The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MTN

  • Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Which is the most preffered mobile network?

    Telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria has emerged the preferred mobile
    telephone network in a recent poll conducted by The Nation newspaper.

    The poll was conducted via question posted on the company’s website,
    www.staging.thenationonlineng.net.

    The poll ran for almost a period of three weeks with 2, 342 participants. MTN emerged favourite with 756 votes, representing 32.28 per cent, followed by Etisalat with 511 votes (21.82 per cent).

    Globacom had 506 votes, representing 21.61 per cent to place third while 498 (21.26 per cent) voted for Airtel as the preferred mobile network to place fourth. There were 71 votes (3 per cent) for other  networks.

  • MTN stops proxy SIM swap

    MTN stops proxy SIM swap

    MTN said it will no longer allow swapping of subscriber identification module (SIM) by proxy. It said customers who wish to ‘swap’ or replace their SIM cards as a result of their phones being stolen, destroyed or mislaid must do so in person. The decision was taken in order to protect customers’ data and preserve the overall integrity of the SIM swap process, the telco explained.

    MTN Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, who disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos, explained that in recent months, unscrupulous elements have started to exploit the proxy SIM swap process and that there have been incidents of unauthorised people fraudulently obtaining SIM cards belonging to others.

    “The implication of this decision is that customers will now have to appear in person at the service outlets nearest to them to request and obtain new SIM cards. Such requests will be treated promptly after proper ID validation from the SIM registration database, and upon presentation of valid identification such as ID card, international passport or driver’s licence,” said Goodluck.

    He added that the customer would also be required to answer security questions before a new SIM card is issued.

    Shedding more light on the new development, MTN Customer Relations Executive, Mr Akin Braithwaite said that the organisation takes the issue of customer and data security very seriously. He said that a significant number of SIM swap-related fraud was committed by people who are very close to the victims and have access to their personal data. He added that the new requirement that customers effect SIM swaps in person would check the activities of fraudsters in this regard.

  • Why low service quality persists, by MTN

    Why low service quality persists, by MTN

    Telecom giant MTN has explained why the quality of service (Qos) is still low. It blamed the problem on the bureaucracy surrounding the rolling out of new base transmission station (BTS) and vandalism of optic fibre cables.

    MTN Corporate Services Executive Akinwale Goodluck said in Lagos that the issue of service quality is essentially that of “capacity problem” occasioned by the dearth of infrastructure. He said even when the operators were willing to roll out, there was always the frustration of getting the necessary approvals from various government agencies and communities who demand money from operators. Added to this is the constant vandalisation of optic fibre cables for commercial reasons. The cables, he said, are also damaged by construction workers. Goodluck noted that there is massive road construction works going across the country leading to inadvertent damage to the cables.

    He said: “People vandalise the cables in the night, sometimes, as early as 2 am. The fibre is not much of use because it is not copper and this is the worry for us. People actually set out to damage the network so that during repairs, the vandals make all sorts of spurious demands.”

    He disclosed that, in May, the telco integrated 250 2G BTS to the network to improve customers’ experience, adding that persistent fibre cuts rendered capacities meaningless.

    “We are working with the government, security agencies to guarantee this vulnerable infrastructure. Members of the public must also regard telecommunications infrastructure as theirs and not that of MTN because it allows them to communicate with their loved ones easily,” he said.

    He urged the public to be vigilant.

  • Dominant operator: NCC gives MTN four months to comply

    Dominant operator: NCC gives MTN four months to comply

    MTN Nigeria yesterday said it had reached an understanding with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the mode of complying with the regulator’s directive compelling it to raise its tariff.

    MTN Nigeria – the dominant mobile telecos operator in the country had lowered its tariff, compelling more subscribers to move to its network – a move the regulator frowned at. Consequently, NCC about five weeks ago directed the telco to take steps at leveling the playing field in the telecoms industry.

    But Corporate Services Executive at MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, at the telco’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos yesterday said the telco had sought ‘clarifications’ from the regulator over the issue. He said that as a result of the consultation with the regulator, it has arrived at what he described as “graduated glide path” in implementation of the directives.

    “The NCC, in its recent industry review, noted that phone calls between MTN customers cost three times lower than calls to other networks, adding: “This is indicative of the likely establishment of a calling club for MTN subscribers.”

    It therefore directed “Collapse of On net and Off net Retail Tariffs: The differential between the on–net and off net retail tariffs will be immediately collapsed. The tariff for on net and offnet will be the same, and subject to periodic review.”

    Others include:

    However, Goodluck said MTN had been in talks with the regulator over the modus operandi and modus vivendi of the directive, adding that it wants to implement it in such a way that it will not hurt the interest of the subscribers.

    ”What we have agreed (upon) is a graduated glide path. This means that it is not going to happen immediately but over the next three or four months,” he said.

  • MTN splashes N100m on new celebrity Ambassadors

    MTN splashes N100m on new celebrity Ambassadors

    ONE of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication companies, MTN, has reportedly shelled out over N100m in endorsement deals for new brand ambassadors in line with their radical shift in policy.

