Nokia N97

The highly anticipated Nokia N97, Nokia’s flagship mobile computer, will begin selling in June in more than 75 countries. Along with a tilting 3.5″ touch display, QWERTY keyboard and a fully customizable home screen, the Nokia N97 will offer instant access to the full range of Ovi services.

“The Nokia N97 is an important step towards our vision of delivering a highly personalized Internet experience,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President and head of Nokia Nseries. “Fuelled by a multitude of music, maps, games, media and applications via Ovi, the Nokia N97 transforms the Internet into an experience that’s completely tailored to the tastes and interests of its owner.”

The Nokia N97 is Nokia’s first device to feature a personalizable home screen, which can be customized with a range of widgets which bring live information directly to the device. These widgets include key social networking destinations like Facebook and Hi5, news services like the Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as shopping and weather information. The Nokia N97 is the first device to ship with the Ovi Store, which offers easy access to applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services, and much more. Ovi Store has paid and free content from a range of global and local content providers and developers, including Paramount Pictures, Facebook and Qik, as well as a selection of Twitter applications.

Enjoy your upgrades
The beauty of this Nokia device is that taking it out of the box is just the beginning. As with any computer, people can constantly improve and refresh their Nokia N97 with new features, functions and fixes so they can do even more with the device. An exciting roadmap of new features and functions is planned to roll out in the second half of 2009.

Entertainment ensured
The Nokia N97 also has direct access to the huge catalogue of music in the Nokia Music Store. With multiple high-speed connectivity options and 32GB of storage (up to 48GB using a microSD card) it is possible to directly download and store tens of thousands of songs on the handset. And you can listen to your favourite music on the Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905, which Nokia also launched today. This headset brings crystal clear sound, eliminates background noise, and is the ideal accessory for listening to music and making calls on the Nokia N97, as well as being compatible with a diverse range of other mobile and music devices.

High-quality images and video clips at 30 frames per second (fps) can be captured using the 5 megapixel camera with integrated Carl Zeiss optics. Images can also be geo-tagged to specific locations and shared instantly with friends or uploaded online via Ovi Share, Twitter or Flickr.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways - fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Opera Mini

Opera Software ASA has again released its latest State of the Mobile Web report. The report provides information on the top global trends affecting the mobile Web. In addition to the top global trends and country snapshots, the report highlights trends in Africa and aggregate operator data for the top 10 countries.

On a global scale, Opera Mini usage in Nigeria continues to surge, pushing past Poland and taking the #9 spot.

The top 12 countries using Opera Mini in Africa are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Zambia, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Namibia, Ghana and Gabon.

From April 2008 to April 2009:

• Overall page-views in the top 12 countries listed increased 422%.
• Overall unique users in the top 12 countries listed increased 169%.
• Overall data transferred in the top 12 countries listed increased 348%.

Important milestones

• Since the last spotlight on Africa in September 2008, Nigeria jumped from #4 to #2 and Zambia jumped from #9 to #6. Mozambique, Namibia, Ghana and Gabon are new to the spotlight.
• Growth rates continue to soar in Africa–especially in Libya, with 4,155% user growth since April 2008, and in Nigeria, with 2,353% user growth since April 2008.
• Kenya leads the top 12 countries in page views, with each user browsing 372 pages on average each month.

Operator data trends

• Customers of U.S. operators view more data-intensive pages than subscribers in any other country. The average page viewed over U.S. operator networks is approximately 32 KB compressed or almost 320 KB uncompressed.
• Operators in the Ukraine were the big winners. Their customers view 582 pages per month, on average. Ukraine operators also sport the highest data transfer per user at more than 10 MB per month compressed. This is as much as 100 MB of mobile data per user uncompressed.

“Opera Mini has helped create and define the mobile Web experience for consumers around the world,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. “Our relentless focus on delivering the best possible mobile Web experience helps drive adoption of mobile data plans. We believe that Opera Mini is the perfect win-win solution for both operators and consumers alike.”

About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera’s cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA.

Nokia

Ovi Store by Nokia is now available globally to an estimated 50 million Nokia device owners across more than 50 Nokia devices including the forthcoming flagship device, the Nokia N97. Customers can visit store.ovi.com through their Nokia device browser to immediately begin downloading, personalizing and making their devices smarter and more fun with applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services and much more.
 
“Ovi Store is open for business and we’ve stocked the shelves with both local and global content for a broad range of Nokia devices,” said Tero Ojanperä, Executive Vice President, Nokia Services. “Ovi Store makes shopping for content and applications easy and fun for feature phone and smartphone owners alike.”
 
In available countries, customers can update their devices with the Ovi Store mobile application by selecting the Ovi Store icon in the Download! folder on their device. The mobile client is available in English, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish and supports operator billing in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Globally, credit card billing is available through the mobile application and the mobile website. Additional countries, languages, devices and features will be added throughout the year.

Ovi Store is an evolving media service that consolidates Nokia’s existing content services into a one-stop-shop for free and paid content. Thousands of the content industry’s biggest names along with independent application developers are distributing their media, applications and games through Ovi Store. Content providers and application developers can continue to sign up to distribute their content through Ovi Store by visiting publish.ovi.com.
 
About Nokia
Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

MTN Ghana

MTN Ghana, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in Ghana has announced the commercial rollout of its ultra powerful 3.5G technology at an impressive ceremony in Accra. The launch event themed Go Beyond, Experience our better life today took place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra and brought together members of the media, staff and Regulators. There were live demonstrations about the technology and the various services available to MTN customers. The occasion also marked the launch of an Internal Innovations Hub Project.

