Spanish digital monetisation firm Telecoming has set up shop in Johannesburg, launching a South African subsidiary that will run direct carrier billing and AI-driven monetisation services for telecoms operators and content publishers across the region.
The new entity, DCB Software South Africa, was announced on 11 May 2026 and will be led by Javier de Corral as managing director. His mandate covers building a local team, signing partnerships with South African mobile operators, and developing digital products and marketplaces for the market.
Second African subsidiary
Telecoming is a Madrid-based technology company that specialises in monetising digital services through mobile operators. Its platform combines direct carrier billing (DCB), user-acquisition and advertising tools, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence for optimising conversion and payment flows. The South African unit is its second on the continent, joining DCB Software Dzayer in Algeria.
The Johannesburg office will focus on mobile and web services, digital entertainment, marketplaces and content distribution. All are designed to plug into local payment rails, with direct carrier billing as the primary settlement mechanism. Direct carrier billing lets consumers pay for digital goods by charging the cost to their mobile phone bill or prepaid airtime, an approach that has gained traction in markets where credit-card penetration remains low.
A growing monetisation market
“The launch of DCB Software South Africa marks a key milestone in our global expansion strategy,” said Cyrille Thivat, chief executive of Telecoming, in the announcement. “We are committed to investing in South Africa’s digital future, and confident this new subsidiary will contribute to the broader digital and AI ecosystem.”
The arrival adds to a growing pool of fintech and monetisation firms targeting Sub-Saharan Africa’s mobile economy, where smartphone penetration, app-store growth and short-form video have pushed demand for carrier-grade payment alternatives to cards. The South African mobile market in particular has a long track record of supporting DCB models through Vodacom, MTN and Cell C, the country’s largest operators.
Leave a Reply