    The mobile operator recently unveiled pop star Davido, along with four Project Fame Academy alumni, Iyanya, Praiz, Chidinma and Mike Anyasodo as new celebrity faces of the brand.

    Wizkid, whose endorsement deal with Pepsi was recently extended for another two years, was also a beneficiary as he also signed a one-year endorsement deal with the telecoms company.

    It is the first time MTN is officially signing brand ambassadors and exclusive reports also have it that the stars have finished negotiations for a one year endorsement deal which will see some of the beneficiaries earning as much as N15m a year. Davido, who was reportedly paid N30m for his debut MTN commercial last year also renewed for the same amount.

  • MTN seeks talks over dominance report

    MTN Group Limited  (MTN), Africa’s biggest mobile-phone company, said a report that criticised its market leadership and pricing policy in Nigeria isn’t clear and that it will seek talks with the industry regulator.

    MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd., a unit of Johannesburg- based MTN, has become “dominant” in Nigeria with a 44 per cent market share of the mobile voice market, the Nigerian Communications Commission said in a review on its website dated April 25. The commission said phone calls between MTN customers cost a third of the price of calls to other networks and amounted to “a calling club” for MTN users.

    MTN must reform its mobile tariff policy and will face further scrutiny to ensure the competitive landscape is fair for all Nigeria’s operators, the NCC said. The regulator is in the process of an industry shake-up in order to cut mobile phone costs for Africa’s biggest population.

    “At no time have we dropped prices to below the market, we’ve always followed the market,” MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Brett Goschen said in a May 2 interview with Blomberg in his offices in Lagos, the commercial capital. “There’s a lot of competition and that’s what we need to discuss: how they’ve arrived at” the conclusion the market isn’t competitive.

    The NCC isn’t specific on whether MTN needs to raise or cut its tariffs and hasn’t said the company has abused its market position, Goschen said. Prices across Nigeria’s mobile-phone operators have dropped 50 per cent over the past year, showing that the market is competitive, he said.

  • MTN should attend to problem of poor services

    SIR: That MTN is one of the fastest growing telecommunications in the world. But what is of concern to its Nigerian subscribers is how its network has plummeted down the quality line in recent months. The heart-ache and disappointment caused by its erroneous network service to Nigerians in recent months is in no small measure, particularly during the yuletide. The importance of communication and information to life and business cannot be over-emphasised and MTN being one of the service providers has failed Nigerians.

    One can no longer rely on getting a call through at a particular point in time; even the so called MTN Fastlink is a slowlink in disguise because the web surfs at snail’s pace.

    Acknowledged, MTN announced in the media, pleading for the patience of its customers on the grounds that it was carrying-out some maintenance work on its facilities; but how long do we wait for an improved network quality?

    A lot of Nigerians trying to tie-up some end-of-the-year deals were let down by the network. The fact that MTN having reached the 100million-mark subscriber milestone in the world telecommunications market ‘owes’ part of that population to Nigerians and as such, Nigerians, as all others, deserve the best telecommunication service possible.

    While MTN’s sound financial investment, strong corporate governance and corporate social responsibility is relatively commendable, those can be said to be of little significance as it affects directly only on a few.

    I must say it is high time MTN took appropriate measures in improving the all-round quality of their network in earnest so as to regain the satisfaction and quench the displeasure of its Nigerian subscribers. I do not need to remind the authorities of this telecom company that every product or service must be different and better in some unique ways to succeed in a competitive marketplace. More so, it is known that successful businesses have an obsession with customer service and MTN should not be an exception. Notably, the 19 year-old company has been successful partly as a result of this; nonetheless, an improvement is vital. Every good business is in the business of customer satisfaction, and the customer is always right.

    • Ajayi Bright (Brightsy)

    Lagos

  • NCC directs MTN to raise tariff

    NCC directs MTN to raise tariff

    In a bid to create a level playing field for telecoms  operators, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed MTN Nigeria Communication Limited to raise internal mobile tariffs.

    NCC in its recent industry review, phone calls between MTN customers cost three times lower than calls to other networks. The report stressed: “This is indicative of the likely establishment of a calling club for MTN subscribers.”

    MTN, which has about 44 per cent of the market, must cut the difference in price and face further scrutiny to ensure the competitive landscape is even for all operators, the NCC insisted.

    Nigeria, Africa’s fastest growing telecoms market with a population of 167 million people has a subscriber base that is slightly above 113 million at the end of 2012, according to the NCC. MTN Nigeria is the market leader with 47 million lines.

    Globacom had 24 million subscribers, Airtel-23 million customers while Etisalat had 14 million, according to data on the NCC’s website.

    The report also showed that MTN and Globacom were found to “jointly control about 62 per cent of the public terrestrial transmission infrastructure,” raising concerns they may “squeeze the margins of their competitors who are also their customers.”

