The leading mobile company in Ghana, MTN, has recorded a subscriber growth of 18.7% giving it a subscriber base of 19.3 million. This growth has been mainly driven by attractive value propositions.
The telecom giant also recorded an increase in revenue by 19.8%, thanks to growth in data, outgoing voice and digital. Revenue from data alone increased by 65.7%, thus contributing 42% to total revenue. This significant leap could be attributed to uptake in data usage supported by lifestyle bundles and new data bundles introduced with the launch of 4G, expansion of network coverage, increased availability of low-cost smartphones and LTE network. The sale of smartphones increased by 64.4% to 5.3 million, while digital revenue contributed 48% to data revenue, supported by mobile financial services.
Another success story was the increase in Mobile Money active subscribers by 79.4% to 5.7 million as a result of strong regional innovation and marketing.
This success story enabled the mobile giant to pay a total of 1.1billion Ghana Cedis ($277,363,950) in taxes last year to the Government of Ghana. This consisted of GHC 713million to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), GHC 51.8million to NCA/GIFEC, GHC 258million to NCA again for 4G and 85million to SIIT.
These were disclosed by the CEO of MTN, Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Asante, at a meeting with stakeholders and the media on Monday 13th March, at the MTN head office in Accra under the theme: “ Celebrating Ghana, 60 Years On: A Bold New Digital World for National Transformation”
The telecom giant has made an impact in every aspect of the Ghanaian’s life – in health, education, entertainment, economic well being, and she continues to improve the quality of life of the Ghanaian. MTN is constructing a maternity block at the Tema General Hospital to commemorate its 20th year anniversary. The project is expected to be completed in August, 2017.
In the second quarter of 2017, MTN will also launch a scholarship scheme where over 100 students per annum, will gain access to quality education. The scheme will run for 3 years.
MTN is also providing a shed and equipment for the Juaso Oil Production Factory. The project which is scheduled to be completed in April, 2017, will help improve upon the yield and livelihood of about 200 women who work there.
Mr Asante outlined a number of challenges in the industry but added that MTN was ready to work to overcome these challenges.
He said the task at hand in 2017 is to enhance customer experience, expand data, broadband, video on demand, & VAS partnerships. He said that MTN would work on modernizing and stabilizing the network and ensure improved operational efficiency.
As regards Mobile Money, Mr Asante said that there would be service innovation, continuous system improvements as well as scam education. He said that MTN would continue to be a good corporate citizen and be the employer of choice.