Econet Global
Econet Global is a 30-year-old Zimbabwe-founded telecommunications and technology conglomerate operating across 29 Sub-Saharan African countries, serving 100+ million consumers through mobile voice, data, EcoCash mobile money, banking, fiber, data centers, and emerging AI infrastructure subsidiaries including Cassava Technologies and Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Econet Global does
Econet Global is a 30-year-old Zimbabwe-founded telecommunications and technology conglomerate founded in 1993 by Strive Masiyiwa and operating across 29 Sub-Saharan African countries. The group reaches 100+ million consumers through a vertically integrated portfolio of wholly-owned subsidiaries: Econet Wireless provides mobile voice, data, and mobile money services (8.5 million subscribers in Zimbabwe alone, the largest operator in a country of 13 million); EcoCash operates the dominant mobile money platform in Zimbabwe with 31% adult population penetration and $38 billion in cumulative transactions processed; Steward Bank, anchored on EcoCash, became Zimbabwe's largest bank by number of accounts; Liquid Intelligent Technologies operates 60,000+ miles of terrestrial fiber optic infrastructure across Africa; Africa Data Centres runs data center facilities on the continent; Cassava Technologies serves as the digital infrastructure and AI holding company; and Econet Solar offers patented off-grid lighting solutions.
The underlying technology stack spans 2G/3G/4G mobile networks, proprietary mobile money switching systems, fiber and data center infrastructure, cloud services (Liquid C2 powered by Google Cloud), and emerging AI infrastructure including the Cassava Autonomous Network, GPU-as-a-Service, and Africa's first AI Factory initiative built on NVIDIA supercomputers. Econet's revenue model combines subscription-based mobile voice and data, transaction fees on mobile money (including a 5% handling fee on microcredit ranging from $5 to $500), managed services for cloud and data center clients, and wholesale fiber capacity. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct retail, an agent network paying 80% commission to drive EcoCash adoption, and enterprise B2B sales to banks, mining houses, retailers, and agricultural customers across the continent.
The group has executed a series of capital markets and partnership moves in 2024–2026, including Cassava Technologies' $310 million raise (December 2024), partnerships with NVIDIA, Google, Ericsson, Accenture, and Rockefeller Foundation to position Cassava as Africa's sovereign AI infrastructure layer, Econet InfraCo's spin-off and $1 billion VFEX listing in April 2026, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies' $300 million senior secured notes refinancing. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is in the process of delisting from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange to consolidate infrastructure assets into the InfraCo entity. The parent company, Econet Wireless International Ltd., remains privately held under founder Strive Masiyiwa's control.
Econet Global firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Econet Global
- Legal name
- Econet Wireless International Ltd.
- Website
- https://econetafrica.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Econet Global is a 30-year-old Zimbabwe-founded telecommunications and technology conglomerate operating across 29 Sub-Saharan African countries, serving 100+ million consumers through mobile voice, data, EcoCash mobile money, banking, fiber, data centers, and emerging AI infrastructure subsidiaries including Cassava Technologies and Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Econet Global industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Mobile Network Operators (Retail MNOs) (HDAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Enterprise & B2B Mobile Network Operators (HDAIAAAB), Debt Management & Paydown (Student Loans, Credit Cards) (FSAGADAD), Hyperscale & OCP Server Designs (HDABADAB)
Keywords
Where Econet Global is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Econet Global business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Mobile Voice and Data Services: Core telecommunications services including mobile voice calls and mobile data packages to consumers and businesses
- Mobile Money Transactions: EcoCash mobile wallet services generating transaction fees from money transfers, payments, and financial services
- Digital Infrastructure Services: Cloud services, data centre operations, and AI infrastructure through subsidiaries like Cassava Technologies and Liquid Intelligent Technologies
- Mobile Credit and Microfinance: EcoCash Loans providing small-sum credit disbursements with 5% handling fee
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | EcoCash Loans - $5 to $500 microcredit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Econet Global product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Econet Global is a diversified technology and telecommunications group that delivers mobile voice and data services, mobile money (EcoCash), fibre optic connectivity, data centre, and AI/cloud services across 29 Sub-Saharan African countries. The company serves over 100 million consumers and enterprises through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Econet Wireless, Cassava Technologies, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, and Steward Bank, operating 60,000+ miles of terrestrial fibre and Africa's first AI Factory infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EcoCash: Mobile money and financial services platform enabling payments, transfers, savings, and micro-loans via mobile phones
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies
- Cassava Technologies
- Africa Data Centres
- Sasai Fintech
- Liquid C2
- Econet InfraCo
Products and services
- EcoCash Mobile Money Platform Mobile wallet technology enabling digital payments, money transfers, microtransactions, microcredit loans ($5-$500), and savings services for consumers and merchants across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Mobile Voice and Data Services Core mobile telecommunications services including voice calls and mobile data packages serving 8.5 million subscribers in Zimbabwe and operations across 29 African countries.
