MTN AGM: Covid-19 propels MTN’s digital agenda

The CEO of MTN, Selorm Adadevoh, has observed that, Covid-19 has accelerated the company’s digital agenda which it set out to achieve in three years time.

In responding to a question, just after the company’s maiden virtual Annual General Meeting in Accra, on the lessons learnt from Covid-19 and how it has changed the business of MTN, the CEO said the Covid-19 has not changed the focus of the company but rather propelled it to achieve its agenda.

We all said the future is digital but now Covid-19 has accelerated the process and today, we can say both the present and future are all digital,” he stated.

He explained that, while declaring the ‘Year Of The Customer 2019’, MTN Ghana pledged to make the satisfaction of their customers a priority.

Adopting #WeDey4U as the new catch phrase for the ‘Year Of The Customer 2019’, customers of MTN Ghana enjoyed highly efficient network connectivity compared to non in the industry, following an investment of over USD 160 million into network technology and IT systems, extended technology leadership through LTE Advanced, 4+, rolling out of over 900 4G LTE sites, 277 3G sites and 450 2G sites, among others.

This year we are investing USD130m in infrastructure development to further improve user experience,” he added.

A key highlight of the ‘Customer centric’ era is the launch of the MTN TurboNet router, a plug and play internet router, which comes with high powered external antenna and data SIM, which enables it to deliver fast internet in the company’s 4G locations. TurboNet provides instant high speed internet for up to 32 users at the same time.

Again, MTN is ensuring access to connectivity for over 300 rural communities across the country.

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The CEO emphasized the importance of achieving technology excellence, saying it was the driving force for achieving the right efficiencies across the spectrum to serve the customer’s needs.

Data, Digital, Mobile Financial Services and Voice products , he said, are expected to remain the drivers of the company, which now has more than 20 million customers, and made a profit of more than GHC1 billion last year.

In the past three years, well over 100 million more people across the world in MTN’s footprint have been covered by its data network. This brings the group’s network coverage for data services to beyond 480 million people. However, about 60% of rural populations in Africa remain unconnected. To benefit from connectivity, they need affordable devices as well as the digital literacy to easily access relevant and meaningful content.

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To support smartphone adoption, in 2019 MTN distributed 675 000 affordable data-enabled handsets across 12 markets. It also launched a digital literacy programme in nine markets, helping over three million people improve their understanding of the mobile internet and applications.

Development of digital tools  that enhance productivity and growth

These including the introduction of MTNPlay which is a platform that allows subscribers to upload and download of content on entertainment, videos, games, music etc.

Furthermore, the introduction of MTN business varied services to digitally assist businesses maximize and optimize their businesses.

The company is also introducing a new initiative to formalize and make the gaming community in Ghana more vibrant.  One of the greatest use of data is for games: video games, e-sports etc.  Recently MTN organized the maiden gaming conference in the country.

COVID-19 Impact

Selorm Adadevoh said Covid-19 created a about 25% spike in data consumption on the MTN network, leading to an appreciable increase in some of their revenue lines, but voice usage and revenue remained fairly stable.

He however noted that the pandemic had an adverse effect on their supplies and the cost of it thereof, but MTN remains committed to sustaining the Covid-19 impact alleviation packages for their customers, staff and other stakeholders.