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| A f r i c a Network |
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| MTN
Launches Mobile Money Transfer In Uganda |
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| The MTN Group
has announced that the successful launch of Mobile Money Transfer
(MMT) in Uganda marks the beginning of a series of planned launches
across its operations in Africa and Middle East.
The product, called MTN MobileMoney, is a convenient, secure and
affordable way for MTN subscribers to send money, buy airtime and
pay bills using their cellphone.
Whether users have an existing bank account or not, they can register
for MTN MobileMoney as long as they are MTN subscribers. Those who
do not have MTN SIM cards or even a phone can still receive money
from MTN MobileMoney users and send money through a network of agents
in their country.
MTN has been piloting MMT services through MTN Uganda and at the
Group's West and Central Africa (WECA) region operations (Cameroon,
Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria) since October 2008.
Five additional pilots were recently launched in Benin, Congo Brazzaville,
Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Liberia. The pilots are aimed
at waterproofing the systems and operational processes in preparation
for the commercial launch.
In each market, MTN has partnered with local banks to ensure that
its MMT services are fully compliant with financial services regulations.
Discussions are currently on-going with relevant authorities in
various countries to ensure that all regulatory requirements are
met.
MTN Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill:
“The piloting of MTN's MMT services reaffirms MTN's leadership
in telecommunications and the company's commitment to providing
products and services that meet customers' needs and expectations.
“We believe our MMT offering will make money transfer and
basic payments more convenient and more affordable to our subscribers.
We acknowledge our partner banks and the banking regulators in our
different markets for the enthusiasm and support they are giving
us.”
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Ghana's
Glo Mobile Partners ZTE |
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Globacom's
mobile subsidiary in Ghana, Glo Mobile is partnering with Chinese
vendor ZTE to deploy additional access network infrastructure including
800 indoor and outdoor Basic Trans-receiver Stations (BTS) for its
imminent roll out.
A report by Modern Ghana said the Ghana access network, ZTE, is
deploying for Glo is separate from the deployments Alcatel-Lucent
and Huawei already handling for Glo. In addition to the 800 BTS,
the ZTE deployment also includes three Base Switching Centres (BSCs),
45 NodeB, two RNC, 162 PDH MW links, EDGE and HSPA, OMCs, planning
and optimization tools.
ZTE will also install for Glo, the Accra metro fibre backbone configuration;
spanning Accra-Kumasi-Takoradi, Accra-Ho, Kumasi-Sunyani, and Kumasi-Tamale.
Other cities and roads to be covered by Globacom, in its strategic
partnership with ZTE, are in the Brong-Ahafo region.
Globacom's Executive Director (Special Projects), Mike Jituboh,
was quoted as saying that the microwave transmission extension Glo
was deploying would ensure voice and data clarity and eliminate
bottlenecks usually encountered with pre-expansion technology.
The new network elements, with multi-media components will be linked
to the Glo 1 submarine, Optic Fibre Cable, thereby providing a golden
opportunity for Ghanaians to establish private call centre operations
with attendant economic benefits to the people.
The Glo 1 submarine cable will have landing stations in London,
New York, Lisbon and major cities in 16 other African countries
including Accra, Dakar and Lagos.
The Glo 1 submarine cable is expected to land in Ghana shortly.
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| Zain
Customers Raise $85,000 For Mandela Foundation |
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African Icon,
Dr. Nelson Mandela may have stepped out of public life but his huge
statesman stature remains largely undiminished in the hearts of
many Africans. |
Customers of Africa and the Middle East leading telecom company,
Zain, showed just how hugely the icon of freedom is to their hearts
when he celebrated his birthday last year by sending mammoth amount
of SMS to wish him well.
According to Zain, its customers raised more than $85,000 for the
living legend's Foundation, 46664 through SMS (Short Message Service)
sent in response to the company's call for mobile phone users to
send birthday greetings to Nelson Mandela as he celebrated his 90th
birthday.
Responses came from mobile phone users in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania,
Zambia and many other African countries.
The Chief Executive Officer for Zain Africa, Chris Gabriel handed
over the funds raised through the SMS campaign to the Foundation
recently.
Speaking during the cheque presentation ceremony, Gabriel said:
“This money, raised solely by our loyal customers, is proof
that Dr. Mandela holds a special place in the hearts of many across
Africa.”
Thousands of customers responded with the largest number coming
from Tanzania, which for several years hosted the African National
Congress when they were in exile.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is committed to consolidating and
propagating Dr. Nelson Mandela's legacy. The Foundation through
the Centre of Memory and Dialogue as its core work, contributes
to the creation of a just society by promoting the vision, values
and work of its Founder and convening dialogue around critical social
issues, while continuing to provide support to its Founder.
In addition to the fundraising effort, Zain was also one of the
main sponsors of the Mandela Music Concert featuring many global
recognisable faces in music, Sports, movie industry, Politics, etc,
at Hyde Park, London, to celebrate Mandiba's birthday.
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| Orascom
Reports 76% Slide In Net Profit |
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Egyptian telecoms
group Orascom Telecom has revealed a 76% slump in net profit for
the twelve-month period to 31 December 2008 to EGP2.46 billion (USD431
million). The company attributed the fall to exceptional one-off
gains made in the 2007 fiscal year.
In 2007 Orascom generated USD761 million from the sale of its Indian
operations, as well as USD920 million after divesting its interest
in Iraqi cellco Iraqna. Revenue for the group however rose 13% year-on-year
to EGP29.2 billion, whilst earnings before interest, tax, depreciation
and amortisation (EBITDA) were up 15% against the same period last
year at EGP13.1 billion.
Whilst the majority of Orascom's subsidiaries reported revenue,
EBITDA and subscriber growths, Mobilink, the group's Pakistan-based
cellco, underperformed, reporting a 4.4% and 11.4% decline in revenue
and EBITDA respectively as it lost more than two million subscribers
over the year.
Overall subscriber figures for the group rose 11% year-on-year to
reach approximately 78 million, led by its Egyptian cellco Mobinil,
which added almost five million customers in the year, a 33% increase
against end-December 2007.
Banglalink, the company's Bangladeshi arm reported a 46% increase
in customer numbers, adding more than three million to surpass the
ten million total.
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