Tag: MTN

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has launched the pilot of its paper-based biodegradable eco-friendly subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, in line with its Project Zero goals which seek to reduce GHG emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

The biodegradable paper-based SIM card is safer for the environment, as it supports the management of products throughout their lifecycle in a manner that promotes circularity and reduces waste. Also, the gradual elimination of plastic-based SIM cards helps the company make a huge contribution to plastic pollution prevention, showing its commitment to continuously exploring ways to integrate sustainable practices into its operations.

This initiative, driven through a local supplier, reflects MTN’s commitment to empowering local businesses and boosting economic growth through sustainable partnerships.

Comparing the benefits of the 100per cent biodegradable paper-based SIM cards to the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic-based material, these eco-friendly SIMs can biodegrade naturally and are recyclable, thus reducing waste pollution. It also lowers carbon emissions footprint during production and disposal. This helps eradicate the material problems of plastic SIM cards, such as landfill or incineration disposal, limited recycling options and contribution to waste pollution.

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo, said: “Our new eco-friendly SIM cards represent part of our continuous commitment to environmental responsibility, as well as our dedication to reducing waste, supporting local Nigerian vendors and integrating sustainability into business operations as well as the daily lives of the people.”

Also speaking, General Manager, Sustainability and Shared Value, Adekemi Adisa,  said: “Our people and the environment where they live drives the innovative measures we take. The launch of our recyclable SIM cards embodies our commitment to sustainability, encouraging our customers to make eco-friendly choices, reducing waste and paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future for Nigerians.”

This move aligns with MTN’s promise to ‘Doing for the Planet’, prioritizing eco-responsibility and minimizing the company’s environmental footprint through responsible and sustainable waste management practices. As a pilot, these eco-friendly SIM cards are available in selected MTN stores in Lagos and Abuja.

Smartphone firm eyes top position in Nigeria (brief)

By Lucas Ajanaku

A new original equipment manufacturer (OEM), realme, at the weekend made its entry into the market, targeting being the preferred brand in the country within the shortest possible time frame.

The company which said it is the fifth top brand in 30 global markets said it is hoping to emerge tops in Nigeria as the leading market in its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional markets.

According to an official of the company that spoke during a ceremony to mark its entry into the market at the weekend in Ikeja, she said the company took its time to research into existing gaps in the market, especially in the area of providing more for the youthful segment of the society for same price with the incumbent competitors.

The company acknowledged the importance of affordability in the quest to deepen access, adding that it is offering smart devices at pocket-friendly prices to customers in the country.

Speaking in Lagos, realme’s Head of Marketing in Nigeria, Antonio Ran, highlighted the company’s plan to target young users with the new Realme Note 50 smartphone.

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He said the brand aims to provide cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology in affordable devices, allowing students, Gen Z, and even older generations to access premium tech without breaking the bank.

Ran expressed realme’s mission to become a tech populariser by bringing high-end features traditionally found in expensive smartphones to younger generations.

He said focus will be on the ambitious young talents and new workforce entrants does not exclude older users.

 “We want to make the technology real, we want to make their experience with smartphones real,” “he said.

Head of Sales in Nigeria at realme, Olamide Kaka, ssaid the company had identified a gap in the Nigerian market, where young people often face overpriced and underperforming devices.

He noted that realme aims to provide quality products that were affordable and would appeal to the country’s youthful population.

He added that the brand had already gained traction several countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, and India, and sees Nigeria as a crucial market to expand their footprint.

realme’s Digital Marketing Lead in Nigeria, Mr Yusuf Adebari, also emphasised the importance of software durability and user experience.

He said realme offered superior software compared to other brands in Nigeria, allowing the devices to last longer without performance issues.

Adebari noted that realme’s Note 50 stands out with features such as a fast charger, enhanced camera quality, and water-resistant design.

With plans to establish service centers across the country, Adebari assured customers of reliable after-sales support, even though the durable design would limit repair needs.

By bridging the affordability gap, realme empowers individuals and businesses to thrive in today’s digital landscape.

The realme Note 50 is more than just a smartphone, it’s a key to unlocking opportunities, connecting with customers, and accessing vital information.

realme’s commitment to affordability ensures that everyone can experience the benefits of smartphone technology, regardless of economic constraints.

The realme Note 50, aimed at budget-conscious consumers, features a 6.74-inch 90Hz HD+ display, a slim 7.99mm design, and IP54 dust and water resistance.

Powered by a Unisoc T612 chipset and paired with 3GBRAM and 64GB storage (expandable up to 8GB and 128GB respectively), the Note 50 offers a balanced mix of performance and affordability.

The phone’s 5000mAh battery and 13MP rear camera make it a solid contender for everyday use.

