Lonestar Cell reaches 1 million subscribers (Liberia)
After decade long existence and of leading the GSM industry in the country, Lonestar Cell/MTN has collected at least one million active subscribers, said CEO Mazen Mroue .
According to a report by AllAfrica, Mroue disclosed that the company has budgeted US$30 for 2011/2012 as capital expenditure on network infrastructure to continue the expansion and implement advanced innovative and more exciting products and services for its ever-growing subscriber’ list.
Lonestar Cell is a member of the MTN Group–the largest Telecommunications Company in Africa with over 164 million subscribers in over 22 countries.
After 10 years, the presence of the giant GSM Company is now being felt across the 15 political subdivisions of the country, according to Mroue, as the company has recommitted itself to the rebuilding process of Liberia in line with the government’s development blueprint.
He said that they now have over one million subscribers active and enjoying Lonestar Cell MTN network in Liberia.The Lonestar Chief said the company in its expansion drive now covers over 162 locations across the country, and has during the last 12 months extended its network coverage to new geographical areas where there had previously been network difficulties.
He said the company now has the latest state-of-the-art technology that supports Liberia’s journey to sustainable development providing the platform for efficient telecommunications services.
Mroue then welcomed the landing of the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine Fiber optic cable in the country, a public-private initiative by the government supported by Lonestar Cell and other licensed operator in the country.
He disclosed that while the company is extensively working with the government to commission the fiber optic cable in the country by the end of this year, Lonestar Cell has just successfully completed the cross border connectivity linking Liberia to another submarine optic fiber cable through Cote d’Ivoire as an advanced and strategic step to ensure high level of technology redundancy and also as an interim solution to upgrade the company’s current mobile broadband service.
MTN and UT bank offer ‘Mi-Life mobile insurance (Ghana)
Telecom operator MTN is offering users Mi-Life insurance services in collaborations with UT bank. According to reports, James Bukari, Commercial Manager of Sales, explained at the launch that MTN had realised several products like vehicle traffic devices, Mobile money and others to help their customers not to carry monies in their bags, and students not to walk far away for their school fees.
He said the insurance would help customers to prepare for the unexpected, as it allows every person to insure a loved one, which he said, would work through MTN mobile, where the person receives a confirmation by SMS message.
Bukari indicated that when two persons contribute $0.52 every month for over three, and the unfortunate thing happens, or one dies, $210 will be paid for the other partner as insurance, according to a report by MobileMoneyAfrica.
Furtehr, when they contribute $1 a month for over three months, $420 will be paid to the other person. He further noted that Mi-Life insurance provides money in the event of death of the subscriber or the next of kin.
As per the report, the premium payment for insurance will be deducted from the user’s MTN Mobile Money wallet once per month, while one receives an SMS of the deduction of the monthly premium as the insurance cover is renewed. According to him, once the premium is deducted, the insurance cover lasts for one month until the next monthly premium is deducted.
MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Airtel fined $10.8 million for poor network services (Nigeria)
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has fined telecom operators MTN, Etisalat, Airtel and Globacom, a total amount of $10.8 million, over poor quality of telecom services, according to a report by This Day.
As per the report, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had informed the Chief Executive Officers of the telecom operators via letters. The penalties imposed on the operators’ amount to $2.29 million for MTN and Etisalat, $1.71 million for Airtel and $1.14 million for Globacom.
The letter sent by the Commission said that all the operators are to pay the penalties on or before May 21, 2012 or be liable to payment of additional $15,900 per day for as long as the contravention persists. The penalties were imposed as the operators failed to meet with the minimum standard of quality of service including the key performance indicators (KPIs).
According to NCC, it monitored the performance of the operators on the different parameters, in line with the provisions of the regulation, and discovered that operators were in contravention of the provisions.
The report reveals that monitoring of the quality of service from the different operators in the month of March 2012, NCC statistics in some crucial parameters showed that Call Set-up Success Rate (CSSR) for all operators was 97.07 percent and the Commission’s target was greater than or equal to 98 percent.
Also during the period, Call Completion Rate (CCR) for all operators was 95.78 percent and the commission’s target was greater than or equal 96 percent. Drop Call Rate (DCR) for all operators was 1.33 percent and the commission’s target was less than or equal to 2 percent. The statistics showed that the four operators did not measure up to NCC’s target in certain parameters.
MTN defends its operations in Iran (Iran)
Leading telecom operator in South Africa, the MTN Group, has defended its operations in Iran after a series of allegations made by rival operator Turkcell in $ 4.2 billion lawsuit.
As reported earlier, Turkcell had alleged that MTN secured licences in Iran via bribery and corrupt practices. However, Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN’s chief executive, has defended the Group claiming that Turkcell’s own failures to meet Iranian legal and commercial requirements resulted in it not winning a licence.