With the largest market share, widest coverage and competitive pricing, MTN’s ultra powerful 3.5G technology complements its existing 2G network to provide MTN subscribers with the widest coverage and consolidate its position as the leading telecommunication provider for Ghana whilst positively impacting every aspect of the lives of its customers. MTN will at this phase of the launch offer subscribers the flexibility to access a variety of services to customers in Accra and Kumasi as the rollout continues nationally. In addition to voice services, initial applications will include high-speed internet access at speeds significantly faster than dial-up, or GPRS connections, as well as video messaging and other multimedia services.

The MTN 3.5G launch marks an evolution in mobile technology for Ghana. Building on the existing superior coverage footprint, MTN 3.5G will initially achieve data speed transmission of up to 3.6megabits per second and will be expanded beyond 7.2 megabits per second. This major step forward by MTN will essentially put Ghana at the forefront of technology, in the league of top mobile operators globally.

Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana Brett Goshen said, “We are very pleased with the significant progress we have made in building an extensive 3.5G network and making it available to a large number of our valued customers.

Mr. Goshen added, “we are launching our 3.5G network with more than 7 times the number of 3.5G base stations than the next competitor. In addition, we are launching with the widest and best connection in Accra, Tema and Kumasi and will be expanding aggressively to all major cities in the months to come.”

With the commercial launch of the 3.5G services, MTN continues to show its commitment as the leading mobile operator in the Ghanaian market offering a wide range of services and technologies to suit different types of customers and situations including MTN Zone, Blackberry Services, Web Recharge, Community Phones and Seamless Roaming Services, calling USA, Canada and the UK at local rates to mention but a few of our myriad of innovative and compelling services.

Chief Marketing Officer George Kojo Andah added, “at MTN we are not just a company, we are a community that lives your passions and champions your aspirations. We will continue anticipating the current and emerging needs of all our targeted stakeholders and work with our people and the best technology to provide the highest service quality and speed. Our teams have already finished extensive testing of the 3.5G network, and we are extremely pleased with the results. We can also assure our customers that our tariffs will continue to be extremely competitive and our targeted customers will be able to enjoy our services with the best connection everywhere they go.”

Today’s launch follows the formal announcement of MTN’s 3.5G services earlier this year to introduce the technology and provide 3.5G services on a pilot basis.

The introduction of this latest service fulfills MTN’s pledge to bring world class telecommunications service to its subscribers and the general public. MTN will continue rolling out more innovative services into the market as promised.

About 3.5G

MTN 3.5G allows greater speed and efficiency in transmission of existing services including voice, text and data (that are available today) and more. For the corporate customers, having data download speeds equivalent to an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line at home means convenient business connectivity, efficiency, mobility & profitability.

For the young consumers, 3.5G brings endless possibilities to support a whole new suite of exciting multimedia services such as video streaming, games, music videos, sports, news and more.

Lastly, apart from voice calls, our customers can also make video calls with 3G enabled handsets, bringing them closer to their loved ones - a richer communication experience, the ‘?can see and speak’ at the same time!

The service is based on HSDPA, short for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access, which is a new protocol for mobile telephone data transmission. Commonly known as 3.5G (G stands for generation) technology, HSDPA is based on a packet switched suite of protocols (which offers several advantages over the existing circuit-switched techniques used for carrying mobile voice) and utilizes a number of techniques in parallel to increase the efficiency and reduce the latency. This allows higher call volumes and support for new and exciting multimedia data applications such as broadband access to the internet, emailing, mobile TV, video telephony and video conferencing from a mobile phone, PDA, or laptop.

Vodafone logo

After buying a 70 per cent shareholding in the Ghana Telecommunication Company in August 2008, partnering with the Government of Ghana, Vodafone has made significant investments to improve the performance and to expand the capacity of its networks.

Vodafone has also signed a multi-million dollar deal with Huawei Technologies to bring its 3G network services to the Ghanaian market, giving customers access to high speed mobile internet services in the future.

David Venn, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, commented: “Today’s announcement is the next step in a telecommunications renaissance across Ghana. Vodafone will offer the most reliable and cost effective services in the Ghanaian market and we will set the benchmark for customer satisfaction. Our customers should expect an excellent network as the basis for these services and we are committed to delivering it.”

He added: “I would like to thank all Ghanaians for the welcome we have received and the tremendous interest they have shown in Vodafone since we arrived here in this market. We have also invested in the social fabric of Ghana, deploying community booths, supporting National Farmers day and helping the educational funds of a number of the traditional areas. I look forward to announcing similar initiatives in due course.”

The official launch of Vodafone follows the successful joining together of the Ghana Telecommunications Company with Vodafone Group, which serves over 290 million customers in 27 countries around the world.

About Vodafone Ghana
Vodafone Ghana, originally the Post and Telecommunications Department of the Civil Service, went through several transformations before being renamed Ghana Telecom in 1996. It was divested first to a consortium called G-Comm Limited led by Telekom Malaysia and was later managed by a Norwegian management services company known as Telenor Management Partners (TMP).

It employs close to 3,400 Ghanaians and is a major source of employment in the communications industry. As the industry leader, providing fixed, mobile and broadband services, the company serves as the backbone for economic growth and development in the ICT sector.

About Vodafone Group Plc
Vodafone is the world’s leading international mobile telecommunications company, with equity interests in 27 countries and Partner Markets in more than 40 countries. As of 31 December 2008, Vodafone had approximately 289 million proportionate customers worldwide.

Vodafone

Reports reaching Mobile Africa indicate that Ghana Telecom has been slated for re-branding after the Easter holidays. This follows a 70% acquisition of the erstwhile state-owned telecom company by Vodafone. The Government of Ghana retains a 30% stake in the company.

