Vodafone focuses on key regions

Mobile giant Vodafone will introduce tiered data plans to better exploit the wireless Internet explosion driven by smartphones, part of a wider strategy to refocus on its main markets in Europe, Africa and India, reports The Wall Street Journal Online.

As part of its refocus on key regions, Vodafone says it would it would "capitalise on the rapid increase in demand for ubiquitous mobile data services" by investing in networks and adjusting data pricing to usage, improving customer support, retail and supplementing its smartphone range with "attractively priced" Vodafone-branded handsets.

Sanford Bernstein senior analyst Robin Bienenstock says: “The strategic update reiterates the company's focus on Europe, India and Southern Africa and its plan to increase cash generation and shareholder value from other assets including minorities.”

Zimbabwe's largest telecommunications company, Econet, has connected more than 100 000 customers to its broadband Internet facility just a week after the roll-out of the service, states Africa News.com.

The company last month deployed its life insurance product known as Ecolife, which is jointly run by the firm and one of the country's insurance giants, First Mutual Life.

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe came under criticism from its subscribers, saying the broadband service was elitist considering its high cost on the average Zimbabwean. However, the company's spokesperson Ranga Mberi dismissed claims, saying the current system is flexible.

Nigerian IT company, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), has established operations in Uganda, says All Africa.com.

Through its Ugandan base, the firm intends to exploit growth opportunities in Rwanda, Kenya and Southern Sudan in a bid to extend market share beyond its West African domain.

"We are looking at exploiting outsourcing opportunities in the Ugandan market through assisting local firms with non-core functions like data management,” says CWG's chief executive Austin Okere.