He said driven by a commitment to make technology accessible to all, realme has engineered innovative smartphones that combine impressive features with unbeatable affordability.

realme’s mission is to empower the young generation, who are the driving force of innovation and progress.

He said the brand’s products are designed to benefit users across various age groups, providing an affordable gateway to the digital world.

The realme phone boasts impressive features, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a powerful and affordable device.

The advent of the telecommunication subsector has had rippled positive effects on the nation’s educational attainment, Friday Okuwe, Senior Manager, Brand, Media, & Sponsorships MTN Nigeria, has said.

He made this revelation when the telecoms firm played host to students from Rome Business School, who came on study tour at the MTN Nigeria corporate headquarters, recently.

Addressing the students, Okuwe said, “The telecommunications sector has revolutionised the Nigerian economy, creating an entirely new economy and opening up income opportunities for millions of Nigerians,” Friday Okuwe, Senior Manager, Brand, Media, & Sponsorships, emphasised during his keynote address. Today, telecoms is bridging the literacy gap, connecting Nigerians, and linking the country to the global village.”

Okuwe also shared MTN’s evolution from a traditional telco to a cutting-edge tech company, driven by changing consumer needs and landscapes.

“As the landscape shifts and consumer needs evolve, we adapt. The MTN of 2001 is vastly different from today’s MTN – we’ve transformed into a technology company, recognizing technology’s pivotal role in every aspect of life.”

Speaking on the evolving business landscape at MTN Nigeria, Edith Leblanc student of Rome Business School with experience working at the European Union for digital transformation, inquired about MTN’s data protection and privacy laws using the European telecom industry as a case study.

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Okuwe explained that data protection is a top priority for MTN, with a comprehensive framework in place to safeguard customer data. “Data protection and data privacy laws are growing in Nigeria. It’s a law of life that we live and every employee at MTN undergoes a course on data privacy and data protection. These frameworks are in place to ensure the 79 million subscribers we cater to are adequately protected.”

Okuwe also noted that Nigeria has made significant strides in data protection, with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 establishing a legal framework for personal data regulation. This law replaces the Nigerian Data Protection Regulations (NDPR) 2019 and aims to safeguard citizens’ rights to privacy.

The discussion also touched on the company’s commitment to its employees, where Vivian Omoregbe, Manager, Employee Experience and Change at MTN Nigeria, cited the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) launched in 2021.

“Our EVP is a promise from the brand to our employees in return for their commitment to the brand,” Omoregbe explained. “We prioritise employee growth, well-being, and satisfaction, recognising their pivotal role in driving our success.”

A technology company, MTN Group, has expressed optimism about the adoption of the fifth generation (5G) technology which it has launched in both the Nigerian and South African markets.

In 2018, the telco completed Africa’s first ultra-low latency 5G network indoor and outdoor trials in South Africa, where it launched commercial 5G services in June 2020.

MTN South Africa now has more than 1000 5G sites across several spectrum bands, with plans to significantly scale this up since it procured high-demand spectrum in a landmark auction in March 2022.

MTN Nigeria also secured, via auction, spectrum for the deployment of 5G in 2022, and in December 2021, MTN Côte d’Ivoire launched 5G trials.

Speaking with reporters during the visit of Media Innovation Programme (MIP) Fellows to the Group Headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city and capital of Gauteng Province, the Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Chika Ekeji, said the adoption rate of new technology is usually low, adding that with time, the adoption rate of the technology which he put at between 12 per cent and 20 per cent would go up.

Represented by the General Manager, Network Sharing Deal Management at MTN Group, Ethisen Mankum, the Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer said there has to be a compelling case for the strategy for 5G deployment, adding that fixed wireless access targeted for home users is one such compelling use case.

Ekeji said 5G adoption is however going up as modems for homes are available for sale to customers.

While acknowledging the access constraints occasioned by the rather punitive access cost of 5G compatible devices in the markets, he said the telco has started collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Huawei and others to explore affordable compatible devices to deepen access.

He however identified the prepaid nature of smartphone acquisition as a major challenge.

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Reeling out stats, he said 43 per cent of telecom subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) use 2G for calls and short message services (SMS) while only 25 per cent of the total population has access to mobile internet which is projected to rise to 31 per cent by 2030.

He lamented that 65per cent of the populace are either unbanked or under-banked while 90 per cent of the payments across the region is done in cash, underscoring the fact that mobile banking remained a largely untapped opportunity for operators.

Speaking on the telco’s Ambition 2025, with focus on Leading Digital Solutions for Africa’s Progress, he said everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life.

Anchored on building on the largest and most valuable platforms; drive industry-leading connectivity operations, create shared value, and accelerate portfolio transformation, he said the company prioritises the building of resilient infrastructure in Nigeria with emphasis on portfolio transformation making local operations independent.

