November 2024

This new service, called “MTN Pick and Pay Later,” allows customers to select a smartphone, make an initial payment, and pay off the remaining balance in installments over either four or six months through MoMo.

The smartphone options available to customers will be determined by their creditworthiness, which is assessed through a credit scoring engine on the MTN network.

To access this service, customers can dial *170#, select Financial Services, and then choose “Device Pick and Pay Later” under the Loans section.

Noel Kojo-Ganson, the Chief Commercial Officer for MTN, emphasised the company’s belief that everyone deserves the benefit of a modern, connected life, including having a good smartphone for high-speed internet services.

He noted that this initiative is intended to help customers who want smartphones but may have limited cash for upfront purchases.

The collaboration with MobileMoney Ltd and Access Bank is important for reducing communication costs.

As part of this collaboration, Access Bank will offer financing options for customers to purchase smartphones that enable access to digital banking services, ensuring they can stay connected online.

This partnership aligns with the bank’s goal of promoting financial inclusion and supporting a cash-light economy, making it easier for customers to afford smartphones and access digital services.

Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana, highlighted the importance of this initiative.

“Only 13% of the eligible population have access to borrowing leaving a substantial gap for those who qualify but do not have access to finance.”

She added, “This partnership reflects Access Bank’s vision of providing innovative solutions to the markets we serve, empowering individuals to support their lifestyles in a world that is rapidly becoming more digital, all through the convenience of a mobile phone.”

The “Pick and Pay Later” service is supported by other partners, including Hollard Insurance, PaySwitch, and Atlantic Phones, all of which provide various services to enhance customer experience.

With a wide range of smartphone options available, from entry-level to mid-tier 4G phones, the MTN “Pick and Pay Later” service aims to meet customers’ needs and support their ability to transact anytime and anywhere.

By financing these devices, MTN Ghana, Access Bank, and their partners are dedicated to reaching the unbanked population and promoting the adoption of digital financial solutions.

Source: Joy Business

MTN Ghana has partnered with MobileMoney Ltd and Access Bank Ghana PLC to offer device financing for MTN customers.

This new service, called “MTN Pick and Pay Later,” allows customers to select a smartphone, make an initial payment, and pay off the remaining balance in instalments over either four or six months through MoMo. 

The smartphone options available to customers will be determined by their creditworthiness, which is assessed through a credit scoring engine on the MTN network.

To access this service, customers can dial *170#, select Financial Services, and then choose “Device Pick and Pay Later” under the Loans section. 

Noel Kojo-Ganson, the Chief Commercial Officer for MTN, emphasised the company’s belief that everyone deserves the benefit of a modern, connected life, including having a good smartphone for high-speed internet services.

He noted that this initiative is intended to help customers who want smartphones but may have limited cash for upfront purchases.

The collaboration with MobileMoney Ltd and Access Bank is important for reducing communication costs. 

As part of this collaboration, Access Bank will offer financing options for customers to purchase smartphones that enable access to digital banking services, ensuring they can stay connected online.

This partnership aligns with the bank’s goal of promoting financial inclusion and supporting a cash-light economy, making it easier for customers to afford smartphones and access digital services.

Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana, highlighted the importance of this initiative.

“Only 13% of the eligible population have access to borrowing leaving a substantial gap for those who qualify but do not have access to finance.”

She added, “This partnership reflects Access Bank’s vision of providing innovative solutions to the markets we serve, empowering individuals to support their lifestyles in a world that is rapidly becoming more digital, all through the convenience of a mobile phone.” 

 The “Pick and Pay Later” service is supported by other partners, including Hollard Insurance, PaySwitch, and Atlantic Phones, all of which provide various services to enhance customer experience. 

With a wide range of smartphone options available, from entry-level to mid-tier 4G phones, the MTN “Pick and Pay Later” service aims to meet customers’ needs and support their ability to transact anytime and anywhere.

By financing these devices, MTN Ghana, Access Bank, and their partners are dedicated to reaching the unbanked population and promoting the adoption of digital financial solutions. 

Source: Myjoyonline

Liberia’s only wholesale infrastructure provider, CSquared, has announced that it is using FSP 3000 open optical transport technology from fibre networking solutions company Adtran to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to homes and businesses across Liberia.

With comprehensive fibre assurance, Adtran says its solution enables CSquared to rapidly deploy an open-access 350-kilometre backbone connecting Liberia to Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire.