Although Vodafone took over the operations of Ghana Telecom since last year, it had retained the Ghana Telecom brand until now. The rebranding is expected to herald a stiff competiton with other leading telecommunications companies in the West African nation.

Ghana Telecom has about 1,400,000 customers which translate into a 17% market share.

Vodafone is a mobile network operator with its headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire, England, UK. It is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world by turnover and has a market value of about £75 billion (August 2008). Vodafone currently has operations in 25 countries and partner networks in a further 42 countries.

Advertfarm provides advertisers with permission-based targeted marketing.

Advertfarm, a mobile content network, has emerged today from private beta. This start-up is privately funded and based in Lagos, Nigeria. Advertfarm, as a stand-alone company, focuses on delivering mobile contents to users across Africa through Short Message Services (SMS). Our services include but not limited to SMS marketing, SMS Recruitment, Events Broadcasting, Sponsored Mobile Services and Mobile Alerts.

Advertfarm provides advertisers with permission-based targeted marketing. These advertisements are delivered to subscribers based on specific interests and demographics. Advertfarm only sends its network members localized subscribed mobile content that matches their interest, and gives them total control of when they want to receive it, and how frequently they want to receive it through settings available on the Advertfarm platform.

With over 200 million mobile subscribers in Africa, Advertfarm allows advertisers to target a specific base of consumers in a meaningful way while allowing them to see a much higher rate of return on their investment. The system is developed to fully ensure that advertisers do not waste money on a demographic target that is irrelevant to their goals.

The Advertfarm network has a strict privacy policy on all data collected from its members. The Advertfarm mobile content delivery solution is the first of its kind in Africa as they not only deliver permission-based content to their subscribers but also pay their subscribers for subscribing.

Meanwhile, Advertfarm rewards its subscribed members through a revenue sharing model. The income earned by members of the network is automatically sent to the ATM cards attached to their account.

Advertfarm is currently running its pilot mode only in Nigeria and will launch it 2-WAY SMS interactive system by July 2009. This system would include features such as “SMS Service Un-subscription” where subscribers to a particular service could un-subscribe for certain services without having to visit the web portal. We will be launching services in other African countries in the next quarter.

glo

Globacom Limited, operators of Glo Mobile, has acussed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of was slowing the company down with delays in the issuance of permits to erect masts to start operations.

Mr Idowu Olumodeji, Head of Technical-Rollout at Glo, told the GNA that the company had had to push back deadlines several times because the EPA had not issued permits for masts.

He noted that to date Glo had submitted over 500 applications for permits to mount masts and other infrastructure in most of the regional capitals, but EPA was yet to issue a single permit.

“Originally the EPA had issues with proof of neighbourhood consent from the communities we have earmarked for our cell sites but we have provided those proofs for about 300 of the applications and yet they have refused to issue the permits,” he said.

Mr Olumodeji, who sounded frustrated, said Glo had asked EPA not to wait for all the applications to be complete but to issue permits for those which were complete but the EPA had not been co-operative on that either.

He noted that the situation was particularly hard for Glo because unlike the other network operators, which inherited existing infrastructure, Glo was starting from scratch and had no infrastructure to start with without the EPA permits.

“We were issued with a licence in May last year and the government and people of Ghana have since been waiting for us to rollout our services but the EPA is really slowing us down,” he said.

“We have done all the necessary promotions and sponsorships to whip up public interest in Glo but we feel very frustrated by the EPA’s attitude towards us.”

He noted that apart from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which had issued all the necessary permits to Glo, all the other permit agencies such as the Ghana National Fire Service (GFS) and the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies were waiting on the EPA permit as a pre-requisite for them to also issue their respective permits.

Mr Olumodeji said Glo had millions of dollars worth of equipment gathering dust and rusting at its warehouse off the Spintex road due to delays by the EPA.

“I have one of my staff members permanently present at the EPA head office in Accra collaborating with them to expedite action on our permits but that has not yielded fruits yet,” he said.

He noted that Glo had shown commitment to following through with laid down procedure for acquiring the necessary permits for operations but its commitment had not been duly reciprocated.
“We know the EPA had issues with some of the networks regarding the erection of masts and we do not want to be in that situation so we have shown commitment to the process all through.”

He said powerful agencies like the EPA could sometimes frustrate investors and that could negate Ghana?s effort to attract investors into her economy.

“Glo has delivered in Nigeria and in the Republic of Benin but Ghana is slowing us down.”

Glo was the sixth mobile telecom operator in the country after TIGO, MTN, Kasapa, Onetouch and Zain.

Source: GNA

GSA

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has welcomed the decision by the European Parliament to accept the amendment of the GSM Directive to allow UMTS (WCDMA-HSPA) technology to be deployed in the 900 MHz band. The political agreement for this new move was reached by the European Parliament on 24th March 2009.

According to a press release from the GSA, Mobile broadband services enabled by WCDMA-HSPA technology have been successfully deployed throughout the world and are a huge success. There are 120 live HSPA commercial systems in the European Union alone, and 259 systems launched in 111 countries worldwide, according to GSA’s latest research. Deploying HSPA mobile broadband systems in the 900 MHz band (UMTS900) brings substantial efficiencies and lower costs for network operators because lower frequencies travel further and penetrate buildings more easily than the higher frequencies (2100 MHz) which most 3G systems currently use.  As a result, 900 MHz is an ideal band for extending the benefits of broadband connectivity to rural and semi-urban areas, thus helping to bridge the digital divide, and is a perfect complement to 2100 MHz systems, which ensure the capacity layer.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: “This groundbreaking spectrum agreement in Brussels enables more Europeans to benefit from mobile broadband services. It is a clear signal to all regulators (NRAs) to prepare the path in their respective markets for a new wave of HSPA deployments in the 900 MHz band.”

