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The collaboration aims to rapidly scale the service and onboard the next wave of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country

Vodacom South Africa has announced a strategic partnership with global technology leader Circles to accelerate the expansion of its Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) platform

The collaboration aims to rapidly scale the service and onboard the next wave of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country.

The partnership leverages Circles Aspire, a product line from Circles, to enhance Vodacom’s wholesale services strategy. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in providing South African MVNOs with a more dynamic and efficient platform to launch and manage their operations.

"We are very pleased to announce our partnership with Vodacom to power their MVNE platform services in South Africa. With the first MVNO customer, Mr Price Mobile, already live, this marks an important milestone," said Sanjay Kaul, CEO, Circles Aspire.

"Vodacom already plays a pivotal ‘telco of telcos’ role, and by integrating Circles’ proven MVNO enablement services, they can now deliver even greater value to the market. We look forward to jointly expanding this success in South Africa," he added.

Shenge Buthelezi, managing executive of wholesale for Vodacom South Africa, commented, “We are excited to partner with Circles Aspire. This partnership re-affirms our long-term commitment to high quality, purpose driven, and value-creation led approach to the MVNO market in South Africa. As we continue to scale up and onboard more partners, we are confident that our MVNE platform will enable a sustainable, seamless, digital-first, API driven and faster time to revenue service for our MVNOs which is critical for value creation and sustainability of the MVNO Market.”

Vodacom’s MVNO strategy focuses on value creation, targeting three to five key MVNO partners over the next three years. These collaborations are expected to combine industry expertise with Vodacom’s robust network infrastructure and wholesale capabilities.

Circles’ MVNE technology offers a cloud-native, multi-tenant, and API-first architecture, designed for agility and rapid deployment. It enables faster onboarding, reduces time to market, and provides MVNO customers access to Circles’ suite of services, including Customer Value Management (CVM) tools — a key differentiator in South Africa’s competitive mobile sector.

The partnership also underscores Circles’ long-term commitment to Africa, supported by continuous investment in its EMEA operations and a shared vision to shape the future of mobile connectivity across the continent.

5G investments are fueling digital innovation and driving economic growth across MEA.

Nokia has released the latest edition of its Mobile Broadband Index Report 2025, offering an in-depth look at the evolving mobile broadband ecosystem across the Middle East and Africa (MEA)

The report highlights the region’s accelerating transition towards 5G connectivity, projecting that by 2030, 5G will dominate a substantial share of mobile subscriptions and data traffic. It also emphasises how 5G investments are fueling digital innovation and driving economic growth across MEA.

According to Nokia’s new research, by 2030, 82% of connections will operate on 4G or 5G networks, underscoring the shift towards data-driven usage as smartphones become more widely accessible. 5G is also emerging as a vital enabler for IoT, smart cities, and enterprise solutions. Its growing adoption stems from increased operator investments and government-led digital transformation programs, positioning it as a cornerstone of future connectivity. By 2030, MEA’s 5G subscriptions are projected to reach 605 million, with 53% of total data traffic generated by 5G. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), 91% of subscriptions are expected to be on 5G, the highest proportion in the region.

The report also reveals the rapid expansion of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), with its market share expected to rise from 15% in 2023 to 35% by 2030. This marks a major shift towards advanced fixed wireless solutions, driven by the growing maturity of 5G networks across MEA. These networks provide the infrastructure necessary to deliver high-speed broadband to homes and businesses without relying on traditional wired connections. The uptake of 5G FWA offers faster deployment and reduced infrastructure costs compared to fiber, making it a compelling solution for expanding internet access and improving regional connectivity.

“Significant investments in 5G technology are being made by operators in the MEA region, which will serve as the engine to enable IoT, smart cities, and enterprise solutions. These advancements are expected to drive transformative use cases such as autonomous transportation, smart agriculture, and advanced healthcare services powered by real-time data analytics. Additionally, the integration of 5G with edge computing and AI will unlock new opportunities for industries to optimise operations, enhance productivity, and deliver innovative customer experiences,” said Mikko Lavanti, senior vice-president, mobile networks, MEA, Nokia.

5G investments are fueling digital innovation and driving economic growth across MEA.

