Johannesburg – September 15, 2010: Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile solutions beyond VAS, today announced that the company has signed a new deal for its Virtual SIM solution with MTN Ghana, one of Africa’s leading telecommunications providers.
By deploying Comviva’s Virtual SIM solution, MTN Ghana will be able to extend affordable communications to underserved segments. People who could not afford to own a handset can now make and receive calls, send and receive SMSs and make remittances, virtually, using other people’s phones. These consumers currently share phones with family and friends, use street side payphones managed by agents, or community phones. With Virtual SIM they gain a unique mobile identity, with their own phone number and virtual phone account.
Commenting on the alliance, Mr. Eben Albertyn, CTO, MTN Ghana, said, “Equipped with a proven record of technological innovation and a deep understanding of customer needs, MTN continues to consolidate its leadership position in Ghana. For us, innovation means finding solutions that best meet our customers’ needs – bringing convenient and affordable solutions that help improve their lives. With Comviva’s Virtual SIM solution, we will be extending access to mobile communications and providing underserved segments with an affordable route to gaining their own unique mobile identity.”
Speaking about the deal, Mr. Manoranjan Mohapatra, CEO, Comviva, said, “Whilst mobile penetration in many developed markets has exceeded 100%, there remains significant scope for growth in the world’s emerging markets, where just one third of the population uses mobile communication services. Extending mobile communications to underserved segments requires a cost effective solution that overcomes barriers to service uptake, such as affordability of a handset and simplicity of use. Comviva’s Virtual SIM solution provides users with an independent mobile identity – without requiring ownership of a handset or a SIM. By combining access to a handset and using Virtual SIM, underserved segments become a part of the global mobile community instantly.”
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About MTN Ghana
MTN Ghana is part of the MTN Group, a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE. MTN Ghana increased its subscribers by 24% to 8 million for the year ended 31 December 2009. For more information, please visit www.mtn.com
About Comviva
Comviva is the global leader in providing mobile solutions beyond VAS. With an extensive portfolio of products and solutions that encompass content, commerce and community-related offerings, Comviva enables operators to grow revenues by offering services that enrich mobile users’ lives. Comviva enhances operator efficiencies and revenue performance by adding value at every stage of the customer lifecycle. Comviva has extensive expertise in delivering and managing mobile solutions that extend beyond VAS, powering solutions to mobile operators in more than 85 countries worldwide and reaching over 600 million subscribers globally. For more information, visit www.comviva.com
