Vodafone have purchased a 15% stake in South Africa's largest mobile phone operator, Vodacom.

The deal is worth £1.4bn and when finalised next year will take Vodafone's share in the South African company to 65%.

"Africa is the place that we are looking at, and to make Vodacom the investment vehicle for any expansion is the most important step that we have taken," said Morten Lundal, Vodafone's head of central Europe and Africa.