Vodacom Group increased full-year sales and customer numbers after Africa’s biggest wireless carrier by market value expanded its network and sold more smartphones.
Sales rose 6.3 per cent to 86.4 billion South African rand (Dh25.7bn) and the number of subscribers in markets including South Africa, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo passed 100 million, the Johannesburg company said on Monday. The acquisition of a stake in Kenya’s Safaricom weighed on earnings but the one-time effect has been absorbed, chief financial officer Till Streichert said.
Vodacom announced the purchase of a 35 per cent stake in Nairobi-based Safaricom from its parent Vodafone a year ago to expand its sub-Saharan African operations and mobile-money offering, which is popular in countries with limited access to banks. Telecommunications companies see Africa as a high-growth market for data sales as technology becomes more accessible and less expensive.
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The shares rose as much as 1.3 per cent before trading 1 per cent lower at 155.37 rand as of 9.29am in Johannesburg. The stock is up 6.6 per cent this year, while crosstown rival MTN Group is down 8.4 per cent.
Headline earnings per share were flat at 9.23 rand for the year through March, compared with an average analyst estimate of 9.27 rand. Vodacom lowered the full-year dividend to 8.15 rand a share from 8.30 rand.
Vodacom has retained market leadership in all its territories, said chief executive Shameel Joosub . Looking ahead, he sees “renewed economic and political stability in South Africa” after President Cyril Ramaphosa ousted Jacob Zuma in February.
Vodacom invested 11.6bn rand to expand its African network, mostly in South Africa, and maintained targets such as mid-single digit service revenue growth.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
