World Online International, one of Europe`s largest and fastest-growing international Internet Service Providers (ISP), today announced that it has formed a joint venture with Vodacom, South Africa`s leading cellular network, to expand Vodacom`s Internet Service Provider Yebo!Net.
Yebo!Net, the fatest-growing ISP in South Africa, currently has some 100 000 subscribers. World Online will own 50% of the new joint venture company. Financial details were not disclosed.
Nina Brink, CEO of World Online International, said the combination of Vodacom`s telecommunications experience and World Online`s expertise as an Internet and content provider, should make it possible for Vodacom to double the number of users in South Africa and its neighbouring countries. (See note to editors about World Online).
"We are very pleased with this partner, with whom we have established our first operation outside the European Market. South Africa is one of the most exciting Internet markets in the world, and has one of the highest personal and corporate usage rates," she said.
Vodacom Group CEO Alan Knott-Craig said the deal with World Online offers Vodacom huge synergy. "World Online`s specialised content, personalisation and e-commerce strengths are going to introduce a new level of Internet capability in South Africa. Yebo!Net`s subscribers will benefit by becoming part of World Online`s worldwide network of Internet users," Mr Knott-Craig said. (See note to editors about Vodacom).
Mr Knott-Craig said Yebo!Net is the fatest Internet Service Provider in the country and has six Digital 8400 serevers, making high-speed e-mail retrieval and Internet access possible. Yebo!Net also has 66 access points of presence (POP`s) in the country, which makes local call access available to most users.
Yebo!Net offers its customers a whopping 42Mb/s international bandwith, giving users the most efficient Internet access of any South African ISP.
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World Online International:
World Online International, based in Vianen in the Netherlands, has operations throughout Europe, where it provides both residential and business customers with Internet access. A wide variety of content, personalisation tools and a broad range of interactive services. The company expects to increase its subscriber base to at least one million residential and 20 000 business subscribers during 1999 and become the largest pan-European communications company in the next century. World Online International is a joint venture between the Sandoz Family Foundation of Switzerland, telecommunications operator Telfort (a joint venture between British Telecom and the Netherland Railroads) and Reggenborgh Beheer, a private investment group. The company has exclusive strategic alliances with Netscape, Micorsoft, Bertelsmann, Ziff Davis, Reuters, CBS Sportsline and Oracle.
Vodacom:
Vodacom is South Africa`s leading cellular network with a market share of 60% and some two million customers. It is acknowledged as one of the best GSM networks in the world, as well as one of the fastest-growing. Vodacom is also recognised for making a contribution in improving universal access to telecommunications for the previously disadvantaged people in South Africa. Vodacom`s shareholders are Telkom, the state telecommunications operator (50%), Vodafone (31,5%), Rembrandt Group (13,5%) and black empowerment grouping Hosken Consolidated Investments (5%). With the launch of Vodacom Internet Company last year, Vodacom is positioning itself to become South Africa`s leading communications company.
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