According to GSA’s latest research, eight UMTS900-HSPA systems are now in commercial service in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region. GSA recently announced that 115 HSPA/mobile broadband devices capable of operating at 900 MHz (as well as 2100 MHz) are already launched by manufacturers, and this frequency combination is becoming commonplace for products destined for European and APAC markets.

HSPA Mobile Broadband in Africa

The GSA HSPA Operator Commitments survey in January 2009 reveals that 10 HSPA operators have commercially launched mobile broadband services in North Africa. HSDPA is commerically available in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. HSDPA is at a pilot trial/testing stage in Senegal. The survey also reveals that 2 HSUPA commercial networks are already launched in Egypt.

Under the deal, SMS Mac will use TynTec to power the SMS sending capabilities of its Mac-based Dashboard widget, address book plug in, Vista sidebar gadget and Windows XP Yahoo! Widget.

An Apple Dashboard Widget Contest Winner, SMS Mac is an easy-to-use, downloadable PC/Mac-to-SMS service, enabling users to send SMS from their computer’s desktop.  SMS sent via the service are charged at a flat rate of €0.10 each with a €10.00 annual subscription charge for use of the software.

SMS Mac selected TynTec for its global reach into more than 430 mobile networks in 160 countries.  In addition, TynTec can offer SMS Mac’s users unparalleled reliability through its unique multiple points of deep level (SS7) mobile network access.

Alco Blom, CEO, SMS Mac, said: “TynTec offers us excellent connectivity into almost every mobile network worldwide, and that’s a major selling point for a service like ours.  When you combine that with TynTec’s renowned reliability and great technical support, then selecting them became an easy decision for us to make.”

Michael Kowalzik, CEO of TynTec, said: “SMS Mac is about letting computer users send and receive SMS quickly and easily direct from their desktop.  We believe that SMS as a messaging technology has much more to offer than just the traditional handset-to-handset format we’ve seen to date and SMS Mac is a fantastic demonstration of this.”

About TynTec
TynTec is a mobile messaging operator, offering enterprise-quality SMS services to mobile network operators, enterprises, internet companies and mobile services providers.

The company offers operator-level messaging services through its unique multiple points of connectivity into the deep level (SS7) global mobile network and its proprietary technical infrastructure.  Because TynTec acts as a messaging operator it can offer more advanced and reliable services than traditional SMS providers and can back up its services with rigorous service level agreements (SLAs).

TynTec offers its clients a broad range of messaging services including outbound mobile messaging (Enterprise and banking messaging, SMS Hubbing), unified inbound communications (e.g. reception of voice, SMS, fax, etc.) and real time network data (e.g. home network, location and/or subscriber availability information).

Based in the UK, Germany and Singapore, TynTec works with clients including O2, Lufthansa Systems, Accenture, British Airways, Unilever and Skype.

Swiss Army knife mobile

ForgetMeNot Africa launches Message Optimiser bringing email and instant messaging to simple mobile phones without need for PC or Internet across Africa

London, 24 March 2009: ForgetMeNot Africa, a specialist in unified messaging for telecommunications operators, has announced that it is launching its Message Optimiser service throughout Africa.  The service will be publically demonstrated for the first time in Africa at East Africa Com on the 1st and 2nd of April in Nairobi, Kenya.

In November 2008 LonZim plc acquired a controlling interest in FMN Africa. LonZim has established a strong presence in both the communications sector and financial services technology in the region, through its investments in Celsys, and Paynet, both of which offer strong synergies with FMNAfrica and further opportunities to enhance LonZim’s portfolio of investments.

Message Optimiser (MO) allows carriers to immediately provide cost-effective comprehensive unified messaging services (email, instant messaging (IM) and SMS) without the end user requiring any Internet access, device upgrades, or application downloads.

With an implementation cycle of a matter of weeks, carriers can quickly enjoy additional revenue streams, monetizing channels previously unavailable to them, and offering a unique differentiator point; an array of value-added messaging services to their entire customer base.  Since it does not require a data contract, Message Optimiser allows operators to increase ARPU and reduce churn amongst its pre-pay customers.

End-users benefit from the simplicity of ForgetMeNot’s Handset Initiation technology, which turns even the most basic mobile phone into a “smarter” Internet-capable, multi-channel messaging device, instantly providing two-way email and two-way instant messaging for both pre-pay and post-pay users alike.  Handset Initiation technology is becoming vital not only for developing nations where PC and Internet access is very low but also allows users globally to have access to email and instant messaging without the need for more expensive smartphones, a PC or Internet connection.

Jeremy George, Chief Operating Officer of ForgetMeNot Africa comments: “In today’s maturing mobile markets, mobile operators are increasingly focused on customer retention and service differentiation.  Message Optimiser meets both needs offering a new revenue stream from their existing subscriber base while offering customers a unique service”.

About ForgetMeNot Africa
ForgetMeNot Africa Ltd. is a “software as a service” (SaaS) company specialising in Unified Messaging that supports seamless interoperability between SMS, email and Instant Messaging clients for telecommunications operators.  The core product is Message Optimiser which allows telecom operators to immediately provide cost effective comprehensive unified messaging services to all of their customers without any upgrades to the device or any need for downloading new applications onto the device. This opens up a range of previously inaccessible services to many of their customers including 2-way email and 2-way instant messaging communication capability. ForgetMeNot Africa is a division of ForgetMeNot Software Limited, based in Hong Kong with operations in London and Los Angeles which recently sold a controlling interest in its former wholly owned subsidiary FMN Africa to LonZim plc.

