Industry News

Ghana’s second-largest mobile operator, AirtelTigo, has partnered with BIMA, the country’s leading provider of mobile delivered health and insurance services to provide customers with access to simple and affordable insurance products and rapidly widen insurance inclusion in Ghana.

The AirtelTigo Insurance programme covers over 2 million lives in Ghana. The policies provide life, hospital or accidental cover for a customer and one family member for as low as 10 pesewas daily. Furthermore, customers can now process their claims digitally from the comfort of their homes using WhatsApp.

“We are very proud of our role as a key development partner with BIMA to offer great solutions to Ghanaians. The new partnership with BIMA further consolidates our financial inclusion proposition and marks another innovation in the Ghanaian telecom industry,” said Murthy Chaganti, the Chief Operating Officer of AirtelTigo Ghana, at the opening of BIMA’s new head office in Alajo, a suburb of Accra.

Mr. Chaganti highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to reaching the uninsured population through mobile insurance, adding that “through this partnership, affordable and easy-to-use insurance solutions will be used to help Ghanaians countrywide”.

With BIMA’s mobile insurance technology, customers can sign up for insurance and health services from their mobile phones and pay premiums through small daily payments. The model created in Ghana has since scaled-up to 15 markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America, reaching 26M subscribers worldwide.

“We are pleased to celebrate this milestone with our partners AirtelTigo and Prudential Life”, said Damien Gueroult, Country Manager of BIMA Ghana. “From our start in 2010 with a dozen of employees to this day, BIMA has been a true Ghanaian success story. This partnership and the inauguration of our new office opens a new page of expansion for BIMA in Ghana”.

Mr Gueroult also thanked the regulators, particularly the National Insurance Commission and the Bank of Ghana, without whose supervision mobile-delivered insurance wouldn’t be a success in Ghana. Mr Seth Eshun, Head of Supervision of the National Insurance Commission said that, “the accessibility and affordability of AirtelTigo Insurance products has played a key role in helping drive the insurance coverage rate in Ghana from 8% in 2010 to about 30% in 2017”.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Mokobi Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Life, the underwriter, disclosed that over 35, 000 customers have received payouts worth over GHS 15 million since the beginning of the partnership. “We are proud of delivering value to customers when they undergo challenging times by paying claims in a quick and efficient manner” Mr. Mokobi Aryee told the gathering.

Source: AirtelTigo.com

Mobile telecommunication giant, Vodafone Ghana, has introduced another exciting promotion ahead of Christmas to provide its Fixed Broadband (FBB) customers an opportunity to do more.

The Special Christmas promotion offers FBB users 30 days of unlimited internet, fun-packed entertainment, free shopping, fuel vouchers as well as discounts on smart home appliances and devices. Customers can access the Fixed Broadband promotion when they pay a minimum of two months’ subscription fees in advance between now and 31st December 2018.

Speaking on the package, Patricia Obo-Nai, Fixed Business and Customer Operations Director at Vodafone Ghana, said, “Similar to previous years, we have introduced this special Christmas promotion to enable our customers to enjoy unlimited internet and exciting entertainment content with their families during this festive period. Our broadband customers can enjoy this package by simply paying two or more months’ advance and have unlimited internet for the first 30days days,” she explained.

She stressed that customers who make three or more months’ advance payments will as well enjoy additional rewards such as free IPTV streaming device with one-month Netflix access; fuel or shopping vouchers; movie tickets for the family; discounts on smart home devices; appliances; and more. She added that Vodafone is committed to finding delightful ways to enrich customers’ experience.

Customers can pay for their service using Vodafone Cash, cash or cheque, Visa or MasterCard and Vodafone scratch card to enjoy this incredible offer.

This promotion is in partnership with Electroland Ghana Ltd, DSTV, and Kwese.

Source: Modernghana.com

AirtelTigo, the country’s second-largest telecommunications operator is marking its historic one-year anniversary with a long-term strategy to pursue growth, innovation and transforming lives in communities.

This was in a statement from Airtel Tigo and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

According to the statement, Mrs Mitwa Ng’ambi, the Chief Executive Officer for AirtelTigo, commended the staff for their professionalism, expertise and determination during the integration period.

