Wireless Federation

MTN Ghana, Yemen and Uganda implement International Airtime Transfers (Africa)

On 11.11.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Africa’s leading telecommunications operator, MTN Group has reportedly begun the implementation of its International Airtime Transfer (IAT) in partnership with TransferTo, a global airtime remittance hub that interconnects mobile operators’ prepaid systems, enabling the transfer of small amounts of value in the form of prepaid mobile credits.

According to reports, the partnership will provide MTN customers access to prepaid services so as to receive airtime transfers from the TransferTo IAT network around the world. Sources suggest that currently MTN’s companies in Uganda, Ghana and Yemen have integrated their operations with TransferTo, with other MTN operators expected to follow soon.

As per sources, the airtime services will enable all TransferTo partners along with the general public abroad, to send top-ups to MTN users in Ghana, Yemen and Uganda. Further, mobile users on partner networks will be able to use their handsets to send airtime to MTN prepaid customers, while those who haven’t yet subscribed to TransferTo can do the same via its website.

MTN Ghana opens US$35 million switch centre

On 03.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN Ghana has opened aUS$35 million switch centre in Kumasi to boost the quality of its services. The centre is the second of its kind to be opened in the country by the company.

According to MTN, Ghana was the third in MTN’s 21 operating countries where the facility had been installed, after South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Ghana • Kumasi • MTN • MTN Ghana • operator • Saudi Arabia • South Africa • switch centre

MTN inaugurates $35 mn switch centre in Kumasi (Ghana)

On 03.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN Ghana has commissioned a new US$35 million switch center at Kaase in Kumasi. Ibrahim Misto, General Manger of Operations in-charge stated that Ghana was the third in the MTN’s 21 operating countries where the facility had been installed, coming next only to South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

The switch site houses different telecommunication equipment to effectively manage calls between subscribers and transmissions for managing the fiber optic network.

According to him, these switch sites are among the measures put in place by the Company to ensure that the network quality that its subscribers enjoy is protected at all times in the face of earthquakes and other natural disasters.

As per Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minster, the installation of the equipment would improve the services and facilitate communication between operators in the region and outside world.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah • Ghana • Kumasi • MTN • MTN Ghana • operator • Saudi Arabia • South Africa • switch centre • the Ashanti Regional Minster

MTN Ghana to reward the 9 millionth subscriber

On 03.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN Ghana has announced a package for its nine millionth subscriber who will be selected in a draw on March 25.

According to acting Corporate Services Executive Gina Asare-Fiagbenu, the nine millionth subscriber will win a Galaxy Tablet from MTN, with US$6503.76, 999.9 Mb of data, 999.99 minutes of call time, and 999 SMS every month for 9 months.

According to Fiagbenu, any subscriber who purchases an MTN Simcard, registers and keeps it active from now on stands a chance of being the 9 millionth customer. The nine millionth customer would be showcased on TV3 MTN Music reality show on March 26. The operator will also launch a special package for existing customers.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Corporate Services Executive • Galaxy Tablet • Ghana • Gina Asare-Fiagbenu • MTN • MTN Ghana • MTN Simcard • operator • TV3 MTN Music reality show

MTN Ghana subscription increases by 9%

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The annual report of MTN Ghana revealed that the company saw a 9% increase in subscribers as of December 2010, bringing the number to 8.7 million.

According to MTN, the increase was largely driven by the introduction of new price plans and a revision allowing subscribers to view discounts in monetary terms rather than percentages.

The report also revealed that MTN Ghana’s performance was encouraging, considering aggressive competition through headline tariff reductions. SIM card registration has also had an impact.

Revenue increased by 14% ahead of subscriber growth, mostly due to increases in airtime and subscription revenue. SMS revenue also increased significantly, contributing 5% to revenue.

According to Phuthuma Nhleko, MTN Group President and CEO, the Group’s strong operational performance was underpinned by a 22% increase in subscribers to 141.6 million from 116.0 million in the prior year, as well as improved efficiencies due to various cost initiatives and despite higher levels of mobile penetration, aggressive competition and increased regulatory requirements. MTN continued to maintain network quality and capacity and to offer attractive segmented value propositions to customers.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Ghana • MTN • MTN Ghana • operator • Phuthuma Nhleko • President and CEO • Revenue • SIM card registration • SMS

NCA says mobile, fixed penetration reached 75.4% at end-2010 (Ghana)

On 02.03.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Figures published by Ghana’s telecoms regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA) shows that the fixed and mobile penetration in the country reached 75.4% at the end of last year, up from around 71% at the start of 2010.

The watchdog’s figures show that the primary driver of growth is mobile usage: the cellular penetration rate stood at 74.2% at the same date, with more than 17.436 million registered SIM cards. Mobile growth in the second half of last year came despite a compulsory SIM registration scheme, which entered into effect on 1 July, and which was expected to dampen growth for the year, compared with 2009. The scheme is also expected to have pruned out a number of inactive and/or unregistered mobile users.

At the end of last year the NCA’s figures reveal that MTN Ghana led the mobile segment with 8.721 million SIMs, ahead of Tigo with 3.999 million, and third-placed Vodafone (Ghana) with 2.722 million.

Of the three other licensed cellcos, Airtel had 1.754 million subscribers, Expresso (formerly Kasapa) had 239,815 and Glo Mobile is yet to launch operations. Meanwhile, the two companies offering landline or fixed network services noted a significant drop in customers last year. Vodafone (formerly Ghana Telecom) reported 267,033 main lines in service at the end of 2010, down from around 284,000 at the start of the year, while Airtel had 10,864 lines, up around 8,000 year-on-year.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Airtel • Expresso • fixed and mobile penetration • Ghana • Kasapa • Mobile • MTN Ghana • National Communications Authority (NCA) • registered SIM cards • SIM registration scheme • Telecoms Regulator • Tigo • USA • Vodafone

MTN launches mobile money bill payment (Ghana)

On 12.16.10, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN Ghana has launched the Mobile Money Bill Payment service to ease payment of electricity and DSTV bills for subscribers of the MTN Mobile Money.

