MTN Group has announced the extension of its managed services agreement with Ericsson for its operations in Ghana.

This announcement marks the extension of the first managed services contract between Ericsson and MTN, originally signed in 2009 in connection to the rollout of MTN’s 3G network in Ghana. Under the extension, Ericsson is responsible for network operations, field maintenance and optimisation.

With 49 per cent market share, MTN is the leading operator in Ghana, which is one of Africa’s fastest growing telecom markets. In 2011, it grew by around 18 per cent to serve over 10 million subscribers.

Senior executives at Qtel Group last week presented the telco’s three strategic pillars to industry analysts, which incorporated:

· The differentiation of the customer experience

· The strengthening of the telco’s internal foundation

· Investment in new growth

“We have had significant success to date and our aspiration to join the top twenty global operators by the end of the decade remains important for us,” commented Nasser Marafih, Qtel Group CEO. “However, we recognise that the market is changing quickly and that we need to change with it. Our new vision and group strategy builds on our previous strategy and refines it by increasing our focus on differentiated customer experience, on transforming the way we manage our operations and embracing emerging and parallel business opportunities. At the same time, we will continue to set ourselves challenging financial targets.”

Marafih said in future the telco will increase its focus on broadband solutions, business-to-business opportunities, digital developments (TV, finance and health), as well as fibre technologies. At the same time the group will look to drive further operational and cost efficiency, productivity, and scale benefits while growing organisational and people capabilities.

Much of the discussion at AfricaCom 2011 in Cape Town centred on the imminent threat of flattened service revenues, and the opportunities available to resuscitate such through innovative data offerings. The role of Internet players and over-the-top (OTT ) providers is being viewed by telcos with a measure of suspicion as well as that of envy, as traditional players look to formulate new business models

Etisalat Nigeria’s Steven Evans (centre) says operators have been looking to launch new services while at the same time improving their operational efficiencies wherever possible

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Nokia Siemens Networks has signed forward starting term and multicurrency revolving facilities agreements valued at €1.305 billion (US$1.725 billion) with 15 international banks, to replace the company’s existing revolving credit facility when it matures in June 2012.

The committed facilities are comprised in equal parts of a revolving credit facility maturing in June 2015 and a term loan facility that matures in June 2013. They will be used for general corporate purposes.

The facilities were signed on December 21, 2011.

Motorola recorded a loss of US$80 million in Q411, compared with a prior-year profit of US$80 million, on revenue which was flat at US$3.44 billion. The Mobile Devices business saw an operating loss of US$70 million, compared to a Q410 profit of US$72 million, on revenue of US$2.5 billion, up five per cent. The company stated its Q4 performance was impacted by the increased competitive environment.

Motorola shipped 10.5 million mobile devices during the period, including 5.3 million smartphones and 200,000 tablets. This compares with 11.3 million devices, with 4.9 million smartphones, in Q410.

For the full year, Motorola reported a net loss of US$249 million, compared with a prior-year loss of US$86 million, on revenue of US$13.1 billion, up 14 per cent.

North America remains Motorola’s largest market, accounting for 48 per cent of sales during the period. Other significant markets for Motorola in Q4 were Latin America (22 per cent) and Greater China (15 per cent).
In a statement, Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO of Motorola said that “we remain energised by the proposed merger with Google and continue to focus on creating innovative technologies.”