MTN eyes consolidations

Abidjan, March 19, GNA - Mr Christian de Faria, Vice President of MTN West and Central Africa (WECA) Region, on Thursday said the company was considering consolidations with other telecom operators in their 21 operations, but stopped short of mentioning who the potential partners would be.

"I can assure you that MTN will be participating in consolidations to increase our footprints in the industry but with whom and when I can't tell you right now," he said. Mr Faria made the statement in answer to a question as to what MTN was doing to posit itself as market leader in emerging markets in light of analysts' projections that the industry would be characterised by mergers in the near future.

He was speaking at the MTN Day event in Abidjan, which is the first of its kind bringing all MTN operators within the West and Central Africa (WECA) zone to share experiences and strengthen links for progress.

The event, under the theme; "Winning as one", is also intended to showcase MTN's achievements in the area of telecom innovations and contributions in the area of social responsibility. It is also to introduce new products to be rolled out soon across the zone. It has provided the platform for the media within the zone and Pan-Africa region to interact with the MTN WECA management and also provided the public an opportunity to better appreciate the contribution of MTN through an exhibition. Mr Faria said MTN was fully aware of the direction in which the industry was moving and "when the time comes we will still be on top of our game".

Representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Cote d'Ivoire made separate presentations on innovative products and services such as mobile money, MTN zone, MTN one world, Mobile TV and MTN foundations projects, particularly the sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Mr George Andah, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) from Ghana, told the delegates that MTN zone, which was designed by Team Ghana, had made tremendous contribution to easing call traffic, adding that it offered huge discounts to subscribers during low traffic periods and relatively lower discounts during peak hours. He said based on the success of MTN zone, MTN would be giving even higher discounts to subscribers connected to the service in the future and it would also be extended to roaming subscribers. Plans were also afoot to introduce a product called MTN One World which would enable MTN subscribers to roam "simlessly" within all of the MTN operations and make calls with the original simcards and pay local call rates.

"The service cuts out roaming charges and the hustle of having to buy local simcards compatible with the country a subscriber finds himself or herself," Zanele Mgidi of MTN Group said. She said the package would also include a GPRS roaming service at local rates.

Mobile money service designed to enable subscribers with or without bank accounts to receive and make payments as well as purchase MTN credit through their phones would also be introduced in the near future. In the area of social responsibility, the group has through its MTN Foundation made contributions in the areas of education, health, environment, economic empowerment, arts and culture and community development.

On the FIFA World Cup 2010, Group Chief Marketing Officer Xolisa Vapi, said MTN was so ready "we can't wait" and urged Africans on the continent to buy tickets as early as possible to avoid the rush.