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MTN has again emerged the best data and voice Network in Uganda having attained the Best Network Performance Score during the national network benchmarking campaign in a countrywide assessment undertaken at the end of last year by Rohde & Schwarz. This award comes two years after MTN’s win of the same award in February 2020.

Rohde & Schwarz bestowed this award on MTN Uganda following tests conducted on ground in Uganda, during the 3rd quarter of 2021, and within the framework of a study that involved extensive tests of voice calls and internet speed evaluations across over 9000km around the country.

The awarding company, Rohde & Schwarz is a leading global supplier of standalone products, integrated solutions and managed services for testing and improving the quality of mobile networks along the entire network lifecycle – from lab verification, spectral clearance, interference hunting and base station installation to site acceptance, benchmarking, optimization, troubleshooting and monitoring. The comprehensive portfolio supports all technologies, from 2G to 5G, and addresses all test and measurement scenarios from RF to end-user quality of experience (QoE). The innovative solutions allow users to accurately collect data and to gain machine learning-assisted deep insights into the QoE delivered to end users. Solutions from Rohde & Schwarz empower top-tier mobile network industry players to make QoE-centric business decisions with confidence, to deliver better services with higher quality for end users, to reduce time to market for new technologies and services and to secure and increase the value of their business.

Between 10th October and 24th December 2021, Rohde & Schwarz conducted an independent network quality and performance test on the networks of all mobile operators in Uganda including Smile, Airtel and MTN. In the survey, the three network systems were benchmarked against leading European mobile telephone operators using the network performance scoring method of European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) TR 103 559 S.

MTN Uganda registered the highest score in both data and voice, scooping a total of 649 out of 1000 points. MTN’s data service scored 367 out of 600 points while its voice service scored 282 out of 400 points, making it the premium provider of both data and voice services in the country.

Managing Director of Rohde&Schwarz SwissQual AG, Hanspeter Bobst, stated “We are very pleased to be partnering with a leading multinational operator such as MTN and use our expert knowledge of the execution of large-scale benchmarking campaigns and data analytics. This was the third project we completed together, and the team in MTN Uganda has demonstrated an impressive and continuous improvement of network quality over the years, achieving the best Network Performance Score since the beginning of the project.”

Commenting about the company’s remarkable Network Performance Score, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer said that; “This score is evidence of how much effort we have invested in delivering on our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. Such a performance encourages us to work even harder to extend of top-notch services to our customers. The fact that we won this award in 2020 and won it again in 2022 shows our commitment to providing the very best services to our clientele.”

Vanhelleputte further noted that MTN Uganda is investing US$ 300 million over a three-year period that commenced last year, to further consolidate its services across Uganda, with the aim of upholding the country’s Broadband policy and Vision 2040.

The Best Network Operator award comes at a time that MTN Uganda is commencing the operationalization of the MTN Ambition 2025 strategy which is anchored on the vision of MTN leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress. Key among the MTN Ambition 2025 strategy pillars is the active desire to drive industry-leading connectivity operations, a fact that has manifested in the company’s impressive Network Performance results.

Also worth noting is that MTN’s Best Network Performance award comes barely two years since MTN was named the most admired brand in Africa. In January 2020, MTN Uganda became the first operator in East Africa and the third in Africa to showcase the 5G network to its customers.

“Our mission is to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to our customers” said the MTN Uganda Chief Technology and Information Officer, Ali Monzer. “We are delighted that our efforts are yielding results through seamlessly connecting people and businesses. This is a great building block to the economies in which we operate more so during the pandemic where voice and data services became a lifeline across all the various sectors of the economy.”

Monzer further noted that the increasing adoption of digitization in every sector as a way of conducting business has necessitated having a high-speed, reliable and universal internet connectivity that MTN Uganda is set to deliver as part of its commitment to leading innovations for Africa’s progress.

In line with the 2018 National Broadband Policy that emphasizes the role of broadband internet in the socio-economic transformation process as a critical enabler and Uganda’s Vision 2040 that underscores the need for Uganda to re-orient itself to make ICT as the main driver of economic growth through ensuring ‘Connectivity for all’, MTN is committed to further amplifying its services to continue with its vision of delivering a bold new digital world to its over 15 million customers.

About MTN Uganda

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the NTO license granted by the UCC. Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Our services are delivered through a network of 119,077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. At end of June 2021, MTN Uganda had 14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million MoMo users and 4.7 million active data users. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on

www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.

About MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.

For more information, please contact: 

MTN Uganda Press Office: mediadesk.ug@mtn.com

Rhona Arinaitwe: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com or 0772 123 067

Prisca Baike: prisca.baike@tbwa-uganda.com or 0782 654 083

Addressing the officials in Mutundwe yesterday, Vanhelleputte,MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer welcomed and appreciated the State Minister and her delegates for taking the time to tour the site.

“I would like to thank the Government of Uganda for creating an enabling environment for business growth and prosperity through continuous dialogue and collaboration with the private sector with the aim of extending quality services to the entire population,” Vanhelleputte said.

The $256million Mutundwe switch and data center commissioned in 2012, is a prime facility that houses MTN data servers and facilitates connection of the telecom’s 15million customers through 2G, 3G and 4G network across the entire country.

According to Ali Monzer, MTN Uganda’s Chief Technical Information Officer, Mutundwe switch and data center is one of two parent sites owned by MTN through which network signals are transmitted to facilitate calls across the country.

“MTN has six sites distributed across the country including Mutundwe and Mbuya which are the parent sites (brain) of the operations supported by other minor sites in Mbarara, Masindi, Lira and Tororo to enable MTN provide services such as voice calls, data and mobile money,” he said.

Monzer also added: “It is with the support of these sites that the 2550 masts owned by MTN provide 97% population coverage on 2G, 91% coverage on 3G and 61% population coverage on LTE which sums up to 72% land mass coverage.”

In accordance with its licence obligation, MTN will within the next two years further invest in the expansion of land mass coverage beyond 72% to 90%.

Acknowledging the investment made at the site, Hon Ssebugwawo prized MTN’s commitment and efforts in ensuring quality service delivery to the public noting that the telecom plays a pivotal role in bolstering economic growth of the country.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend MTN for the great work it is doing. I was greatly impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities housed at this data center that have facilitated service provision to the public for so many years,” Hon Ssebugwawo  said, committing government’s continued support towards growth of the ICT sector.

The State Minister was reiterated by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Zawedde who said that the investment made by MTN into the telecom sector gives the Ministry assurance and comfort in the potential growth of the communication services in the country.

She also appealed for collaboration and harmonious synchronization amongst the stakeholders to boost digitization of the economy through continual innovation.

 

 

About MTN Uganda

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the NTO licence granted by the UCC. Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Our services are delivered through a network of 119 077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. At end-June 2021, MTN Uganda had 14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million MoMo users and 4.7 million active data users.

For more information, please contact:

Rhona Arinaitwe

Senior Manager Corporate communication

Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com

 

MTN Uganda Limited announces that it will proceed today with the listing of its  22.4 billion ordinary shares on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), with trading commencing immediately.

The listing has received the requisite approvals from the Capital Markets Authority in Uganda and the USE. It follows the successful completion of the largest initial public offering in Uganda’s history, raising a record UGX535 billion from applications for 2.9 billion shares (including incentive shares).

“We are delighted with the successful completion of the offer. It clearly shows the confidence that Ugandans and other investors have in the company, its brand and its strategic intent,” said MTN Uganda Chairman Mr. Charles Mbire. 

“We commend all the regulators for their support in our work to become a USE-listed company and to comply in a timely manner with the listing provisions of the national telecommunications operators’ licence,” he added.

MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhelleputte was also in a celebratory mood: “Today marks the conclusion of a remarkable journey which has given over 20 000 Ugandans the opportunity to become owners of MTN Uganda.” 

“We are particularly proud of our digital m-IPO collaboration with the USE, an African first. More than 93% of the applications were made via the m-IPO platform, with the majority of these investors new market participants,” he added.

The listing reduces the ownership of MTN Group in MTN Uganda from 96% to 83.05%. It is in line with MTN Group’s strategic priority to create shared value, partly through ensuring broad-based ownership in all operating subsidiaries. This aligns with the Ugandan Communications Commission’s new licensing requirement for broad-based ownership by Ugandans, with a compliance deadline of mid-2022.

“With this listing, MTN Uganda becomes the Ugandan stock with the largest market

capitalisation on the USE,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita. “We are very encouraged to have helped facilitate the broadest possible shareholder base in Uganda, with regional participation and in so doing, further developing the equity capital markets in this country.” 

 

About the MTN Uganda

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the NTO licence granted by the UCC. Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Our services are delivered through a network of 119,077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. At end-June 2021, MTN Uganda had 14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million MoMo users and 4.7 million active data users.

 

For more information, please contact:

Rhona Arinaitwe                                                                       

Senior Manager                                                          

Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com                                                                   

MTN Uganda Limited                                   

 

MTN Uganda Limited is pleased to announce the opening of its initial public offer (IPO) of 20% of its ordinary shares, following approvals by the Capital Markets Authority of Uganda (CMA) and the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE).

The secondary sale of 4.4 billion shares by the MTN Group will be at an offer price of UGX200 per share. The offer opens today, Monday 11 October 2021, and will close on Monday 22 November 2021. MTN Group currently holds 96% of MTN Uganda.

