MTN offers free calls and SMS to Ukraine
Telecom giant MTN Ghana, in view of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, has announced that it will be offering free calls and SMS to and from Ukraine.
MTN revealed this in a press statement adding that the move is to enable its customers both at home and Ukraine communicate with family and friends.
“We understand that some of our customers in Ukraine have experienced challenges trying to contact their loved ones. To this end, we have stepped in with support to ensure that our customers both at home and Ukraine, are still able to connect with family and friends.
“All of our customers will benefit from the waived SMS and voice call fees to and from Ukraine. This blanket waiver has been put in place as an immediate response to the need.
“We’ve worked closely with our industry body GSMA to make the connection easier. Whilst MTN does not have operations in Ukraine, we have heeded the call to remain responsive to our customers in their time of need.
“All waived fees are subject to fair use policy,” the company noted.
MTN announce $1bn investment in infrastructure and information systems
Meanwhile, MTN has announced a $1bn investment in infrastructure and information systems for the next 5 years.
MTN has noted that, they are in the advanced stage of an agreement to implement a national roaming plan in partnership with other operators in the country as well as with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), which is part of government’s project to extend communications to most rural communities.
The company added that the $1bn investment is to ensure that it is able to share its infrastructure with other telecommunication operators in Ghana and vice versa.
Adding that, this will increase the efficiency of infrastructure spend, expand quality telecom coverage or reach and accelerate further development and long-term viability in the telecoms industry.
‘’This initiative will enable MTN to share its infrastructure with other telecommunication operators in Ghana and vice versa, in order to increase the efficiency of infrastructure spend, expand quality telecom coverage or reach and accelerate further development and long-term viability in the telecoms industry.
“To ensure the success of these commitments, we project an investment of over US$1.05 billion in infrastructure and information systems over five years, starting from 2021, to support the vision of a digital Ghana,” said the CEO of MTN, Selorm Adadevoh.
According to Mr Adadevoh, the company has engaged in bilateral discussions with other operators as well as the regulator to implement the national roaming programme in the country.
‘’We have made significant progress in our discussions with the regulator to implement national roaming programme in the country. To this end, we have engaged in bilateral discussions with other operators, are advanced in the terms of agreement with at least one operator and have completed technical tests for standard national roaming. More advanced configurations are also underway’’
‘’We are also finalizing the agreement in the coming weeks with GIFEC to deliver on government’s rural telephony project.
“We will update the market on the implementation of the remaining directives as discussions with the NCA progress,’’ the company noted
