MTN has shown solid performance and reported year on year growth, driven primarily by a growth in the base and the investment in the network.
MTN Rwanda has released its results for the year ended 31 December 2018. Within year, the operation celebrated 20 years of serving the customer under the banner of “Turi Abanyu”. In 2017, MTN Group launched the BRIGHT strategy that is adopted in all the MTN operations.
The strategy focuses the operations on key growth areas and business operational efficiencies.
It is based on the following elements; Best Customer Experience, Returns and Efficiencies, Ignite Commercial Performance, Growth in Digital and Data, Hearts and Minds (people focus) as well as Reputational and Stakeholder Management and Technology Excellence.
As part of its 20-year anniversary activities, MTN Rwanda
celebrated its customers for their 20 years
of support by launching a campaign entitled “Izihirwe”, that
saw the company recognise and reward
customers for their continued support. Also underpinning this growth was the improved network performance, the journey to modernise and transform the network began in 2017 when MTN embarked on a 3-year network modernisation and transformation plan.
Phase I of this plan in 2018 saw U900 being deployed across
the whole network countrywide to drive network efficiency, starting with Kigali
and ending with the Eastern Province.
It also saw the commissioning of 25 new sites as well as the
modernisation of the core network equipment.
The population coverage went from 53% in 2017 to 92% in
2018. The plan continues in
2019 with the 2nd phase that entails upgrading
the capacity of 3G sites to enable them to carry more traffic, as well as the
building of additional sites.
Financing Activities
In October 2018 to primarily finance the extensive capital
investment in the Network, MTN raised a
syndicated 5-year loan facility for Rwf 50bn. This loan was
raised solely on the local market and 8 of
the local banks, led by Ecobank, are participating in the
syndicate.
Dividends
For the year ended 31 December 2018 MTN declared and paid a
total dividend of Frw 8.2 billion (2017: Nil) which was Frw 5.5 million per
share (2017: Nil). The local shareholder Crystal Telecoms received Frw 1.64
billion (2017: Nil).
Corporate Social
Responsibility
MTN is a socially responsible company and continues to
plough back some its profits into projects focused on Health, Education,
Entrepreneurship and Youth.
These projects are in line with the Rwandan government
priorities and include provision of health insurance for vulnerable families, people
with disabilities, connectivity in schools and scholarships for
under-privileged students.
For the annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care which occurs in the
month of June and driven by MTN Staff, the focus was on the provision of clean
water for schools, erection of solar panels in rural areas and training of citizens
in rural areas on the use of MoMo to access government services through IREMBO.
Outlook for 2019
The BRIGHT strategy remains in place and the focus is the
same. MTN Rwanda continues to be
customer centric and introduce affordable products and
services that bring all customers into the digital age.
In Quarter 1, MTN launched the Ikosora handset, an entry
level affordable smart phone at Frw
19,800. In addition to the handset, MTN partnered with
Facebook to launch Facebook Flex, which is
free Facebook that provides basic Facebook functionality
such as messaging, texting and liking. This
combination not only drives smart phone penetration but
allows customers affordable digital
inclusivity.
The impact of this has been a growth of data revenue year on
year to date of 52.6%. In line with the Rwandan government drive for a cashless
society, the MoMo ecosystem is growing with the enhancement of existing
offerings such as MoMoPay for merchants and Tap& Go payments for bus
services.
Overall, these initiatives amongst others have already
resulted in a 28.6% year on year revenue growth in Q1. Barring any significant
unforeseen macroeconomic developments, MTN Rwanda expects the growth trend to
continue.
Recall, MTN Rwanda is the market leader in the mobile
telecommunications industry in Rwanda. Since 1998, MTN Rwanda has continuously
invested in expanding and modernizing its network and is now
proudly Rwanda’s No 1 Network. MTN Rwanda offers superior
services to its subscriber base,
including innovative propositions such as personalized voice
and data offers with MTN Irekure. The company is also the front runner in
Mobile Financial Services in Rwanda with Mobile Money,Tap&Pay and MoKash
Loans and Savings.