MTN

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 the mobile phone. Whether users have an existing bank account or not, they can register for MTN MobileMoney as long as the sender is an MTN subscriber. 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. Four additional pilots were recently launched in Benin, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Liberia.

The pilots are aimed at waterproofing the systems and operational processes in preparation for the commercial launch. MTN’s WECA region vice-president, Mr Christian de Faria says the pilots are assisting with fine-tuning the processes and systems and have given MTN the first insights into subscriber demand. “Initial subscriber responses in the different countries have been encouraging and we are confident that the service could be introduced rapidly in our various markets.”

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.

Says 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.”

ABOUT THE MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As at 30 September 2008, MTN recorded 80,7 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East.

MTN

MTN customers can now finally use the much anticipated MTN Mobile Money transfer service following the commercial launch of the product today. Upon registration, users will be able to send and receive cash using their mobile phones.

The introduction of the product to the market brings to a close a comprehensive test period that saw the product undergo a rigorous five months market test and subsequent approval by Bank of Uganda. The planning and development process which included software development , extensive market research, planning, vendor selection, and careful product roll-out implementation was intended to provide a secure and reliable service that MTN customers can trust to deliver an innovative world class service.

Officiating at the launch of MTN Mobile Money, the newly appointed Minister of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Hon. Aggrey Awori lauded MTN’s innovation and ability to always bring to the Ugandan market products and services that are relevant to the people. He reiterated the endorsement given by the Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile who last week, during a visit to the MTN offices, endorsed and gave regulatory approval to MTN to carry out the money transfer service. Awori commended MTN for pursuing a policy of constantly innovating in order to provide products and services that meet the needs of the people. Emphasizing technology as an essential tool for economic growth, he applauded MTN in working with the government to contribute to national development.

MTN Mobile Money is the first such service in Uganda and is expected to revolutionalise money transfers and payments through the use of mobile phones. The service is expected to tap into rural areas where formal money services hardly penetrate and are deemed to be out of reach of the common man.

In remarks made during the official launch of the Mobile Money product, MTN Chief Executive Officer Noel Meier said MTN had carried out all the necessary market tests required to ensure a reliable and secure service to MTN customers.

“We know that the market has eagerly waited for this service and we’re proud to be the first to bring it to Uganda . We believe this product will help our customers transact as they go about their daily life and the Bank of Uganda is satisfied that adequate measures have been put in place to protect people’s money” he said.

“Our initial service is simple and user friendly and customers will find it very easy to interact with. However this will progressively be upgraded to include other functionalities as the market demands.”

MTN is partnering with Stanbic Bank which will hold the MTN Mobile Money account. The bank’s Managing Director, Philip Odera was enthusiastic about being part of the initiative.

“Stanbic Bank Uganda is very pleased to act as the collection bank for this product.  Our country-wide footprint will give MTN Mobile Money users an added advantage as they will reach out to their counterparts in all corners of Uganda backed by our branch network.” said Odera.

He further clarified that there are no charges applicable on this account. However Odera also made it clear that MTN Mobile Money users will not be able to transfer more that UGX.1 million per day or  maintain a balance of more than UGX.1 million on their Mobile Money accounts at any one time.”

MTN Uganda appointed Oscillyte Ltd., a consultancy firm to define the mobile money strategy and provide the project management expertise to bring the MTN Mobile Money service to market. Oscillyte provides specialist strategy, marketing and product development skills and knowledge to organisations active in the telecommunications market and mobile in particular.

ABOUT THE MTN GROUP

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East . The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”.  As at 30 September 2008, MTN recorded 80,7 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East.

MTN

MTN Ghana, a telecommunication network, on Sunday assured its Northern Region customers that technical teams were working with other stakeholders to improve the company’s services in the area, within the next seven days.

The company said its attention has been drawn to media reports of the Consumer Advocacy Agency and the Right of the People, to embark on various actions to expresses their dissatisfaction with the company’s quality of service in the Region.

A statement signed by Ms Mawuena Dumour, Corporate Service Executive, of the company, explained that in the last three weeks, MTN has experienced disruptions in service in the region due to cuts made on its fiber by contractors from other competitor organizations. It said “MTN articulated those challenges to the National Communications Authority (NCA) and subscribers in the region with an understanding that the issues were being addressed.” The statement said MTN subsequently received commendation from some stakeholders in the region when marked improvements were noted in service quality.

It said the company viewed as very unfortunate the fact that the two groups both based in the region would plan such actions without making their concerns known to MTN.

The statement said ironically, this was happening “at a time MTN is engaged in extensive roll out of additional telecommunications equipment and latest optical fibre technology infrastructure to expedite the improvement of quality of service.” It said over the last two years since entering the Ghanaian market, MTN has invested more than 25 million dollars in the region, in telecommunications infrastructure compared with three million dollars prior to the company’s entry into the market. The statement said “Current roll out plans for the region expect to put in place more than 200 new telecommunications, cell sites this year and more than 280 infrastructure upgrades in the second quarter of this year.”

It said “MTN remains fully committed to open and constructive dialogue and is taking steps to engage, with leaders of the two groups, to fully arm them with information about, the actions the company has taken to ensure world class service in the Northern Region and in Ghana as a whole.”