He also spoke on inflation which is higher than expected and which has had a crushing impact on the disposable capital of subscribers, adding that there was also the macro-economic issue of currency devaluation which did not only rocked Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana. He nonetheless said there are still what he described as pan-African growth opportunities.

Telecom operator, MTN Nigeria and Osun State government are looking forward to the decision of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the claim by the state’s consultant on telecommunications infrastructure, that MTN is indebted to the state to the tune of N900 million in tax fees.

A document sighted by our correspondent yesterday showed that the agreement for the laying over 270 kilometres (km) of cables in the state was sealed by the telco and Odu’a Infraco, the company licensed by the NCC to provide telecom infrastructure to the Southwest geopolitical zone of the country.

Odua Investment Company that partnered with MTN is partly owned by the Osun State government.

Odua Infraco has the right of way for 1031.44 kilometres across the four states of Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti for the construction and operation of fibre infrastructure, for which MTN executed an IRU with Odua

Recall that the Chairman of Global Transactions Limited (GTL), Rotimi George-Taylor, consultant to the state government, had accused MTN of refusing “to pay statutory taxes,” but had gone ahead to donate N1billion to support the Federal Government.

The consultant has therefore petitioned the regulatory body demanding the payment of the said cash.

But the document sighted by our correspondent showed that the deployment of fiber cables in the state were in strict compliance with the terms of the Indefeasible Right-of-Use (IRU) agreement between MTN and O’odua Infraco which was executed subject to each state’s confirmation of its No Objection to O’odua Infraco’s lease of the fibre ducts.

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The document showed that this was fulfilled by the ‘No Objection’ letter dated 15th March 2023 issued by the Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology granting O’odua Infraco’s request to lease its duct and fibre to interested telecommunications operators.

Since there was no evidence to the contrary, MTN would not have presumed there was any illegality involved as regards the No Objection letter as it was an official document issued by a relevant and official ministry of the Osun State government.

There was also no time the many Commissioners or Special Advisers to the state government made any remarks pertaining to the validity of the Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology’s No objection letter.

And in the event there are any doubts as to the validity of the No objection letter, such concerns should not be construed to the detriment of MTN neither should MTN be held accountable for O’odua Infraco’s actions.

The document showed that the appointment of GTNL as the state government’s Technical Consultant vested with the responsibility of ensuring the integrity of telecommunications infrastructure in the state was premised squarely on the judgment of the Osun State High Court delivered on 28th September 2023.

The Right of Way & Easement Agreement between the state government and O’odua Infraco (dated 6th March 2023), the IRU agreement between MTNN and O’odua Infraco (dated 22nd September 2022) and even the “No Objection” letter issued by the Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to O’odua Infraco on 15th March 2023, all predated the judgment’s delivery on 28th September 2023.

It is also noteworthy to emphasise that based on the reliefs sought by the claimant in the suit, the terms of settlement adopted by the Court in its judgment did not in any way invalidate the pre-existing agreements referenced above. In particular, the RoW agreement between the Osun State government and O’odua Infraco continued to subsist till its purported termination by the Osun State Government on 1st February 2024, a fact admitted to in the letter received from the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters dated 19th April 2024.

The document stated that since MTN had already made the relevant payment to O’odua Infraco as required by the terms of the IRU agreement between both parties, there was no basis for its paying N1,045,000,000 demanded by the state for RoW fees.

From the document, MTN has settled its RoW fees to Odua Infraco based on binding RoW contract between Osun State and Oodua. If there is an attempt by Osun State government to sever ties with Odua Infraco, this shouldn’t impact existing agreement with RoW right holders (Odua and Osun should resolve their differences in the overall interest of ease of doing business);

During the period referenced, MTN legally partnered with the Odua Investment Company – in which the Osun State government has a significant shareholding, to lay cable in their fibre ducts in the state. This was based on the documented existing right of way approvals for Odua’s ducts provided by the Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

George-Taylor had urged the Federal Government to ensure that companies like MTN fulfil their constitutional obligations before being permitted to meet with any leaders.

“I have dealt with many multinational companies, but I have not encountered what MTN Nigeria is doing.

 “While it is ordinarily commendable for a multinational company to donate N1 billion to our country, this noble act comes off as questionable when the same company owes Osun state over N900 million.

 “It is imperative that NCC lives up to its position, as an arbiter, to ensure that Osun state is not defrauded of its legitimate income by MTN.

 “It is also hoped that MTN Nigeria will prioritise fulfilling its financial obligations to the state before seeking public praise for its charitable contributions,” George-Taylor had said.

He said the people of Osun are entitled to transparency and fairness from multinational companies operating in their state.