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Fibre and Cloud) Digital connectivity and cloud services provider offering wholesale fibre networks, cloud, and cybersecurity solutions across Africa with 60,000+ miles of terrestrial fibre optic infrastructure.
- Africa Data Centres Data centre facilities and services across Africa, including a $300 million Ghana facility investment in partnership with DFC (US International Development Finance Corporation).
- Cassava Autonomous Network AI-powered autonomous network solution using NVIDIA technology that autonomously manages and optimizes network performance with self-configuring and self-healing capabilities across African markets.
- AI Factories Africa's first AI Factory infrastructure using NVIDIA supercomputers to enable sovereign AI processing and data capabilities for African nations and enterprises.
- GPU-as-a-Service GPU computing infrastructure offered as a service to enable AI/ML workloads for enterprises and organizations across Africa through Cassava Technologies' data centre footprint.
- Econet Solar HomePowerStation Patented solar lighting solution that charges through the cell phone network using a software application at the network switching system, licensed to telecom operators globally for off-grid communities.
- Steward Bank (Banking Services) Banking services enabled through the EcoCash platform; became the largest bank by number of accounts in Zimbabwe following EcoCash Save launch.
- Liquid C2 (Cloud and Cybersecurity) Cloud and cybersecurity services powered by Google Cloud for enterprises and governments across Africa.
- Econet InfraCo (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Infrastructure company managing telecommunications towers, renewable energy systems, and strategic real estate across Zimbabwe, with plans for a 300-hectare solar-powered industrial park adjacent to Robert Mugabe International Airport.
Quantifiable outcome
- 31% of Zimbabwe's adult population registered for EcoCash mobile money within two years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Econet Global
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Econet Global technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Econet Global partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Laurel StrategiesminorGlobal CEO advisory firm appointed Strive Masiyiwa to Board of Advisors to strengthen expertise in technology, geopolitics, and international business strategy
- Western UnioncorePartnership with Sasai Fintech to expand digital remittance access for South African consumers
- Rockefeller FoundationcoreExpanding access to artificial intelligence computing to African NGOs through Cassava Technologies infrastructure
- GooglecoreCassava Technologies partnered with Google to bring Gemini AI capabilities to millions of users across Africa
- AccenturecoreCassava Technologies and Accenture partnership to accelerate sovereign AI cloud adoption across Africa
- ZindiminorCollaboration to showcase African AI innovation through competitions and research
- NvidiacoreAfrica's first AI Factory initiative; GPU-as-a-Service deployment; NVIDIA supercomputers at data centres to drive Africa's AI future
- EricssoncoreEconet Wireless Zimbabwe and Ericsson MoU at MWC26 to advance AI-driven and sustainable network innovation in Zimbabwe
- Atlas AIminorCassava Technologies and Atlas AI partnership to drive digital transformation in Africa
- MTNcoreLiquid Telecom and MTN partnership to extend fibre footprint and service offering in Africa
- SADC Member StatescoreSADC One Network Area framework implementing reduced roaming charges across Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Econet Global competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MTN Group: Pan-African mobile network operator with significant operations across Econet's footprint, including Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Uganda. MTN operates a comparable mobile money platform (MoMo) and competes directly with Econet Wireless for enterprise connectivity and consumer subscribers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Safaricom: Kenyan MNO and pioneer of M-Pesa, the most successful African mobile money platform. Highly comparable to Econet on the mobile money thesis (EcoCash vs. M-Pesa) and on integrated telecom-plus-fintech business model, with regional overlap in East Africa.
