MTN Business makes headway to be an ICT partner of choice

MTN Business, the enterprise business unit of MTN SA, plans to focus on three key areas in a bid to become the ICT partner of choice, namely, getting the basics right, accelerating growth and diversifying its revenue streams.

The interplay between these goals in the next four years will enable MTN Business to package a full suite of ICT products and solutions to its customers. These include fibre-to-the-business, machine-to-machine, managed networks, Internet of things (M2M), cloud and unified communications and telemetry services.

MTN Business' main goal is to grow a robust partnership programme and to leverage on the partnerships it has clinched in order to become the preferred service provider to its enterprise customers.

"Our aim is to create a simple, clear engagement and support structure through an omni-channel partner management organisation," says Alpheus Mangale, Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Business SA.

Through its MTN Business Partner Programme, the unit aims to develop a global trusted partner eco-system to accelerate joint profitable growth with strategic partners, carrier services, mobile virtual network operators, SMEs, resellers and start-ups.

"We are geared to be the ICT partner of choice for geographic and market expansion," explains Mangale. "We shall continue to enable and inspire growth for our partners."

As part of its vision to be an ICT partner of choice, MTN Business aims to fuel SME growth in SA.

"Our goal is to equip SMEs to become catalysts of economic growth by providing them with tailored solutions and the tools that will enable them to optimise their operations, enhance efficiencies, save costs and help grow their businesses," he noted.

MTN Business will support SMEs through a unique service channel that will offer tailored converged solutions. It will also aim to "industrialise" ICT offerings by creating low cost acquisition and leverage third parties innovation in new products.

MTN also aims to become a key player in the provision of fibre-to-the-X - which is a generic term for fibre-to-the-home, fibre-to-the-premise and fibre-to-the-business.

"Our aspiration is to take a leading position in FTTx in South Africa, by delivering world class connectivity and digital propositions that enable and inspire businesses and households," noted Mangale.

MTN Business currently has 14 000km of national and metro fibre across the country, which is a network connecting over 10 000 homes.

"We expect to connect between 18 000 to 20 000 homes and businesses by end of 2016, with our fibre network," says Mangale.

MTN's acquisition of Smart Villages will add more than 30 000 premises to MTN Business' network.

"MTN Business will continue to pursue aggressive acquisition of territory through building its own fibre, acquisitions and partnerships. We will also provide wholesale access to our active fibre network customers," he added.

As part of MTN's broader vision to deliver a bold new digital world to customers, MTN Business aspires to offer a superior client experience through a client-centric approach.

"We are developing a single MTN Business Portal to drive single touch engagement, which we are confident will result in a superior client experience," concludes Mangale.