As CSquared puts it, with a mission to address Africa’s lack of robust, high-capacity infrastructure, it is increasing access to e-commerce, remote learning, telemedicine and other digital services capable of transforming lives and livelihoods.

Built on the Adtran FSP 3000 open optical transport solution, CSquared’s new backbone infrastructure will initially transport 100Gbit/s data loads from Monrovia to the border of Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire without the need for signal regeneration. The flexible ROADM (reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer)-based network provides the highest levels of resilience, says Adtran. 

The solution also includes Adtran’s intelligent FSP 150 Ethernet access devices and ALM real-time fibre assurance platform. This delivers end-to-end visibility, enabling faster repair cycles. CSquared has already deployed Adtran’s FSP 3000 technology in Ghana and Togo.

With the backing of Google, the IFC, Mitsui and Convergence Partners, and a special partnership with USAID, CSquared is Liberia’s only wholesale infrastructure provider, delivering services to all MNOs, ISPs and the government of Liberia.

Source: Developing Telecom

About 14,981 girls across the country have been trained under the National Girls in ICT programme, Minister ofCommunications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said.

Additionally, more than a hundred teachers have benefitted from this training. This feat, according to the minister, even though may seem big is just a drop in the ocean as compared to the school-going girls’ population in the country.

The minister noted that this programme has made tremendous progress over the years since its inception in 2012. It started with 150 girls; but today, it has been transformed to include the training of a hundred teachers and 1000 girls in each region in basic ICT, programming, website creation and cyber-security.

“To date, 14,981 girls nationwide have received this training. If we look at our population of girls at school-going age, this is still only a drop in the ocean. We can do more. Our mission remains to create an environment where all girls can explore and excel in ICT”, she said.

According to Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful Esq, more girls should have had the opportunity to join the programme. She stated that at least 100 girls from each district should be in the Girls in the ICT programme.

Even though the minister urged corporate entities to support the programme to reach several girls, she expressed appreciation to MTN and other sponsors of the programme.

“I thank the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), MTN, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence and the World Bank for supporting this programme over the years. Through their kind support, partnership and sponsorship, we have expanded our reach and we will continue delivering on this promise,” the minister mentioned.

She further elaborated on the need for girls to be educated enough on technology.

“Our world is changing and technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives; so we must create deliberate measures to bridge the gender digital divide and give our young ladies the opportunity to become innovators and problem solvers of tomorrow.

“As technology transforms the world around us, we must ensure our girls are not merely observers but active participants and leaders in this digital era. By providing our girls with the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate and innovate in the tech space, we are laying the foundation for the future where no one, especially a girl-child, is left behind. Our goal is to empower them to take charge of our destinies and become catalysts for change in their communities and beyond” she highlighted.

Investment from MTN

A representative of MTN told the B&FT on the side that MTN has invested GH¢15.6million from 2021 to 2024.

This, she noted, has contributed to the training of 10,000 girls and 1000 teachers in basic ICT skills such as coding, website design, game development and animation development.

The regions covered so far include North-East, Western-North, Ahafo, Bono-East, Bono, Savannah, Northern, Eastern, Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.

Meanwhile, 10-year-old Success Joselyn Dadzie, a basic six pupil from Hwidiem M/A Basic School in the Asante Akyem North Municipality, won the ‘Overall Best Gir’l after taking several exams and training, out of 1000 girls who participated. The top 100 girls were awarded with laptops each.

Source: Elizabeth PUNSU (bftonline.com)

In the Upper West regional capital, Wa, Nasihat Zakariya had just reactivated her mother’s old Telecel number when she received text messages from the network to join the Telecel More Money promo.

As a young woman living with her mother, Amamata Fuseini, in an uncompleted structure without electricity, Nasihat’s prayer was to activate the promo and win a lot of money that would change their lives.

Fortunately, Nasihat’s prayer was answered as she received the fateful call informing her that Amamata had won a GH¢30,000 weekly prize in the More Money draw.

At first, Nasihat and her mother couldn’t believe their dreams were unfolding in real life, initially thinking it was a scam.

“Ah, this money is a blessing from Allah. It will change our lives. With this money, we can connect electricity to our home, buy materials to complete our house, and finally start paying off my mother’s high debts,” Nasihat said.

