GLOBAL mobile subscription of MTN Group has hit 183 million in the third quarter of 2012.
MTN, which operates in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Syria, Cameroon, Uganda, Iran, Cameroon, Sudan and South Africa among others, grew its subscriber numbers by 3.8 per cent to 182.7 million.
According to the telecommunications firm, though MTN Nigeria faced some challenges, subscriber growth showed a healthy improvement during the quarter, increasing 5.7 per cent and maintaining market share.
MTN attributed its growth in Nigeria largely to successful competitive offerings, which saw significant price declines driven by promotional activities, adding that parts of the network have experienced some deterioration in congestion levels.
Presently, MTN Nigeria, which has over 45 million subscribers, noted that data continued to gain momentum, but that growth in 2G data were impacted by network congestion.
Meanwhile, speaking to participants at the just concluded International Telecommunications Union Conference in Dubai, UAE, MTN Nigeria's General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Mrs. Oyeronke Oyetunde disclosed that the telecommunications firm has invested over N280 billion in its current facility and network upgrades in the country, stressing that it has also been able to create over 350,000 direct and indirect employments in Nigeria within the last 10 years of operations.
Besides, Oyetunde said that 99 per cent of MTN Nigeria's 2263 employees in the country are Nigerians.
"MTN never regrets investing in the Nigerian economy. Within the last 10 years of operations, it has created over 350,000 direct and indirect jobs. It will amaze you that 99 per cent of our 2263 direct employees are Nigerians."
Speaking to audience including the Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo; Governors of Abia and Niger, Theordore Orji and Aliyu Babangida respectively; the minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and other nationals, the MTN Regulatory Affairs General Manager said the telecommunications firm has started exporting human resources to other parts of the continent.
According to her, former three MTN Nigeria's top executives now head MTN operations in Ghana; Cameroon and Zambia.
In the area of gender equality, she informed that the Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria is a woman, with focus on developing and increasing MTN service efficiency in Nigeria.
She said the telecommunications firm has over 9000 Base Transceiver Stations and has laid 11,000km fibre network across the country to boost service delivery.
On the current network modernisation in Nigeria, MTN said the process is being hindered by floods and insecurity in many parts of the country, and has appealed for understanding from its customers and other key stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, MTN Nigeria's Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck, said, "We regret, however, that the pace of work has been considerably challenged by the spate of insecurity coupled with the unprecedented flooding being experienced in many parts of the country.
Goodluck informed that the
network optimisation exercise will affect over 4,000 base stations out of the 10,000 owned by the company across the country.
"The task that we are undertaking is tantamount to building a new network. We are seeking to replicate what we achieved over a six-year period in nine months," Goodluck stated.
According to him, considerable progress had been recorded with regard to the ongoing network improvement plans.
"Several swap-outs have reached very advanced stages of completion. The entire network modernisation process is a very logistic-intensive one and the problem of insecurity has seriously affected the pace of work in some parts of the country," he said.
He added that in at least 13 states, flooding had created additional logistic impediments such that the pace of the network modernisation efforts had slowed down.
