By Paul Colmer, exco member at Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA)

Ever since the news broke last week that Vodacom, South Africa’s largest cellular network operator, had its bid to buy fibre network operator Maziv blocked by the Competition Commission, we’ve been inundated with sob stories of how this “setback” will “widen digital exclusion” in the country’s rural and under-serviced areas.

To be direct: digital exclusion isn’t an issue in rural areas. Some of these communities are well served by smaller wireless data operators – it’s just that the large cellular providers with extensive coverage and high pricing models aren’t among them and have created that exclusion.

WAPA applauds the recent decision by the Competition Commission, which we believe is in the interests of consumers getting a fair price for their broadband internet connection. The idea that blocking the Vodacom-Maziv deal is a setback for the entire industry is complete nonsense. It is only a setback for the companies involved in the deal.

A monopoly in the making

To understand why concerns about “under-served communities” may be more about marketing than substance, let’s take a closer look at recent history.

Vodacom, launched in 1994, rose to the top of the telecoms industry in South Africa, building a behemoth network primarily fuelled by voice traffic revenue. As data overtook voice as the primary traffic on these networks, the shift brought in increased profit margins.

Vodacom’s 30-year legacy and significant head start have allowed it to dominate the market and its CEO, Shameel Joosub, has been with the company from the start. A Harvard graduate with a near-decade-long CEO tenure, Joosub has steadily pushed Vodacom towards deeper market consolidation.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t Vodacom’s first rodeo with attempted mergers to tighten its market grip. In 2015, Vodacom’s proposed acquisition of Neotel fell apart after industry outcry and intervention from its competition with regard to transfer of spectrum. Despite this, Vodacom hasn’t let up on its mission to secure a stranglehold on internet infrastructure in South Africa.

Now, with Maziv – a parent to Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel – the company set its sights on a fibre gold mine. Maziv has already invested R30 billion in its fibre network with another R10 billion planned, positioning it as a linchpin in South Africa’s broadband future.

But Maziv is also R25 billion in debt – recently refinanced by Standard Bank in one of the largest deals of its kind. And let’s not ignore that Vodacom already owns its own fibre network – one of the few in the country that remains closed-access.

Fibre for under-served areas? Pull the other one!

Vodacom has trotted out a tired promise that buying Maziv would help them “connect the unconnected” in rural and under-served areas. This is, to put it bluntly, pure PR nonsense. Fibre simply doesn’t make financial sense in sparsely populated rural regions where the installation costs and potential subscriber pool render it unsustainable.

What’s more, the claim that Vodacom suddenly wants to provide affordable broadband for rural South Africans rings hollow. Just two years ago, the company argued against the “data must fall” movement, claiming it couldn’t cut data prices without more spectrum. When they finally secured spectrum in the 2022 auction, they not only declined to lower data costs but increased them, funnelling the extra revenue into their 5G network. This hardly reflects a company committed to affordable, accessible broadband for the masses.

The 2022 auction even featured a unique spectrum allocation lot in sub 1GHz that required rural rollout before it could be used in urban areas. And what did Vodacom do? Ignored it as did the other operators. The spectrum remains unsold and there is little evidence of any rural rollouts since then.

The red and yellow rainbow

With MTN eyeing Telkom’s network, Vodacom’s acquisition of Maziv would solidify a two-giant monopoly. Together, these two players could hike prices and squeeze smaller providers out of the market. Smaller operators like those represented by WAPA, which has been bringing broadband to under-served areas for years, would be shut out by Vodacom’s deep pockets and aggressive pricing.

Vodacom’s closed-access network has been a persistent thorn in the side of open-access proponents and Maziv’s network was open-access, meaning it allows other providers to use its infrastructure. The South African government’s open-access directive aimed at fostering competition could be undermined if Vodacom took control of Maziv and decided to tighten the gates. Why would Vodacom, which has shown zero commitment to open networks, suddenly prioritise sharing resources with competitors?

This isn't about creating a “Rainbow Nation” of internet access for all. It’s about creating a closed loop between Vodacom and MTN where they could set the terms, keep prices high and lock out innovation. If WAPA and smaller providers are squeezed out, rural South Africans will feel the brunt.

A competitive market – not a closed monopoly

Let’s remember that South Africa’s telecom landscape only saw real disruption when companies like Cell C and Rain entered the market. By introducing more affordable, uncapped LTE options, these smaller players shook up the status quo set by Vodacom and MTN. Without them, Vodacom and MTN might have continued with their high-priced offerings, catering mainly to higher-income, urban customers.

The Competition Commission’s decision isn’t anti-growth; it’s pro-competition. In a free market, the price should be set by competition not monopolistic giants with inflated pricing strategies. Smaller ISPs have already established footholds in rural areas – footholds that are sustainable, cost-effective and cater to the communities Vodacom ignores.

Let’s face it, Vodacom’s services are already available in under-connected areas but most rural populations simply can’t afford them. And why should they have to? Just as WAPA and its members bring access at a fair price, competition – not monopolistic dominance – will ensure under-served communities stay connected affordably.

If Vodacom had succeeded in this deal, poorer, rural South Africans would suffer. So, let’s be thankful the Competition Commission saw through the thin veil of promises. Rural communities don’t need monopolistic giants. They need competition that drives affordable access for all and this blocking move has ensured this.

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article are those of WAPA and the author and are published as part of our open debate policy. Readers are invited to share their views. Send comments to editor@engineerit.co.za