- Millicom International Cellular: Emerging-markets MNO with significant African footprint (Tigo brand) and Tigo Money mobile money operations. Directly comparable business model focused on underbanked consumers and pan-regional telecom-plus-fintech bundling.
- Airtel Africa: Pan-African MNO present in 14 African markets where Econet also operates or competes. Airtel Money directly mirrors Econet's EcoCash in the mobile money layer, and the two groups have a prior legal history (the Econet vs. Bharti Airtel Nigeria case).
- Vodacom Group: Africa-focused mobile operator (South Africa headquarters like Econet's registered office) with M-Pesa operations in multiple African markets. Directly comparable on the integrated MNO + mobile money + enterprise connectivity model.
Broad incumbents
- Helios Towers: Independent telecom tower operator across Africa and the Middle East. Highly comparable to Econet InfraCo on tower infrastructure and comparable to Econet's broader strategy of carving out infrastructure assets into listed vehicles.
- IHS Towers: One of the largest independent tower operators globally, with deep African presence. Comparable to Econet InfraCo on tower business model and to Econet's broader infrastructure-as-an-asset-class strategy.
- Orange Middle East & Africa: Global telecom incumbent operating Orange Money across several African countries. Competes with Econet in enterprise and consumer mobile segments across multiple Sub-Saharan African markets and overlaps on the fintech/financial inclusion thesis.
- MainOne (Equinix): West African connectivity and data centre provider now part of Equinix. Comparable to Liquid Intelligent Technologies on fibre and wholesale connectivity across West Africa, and to Africa Data Centres on enterprise colocation.
Emerging players
- Raxio Data Centres: African data centre operator building carrier-neutral facilities across multiple Sub-Saharan markets. Directly competes with Econet's Africa Data Centres subsidiary on colocation and enterprise cloud infrastructure services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Econet Global social profiles
Digital presenceEconet Global financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Econet Global leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Econet Global subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Econet Global funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Econet Global M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Econet Global
What does Econet Global do?
Econet Global is a diversified technology and telecommunications group that delivers mobile voice and data services, mobile money (EcoCash), fibre optic connectivity, data centre, and AI/cloud services across 29 Sub-Saharan African countries. The company serves over 100 million consumers and enterprises through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Econet Wireless, Cassava Technologies, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, and Steward Bank, operating 60,000+ miles of terrestrial fibre and Africa's first AI Factory infrastructure.
Is Econet Global a public or private company?
Econet Global is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Econet Global founded?
Econet Global was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Econet Global based?
Econet Global is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Econet Global make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Mobile Voice and Data Services are the primary driver. The others are mobile Money Transactions, digital Infrastructure Services and mobile Credit and Microfinance.
Who are Econet Global's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MTN Group, Safaricom, Millicom International Cellular, Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group. Broad incumbents are Helios Towers, IHS Towers, Orange Middle East & Africa and MainOne (Equinix). Raxio Data Centres is listed as an emerging player.
Does Econet Global have an API?
No public API is recorded for Econet Global.
What industry is Econet Global in?
Econet Global's product category is Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAAAA, Consumer Mobile Network Operators (Retail MNOs), with a secondary code of HDAIAAAB, Enterprise & B2B Mobile Network Operators. Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 3576.