Page 91 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

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NuRAN Signs Contract with MTN for 500 Rural Sites in Sudan

NuRAN Wireless, a supplier of mobile
and broadband wireless infrastructure
solutions, has announced the signing
of a definitive Network As A Service
(NaaS) contract with MTN Sudan for the
deployment of rural mobile infrastructure.
Pursuant to the terms of the ten-year
agreement, the parties intend to install a The sites are then monetized by providing Letourneau, CEO at NuRAN Wireless,
minimum of 500 rural networking sites connectivity on a paid for service basis. adding: ‘This contract also further solidifies
in Sudan. The project will support 2G and NuRAN, which now has 3,192 sites in five our growing relationship with MTN as a
3G with variety of site categories to cover countries throughout Africa, expects to key partner in bringing mobile connectivity
different population densities and coverage retain the ownership of the infrastructure to the people that need it the most.
areas. The NuRAN NaaS model facilitates after completion of the contract. ‘This is Mobile connectivity is a life blood to these
network expansion for mobile operators another important milestone for NuRAN as communities and NuRAN is extremely
by managing and controlling the build, we press ahead to our stated goal of having proud to be at the center of bridging this
operation, and maintenance of cellular sites 10,000 sites under contract,’ stated Francis important gap.’
along with associated capital expenditures.

MTN Finds Buyer for Afghanistan Unit, H1 Profit Jumps

to divest MTN Afghanistan is part of a period, including buying 4G and 5G-suitable
group strategy to focus on its operations spectrum in South Africa and Nigeria.
in Africa which has been underway since Operationally, the executive noted MTN had
2020. MTN did not divulge the buyer, seen a “particularly strong” growth in data
simply noting it had accepted a binding revenue during H1 highlighting increases in
offer: Reuters reported this to be around its units in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and
$35 million. MTN noted since March 2020, South Africa. He also pointed to a 31.5 per
when it started refocusing its business, cent increase in transaction volume for its
ZAR15.8 billion ($976.5 million) had been financial technology businesses, though
raised from asset sales. This includes added the “introduction of fintech taxes
selling operating units and physical in some markets slowed revenue growth
infrastructure. In a move which could in Q2, but we remain encouraged by the
yield further fundraising, MTN is in talks ecosystem growth as users, agents and
MTN Group moved closer to achieving an with investors over its soon-to-be spun-off merchants continued to grow healthily
ambition to exit markets in the Middle East financial technology business, a process it during the period”. For H1 the operator
after accepting an offer for its Afghanistan expects to be completed by the end of the group’s revenue was ZAR97.5 billion, up
business, a revelation made during its year. MTN noted it made significant network from ZAR86.7 billion, with profit attributable
H1 results statement where it recorded investments during H1. CEO Ralph Mupita to equity holders of ZAR8 billion compared
increases in revenue and profit. The move said it had accelerated these during the with ZAR2.7 billion in H1 2021.

Saudi Telecom Company Tawal Eyes Expansion into Pakistan

Saudi telecom company Tawal KSA Saudi Telecommunications Company delegation also included Tawal Pakistan
plans to expand operations into Pakistan, (STC) - partially owned by the Saudi Country Manager Juan Pablo Sanchez,
helping local companies expand their government, which owns a portfolio of over Tawal Pakistan Director and Country
coverage into underserved areas. 15,500 telecom towers in the Kingdom. Representative in Pakistan Shah Faisal
This was suggested when a high-level In a statement issued by the Finance Safdar Khattak. Miftah was informed about
delegation from the company met with Division after the meeting, Tawal KSA the company’s mission and operations to
Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in was represented by its Chief International develop critical telecom infrastructure in
Islamabad. Tawal is a subsidiary of the Officer (CIO) Emmanuel Leonard, while the Pakistan. Discussing Tawal’s future services

91 JULY-AUGUST 2022