MTN

Zimbabwean telco NetOne aims 1.5m subscribers by mid 2010

On 03.17.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Expansion of network capacity has been carried out by Zimbabwean state-owned mobile operator NetOne to five million subscribers. The company also hopes to more than triple its active customer base to over 1.5 million by end-May 2010.

A subscriber capacity of around 1.2 million and half a million subscribers was there with NetOne before the expansion work commenced. According to managing director Reward Kangai, most of the base stations being installed in this expansion drive are solar energy-powered and this reduces service disruptions arising from erratic power supplies besides switching capacity has also been greatly increased to accommodate five million subscribers.

The aim of the up gradation of pre-paid platform was also to accommodate three million subscribers from a previous limit of one million.

South African giant MTN Group and NetOne, the country’s smallest cellco by users are in negotiation with each other over a possible strategic partnership. The result can be the acquiring of minority stake in the Zimbabwean operator by MTN besides the injection of up to USD600 million in fresh capitals.

3 Afghan operators fined by Afghan regulator

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The quality of communications services offered by several mobile companies was found to be below reasonable level in the third and fourth quarter by the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (Atra).

Services of three mobile operators of Afghanistan namely Afghan Wireless Communications, MTN and Etisalat, were found to below the standards required by their license and hence being fined for the low quality output.

A fine of AFN 1.5 million on Etisalat has been imposed by the Atra while Afghan Wireless Communications was fined AFN 3.5 million and AFN 5 million has been asked by MTN.

Tagged with: Afghan Wireless • Afghan Wireless Communications • Afghanistan • Etisalat • Middle East • MTN • operator

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 Lindén, 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).

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

African telco MTN’s CEO to depart by March 11

On 03.04.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: CEO Phuthuma Nhleko of MTN Group will not review his long-term contract of employment, which ends on June 30. He will continue in his current role up to March 2011.

Certain key objectives will be focused by Nhleko in the remaining part of his service including facilitation of a seamless transition once his successor has been appointed.

According to Nhleko, it was the right time to secure the next generation of leadership for the group and for him to start thinking about the next phase of his career.

Tagged with: Africa • CEO • Contract • MTN • Phuthuma Nhleko

MTN, Bharti & Zain emerge as highest revenue generators

On 03.03.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Over the last three years, an average growth of 45% in the revenue has been recorded by 16 leading service providers. The wireless service providers in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, India and China achieved the highest growth.

MTN, Bharti and Zain have doubled their revenues in the last three years, thus leading the growth charge. Even larger companies like America Movil, China Mobile and Vodafone have recorded growth in the 45%-70% range.

Collectively generating over 55% of their revenues from beyond their home markets, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom have all taken great strides in the past to build businesses beyond their home countries.

Tagged with: Africa • ASIA • China Mobile • Deutsche Telekom • France Telecom • India • Latin America • Middle East • MTN • Telefonica • Vodafone • Zain

Uganda Telecom sued by MTN for contract breach

On 02.26.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A case has been filed against Uganda Telecommunications Ltd (UTL) by MTN Uganda in the Kampala High Court’s Commercial Division for unpaid interconnection fees, seeking UGS7.2 billion (USD3.55 million).

UTL has been accused of breach of contract by MTN which claimed that February 2001 its management entered into an agreement with UTL to interconnect their respective networks, as required by their respective telecoms licences awarded by the Uganda Communications Commission.

According to MTN, in accordance with the interconnection charges that were detailed in the agreement its management issued invoices to UTL, but that the state-owned telco failed to pay them. MTN has asked for a court order compelling UTL to pay the owes plus interest, damages and costs.

Tagged with: Africa • MTN • MTN Uganda • Uganda Telecom • UTL

MTN refuses to comment on Dubai rumors

On 02.22.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: No comment has been made by ¬South Africa’s MTN on the rumors regarding the moving of its headquarters from the country to the Middle East. The refusal came after it was reported that the company plans to move its group operations out of the country and eventually delist its shares from the Johannesburg Securities Exchange.

According to MTN executive director Nozipho January-Bardill in late January, the planned relocation of the technical services support team to Dubai is part of the group’s ongoing response to the challenges of the changing global telecommunications industry and it is also intended to address the logistical challenge of supporting the group’s networks in the Middle East in particular, and certain parts of Africa.

Using Dubai as a regional hub offers significant benefits to the company for tax and transport options even though MTN doesn’t have any operations in the UAE.

Tagged with: Dubai • Global Telecom • Middle East • MTN • South Africa • UAE • USA

Is MTN leaving SA?

On 02.20.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: No confirmation or denial has been given by mobile operator MTN regarding its plans to abandon SA in favor of Dubai, a location closer to its higher revenue earners.

It has been speculated that company plans to move its group operations out of the country and eventually delist from the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. It may leave the local business as a subsidiary of the company, or even up for sale.

MTN is already registered in the Middle Eastern country which is said to be the head office for its Middle East and North African operations.

Several MTN groups operation unit has been quietly moving its operations without making any local splash about the plans.

Tagged with: Africa • Dubai • Middle East • MTN • MTN Group • North Africa

MTN, FIFA launch ‘1Goal: Education for All’

On 02.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: ‘1Goal: Education for All’, a mobile campaign has been started by South African operator MTN in partnership with FIFA, ahead of 2010 Fifa world Cup to enable millions of mobile users to participate in advancing global education. Under this campaign, MTN and its partners will collect names and support from the public, footballers, and celebrities to petition all governments to meet their Education for All targets by 2015.

The aim behind this campaign has been classified as providing good quality public education to all children and adults by 2015 and prioritizing those who are currently missing out on an education, getting them into school, and making sure that once they’re in school, they get the chance to learn with qualified teachers.

An international communications campaign will also be run by the operator to harness public support for 1Goal, coordinated by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association. The association will enable millions of people to sign up via a host of mobile response mechanisms

Tagged with: FIFA • fifa world cup • Global System for Mobile Communication • mobile campaign • MTN • operator • South Africa

2010 FIFA World Cup: MTN launches SIYAYA competition

On 02.17.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Some really exciting competitions have been lined up by African telco and the global sponsor of the FIFA world Cup, MTN, as the world’s biggest tournament draws near. MTN Swaziland is intensifying its 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign by launching a new campaign aptly named SIYAYA.

SIYAYA campaign is a loud call to action, telling people that they are all going to this World Cup because it is going to be an awesome once in a lifetime experience. The promotion started on Monday February 8, 2010 and will end on the March 27, 2010. The first draw took place on the February 12 and the last draw will be on the 27th March.

The MTN customers can enter the competition by sending an SMS ‘SIYAYA’ to 2010, each pricing E2.00. Customers can also enter the competition by calling 2010 at a rate of E2. 00.

Tagged with: Africa • fifa world cup • Launch • MTN • Swaziland