As per a statement made by the company, Dabengwa said that any suggestion that Turkcell’s failure to obtain the licence was as a result of any alleged corrupt or improper practices by MTN is unfounded. He added that the allegation that MTN influenced South African foreign policy with regard to its armaments and nuclear position is simply ludicrous and has already been dismissed by the South African government.
Over 21 percent subscribers of the South African Group’s entire subscriber base if from Iran.
MTN launches 3G services in Ivory Coast (Africa)
MTN plans to offer its customers 3G services as soon as possible following the receipt of 3G licences in Benin and Ivory Coast. According to reports, Christian de Faria, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, said that this is exciting news for their customers, as they will now enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity. They are grateful to the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Benin for enabling MTN to further enhance the experience of mobile telephony for their customers.
Wim Vanhelleputte, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), announced that West African Cable System (WACS), a submarine cable stretching 14,000 kilometers between Portugal and South Africa, will upgrade connectivity for Ivoirians to international standards.
Vanhelleputte said that this is a dream come true for many Ivoirians whose internet access has been held back for a very long time. The cable will allow more Ivoirians to enjoy fast access to the internet. They have already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who will be the first to experience and enjoy the 3G service.
Regarding the licence offered in Benin, Eric Tronel, Chief Executive Officer for MTN Benin, said that MTN is the first and only operator in Benin with a license which allows the use of new generation technologies, such as 3G, 4G, LTE and Wimax. This presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting for the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that customers are not disappointed.
MTN denies bribery allegations by Turkcell (Iran, Africa)
The bribery claims alleged by Turkcell on the MTN Group, saying that the South African group bribed officials in Iran for telecom licences have been denied by MTN. According to reports, Phuthuma Nhleko, former chief executive officer of MTN Group Ltd., has said that he can state quite categorically that during his tenure as group CEO of MTN, no bribes were authorized or paid by the MTN Group to any South African or Iranian government officials to secure the mobile license in Iran. He added that the allegations made by Turkcell are far-fetched and without foundation.
Nhleko also said that MTN’s conduct was not unlawful or corrupt and MTN was certainly not in a position where it could influence or fetter the decisions made by the South African government or any other sovereign state.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS alleged in a lawsuit that the MTN Group Ltd. had bribed officials, arranged meetings between Iranian and South African leaders, and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for a license to provide mobile-phone service in the Islamic Republic. Turkcell is seeking $4.2 billion in damages through this claim.
Turkcell files legal case claiming MTN bribed officials for licence (Asia, Africa)
Leading mobile operator in Africa, MTN Group Ltd., has allegedly bribed officials, arranged meetings between Iranian and South African leaders, and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for a license to provide mobile-phone service in the Islamic Republic, said Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS in a lawsuit.
According to a report by BN, rival operator Turkcell filed a legal claim against MTN seeking $4.2 billion in damages. The company filed a complaint stating that upset by the loss of the open competition, MTN sought to obtain illegally what it could not obtain through honest competition and thereafter embarked on a premeditated program of corruption through bribery and trading in influence.
The report also reveals that MTN had issued a statement previously; accusing Turkcell of attempted extortion and saying Turkcell threatened a lawsuit alleging improper payments to an Iranian and a South African official. MTN said at the time that any such suit would lack merit.
Further, MTN also said that U.S. courts would not have jurisdiction over any such a case, because the accusations involve conduct alleged to have taken place in South Africa and Iran, and have no connection to the United States.
Cell C may offer Apple iPhone (South Africa)
Mobile operator Cell C may have reached an agreement with US giant Apple to sell the iPhone in South Africa. According to reports, CEO Alan Knott-Craig said that they are planning to sell the iPhone in the coming months.
This will be a first for the operator as they have not signed a contract with Apple earlier. With Apple leading the global smartphone arena, selling the iPhone may give the operator a boost in subscribers as well as give it better grounds for competition. Rival operators Vodacom and MTN have been selling the iPhone which has been high in demand.
MTN obtains 3G licences in Ivory Coast and Benin (Africa)
South Africa’s leading mobile operator MTN has obtained 3G licences in both Ivory Coast ad Benin, and is looking to launch 3G services in these regions soon. As per a report by CommsMEA, Bruno Koné, Icory Coast’s minister of post and ICT, told MTN that it was awarding the 3G licence to the telco at MTN’s offices in Abidjan.
Further, Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO, MTN Cote d’Ivoire, said that the operator had already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who would be the first to experience 3G services.
As per the report, in Benin, the government granted MTN a universal licence which allows the company to provide mobile telecommunication services using any technology within the defined agreed frequency range without additional fees. This includes 3G, 4G, LTE, Wimax, Wi-Fi outdoor as well as the use of VoIP.
Eric Tronel, CEO, MTN Benin, said that MTN is the only operator in Benin with a licence to use wireless technologies such as 3G, LTE and WiMAX. He added that this presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors.