She believes the GH¢30,000 win represents a fresh start in their lives and a major turnaround for their business of selling kulikuli, a snack made from peanuts. But Nasihat believes God is not done with them and their winning streak is just starting.

“This win is for all of us. We’re already dreaming of winning the GH¢1 million grand prize next. It’s possible and we believe in the promo now.”

Set to end in mid-December, the Telecel More Money promotion is transforming the lives of customers by rewarding them with cash prizes just for actively using Telecel’s services across mobile, fixed, broadband and business segments.

Customers who activate the promo and top up their accounts stand a chance to win GH¢100 daily, GH¢30,000 weekly and the grand prize of GH¢1,000,000 to become the Telecel millionaire.

By the presentation of the grand prize capping the five-month promo in mid-December, a total of 18,500 Telecel customers would have won GH¢100 daily, 60 lucky customers would have grabbed GH¢30,000 each and the luckiest Telecel user would walk away with a whooping GH¢1 million and be crowned the Telecel millionaire.

“The dedication to rewarding our cherished customers is evident in the ways Telecel More Money promo has touched the lives of thousands of people like Nasihat.

“These are real-life examples of how we are shaping the futures of customers. With just a few more weeks to announcing the Telecel millionaire, I will encourage everyone to join in as they could win the big prize of one million cedis,” said David Umoh, Director of Consumer Business at Telecel Ghana.

For Ebenezer Kwartey Quartey, a 31-year-old lotto agent in Koforidua, his GH¢30,000 weekly prize win has reignited his entrepreneurial spirit and passion to start a gadgets business.

Inspired to join the More Money promo by a friend who previously won a car in another Telecel campaign, he finally opted in when he stumbled on the promo’s ads on Facebook.

But when the phone call came informing him that he had won GH¢30,000, he was startled and in disbelief.

“I thought it might be a scam. It wasn’t until I arrived at the prize presentation that it hit me that this was real, and I was a winner. This is my second chance. I’m going to make something of it for myself and my future.” Ebenezer recounted.

Orphaned at a tender age, Ebenezer plans to use his winning money to revitalise his late father’s shop in Accra and transition into the phone and accessories business.

With the Telecel More Money grand prize draw less than a month away, all Telecel users can seize the opportunity to participate in the promo by sending the keyword ‘WIN’ to 500 or dialling *500# to opt-in or alternatively, activate the promo in the Telecel Play App.

Source: Telecel Ghana ( My JoyOnline.com)

MTN’s launch of 5G comes in the year the telecom operator celebrates 25 years of presence in Benin. The South African group’s subsidiary is the leader in the country’s telecom sector, with a focus on innovation to maintain that position.

On November 22, MTN launched its commercial 5G service in Benin, becoming the first telecom operator to offer this advanced technology in the country. This move is part of MTN’s broader strategy to drive innovation.

“We are honored to bring 5G to Benin, a technology that will catalyze progress in countless areas of life and business. With 5G, we are laying the foundation for innovation, economic growth, and opportunities that will empower individuals and communities,” said Uche Ofodile, CEO of MTN Benin.

MTN has been operating in Benin for 25 years and has introduced several significant changes to the telecommunications sector, such as the SMS service in the early 2000s and the launch of 3G and 4G services in 2012 and 2015, respectively. According to the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), MTN had 8.4 million active mobile subscriptions in the second quarter of 2024, holding about 50% of the market share. The company also reported 6.1 million active mobile internet subscriptions out of 11 million.

Diversification and Investment for the Future

Beyond telecommunications, MTN has expanded into financial inclusion. In 2010, it launched mobile money transfer services, followed by additional features such as bill payments and linking bank accounts to SIM cards. MTN Mobile Money now holds 86% of the mobile money market in Benin, according to ARCEP.

To address growing competition since the arrival of a new operator in 2022, MTN Benin announced an investment plan of $215 million over three years in January 2024. This program aims to modernize infrastructure, expand the network, and support the development of 5G.

While MTN is the first to commercially roll out 5G, the other two operators are conducting tests and are expected to offer the service to their subscribers soon. Moov Africa Benin, a subsidiary of Maroc Telecom, announced in October its plans to launch 5G commercial services in the country. Moov has 3.3 million active mobile internet subscribers, compared to 1.6 million for Celtiis, the state-owned operator which began operations two years ago.