    “As a result of the determination outlined above, the Commission has resolved that the Dominant Operator in the mobile voice market shall be required to adhere to the following obligations:

    “Accounting Separation: The Commission will immediately enforce and implement Accounting Separation on the dominant operator

    “ Collapse of On net and Off net Retail Tariffs: The differential between the on–net and off net retail tariffs will be immediately collapsed. The tariff for on net and offnet will be the same, and subject to periodic review.

    “ Submission of Required Details: The Commission may require the dominant operator to submit details on specific aspects of its operations from time to time as the need may arise.” The regulator added that the Commission shall make a determination of pricing principle to address the rate charges for on-net and off-net calls for all other operators

    On the dominat operators in the Wholesale Leased Lines and Transmission jointly dominated by MTN and Globacom, NCC said it will impose price cap/price floor for wholesale services and price floor for retail services which shall be subject to periodic review. It also plans to “immediately enforce and implement accounting separation on the joint dominant operator.”

    The regulator added that it may require any of the joint dominant operators to submit details on specific aspects of the operations from time to time as the need arises.

    “The determination shall take effect from 1st May 2013 and remain valid and binding on licensees for the services specified in relevant market segment of this sector until further reviewed by the commission,” the NCC said.

  • MTN denies ‘cold calling’

    Telecom giant MTN Nigeria has denied calling its customers to advertise its products amid subscribers complaints of cold, intrusive and provocative calls and text messages.

    Cold calls are calls that are unsolicited and are therefore considered a provocative intrusion into the privacy of people.

    Its General Manager, Public Affairs, Funmi Omogbenigun, also said the telco had made provision for subscribers to choose not to get ‘service notifications.’

    “MTN does not cold call customers for advertising purposes. For service notifications, there are facilities for customers to opt out. With respect to product or service- related messages, MTN follows NCC directives, which stipulates the frequency and scheduling of such messages. However, in some instances, network factors may cause late delivery which is unintended and always regrettable. This is the (an) exception,” she explained in a response to an electronic mail or email sent by The Nation.

    On what the telco is doing to check the excesses of its customers that buy bulk short message services (SMS) and resell to their customers because that has also been identified as part of the problem, she said the telco does its best to filter spam messages.

    “We do our best to filter spam SMS from identified spammers. There are genuine SMS delivery requests to large groups of subscriber numbers which we are obliged to deliver (e.g. corporate clients with large employee base). However, in an era of ‘net neutrality’, where spammers abuse internet protocols, it is difficult to intervene,” she explained.

    Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Ojobo said the commission has been inundated with complaints from subscribers over unsolicited SMS and calls.

    He said the build-up to the implementation of MNP may have accounted for the surge in the volume of intrusive calls in the country.

    “The operators probably want to get across to as many subscribers as possible now that MNP implementation is round the corner,” he said, adding that with the kick off of MNP, the situation would be normalised.

  • Zenith, First Bank, others sign MTN’s $3b loan

    Zenith, First Bank, others sign MTN’s $3b loan

    A $3 billion medium-term loan agreement was signed yesterday by mobile giant MTN and a consortium of banks.

    Zenith Bank, FCMB, Access Bank and about 14 others signed the deal to finance MTN Nigeria’s medium-term loan, which it plans to spend on expanding and upgrading its network.

    According to MTN, the loan, which tenure of repayment has been increased from five to seven years, is syndicated from both local and international banks.

    Zenith contributed N55billion – the highest. First Bank put in N40 billion. GTBank also put N40 billion on the table. Access Bank, Fidelity Bank and First City Monument Bank added N35 billion, N26.25billion and N15 billion.

    Speaking at the Eko Hotel and Suites, venue of the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Nigeria, Brett Goshen, said it was another milestone in the history of the telco, which, he said, has built a track record of partnerships with both local and international fiancial institutions.

    He recalled that in 2003, the $395million funding MTN Nigeria received from financial institutions was the largest funding sealed outside South Africa, adding that it won the telco Project Fianace magazine’s “African Telecoms Deal” of the year.

    “In 2007, MTN Nigeria again partnered with various local and international fianacial institutions to raise $2 billion to fund our rapidly expanding operations. It was again regarded as the largest laon syndication to any individual telecommunications company in Africa,” Goshen said, adding that in 2010, the telco partnered with 15 local financial institutions and two international lenders to raise another $2 billion described as the largest corporate fianacing deal in sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to him, the essence of these deals is to enable the telco make the capital investment necessary to expand its network infrstructure and meet the growing demands of its customers.

    “We certainly put that fiancing into good use, built the most extensive telecommunications network in Africa and grew our customer base to over 50 million subscribers. With mobile penetration still relatively low, sound economic growth, lower cost of ownership for consumers and the insatiable demand for data services, the growth story continues,” the CEO added.

    He said the restructured and additional facilities would enable MTN to continue with the aggressive investment in its network which got $1.5 billion this year, and take advantage of the demands of customers and growth opportunities.