According to the company, the new Mobile Money Bill payment service will offer DSTV subscribers and clients of the Electricity Company of Ghana the convenience and ease of paying bills. MTN Mobile Money, the first mobile money service to be introduced into the country in July 2009, had over 1.8 million subscribers currently.

It added that the service was aimed at providing convenience to mobile phone users in the management of their monetary transactions.

According to Mr. Eli Hini, Mobile Money Commercial Senior Manager, Mobile Money Bill Payment is designed to give MTN subscribers the opportunity to pay their DSTV and Electricity bills through their mobile handsets without having to travel to the offices of the service providers. The MTN Mobile Money Bill Payment service is ideal for all categories of persons who consider convenience as an important ingredient in their daily activities.

He added that MTN, as a technologically savvy network, had endeared itself to its customers through the deployment of state of the art technology to address their communication, business and social needs.

Non-registered MTN Mobile Money customers can pay their bills at the nearest Mobile Money Authorised Merchants across the country.

Mobile Money transactions can also be done through Cal Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Merchant Bank, UBA, Stanbic Bank and Zenith Bank.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Cal Bank • DStv • Ecobank • Fidelity Bank • Ghana • Guarantee Trust Bank • Intercontinental Bank • Merchant Bank • Mobile • mobile money bill payment • Mobile Money Commercial Senior Manager • Mr. Eli Hini • MTN • MTN Ghana • payment of electricity • Stanbic Bank • UBA • Zenith Bank

Comviva join hands with MTN Ghana for virtual SIM solution

On 09.24.10, In Mobile, By Editor

VAS solution provider Comviva has signed a new deal with MTN Ghana for virtual SIM solution. MTN Ghana is a telecom operator, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

According to the company, Comviva’s Virtual SIM solution will enable MTN Ghana will be able to extend its services to people who cannot afford to own a handset.

The solution allows users to make and receive calls, send and receive SMSs and make payments, virtually, using other people’s phones. They also gain a unique mobile identity, with their own phone number and virtual phone account.

According to Eben Albertyn, chief technical officer, MTN Ghana, With Comviva’s Virtual SIM solution, the company will be extending access to mobile communications and providing underserved segments with an affordable route to gaining the unique mobile identity.

According to Manoranjan Mohapatra, chief executive officer, Comviva, whilst mobile penetration in many developed markets has exceeded 100%, there remains significant scope for growth in the world’s emerging markets, where just one third of the population uses mobile communication services. Extending mobile communications to under-served segments requires a cost effective solution that overcomes barriers to service uptake, such as affordability of a handset and simplicity of use.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Africa • ASIA • Comviva • Ghana • Middle East • Mobile • MTN Ghana • SIM • VAS

MTN Ghana tests 3G network with Ericsson

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: For the first time on the African continent, successful trial of 3G network at 900 MHz has been done by MTN Ghana along with Ericsson. The roll-out will begin in Q2 2010 and the responsibility for the access, transport and transmission of 3G UMTS 900 MHz will be over Ericsson.

According to Lars Lind©n, President, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, by leveraging off the existing installed Ericsson 3G Radio Access Network and enabling UMTS in 900 MHz, not only can voice, video and high speed data calls be carried over the network, but operators benefit from having one network delivering all services with the lowest total cost of ownership.

MTN Ghana CTO, Eben Albertyn has given credit to Ericsson’s solid position as an established infrastructural provider in the local and international market and the diverse connectivity services and felt that it will help the company to continue to grow the network coverage locally as well as into many rural and remote sites.

The coverage is increased per Node-B compared with UMTS 2100 with UMTS 900 providing between 44% (in urban areas) and 119% (rural areas).

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Africa • Ericsson • Ghana • MTN • MTN Ghana • operator • UMTS

MTN Group reveals strong 3Q subscriber growth (South Africa)

On 11.02.07, In Mobile, By Editor

South Africa’s MTN Group has reported 12% subscriber growth during the three months ended 30 September 2007, to 54.1 million, boosted by a surge in sign-ups in Iran. MTN Irancell, which launched in October 2006 after months of delays, saw its subscriber base increase by 88% to 3.7 million.

MTN said monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) in its home market increased 1% year-on-year to ZAR146 (USD22), while the customer numbers rose 3% in the three months to 14.08 million. â€˜There is no doubt that South African operations are becoming mature, but that they (MTN) are still able to show growth tells you there are still growth opportunities,’ said one analyst.

MTN’s south and east Africa region contributed 33% of total subscribers, with west and central Africa, and Middle East and North Africa regions contributing 47% and 20% respectively. Users in its biggest market, Nigeria, rose 7% to 15 million, with monthly ARPU of USD17. MTN Ghana saw growth of 14% in its customer base to 3.9 million, while MTN Cameroon recorded a 15% increase to 2.2 million. MTN’s operations in Afghanistan (66%), Sudan (24%) and Syria (12%) also all made healthy subscriber gains in the three-month period. â€˜An aggressive network rollout plan is addressing the quality and capacity issues following the high rate of subscriber acquisitions since the last quarter of 2006,’ MTN said in a statement.

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Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Afghanistan • Cameroon • Ghana • Iran • MTN Cameroon • MTN Ghana • Niger • Nigeria • South Africa • Sudan • Syria