Source: GNA

glo

Glo Mobile Ghana is set to change the face of communication in Ghana as it engages ZTE, a highly-rated international telecoms vendor, to deploy additional access network infrastructure including hundreds of indoor and outdoor Basic Trans-receiver Stations (BTS) for its imminent roll-out.

The Ghana access network ZTE is deploying for Glo is in addition to those being installed for Glo Ghana by other reputable equipment vendors. In addition to the BTS, the ZTE deployment also includes many Base Switching Centres (BSCs), 3G NodeBs, RNCs, 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-Tokaradi, Accra-Ho, Kumasi-Suyani, and Kumasi-Tamale. Other cities and roads to be covered by Globacom in its strategic partnership with ZTE in the Ghana telecoms revolution are in the Brong-Ahafo region.

A statement by Globacom’s Executive Director (Special Projects), Mr. Mike Jituboh, said 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 will land in Ghana shortly. Globacom and ZTE representatives are optimistic that the deployment of these facilities and provision of additional platforms will give communication in the West African country a significant boost.

Bill Gates

Mobile Money for the Unbanked programme to extend reach and reduce cost of mobile money services for people living on less than US$2 a day

17 February 2009, Barcelona: The GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced an innovative programme that will expand the availability of financial services to millions of people in the developing world through mobile phones. The Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) programme, supported by a US$12.5 million grant from the foundation, will work with mobile operators, banks, microfinance institutions, government and development organizations to encourage the expansion of reliable, affordable mobile financial services to the unbanked.

“There are over 1 billion people in emerging markets today who don’t have a bank account but do have a mobile phone,” said Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board of the GSMA. “This represents a huge opportunity and mobile operators are perfectly placed to bring mobile financial services to this largely untapped consumer base. Based on the initial findings of research conducted with the microfinance centre CGAP and McKinsey & Company, we believe that mobile money for the unbanked has the potential to become a US$5 billion market opportunity over the next three years.”

The MMU programme will fund regulatory and market research to help overcome some of the barriers of providing these services and demonstrate the business case for serving this market. The programme includes a US$5 million fund to catalyse a new wave of mobile money innovation, encouraging mobile network operators to create new services for previously unbanked people in emerging markets. The MMU programme will support approximately 20 projects in developing countries, focusing on Africa, Asia and Latin America, with the goal of reaching 20 million previously unbanked people with mobile financial services by 2012.

“Traditional financial services are often too costly and inconvenient for people who earn less than US$2 a day to obtain, and too expensive for banks to provide,” said Bob Christen, director of the Financial Services for the Poor initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Technology like mobile phones is making it possible to bring low-cost, high-quality financial services to millions of people in the developing world so they can manage life’s risks and build financial security.”

This grant to the MMU programme is part of the foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor initiative, which is working with a wide range of public and private partners to harness technology and innovation to bring quality, affordable savings accounts and other financial services to the doorsteps of the poor in the developing world. The foundation believes that setting aside small sums in a safe place allows people to guard against risks, build assets, and provide opportunities for the next generation.

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry.  Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites more than 750 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry.  For more information, please visit http://www.gsmworld.com

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.  In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.  In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.  Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-Chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.gatesfoundation.org

MTN

According to MTN, the 3.5G launch marks an evolution in mobile technology in Ghana and will put MTN Ghana at the forefront of technology and in the league of top mobile operators globally. 3.5G is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications systems that support the effective delivery of a range of data-orientated services. The technology also provides more efficient systems for the transmission of existing services such as voice, text and data, supporting far greater speeds than what is available today.

The Ag CEO Mazen Mroue said, “I am extremely delighted to announce the roll out of the 3.5G technology which puts MTN on the road to providing leading services to our valued customers.”

The Chief Technical Officer, Eben Albertyn and the Chief Marketing Officer, George Andah, took turns to explain the new technology and the benefits it will bring to MTN Customers.

‘I am especially delighted because the new technology being introduced today will enhance the overall network experience for our cherished customers as it will provide more efficient systems for the transmission of existing voice, text and data services,’ said George Andah.

‘While we continue to increase investments in network infrastructure and working in partnerships with all stakeholders, we are excited that the introduction of this new technology will complement initiatives aimed at improving the overall network quality.’ he continued.

‘3.5G brings with it a new suite of exciting multimedia services such as video streaming, games, music videos, sports, news and more. ’’ Mr Andah continued.

MTN will offer at this phase of the launch, mobile broadband and video calling that will enable fast data speed and allow users to see and talk to people they call in real time. More services will be introduced by MTN in due course.

The media was given the opportunity to experience the 3.5 G technology in a specially-constructed booth that will soon be placed at selected locations in the capital, to enable more subscribers to also experience the new technology.

MTN Ghana had recently launched services in the telecommunications industry including segmented tariffs, WECA (West and Central Africa) tariffs, BlackBerry and Seamless Roaming. MTN is currently the biggest cellular telecom operator in Ghana.

MTN

MTN is piloting a domestic money transfer service in South Africa using its MobileMoney system, as an added value to its customers.

Customers will be able to transfer and receive money from designated MTN outlets across South Africa in a pilot project to test market acceptance prior to a possible broader rollout during 2009.

“The development of this Money Transfer service is a joint venture between Standard Bank and MTN Banking, offering a safe and secure way for customers to send money home. The service will allow money to be sent directly to the recipient, removing the hassle and cost of locating a traditional ‘cash-out’ location such as a bank’s branch,” says Tim Lowry, MD of MTN SA.

“Convenience for our customers has been the motivating factor in developing this service, and we have identified the stores most frequented by our customers, for the implementation of this service. This has enabled MTN to provide the service in areas typically under-serviced by the banks.”

