Telecom
MTN Unveils Internet of Things Platform
MTN Business has unveiled its Internet of things (IOT) platform, which it says will provide African enterprises with greater control and advanced management features for their connected devices and SIM cards.
The platform launch by Mteto Nyati, MTN Group CEO also saw the introduction of a global machine-to-machine (M2M) SIM card, which will give MTN customers the same rate for M2M activity across the operator’s footprint in Africa.
“To ensure a seamless customer experience for our customers, whenever MTN has presence, the IOT platform has a dedicated network, separate from the consumer network, for operational and business systems support.
“As a result, the platform is dedicated to managing all of MTN’s machine-to-machine functions,” Nyati explained.
The IOT platform is now live in SA, and it will be launched in other countries in which MTN operates within the next 12 months.
“Through this platform, we are going to provide South Africans – and indeed Africans – with an opportunity to write and build solutions that address the challenges of our continent. In the process of doing that, these South Africans will be able to benefit, because they will be generating revenue through their partnership with MTN.”
Nyati noted the platform removes significant costs and accessibility barriers, enabling development on a broader scale, leading to the establishment of a vast ecosystem of scalable solutions that address real-world needs.
The IOT platform is the next evolutionary step in connecting and managing machines, Nyati pointed out, adding its dedicated network enables the company to connect an otherwise fragmented population of devices and systems.
“No longer does this service have to compete with voice and data, leading to a degradation of the network.”
The open platform enables networked devices to exchange information and perform actions, responding intelligently to their environments, without human intervention, he added, noting the global number of IOT connections is expected to reach 360 million by 2018.
“In South Africa, the wholesale M2M market – one aspect of IOT – is already worth an estimated R350 million and expected to grow to R1.2 billion by 2017. This means there are significant business opportunities for aspiring developers in South Africa and the rest of the continent,” said Nyati.
As part of the IOT platform launch, MTN says application developers from across SA are participating in the inaugural MTN Business Mind-2-Machine Challenge.
The initiative aims to identify developers to create scalable and relevant business solutions that solve real-world problems. Winners of the challenge will be able to monetise their solutions with MTN Business and take them to market.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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