vodacom had put the figure closer to R50 million.The interim dividend increased by\u00a015.8%\u00a0to\u00a0330 cents\u00a0per share. The group served 223.2 million\u00a0customers, a figure\u00a08.6%\u00a0higher on the same period a year before, and it includes\u00a093.7 million\u00a0financial services customers.Group revenue was up\u00a010.9%\u00a0to\u00a0R81.6bn. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased\u00a014.7%\u00a0to\u00a0R30.5bn. Regional highlights included Egypt\u2019s\u00a042.3%\u00a0local currency service revenue growth, a stable performance in South Africa and a strong recovery from the International business.CEO Shameel Joosub said an encouraging revenue trend in the first three months continued in the second quarter.Beyond mobile \u2013 including financial and digital services, fixed and IoT – contributed\u00a021.8%\u00a0of group service revenue, moving the group closer to its Vision 2030 target of exceeding\u00a030%.In South Africa, service revenue increased\u00a02.2%\u00a0to\u00a0R31.7bn, underpinned by the contract segment, beyond mobile services and\u00a0R54.1bn\u00a0investment in network resilience over five years.This investment, in addition to increased smartphone penetration and new prepaid LTE offerings, contributed to a data traffic increase of\u00a031.1%\u00a0during the six months.The acquisition of a\u00a030%\u00a0stake in Maziv was in the final approval phase. Separately, the Please Call Me matter was settled by the parties out of court.The International business \u2013 comprising DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania \u2013 reported 13.3% service revenue growth\u00a0to\u00a0R16.7bn, with customer numbers increasing by\u00a013.6%\u00a0to63.7 million.Double-digit growth in DRC, Lesotho and Tanzania was supported by strong momentum in M-Pesa and data services and improved commercial traction in Mozambique. All four markets produced accelerated growth rates in the second quarter.Safaricom report another strong performance in Kenya and was continuing to scale in Ethiopia. Safaricom service revenue increased\u00a011.1%.In Kenya, M-Pesa revenue grew 14%\u00a0on the back of heightened platform engagement and a\u00a013.3%\u00a0increase in customers.Over the past twelve months, the volume of M-Pesa transactions in Kenya has risen\u00a022%\u00a0to\u00a039.8 billion. In Ethiopia, losses at our greenfield operation continue to moderate while the business scales with customer numbers reaching\u00a011.1 million, up\u00a083.7%. Safaricom reported net income growth of\u00a052.1%.M-Pesa continues to be Africa\u2019s largest mobile money platform, processing over $476.8bn\u00a0in transaction value over the year, including Safaricom.Egypt service revenue of\u00a0R17.6bn\u00a0now contributes\u00a026.8%\u00a0to the group total. This was supported by a strong summer campaign, a\u00a05.9%\u00a0increase in Egypt\u2019s customer base to\u00a051.1 million, data traffic growth of\u00a021.9%\u00a0and the rapid adoption of Vodafone Cash.\u201cIn June, we launched\u00a05G\u00a0services in Egypt, leveraging existing investment into\u00a05G\u00a0ready sites. As we roll out this technology, we expect this will help sustain Egypt\u2019s growth in the foreseeable future,\u201d said Joosub.In South Africa, service revenue increased\u00a02.2%\u00a0to\u00a0R31.7bn, underpinned by the contract segment, beyond mobile services and\u00a0R54.1bn\u00a0investment in network resilience over five years.This investment, in addition to increased smartphone penetration and new prepaid LTE offerings, contributed to a data traffic increase of\u00a031.1%\u00a0during the six months.The group ambition is to grow its customer base to over\u00a0260 million, and financial services to\u00a0120 million\u00a0customers by the\u00a02030\u00a0financial year, while delivering double-digit EBITDA growth.\u201cThe fact that we\u2019ve expanded our customer base to\u00a0223.2 million\u00a0and now serve\u00a093.7 million\u00a0financial services customers shows we are well on track to deliver on targets that reflect our relentless focus on digital and financial inclusion,\u201d said Joosub.Investments into technology and networks amounted to\u00a0R9.4 billion\u00a0in the past six months, with a plan to spend\u00a0R23 billion\u00a0across our markets in the current financial year. Including Safaricom, we have added\u00a01 881\u00a04G\u00a0and\u00a03 524\u00a05G\u00a0sites year-to-date.He said a good example of their recent initiatives to drive inclusion were scaling programmes to upskill the next generation for careers in science and technology, and partnering across our markets to expand rural and fibre network coverage.An example was the infrastructure sharing partnership signed with Airtel Africa in August in markets including Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Further, an agreement was reached with Orange earlier in the year to form a first-of-its-kind rural towerco partnership, that will see the partners collaborating to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of DRC.\u201cThis will not only enhance customer experience but also assist with providing access to digital services for a broader population, particularly those in underserved areas,\u201d he said.BUSINESS REPORT<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-265180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-builder"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265180"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":265181,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265180\/revisions\/265181"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}