“With the opening of the IPO we are one step closer to our goal of broad ownership of our business across the Ugandan population,” said MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Wim Vanhelleputte. “Our m-IPO initiative is the country’s first paper-free IPO platform aimed at retail investors, in partnership with the USE, and will help position Uganda at the forefront of digitising the capital markets for Africa,” he added.

Yolanda Cuba, MTN Group Vice President for Southern and East Africa, said the IPO would give Ugandans an opportunity to participate in the ownership of their country’s leading mobile operator and, in doing so, help deepen Uganda’s capital markets.

“Today’s IPO is very clearly aligned with our Ambition 2025 strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” she said.

The offer aims to facilitate the broadest possible shareholder base in Uganda, with Ugandan Retail Investors making Applications for Offer Shares of an aggregate minimum value of UGX 5 million to be allocated the full number of Offer Shares for that minimum value applied for. A unique digital channel will be available to retail investors for IPO subscription: the m-IPO portal, accessible via USSD and via the MyMTN App. Traditional payment channels will also be available across Uganda at Stanbic Bank, Absa Bank and Standard Chartered Bank branches and authorized selling agents.

The IPO includes a broad share incentive scheme and Ugandan retail investors in particular using the m-IPO channel are eligible to receive 10 additional incentive shares for every 100 shares applied for and allocated in the IPO.

Following the successful completion of the offer, the company will list its entire ordinary share capital on the Main Investment Market Segment of the USE. This will meet the requirements of MTN Uganda’s licence, which require its listing by end-June 2022.

 

 

MTN Uganda started operating in 1998. In the first half of 2021, it had 14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million Mobile Money users and 4.7 million active data users.

The dates noted in this announcement may be subject to change.

 

About MTN Uganda

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the NTO licence granted by the UCC. Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Our services are delivered through a network of 119 077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. At end-June 2021, MTN Uganda had

14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million MoMo users and 4.7 million active data users.

For more information, please contact:

Rhona Arinaitwe

Senior Manager Corporate communication Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com

 

 

MTN Uganda, the country’s leading techco (Technology-led company), has today launched a nationwide forest restoration project to symbolise the deepening of its roots in Uganda, a country that has been home to the company since 1998.

Themed “Uganda is Home” this initiative is in preparation of MTN Uganda listing 20% of its shares on the Uganda Stock Exchange, an opportunity for Ugandans to own a part of the company.

Launched today at Kyewaga Central Forest Reserve in Entebbe, the MTN reforestation project, that is being undertaken in partnership with the National Forestry Authority, wiil see the company restore 220 hectares of forest cover in five Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) across the country.

These include Barifa CFR in Arua, Kagombe CFR in Kibaale, Jubiya CFR in Masaka and Ogera Hills CFR in Serere district. The month-long reforestation project will see 220 hectares of forest cover restored across the country, with every 10 hectares symbolizing one year of MTN’s existence in Uganda so far.

The MTN forest restoration project is the but one of the many initiatives that the company has undertaken over the years to strengthen its relationship with a country that it calls home. It is also a recommitment by the company to play its part in the development of its home, Uganda as envisaged by MTN’s business model that suggests that businesses can only thrive when the communities within which they operate are thriving.

To this effect, MTN has over the years made several Corporate Social Investments in areas of health, education, sports, music and arts among others as a way of supporting communities to thrive in order to create a win-win situation for both the business as well as the citizens of Uganda through its corporate social responsibility arm, the MTN Foundation.

Key among MTN’s corporate social investments is the refurbishment and re-equipment of over 30 health center IIIs across the country to support the government’s strides towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 which calls for health and well-being for all. Furthermore, through the MTN Kampala Marathon, the company has been raised funds that have been sunk into health and wellness projects in various communities across the country for the last 17 years.

MTN has also worked with the PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) organization to construct classroom blocks in 10 secondary schools located in hard-to-reach areas in order to champion access to affordable secondary school education. This project alone created space for close to 2000 learners in the schools.

Most recently, MTN has been instrumental in complementing the government’s efforts towards combatting the spread of the deadly corona virus as well as supporting communities cope with the harsh effects of the pandemic. MTN has so far injected over 2 billion shillings in the fight against Corona Virus in Uganda. MTN donated 3 brand new pickups to the National Covid Task Force, partnered with National water and sewerage cooperation to provide clean safe water to the people in water hardened areas to promote hand-washing as a preventive measure towards the spread of the virus, partnered with the Uganda Red Cross Society to monitor SOPs in high traffic areas such as the national borders and markets among others. These initiatives were further complemented by interventions such as the scrapping of MoMo transaction fees, supporting the ministry of health with its call-center infrastructure as well as zero-rating e-learning sites to enable students to carry on with their studies as schools were closed, among others.