Nokia has released the latest edition of its Mobile Broadband Index Report 2025, offering an in-depth look at the evolving mobile broadband ecosystem across the Middle East and Africa (MEA)

The report highlights the region’s accelerating transition towards 5G connectivity, projecting that by 2030, 5G will dominate a substantial share of mobile subscriptions and data traffic. It also emphasises how 5G investments are fueling digital innovation and driving economic growth across MEA.

According to Nokia’s new research, by 2030, 82% of connections will operate on 4G or 5G networks, underscoring the shift towards data-driven usage as smartphones become more widely accessible. 5G is also emerging as a vital enabler for IoT, smart cities, and enterprise solutions. Its growing adoption stems from increased operator investments and government-led digital transformation programs, positioning it as a cornerstone of future connectivity. By 2030, MEA’s 5G subscriptions are projected to reach 605 million, with 53% of total data traffic generated by 5G. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), 91% of subscriptions are expected to be on 5G, the highest proportion in the region.

The report also reveals the rapid expansion of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), with its market share expected to rise from 15% in 2023 to 35% by 2030. This marks a major shift towards advanced fixed wireless solutions, driven by the growing maturity of 5G networks across MEA. These networks provide the infrastructure necessary to deliver high-speed broadband to homes and businesses without relying on traditional wired connections. The uptake of 5G FWA offers faster deployment and reduced infrastructure costs compared to fiber, making it a compelling solution for expanding internet access and improving regional connectivity.

“Significant investments in 5G technology are being made by operators in the MEA region, which will serve as the engine to enable IoT, smart cities, and enterprise solutions. These advancements are expected to drive transformative use cases such as autonomous transportation, smart agriculture, and advanced healthcare services powered by real-time data analytics. Additionally, the integration of 5G with edge computing and AI will unlock new opportunities for industries to optimise operations, enhance productivity, and deliver innovative customer experiences,” said Mikko Lavanti, senior vice-president, mobile networks, MEA, Nokia.

Google Pay launches in Lebanon and Oman, expanding digital wallet access securely. (Image source: Google Pay)

Google has officially launched Google Pay in Lebanon and Oman, extending its mobile payment services to two more countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

As of today, Android phone and Wear OS users in both countries can use Google Pay to make quick, secure, and convenient payments.

With this expansion, users in Lebanon and Oman can now tap to pay in stores where contactless payments are accepted, make purchases in apps, and complete transactions online. The service is integrated with Google Wallet, which also launches today in both countries. Cardholders can securely store their credit or debit cards within the digital wallet, simplifying their everyday payments.

Google Pay enhances payment security by using multiple layers of protection. “This includes industry-standard tokenization, which means when you use Google Pay to pay, transactions are made using a virtual card number (a token). A Token is device-specific and is associated with a dynamic security code that changes with each transaction,” the company explained.

With Google Pay and Google Wallet now available, users in Lebanon and Oman can enjoy a safer and more streamlined digital payment experience, in line with global standards for mobile transactions.

MTN rolls out bioSIM and eSIM solutions to cut plastic waste and promote sustainability in telecom

MTN has taken a major step towards reducing plastic waste across its operations by introducing a biodegradable alternative to traditional SIM cards

In 2024, the telecom giant began rolling out bioSIMs—SIM cards made entirely from biodegradable, FSC-certified paper—in Rwanda, with expansion underway across other African markets.

Unlike conventional plastic SIM cards, bioSIMs decompose naturally, leaving behind no microplastics or harmful residue. The cards offer the same functionality as their plastic counterparts but are designed with long-term environmental impact in mind. With over 4.5 billion plastic SIM cards produced globally in 2020 alone, MTN's initiative presents a practical and scalable solution to an often overlooked source of telecom-related pollution.

The initiative comes as the continent braces for a significant increase in plastic waste. Sub-Saharan Africa’s annual plastic waste is expected to reach 116 million tonnes by 2060—a sixfold jump from 2019. MTN’s move is a response to both the waste crisis and the broader climate challenges that disproportionately affect Africa, despite the region contributing only 3–4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Alongside bioSIMs, MTN is also expanding the adoption of eSIMs, which eliminate the need for a physical card entirely. Together, these innovations support more sustainable choices for consumers and help cut tonnes of plastic from the telecom supply chain.

As World Environment Day 2025 calls for urgent action on plastic pollution, MTN’s bioSIM initiative underscores the role of design and innovation in building more responsible connectivity.

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