Source: Ecofin Agency

MTN Ghana, as part of its 15-year anniversary milestone, has awarded 30 MoMo Agents and 60 merchants in the South-West Business District, for their commitment and improvement in the sector.

They received e-cash, ranging from GH¢ 1,000 to GH¢ 15,000, motor bike among others.

Prince Owusu-Nyarko, Regional Senior Manager for South-West Business Division of MTN explained that “after 15 years, we are happy to say that we have co-created and contributed significantly to Ghana’s Fintech industry by way of; direct and indirect employment of Ghanaians”.

“We have improved government revenue, facilitating businesses – micro-enterprises and created digital entrepreneurs. Above all, we have brought dignity to many Ghanaians through the transformative power of financial inclusion” he said.

Mr. Nyarko recalled that “fifteen years ago, we embarked on a journey, unsure about the destination. However, we envisioned a future where every Ghanaian across the length and breadth of the country could access financial services with ease and convenience through the mobile phone”.

He said, this was a time where mobile penetration was still growing with limited penetration of smartphones. After much deliberation with technology experts, industry regulators and very critical stakeholders of the business, we launched Mobile Money as a service in 2009; taking inspiration from some initial deployment in East Africa – specifically Safaricom.

“But before then, we had to test the system and as captured in our records, the very first successful transaction was done by a staff of MTN then, on 25^th September 2008 at 3:51pm. We officially launched the service on July 21^st, 2009, by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana at the time Dr. Paul Acquah, under the leadership of Bruno Akpaka our first General Manager”, he said.

He continued that “we introduced a unique concept of multiple bank partners, kicking off with nine partner banks, a testament of our open partnership play”.

Mr. Nyarko pointed out that MTN hit the ground running with the catchy commercial. It caught the attention of most Ghanaians and the phrase ‘Me Nsa aka” became associated with the service.

The beginning, he said was very slow and extremely difficult because; “what we had introduced was not just a breakthrough in technology, but a disruption of the orthodox means by which money is used and exchanged”.

He mentioned that people were not familiar with the process and benefits. Different approaches were used to get users and potential users to first understand the service, be confident about it and begin to use it.

“What was to become a service for everyday use had to be nurtured gradually because of the difficult beginnings. Once we got over the bump of lack of familiarity, we made a lot of progress and today, we can confidently say ‘‘here we are’’ he added.

David Woasey, Area Sales Manager, South-West Business Division of MTN congratulated the award recipients for their unwavering commitment.

Source: Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi (bftonline.com)

Investment by telecom operators in the Middle East and North Africa will reach $97 billion during 2023-2030. Mobile operators will generate revenue of $88 billion in 2030 as compared with $66 billion in 2023.

Build on the GCC region’s leading position in 5G adoption by enhancing coverage and quality. Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have advanced 5G networks supported by strong policy frameworks and consumer readiness.

Extend 5G commercial services to less-covered regions like North Africa and the Levant, leveraging lessons from GCC markets.

Deploy 5G Standalone (SA) Architecture to enable capabilities like network slicing, allowing operators to tailor connectivity for specific industries and service-level agreements.

Utilize SA networks to support enterprise solutions, including smart factories, smart grids, and IoT applications.

Accelerate adoption of 5G-Advanced Technologies to enhance mobility, reliability, and efficiency for applications such as extended reality (XR), AI-driven designs, and low-latency services.

Focus on new capabilities like uplink enhancements and multicast technologies to deliver innovative enterprise and consumer solutions.

Promote Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a use case for 5G, particularly in markets with underdeveloped fixed broadband infrastructure.

Launch specialized FWA offerings, such as gaming-specific packages, to meet diverse customer needs and increase market share, as seen with Du in the UAE and STC in Saudi Arabia.

Grow cellular IoT connections, which are expected to reach 80 million in MENA by 2030, focusing on markets like Türkiye and Iran.

Use 5G RedCap for mid-tier IoT applications like smart metering and industrial automation, balancing cost and performance.

Partner with public cloud providers (e.g., e& and Microsoft) to integrate cloud and edge computing into 5G networks, driving new enterprise solutions and revenue streams.

Offer edge computing services to industries requiring low-latency solutions, such as manufacturing, logistics, and gaming.

Focus on industries with high 5G adoption potential, such as manufacturing, public administration, and finance, which are projected to account for significant portions of 5G’s $50 billion economic impact in MENA by 2030.