Like the reforestation project, all the above activities demonstrate MTN’s long-term commitment as a responsible corporate citizen in Uganda over the years.

Speaking at the forest restoration launch today at the Kyewaga Central Forest Reserve in Entebbe, where MTN restored the first 20 hectares of forest cover, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Chief Executive Officer said that MTN Uganda has over the years established its roots in Uganda and that the reforestation project was purely a symbolism of the company deepening its roots in a country that has become home in preparation of MTN Uganda listing 20% of its shares on the Uganda Stock Exchange.

“When the government of Uganda granted us our second operating license in 2020, part of the agreements was that MTN would list on the Uganda Securities Exchange by 2022. To MTN , this is a very welcome step because listing on the Uganda Securities Exchange means that Ugandans will also now share a part of the company.

He further noted that Uganda has been and continues to be a good home to MTN. It is for this reason that MTN has closely worked with the government to complement its efforts in various sectors such as Health, Education, Youth Skilling and ICT, among others.

In his remarks, Tom Obong Okello, the Executive Director of the National Forestry Authority lauded MTN for supporting the government in reinstating forest coverage in the country.

“This is one of the single biggest investments into the sector by any corporate organization so far, we are certain of the tremendous positive impact on the local communities and the entire country”, said Okello.

The “Uganda is Home” campaign comes shortly after MTN Uganda hit a milestone of 15 million subscribers, further deepening its roots in the country as the leading telecom company of choice.

MTN is committed to investing further to serve its ever-growing customer base diligently and to supporting the government’s efforts towards the socio-economic development of the Uganda.

Tuesday 8th December 2020 – Kampala, Uganda: In yet another exciting initiative, the MTN Foundation Uganda has launched its Youth Empowerment skilling program under foundation arm of youth empowerment that is set to benefit at least 100 youths in preparation for the evolving digital world.

The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will be implemented in partnership with Ubunifu systems, a software development firm based in Uganda. Ubunifu systems has cut its niche in professional mobile and web development with a focus on innovative, personalized, and fully functional solutions that deliver value and satisfaction.

The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will focus on skills that will drive co-creation of innovative digital products and solutions to solve Uganda’s biggest problems in Education, Youth Empowerment, Health and Agriculture. This comes at a backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic that has demonstrated the immense need of digitalized systems to keep businesses and communities afloat in times of catastrophic circumstances.

While addressing the press at the launch of the Program today, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Chief Executive Officer said that this is one of the many initiatives that MTN Uganda has put in place to enable the youth tap into the limitless possibilities of the Fourth industrial revolution.

“Since they are the majority, the youth are a big and essential component in the country’s growth and development. That is why we as MTN have chosen to involve them to stimulate local innovation, which in turn will help youth create gainful employment opportunities  through community transforming innovations as we enter the new era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Vanhelleputte.

The team lead At Ubunifu systems MTN’s implementing partner, Brian Ssennoga commended MTN Uganda for starting such an initiative and reaffirmed that the program would be transformational.

“This is a great initiative, we a thankful to be partnering on with MTN on this great initiative.  The program will powersport a new way to innovate especially the commitment to prioritize Digital for Good and access to ICT for Good Knowledge. This program will tailor to a diverse youthful audience providing them with knowledge, skills, and experiences to support building collaborative local solutions that align to the Foundation’s work in Uganda.”  Said Brian Ssennoga the Team lead Ubunifu systems.

The youth account for the largest share of Uganda’s population, with 77% of the citizens aged below 25 years of age, with a vast majority of them unemployed.

MTN Uganda through the Youth Empowerment Program is therefore targeting a group of 100 beneficiaries ranging from university graduates, innovators and those engaged in Small and Medium with a mission of inspiring and empowering them towards harnessing the practical application of innovative ICT solutions to solve their communities’ most pressing challenges. The MTN Foundation will invite applications from young innovators in Uganda. Training will commence early next year.

MTN is committed to integrating the youth in its programs. Last year, MTN invited the youth to develop applications that use MTN MoMo APIs, to monetize both consumer and business opportunities digitally, a task many of them executed successfully and early this year, MTN and Ericsson awarded winners of the MTN Mobile Money Open API challenge.

About MTN Foundation

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a non-profit entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The main objective of the foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities across the country by supporting and implementing sustainable projects in youth empowerment, education, health and other national priorities. The MTN Uganda Foundation is governed by an independent Non-Executive Board of Trustees made up on eminent members of society.

 

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As of 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us

on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.

 

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our BRIGHT strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.

For more information, please contact:

MTN Uganda Press Office: mediadesk.ug@mtn.com

Rhona Arinaitwe: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com or 077 212 3067

Emmy Olaki: emmy.olaki@tbwa-uganda.com or 078 260 5997