The person sending the money goes to a participating outlet with the cash and receives a code from the money transfer agent. He then sends the code via sms or a phone call to the recipient of this cash. The recipient then goes to his or her nearest participating outlet and produces the code in order to receive the allocated amount of money. This transaction is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Carefully selected outlets such as the Kosi Bay Supatrade Spar, Langa Spar in Flagstaff, the Spargs outlets in Umtata, Ncogbo, Mount Frere and Idutywa, and Multisave Baragwaneth are included in this pilot. There are currently 14 outlets linked to the service, which is not restrictive to MTN customers.

MTN already has a significant non-urban footprint and its popular Community Payphone network could also provide a base from which to further enhance the reach for the Money Transfer customers.

“As with the success of the Community Payphone network, we see the Money Transfer service as possibly providing increased employment opportunities whilst ensuring that even the most rural community is able to gain access to basic financial services.

“Following technical testing of the base system for the past year, this pilot project is intended to assess the demand for such a service prior to a possible wider rollout in 2009

MTN is also actively seeking partners in the targeted distribution areas to come on board and assist in the rollout of this project, to ensure a broader accessibility to the service,” concludes Lowry.

David Venn (left) of Vodafone Ghana and Jay Xu Junjie (right) of Huawei Technologies Ltd.

Mr. David Venn, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Telecom Company and Mr. Jay Xu Junjie, of Huawei Technologies signed for Vodafone Ghana and Huawei Technologies respectively.

Vodafone last year acquired 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom.

The contract is one of a series that Vodafone Ghana plans to sign with partner organizations over the next couple of months to provide equipment and service.

The technology will significantly enhance network quality and increase customer satisfaction on the Onetouch network. It will enable  customers enjoy ultra high-speed internet access and the ability to make video calls, use rich multimedia content on their handsets including the ability to send video clips and music at the touch of a button.

The expansion of the network to is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.

The new network code allotted by the industry regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA), will take effect from January 15,2009. In his address the Chief Marketing Officer, George Andah disclosed that the allocation of a new network code was to enable MTN respond to the continued interest in its products and services..

He said ‘the ever-increasing support from customers keen to benefit from MTN’s superior value proposition has occasioned MTN ‘s application for a new network code.’

‘While MTN remains grateful for the continued support from Ghanaians, it is also important to plan in advance and make room for even more customers to enjoy the superior experience MTN is committed to providing for its customers,’ George Andah added.

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Brett Goschen, said the introduction of the new code was to give potential customers a chance to enjoy MTN’s services. He said MTN would soon launch a 3.5G Network to provide high data speed and internet access in addition to numerous and innovative products and services. The company would also increase investment in capital expenditure including building a countrywide fibre network to improve the overall network quality.

To make calls or send SMS, customers are required to add the relevant prefix to the number being dialed, e.g 024 and the customer’s unique number(024 1000000 or 054 and the customer’s unique number(054 1000000).For International calls, customers will have to dial the country code, the relevant prefix and customer’s unique number; e.g. +233 24 1000000 or +233 54 1000000.

Meditel Morocco

Médi Télécom (Meditel), says it now has 4.023 million mobile subscribers, an increase of 47.4% over the previous 12 months.

Net customer additions in the fourth quarter of 2005 were 185,000, 17% up on the fourth quarter of 2004. Revenues for the full-year 2005 were EUR397 million, up 21%.

OIBDA increased by 2% year-on-year to EUR153 million, while the OIBDA margin for the year was 39%, down from 46% the previous year, affected by a 40% rise in overall commercial activity.

Meditel’s competitor, Maroc Télécom said it has 8.8 million mobile subscribers at the end of 2005.

MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria subscribers are now able to call and be called on their MTN phones even when they travel to any of the 65 countries spread across all the continents. Known as “International Roaming” in GSM parlance, this MTN service, according to Afam Edozie, the company’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, translates to enhanced value and convenience for the growing number of MTN subscribers.

“The MTN subscriber has an option to remain reachable on his MTN phone even when he travels to countries as diverse as Germany, Holland, India, Singapore, UK, USA, Canada and many more. Calls to the customers’ normal MTN numbers are automatically routed abroad.”

The growing list of international networks with which MTN has roaming agreements, now numbers 116, said Edozie. In addition, MTN has an international roaming partnership with Thuraya satellite systems, a dual phone network with GSM and satellite options respectively. Roaming on the Thuraya network, made possible by inserting an MTN SIM in a Thuraya handset, enables MTN subscribers access to services in over 90 countries, including those without GSM coverage.

Whatever calls are made by MTN subscribers while roaming abroad are paid for in Naira.

International Roaming, said Edozie, is currently available to subscribers on the post-paid package, MTN BusinessTimeTM, only. Subscribers on MTN Pay As You Go, the pre-paid package who wish to switch over to MTN BusinessTimeTM, may do so easily within 24 hours of completing the necessary documentation in an MTN Friendship Centre. The continuing quest to enhance the international roaming possibilities for MTN subscribers, Edozie added, “is part of a bigger strategy to ensure that MTN subscribers are afforded the best possible coverage of Nigeria, West Africa and the world at large”.

Spanning 64 cities and well over 2000 communities across Nigeria, MTN’s coverage of Nigeria is unparalleled in the industry. “Just as it is possible for our subscribers to be reached in each of the over 2,000 communities in which we provide service, so is it possible for them to be reached when they travel to any of the 59 countries. Our coverage both nationally and internationally remains Simply Unbeatable”.

Glo mobile

Subscribers to the second national operator, Globacom can now send and receive messages from and to any electronic mail address on their mobile phones.

