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Kampala, Uganda: MTN today introduced MTN Zone, an innovative price plan that offers up to 99 percent savings on MTN to MTN calls. MTN Zone, a revolutionary new tariff will see prepaid customers making calls for as little as UGX 1 per second depending on the time of day and location. It is a unique dynamic tariff system that sees discounts changing on a continual basis.
Customers will save at least 10 percent and up to 99 percent depending on when and where they will make calls from. The new tariff structure which consistently shows customers the percentage of savings they make directly on their handset screens, as they move from one location to another is the first of its kind in the market which has seen other players offering varying discounts during off-peak hours only, when call traffic is less.
MTN Zone relies on unique software that continually monitors the amount of free capacity on the network. The software, developed by MTN South Africa engineers, measures capacity at all levels of the network – at the base station (booster), switch and all the other network elements. Depending on the available capacity, a discount is offered which is communicated to the customer’s handset. The more capacity available, the greater the discount on offer at the time of making the call.
Commenting on the new innovation, MTN’s Chief Commercial Officer, Erik van Veen said the product puts to rest the ongoing price wars that have besieged the market. “This is a world first for Uganda and is a direct response to MTN’s long held promise that it will continue to provide innovative offers that reduce the costs of telecommunications to all mobile users in Uganda” said van Veen.
He added, “MTN Zone has been extremely successful in other MTN countries such as Ghana, Swaziland, Guinea Bissau and South Africa and bringing this to Uganda only reinforces MTN’s position as a market leader and innovator on the African continent. We expect MTN customers to make use of MTN Zone to make savings especially with the current difficult economic situation the world over.”
He explained that to access the dynamic tariff, prepaid customers will only need to switch on their cell broadcast on their handset and activate the service by typing a code *135*1#. “Registration and deregistration are free and one can opt in and out of the MTN Zone as many times as they wish” said van Veen.
The introduction of MTN Zone by the leading telecoms provider is expected to be received with excitement from customers who have recently been treated to copious offers from an increasingly competitive market that has four major players with a fifth expected by close of the year. “MTN is committed to setting the trend in the development of Uganda’s telecommunication sector” concluded van Veen.
About the MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: "MTN". As at 30 September 2009, MTN recorded 108,4 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East. Please visit www.mtn.com andwww.mtnfootball.com
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