Develop applications and services that utilize 5G’s high-speed, low-latency capabilities, such as AR/VR gaming, immersive media, and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB).

Improve customer satisfaction by addressing specific needs, as demonstrated by the success of FWA in replacing traditional broadband in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Utilize network slicing to create tailored offerings for industries like healthcare, education, and logistics.

Offer APIs for fraud prevention, security, and quality enhancements, as part of initiatives like the GSMA Open Gateway.

Continue infrastructure investments to enhance network reliability and scalability while adopting green technologies to improve energy efficiency and meet sustainability goals.

Leverage government support in GCC markets for deploying advanced network solutions and sustainable technologies.

These strategies position telecom operators in the Middle East to capitalize on the transformative potential of 5G, driving economic growth, enhancing customer experiences, and unlocking new revenue opportunities.

Recent 5G Activities

Du and Huawei implemented an indoor 5G-Advanced network in the UAE to enhance connectivity in shopping malls, hotels, airports, and residential spaces.

STC and Ericsson deployed automated radio resource partitioning on its 5G standalone (SA) network, preparing for a high-performance, programmable 5G-Advanced network.

e& verified Ericsson’s RedCap software solution on its 5G SA network, aiming to scale RedCap implementation across the UAE.

Vodafone Qatar achieved speeds exceeding 10 Gbps using 6 GHz spectrum in a phase-two trial showcasing the capabilities of 5G-Advanced technologies.

Zain Saudi Arabia invested $425 million to expand its 5G network and digital services ecosystem, with 45 percent of the investment allocated to 5G-Advanced technologies.

STC Kuwait and Huawei launched RedCap Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) commercially, leveraging advanced 5G capabilities.

Du and Nokia conducted a RedCap trial over Du’s commercial network, demonstrating new possibilities for 5G evolution.

MENA in numbers

Mobile subscribers in MENA are projected to grow from 517 million in 2023 to 574 million by 2030, representing a penetration rate increase from 64 percent to 71 percent.

The number of mobile internet users is expected to rise significantly, driven by expanded 4G and 5G coverage.

The mobile ecosystem accounted for $20 billion in GDP in 2023, with operator revenues reaching $66 billion. By 2030, total revenues are forecast to hit $88 billion.

The sector supports 500,000 direct jobs and an additional 700,000 indirectly.

By 2030, 5G is projected to account for 35 percent of mobile connections, showcasing rapid technological adoption.

Licensed cellular IoT connections will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4 percent between 2023 and 2030.

Source : Baburajan Kizhakedath(telecomlead)

Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) has been awarded Telco of the Year at the prestigious Africa Tech Festival Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa. This award recognizes MTN Ghana’s innovative approach to addressing 4G traffic suppression in Accra since 2021.

MTN Ghana triumphed over competitors such as Liquid Intelligent Technologies, LANCK Telecom, and Orange Telecom to secure this esteemed accolade. This achievement followed a collaborative effort with Huawei to deploy a groundbreaking 2.6G Frequency-Division-Duplexing (FDD) massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) solution. This advanced technology significantly improved 4G network performance, providing a 5G-like experience and alleviating capacity bottlenecks.

Commenting on the award, Stephen Blewett, the CEO of MTN Ghana, stated, “We are thrilled to receive this award, which validates our commitment to investing in modern network infrastructure. In an increasingly digital world, the importance of robust and accessible telecommunications infrastructure cannot be overstated. Our goal is to ensure that everyone benefits from a modern connected life. This recognition reinforces our belief statement and fuels our journey toward becoming a technology and platform player.”

The Telco of the Year Award aims to recognize and honor network providers and telecommunications services that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to ensuring seamless and reliable connectivity for all. The award celebrates the vital role telecommunications companies play in connecting people, businesses, and communities, driving digital transformation, and fostering economic and social development across the region.

The 2024 Africa Tech Festival Awards acknowledge the outstanding achievements of telecommunications companies that excel in delivering high-quality services, expanding network coverage, and innovating to meet the evolving needs of their customers.

MTN Ghana is dedicated to leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress by providing reliable network services with extensive coverage, ensuring digital inclusion, and leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience.

MTN Ghana Adjudged Telco of Year 2024

The Award Presented to MTN Ghana

Source: MTN Ghana ( Business Ghana)