This will ensure that Glo mobile subscribers can send messages across the world into e-mail boxes from their phones or from any e-mail box to their phones. A message from the company instructed subscribers who are interested in this service to text “help” to 3333. Subscribers are afterwards provided with details of how to hook up to the service.

When using the facility to send a message, a subscriber is required to go to the “write message” option on his phone and input the email address he wishes to send the message to. He then leaves a space and enters the message after which he sends to 3333.

The % sign is used in place of an underscore where required. A subscriber’s email address is written as 234805xxxxxxx@sms.gloworld.com; where the multiple x sign stands for the subscriber’s mobile number.

“You receive an alert when there is a new email. To read, text RM, leave a space, enter mail number’ the message from Glomobile reads. “To check mail, text CM to 3333. Mail automatically deletes 48 hours after receipts.

It would be recalled that as the only GPRS network in Nigeria, the Globacom network is supported by 2.5G technology, and because of its superiority to the 2G technology being used by other operators, Globalcom’s network also supports multimedia messaging service with colour pictures and sound.

Business development manager at Glomobile, Ibukun Oyelohunnu, said with the picture messaging service, subscribers can attach pictures and sounds to text messages. You can send audio clips or your voice along with pictures to another phone, and this facility is currently running free in Lagos and Abuja,” he said.

Since its commercial launch in August last year, Glomobile has sought to introduce several value added services and sales promotions to make up for its present interconnectivity state with other operators.

The company has also resorted to expanding its network while it works things out with the giant operators. It has since contracted Siemens and Alcatel, world-renowned equipment vendors to commence work on its network, especially its fixed wireless.

Samsung mobile phones

SAMSUNG Electronics a world leader in electronic convergence systems is set to engage GSM handset producer Nokia in a fierce competition as it releases sophisticated GSM and GPRS compatible handsets in to the market.

Regional director for Africa for Samsung, Albert Kim at meeting with media executives in Lagos said the frequent release of luxury handsets in the past few months was to create stiff competition in the market and to position his brand ahead of the others.

Describing his brand as the first growing brand in the world Kim said Samsung was poised to give Nokia a run in the industry .We are working hard to catch up with Nokia who hard already made same good impact in the market.

As part of its strategies to outwit Nokia, Samsung Electronics sees the Nigerian market as having enough potency to help in this battle. Besides, it would be an avenue to reach into other African market.

Kim said, “As the first growing brand in the world, we are also working to make a success story in the Nigerian GSM handset market.” Responding to the rate of growing LG Electronics is recording in the Nigerian GSM handset; Kim said it won’t have any effect on his brand. “Samsung’s turnover in December 2OO2 was $4.9 billion, only one tenth of ours” he added.

It would be recalled that in the last four mouths, Samsung has launched about four GSM phone in Nigerian and would be launching another in the next two months. All these according to Kim were to strategy to possess the market. In June this year, the company, through its national distributor, SIMS Nigerian Limited, introduced the SGH-N620, the free I camera phone followed suit with much more sophisticated features.

Just last week, the SGH-C100 was introduced, having features such as 500 unit of phone memory, IrDA, WAP, EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), 40 Polyphonic ringtones and melody, 65,000 vivid colour screen among others besides its slim and sleeky exterior.

In the spirit of competition, Samsung has also announced the introduction of the new SGH-E700 camera phone come December 1 this year. This new phone could substitute for the photo camera; hence it is also called a mobile camera.

With a size of 90 x 45 x 23 mm and weight of 85g, it has the viewfinder with which to take both near and distant objects. It allows users to share content such as photos, downloadable ringtones, and multimedia messages. It has a capacity of up to 1000 phone entries, each entry with space for mobile, home, office, email, fax numbers and “to-do-list”.

Kasapa

Cellular service provider, Kasapa, has announced plans to embark on a gradual but strategic expansion of its network to enable more people to benefit from its services.

Speaking at a ceremony to reward the Twenty-Thousandth customer of the network, the Managing Director of the company, Bob Palitz said the expansion programme will be undertaken in a manner which will not endanger the financial position of the company.

Mr. Palitz told JOY Business Report that the company is negotiating with other cellular networks to share their cell sites and transmission equipment, in order to reduce the entire cost of the expansion programme.

He said from a low customer base, Kasapa can now boasts of about 23,000 customers.

He said the company is looking forward to attracting a considerable number of customers when the expansion programme is completed.

The award recipient, Adams Appiah lauded the company’s management for introducing a cheaper cellular network, which has improved the businesses of many small and medium scale enterprises.

MTN RwandaCell

MTN Rwandacell, part-owned by South African mobile operator MTN, launched an international gateway on Tuesday, ending its dependence on the state’s satellite station.

“What it means for us is that we are no longer an island,” said MTN Rwandacell Chief Executive Rob Trustcott. “We used to be cut off from direct communications with the world, and the region, but now we can connect ourselves to the world.”

South Africa’s MTN - wholly owned by M-Cell - has a 31 percent stake in MTN Rwanda, with the Kigali-based Tristar investment company holding 41 percent and the state telecoms company Rwandatel holding 28 percent.

It is the only mobile service provider in the tiny central African country, and Trustcott said it had 60,000 subscribers.

Trustcott told a news conference MTN Rwandacell had also established terrestrial microwave links with mobile networks in Uganda and Burundi, which are in the final stages of testing.

He said MTN Rwandacell have reduced their tariffs for international calls by 46 per cent, and said the company was now in a position to provide Internet bandwidth to Internet Service Providers who require it.

MTN is now present in South Africa, Swaziland, Rwanda, Uganda, Cameroon and Nigeria.