@muchknow - I expect Safaricom might be OK [similar to FY 2009-10] as far as revenues are concerned [Data, Sales of goods, M-Pesa]... but I fear the profits in 2H will suffer... Even more in 2010-11...
Data will be the 'saving grace' [SMS are included in data but I think the number of 'regular' SMS sent through/by Safaricom have stagnated]...
Another HUGE income stream [lumped with SMS above] will be the SMS lotteries e.g. 6969 where Safaricom is far ahead of the rest... The profits will be HUGE...
In 2010-11 SMS lotteries will play a smaller part [if the ban stays]. The SMS costs have dropped significantly to match Airtel. Calling costs/prices are also down. Minutes will be up but there is a loss of customers to Airtel [maybe Yu & Orange].
I like Safaricom as an investment. Just not at 4.30 but I would look at it seriously at 3.50 or lower...
Greedy when others are fearful. Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase Warren Buffett