“I commend you all for your contribution to our organization and I’m proud of you for being part of the first telecommunications merger in Ghana. You have made history and reflecting on the past year comes to mind the significant role you have played for us to achieve our key milestones,” the statement quoted Mrs Ng’ambi.

According to the statement; the CEO said; “As we celebrate our one-year anniversary, I am excited to announce that we have successfully completed our nationwide network integration and major upgrades. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for AirtelTigo, where we aim to deliver innovative solutions and an even greater experience for customers across all our touch points”.

The statement said through the one big network, customers stand to benefit from a wider network coverage and improved internet speeds, backed with affordable and innovative offers.

The company will also provide businesses with solutions to accelerate digital transformation and growth.

The statement said the CEO pointed out that the company has a line-up of activities to celebrate the anniversary by showing its appreciation to its staff, customers and other stakeholders for their contribution in the journey thus far.

Source: GNA

MTN Ghana has organised its Customer Outreach Day as part of their annual Leadership Swap Day throughout the major markets in the country to offer new and old customers their services and products at their doorstep.

In Accra, staff of MTN  Ghana visited various markets such as the Makola, Kaneshie and Ashaiman markets.

Speaking to the media,  Mr Eli Hini, General Manager for Mobile Financial Services said this year’s outreach is to engage customers, collect feedback and at the same time offer the various managers and directors the opportunity to experience how their colleagues in other departments work.

He said that the decision to bring their services to the markets is to help the traders who do not have the time and convenience of visiting their customer care centers, with the necessary assistance and customer care. Their aim is to ensure that their customers are happy.

Mr Hini added that engaging with customers offers them the opportunity to design new products that will suit them. He said that previous engagements for example helped them redesign their subscription services which now has a double authorization to allow the customer unsubscribe if they are not interested.

Customers in the Ashaiman market were taken through the mobile money service, how to make transactions, change new pins and also get onto the 4G network. The staff urged them to be cautious when performing mobile money transactions and not to share their pin-codes with anyone. New customers were signed on and given free sim cards and other souvenir as well.

Source: BusinessGhana.com

The Federal Communications Commission has confirmed the start of its first high-band 5G spectrum auction reports Telecompaper.com. Bidding starts with the 28 GHz band and then will go to the 24 GHz band, with a total of 1.55 GHz of spectrum available for operators. These are expected to be among the first frequencies used for commercial 5G mobile services and are already being tested by the US’s largest mobile operator, Verizon.

The US regulator confirmed that another auction of high spectrum is planned for 2019, covering the 37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz mmWave bands. In total, the FCC aims to release almost 5 GHz of spectrum to the market in the next 15 months – equal to more than all the spectrum currently used by mobile operators today.

The auction of the licenses in the 28 GHz band will employ the standard simultaneous multiple round auction format.  The 28 GHz licenses will be offered in two 425 MHz blocks by county.

The auction of the 24 GHz band will employ a clock auction format, beginning with a clock phase that will allow bidding on generic blocks in each Partial Economic Area in successive bidding rounds. There will then be an assignment phase to allow winners of the generic blocks to bid for frequency-specific license assignments. The 24 GHz licenses will be offered in seven 100 MHz blocks.

Source:Telecompaper.com

Telecommunications companies have expressed worry about the alarming rates of thievery, fiber cuts and vandalism of their properties.

According to them, more than 250 cases of vandalism have been recorded in the half of 2018.

Additionally, 130,000 litres of diesel, 25,000 litres of fire extinguishers, 600 batteries and 55 air conditioners have been stolen in the first half this year.

Each fiber cut, they say, costs about GH₵ 13,000 to repair – a situation that Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said is negatively affecting the performance of telecom operators.

These concerns came to light at the 11 th Knowledge Forum organized in Accra yesterday dubbed ‘Improving Customer Experience by Safeguarding Telecoms Infrastructure’.

Private developers were identified as leaders in destruction of telco properties with the road contractors following closely. Other companies equally guilty were names as Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Railway and many mining companies.

Mr. Derek Laryea, Research and Communications Manager of Telecoms Chamber, who presented the findings, said even though network operators are working to find solutions, the success rate has not improved.

The Chamber is, therefore, appealing to the general public to play the role of citizen vigilantes to curb the alarming situation.

