MTN pushes cheap internet on feature phones

Mobile operator MTN is driving feature phone users to the internet at lower cost.

MTN on Wednesday introduced a SurferLite pilot project that aims to roll out internet access to phones that do not currently access data services.

"The MTN SurferLite application provides an introductory data service to the digital world to customers by delivering an affordable experience that allows non-internet-customers access to content that is otherwise only available on an internet enabled phone," said Peter Malebye, MTN SA general manager.

Feature phone users generally have a poorer internet experience than smartphone users as the devices with smaller displays are not easily able to display mobile web content.

However, some feature phones like the Nokia Asha range are able to produce reasonable access to the internet.

Spectrum

Also, the cost of smartphones continues to decline, especially at lower price points. The Huawei 858 retails for around R399 from an initial retail price of R799.

Samsung's upgraded Galaxy Pocket smartphone is available for around R1 000.

For many users, though, the cost of data remains a stumbling block and junior operator Cell C offers data at 15c per megabyte.

While the expansion of the internet would no doubt enhance the mobile experience for cellphone users, spectrum for true broadband continues to hurt the mobile economy.


source: www.news24.com

MTN makes data deals permanent

Mobile data price war continue to benefit South African consumers as the operators drop the cost of connecting smart devices to the internet.

MTN on Wednesday announced that its data promotions were now permanent as the company looked to take on Vodacom in SA.

"We at first extended the data offerings promotion to our customers, but have now decided to make it permanent to provide our customers a bold, new digital world," said Brian Gould Gouldie, chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA.

Junior operator Cell C currently offers data at 15c per megabyte and the price contributed to disrupting the data market. Competitors reacted with a variety of pricing offers to reduce the cost of smartphone data.

MTN's data promotions of R10 for 20MB up to R249 for 2GB are now permanent.
The company hinted that the rise in demand from consumers had driven the price cut.
"The Internet Bundle rate reduction has proven to be extremely successful with customers, addressing their need to be connected at all times, with the rise of internet data consumption requirements," said Gouldie.
According to the Mobility 2014 research study, conducted by World Wide Worx with the backing of First National Bank, people in the 19 - 24 age group are abandoning spending on voice calls in favour of data.
The results show that voice declined to 56% of the group's cellphone expense, down around 10% from 2012, while spending on data increased from 17% to 24%.

Data spend, on the other hand increased from 12% to 16%.

For operators, data has emerged as a key revenue generator and Vodacom reported that data revenue was on a roll, despite price declines.

"Group data revenue increased 29%, even as we actively reduced data prices. In South Africa as an example, the average price per megabyte came down 16%," Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub .

source : www.news24.com

vodacom warns Icasa it could 'adjust' capex

Vodacom has come out guns blazing against proposals by its regulator, Icasa, that mobile call termination rates be slashed over the next three years while giving the company’s smaller rivals a leg up through “asymmetry”.

Icasa wants the new rates — which operators charge each other to carry calls between their networks — chopped in half, to 20c/minute, on 1 March 2014. It then wants them cut in half again, to 10c/minute, by 2016.

At the same time, it has proposed aggressive asymmetry that favours Cell C and Telkom Mobile— the smaller operators will pay less to Vodacomand MTN for calls between their networks than the other way around. Both MTN and Vodacom have objected strenuously to Cell C, which was licensed 13 years ago, being advantaged in this way.

Icasa has proposed increasing the level of asymmetry offered to smaller players from 10% now to 95% in March, to 120% in 2015, and to 160% in 2016.

“The proposed new rates are significantly lower than the rates that were published in previous years and [there is] a higher degree of asymmetry,” Vodacom said in notes accompanying its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 September 2013.

“The new rates will require adjustment of our forecasts, including capital investment and operating expenses, if approved in the current year,” the operator said. “They are also likely to impact our price transformation programme. We are actively participating in the consultation process [with Icasa], with the aim to get to a more reasonable outcome.”

On Monday, Vodacom reported that group revenue had risen by 6,6% compared to a year ago, with strong growth in its non-South African operations and “improved growth trends” in its home market. Headline earnings per share rose by 10,9% “as a result of strong operating profit growth”.

source: techcentral.co

Cell C subscriber base hits 13 million

South Africa mobile operator Cell C said that its subscriber base has passed 13 million for the first time. Acting CEO Jose Dos Santos said that Cell C had achieved more than 1.2 million gross connections in October, with 400,000 net additions. The operator earlier said it signed up 1 million gross customers in September and in July. The company told BusinessTech that it fell marginally short of reaching that target in August. 

Cell C also announced that it has exceeded its target of 100 new sites in Gauteng before the end of November, adding 110 in the province as part of an effort to alleviate its under-pressure network. Santos said that 110 new sites were on air, taking total sites on the group's network to 4,040. Of the 4,040 sites, 198 are 2G-only, with the rest (3,842) being 3G. Santos said that he expected an additional 340-360 sites to be on air by May-June 2014. 

source: www.telecompaper.com

cell C, Mirage telecom start MVNE in South Africa

Cell C, Comverse and Mirage Telecom announced the launch of their joint project to set up a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE. The live platform can provide cellular network services to potential new MVNOs throughout South Africa. The MVNE platform enables niche sectors and innovative thinkers to start building new businesses within the mobile technology space. As part of the agreement, Comverse will supply its telecommunications software to Mirage Telecom, and Cell C will provide the wholesale network capacity. This will allow Mirage Telecom to take on new MVNO partners and supply core network access. 

source: www.telecompaper.com