Accra, May 14, Ghanadot/GNA - The MTN Group has reached the 100
million subscriber mark in its drive to become the world’s
leading telecommunications service provider in emerging
markets.
With a telecommunications network that covers a population
of approximately 500 million, the 100 million subscriber
achievement means that 1 in 5 people in MTN’s 21 markets in
Africa and the Middle East is an MTN subscriber, a statement
released in Accra said on Thursday.
The Group recorded 98,203,000 subscribers at 31 March 2009,
up eight per cent from 31 December 2008, touching the
all-important 100 million mark in April, as the telecoms
operator signed up more customers.
The statement quoted Group President and CEO Mr Phuthuma
Nhleko as saying: “For a 15-year-old company operating amid
increased competitive intensity in all its markets, this is
a most satisfactory performance by MTN.”
He said the milestone affirmed MTN’s leadership position in
many areas of their business, adding that MTN’s success was
also attributable to a business model that had included
sound financial investment, strong corporate governance,
effective management and corporate social responsibility.
Mr Nhleko paid tribute to MTN’s culturally diverse staff of
over 40 nationalities across the company’s markets, saying
their “can-do” spirit and “innovative mindset” had placed
the Group in a strong competitive position.
The statement said the proportional subscriber contribution
between the regions that MTN operated in remained relatively
unchanged since 31 December 2008 - South and East Africa
(SEA) region contributed 26 per cent of the Group’s total
subscribers while West and Central Africa (WECA) and Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) contributed 45 per cent and 29
per cent respectively.
It said the WECA region increased its subscriber base by 10%
for the first quarter, adding that the strong growth in the
region was primarily due to growth in Nigeria which
contributed 59 per cent to the region’s subscribers and
recorded a 12 per cent increase in its subscriber base to
25,908,000.
“This was mainly due to continued improvements in network
quality and capacity with 173 base stations added in the
quarter.
“Ghana increased its subscriber base by five per cent
despite fierce competition, recording almost seven million
subscribers in January 2009; both Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire
increased their subscriber bases by seven per cent to
3,824,000 and 3,810,000, respectively,” the statement said.
GNA