Source: The Finder

Deputy Director; Principal Research Scientist at the Radiation Protection Institute, Dr. Joseph Amoako has debunked claims about the cancerous effects of radio frequency radiations (RFR) from mobile handsets and telecoms towers.

The First batch of the MTN Mobile Money promo winners have received cash prizes, iPhone X, Samsung S9+, Samsung TV sets for earning higher points on their wallets.

The ultimate winner took home iPhone X, the second winner received Samsung S9+ whiles the third winner carried home a 49 inch Samsung tv set. Others took home Ghc 2000, Ghc1000 and Ghc 500 cash prizes.

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager of Mobile Financial Services, MTN, Mr. Eli Hini said the first presentation is a reward for those who emerged winners for the month of August.

He indicated that rewards remain a good way to encourage loyalty and drive participation.

“This is one of the reasons why MTN comes up with exciting promos during the MoMo Month to drive the broader national agenda of a cashlite economy,” Mr. Hini stated.

He noted that 250 customers will be rewarded with various prizes including iPhone X, Samsung s9+, Samsung TV sets, e-cash and many more.

Mr. Eli Hini added that over the next two months, more than 500 MTN Ghana customers will be rewarded for participating in the MoMo Month promo.

According to him, the promo, which will run for three months is a transaction driven and points based which started on 1st August.

Mr. Hini stressed that MTN Ghana organised the MoMo Month to drive awareness about the importance of the digital payments while exciting customers with promos and rewards.

He intimated that many more Ghanaians will also have the opportunity to know about and register to be on Ghana’s most secure payment platform MTN MoMo.

According to him, digital financial services are increasingly playing a central role in our efforts at ensuring financial inclusion across all sectors – be it formal or informal.

“MTN Ghana is therefore committed to leading in the delivery of a bold new digital world by churning out innovative products and services. Today, we proudly boast of the many partnerships that is driving digital payments, from NFC payments at shopping centers, bill and salary payments, micro-insurance and peer to peer payments,” he emphasized.

Source:Ghanaweb

MTN Ghana has recorded a strong performance in its third-quarter revenue driven by its mobile money (MoMo) service, the South African mobile firm said on Friday.

MTN Group said the unit’s Q3 revenue grew around 23% boosted, MoMo, a platform which allows money transfer and payments using a mobile phone in Ghana, Reuters quoted a statement from the company.

In its report scheduled for release on Monday, October 29, 2018, revenue for the nine months ended 30 September 2018 rose to 3.54 billion Ghanaian cedis ($731.90 million) from 2.49 billion Ghanaian cedis during the same period a year ago.

During the quarter, MTN Ghana’s service revenue grew 22.9%, its data revenue increased by 30.9% and digital revenue rose by 28%.
Ghana market contributed to MTN half-year strong performance

In its half-year financial statement released on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, the African phone firm recorded an improved financial report for led by growth in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

In the period, growth in EBITDA in Ghana went up by 13.6%, its strongest performance across Africa after the Nigerian unit.

Rob Shuter, MTN Group president and CEO, had said the company posted an encouraging first half of 2018, with an acceleration in the second quarter, supported by an improved operational performance across many markets led by Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

Source:Pulse.com.gh

GSMA has launched a new Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, aimed at expanding digital inclusion through innovative new technology solutions.
UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is backing the initiative. GSMA will manage the rural connectivity program.
The innovation fund will provide grants up to £300,000 and is open to eligible companies who can deploy connectivity solutions in partnership with telecom operator MTN Uganda in Uganda and Vodafone Ghana in Ghana, GSMA said.
Funded projects will test innovative ways to deploy mobile broadband networks in rural areas, looking to demonstrate commercially sustainable models that can be scaled and replicated in similar environments.
“The Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity will drive partnerships aimed at developing new ways of using mobile technologies to close coverage gaps in rural areas so that more citizens have access to life-enhancing mobile services,” John Giusti, chief regulatory officer of GSMA, said.
GSMA says projects eligible for funding will test innovative ways to deploy mobile broadband networks in rural areas, in partnership with a mobile operator, and projects will need to demonstrate commercially sustainable models.

Source:Telecomlead