Building the future, one connection at a time
Welcome to the third edition of One Spirit for 2026, your digital magazine connecting Vodacom Group employees across our African markets.
This edition starts in Mozambique, a market I recently had the privilege of visiting, including meeting His Excellency Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique. It was a powerful reminder that connectivity is never only about infrastructure. It is about national ambition, economic opportunity and the everyday lives that can change when more people are included in the digital economy.
That is why our cover story looks at the Mozambique market and our recent milestone of acquiring a 5G licence – a significant moment for Vodacom that reflects the partnership, confidence and trust needed to turn policy into progress.
You’ll see the same idea in our story on EADAK in Kenya, where local device assembly is helping to make 4G smartphones more affordable. Networks open the door, but devices help people walk through it. If we want more customers to participate in the digital economy, affordability, access and education must move together.
In Egypt, the Maaki programme shows what happens when digital inclusion is built with communities, not simply offered to them. Rural women are becoming ambassadors, entrepreneurs and trusted guides to mobile services. It is a signature and transformational programme, with the potential to scale across markets because it combines technology with confidence, agency and belonging.
This edition also tackles one of the most difficult questions in connectivity: what happens when the internet is at risk of being switched off? Our article on shutdowns brings regulation, ethics and accountability into sharp focus.
Trust also runs through our decarbonisation story. As we expand access, we must do so responsibly. Reducing emissions, using energy more efficiently and building more resilient networks are part of serving Africa well.
Across these stories, one thread is clear: every connection has work behind it, and each of us has a role in making that work count. After all, a signal only matters when people can use it – and progress depends on planning, partnership and practical choices.
Happy reading!
