Vodacom receives conditional regulatory approval for Maziv acquisition
- The Competition Tribunal reversed its 2024 decision and conditionally approved Vodacom's acquisition of a minority stake in Maziv.
- Vodacom's R13.2 billion deal will now proceed under strict behavioural and investment-related conditions.
- The tribunal's approval allows Vodacom to take a 30-40% stake in Maziv, impacting the broadband market.
While the conditional approval of Vodacom's acquisition of Maziv is a step towards enhancing South Africa's digital infrastructure, it raises concerns about potential monopolistic behavior and the impact on smaller competitors. The effectiveness of the imposed conditions in maintaining market fairness will be crucial for the future of competition in the fibre sector.
