Ericsson and MTN Group have agreed to
modernize the core network of MTN’s affiliates in South Africa and Nigeria over
five years in line with MTN Group’s MTN Unified Cloud Acceleration (MUNA)
principles and objectives.
The agreement
was concluded recently, where the companies agreed on key strategic priorities
and collaborations, underscoring both companies' shared vision and commitment
to fortify their long-term partnership.
Building on
existing and successful partnerships for cloud-native core network deployment
with Ericsson in both countries, the modernization will ensure the readiness of
MTN Nigeria’s and MTN South Africa’s network infrastructures to enable 5G
standalone in the future. The modernized core networks will be powered by Ericsson’s
cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core, and will enable MTN Group to achieve
its objectives in Nigeria and South Africa of delivering innovative solutions
for both consumers and enterprises in Africa.
Mazen Mroué,
MTN Group Chief Technology and Information Officer says: “We are embarking on a strategic transformation program to modernize
and upgrade our core network infrastructure, signifying a commitment to
enhancing network performance and efficiency in respective markets. This
collaboration is a key milestone for our Ambition 2025 to set new benchmarks in
connectivity excellence, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver
superior customer experiences and innovation.”
The modernization
efforts in Nigeria align with national broadband goals and MTN’s strategic
objectives. Mohammed Rufai, MTN Nigeria Chief Technical Officer says: ”The network upgrade is geared towards
enhancing our core network. When completed, it will further accelerate
broadband penetration in alignment with the Federal Government’s Broadband
plan. This expansion is also in line with our strategic priorities - building
the largest and most valuable platforms, driving industry-leading connectivity
operations, creating shared value and accelerating portfolio transformation.”
MTN South
Africa's modernization journey benefits significantly from this partnership,
Rami Farah, MTN South Africa Chief Technology Officer shares: “Ericsson has been MTN SA's network
infrastructure partner for several years. This new partnership is an extension
of what has been achieved by both parties over the years. The partnership will
enable MTN SA to modernize further and upgrade the core mobile network in line
with MTN Group Unified Cloud Acceleration principles and objectives which will
ensure the readiness of our network infrastructure to support the strong data
growth and enable 5G standalone in the future.”
From
Ericsson’s perspective, the partnership with MTN Group is a testament to a
shared ethos of innovation and progress, representing Ericsson, Hossam
Kandeel, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit MTN and Customer Unit
MTN Africa at Ericsson Middle East and Africa says: “Our partnership with MTN Group is based on innovation and driving
networks evolution for customer experience and business value. Together, we are
shaping the future of digital connectivity in Africa with the modernization of
MTN Nigeria and MTN South Africa’s core networks. We aim to drive this
technological advancement in line with Ericsson’s #AfricaInMotion vision.”
The MUNA
principles and objectives are pivotal to MTN’s PACE technology strategy to
accelerate the execution of MTN’s Ambition 2025 by transforming MTN’s network
infrastructure into a modern, agile, and cloud-native core network. This
transformation will empower MTN to offer innovative services to its customers,
enhancing operational efficiency, driving growth, and enabling a better
customer experience.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye