MTN partners with ZTE for deployment of pan-African IoT platform

MTN Group has partnered with ZTE to launch an Internet of Things platform, providing a dedicated network to connect devices and systems, as well as a global M2M SIM card in Africa.

The platform, already live in South Africa, claims to adopt “cutting-edge technologies suited to developing markets, bringing flexible connectivity for devices in the region”, while the SIM card provides customers with a blanket rate for M2M activity across MTN’s African network.

The operator believes IoT and M2M technology will drive business growth in the Middle East and Africa in sectors such as banking, transportation, and energy through smart cities and says it has “developed a clear strategy to contribute to this growth”.

MTN also believes the platform and its associated integrated network environment will enable it to introduce application services with the potential to enhance the socio-economic environment in the rest region.

MTN is working with a number of organisations to support the development of smart cities.