MTN Group, the parent company of MTN Nigeria said it has signed a five-year network deal that will enhance its local business unit’s network for 5G and predecessors.
The telecoms giant announced that the pact with the global ICT Solutions company, Ericsson, to modernize and upgrade the core networks of MTN South Africa and MTN Nigeria was in line with the MTN Group’s MTN Unified Cloud Acceleration (MUNA) principles and objectives.
The agreement was recently concluded, and both companies have agreed on key strategic priorities and collaborations, underscoring their shared vision and commitment to fortify their long-term partnership, according to MTN.
Mohammed Rufai, MTN Nigeria Chief Technical Officer, said that “The network upgrade is geared towards enhancing our core network. When completed, it will further accelerate broadband penetration in alignment with the Federal Government’s Broadband plan. This expansion is also in line with our strategic priorities – building the largest and most valuable platforms, driving industry-leading connectivity operations, creating shared value and accelerating portfolio transformation.”
The deployment of Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core involves combining 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Network Functions (NFs) from both Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and 5G Core (5GC) architectures into a unified cloud-native software platform.
This platform is designed to support a wide range of access technologies, including 5G New Radio (NR) Stand-Alone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA), as well as 4G, 3G, and 2G accesses.
By integrating these NFs into a common platform, the telecoms giant said, MTN Nigeria and MTN South Africa will enhance 5G networks while still supporting legacy technologies, ensuring continuity and flexibility in their network operations. This modernization initiative enables MTN Group to achieve its objective of delivering innovative solutions for both consumers and enterprises in Africa.
The modernisation efforts in Nigeria align with national broadband goals and MTN’s strategic objectives. Mohammed Rufai, MTN Nigeria Chief Technical Officer, said that “The network upgrade is geared towards enhancing our core network. When completed, it will further accelerate broadband penetration in alignment with the Federal Government’s Broadband plan. This expansion is also in line with our strategic priorities – building the largest and most valuable platforms, driving industry-leading connectivity operations, creating shared value and accelerating portfolio transformation.”
According to Mazen Mroué, MTN Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, the company is embarking on a strategic transformation programme to modernise and upgrade its core network infrastructure, “signifying a commitment to enhancing network performance and efficiency in respective markets.”
Representing Ericsson, Hossam Kandeel, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit MTN and Customer Unit MTN Africa at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says that the partnership with MTN Group, which is based on innovation and progress, will enable both companies to shape “the future of digital connectivity in Africa with the modernisation of MTN Nigeria and MTN South Africa’s core networks.”
