Author: Gugu Lourie

MTN, Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator delivered a strong set of results for the year to end-December 2019, as it signs up more data and mobile money service customers plus mobile telephony subscribers. “We added 18 million customers to reach a total of 251 million and increased our data users by 17 million to 95 million and our fintech customers by 7 million to 35 million,” said Rob Shuter, the CEO of MTN Group. “This growth is central to our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. We also saw improvements in…

The latest data released today by MTN shows that the number of active Mobile Money (MoMo) users increased by 7,5 million to a total of 35 million, generating a monthly ARPU of $1,15 in the year to end-December 2019. “The value of MoMo transactions in the year was $96,1 billion ()R1.54 trillion), with 9 200 transactions processed per minute (up from 6 800 per minute in 2018),” the company said. The launch of MoMo in South Africa and Afghanistan brings to 16 the number of markets in which we are currently live. “In November we launched MTN Homeland, a mobile remittance…

MTN Group on Wednesday disclosed that its instant messaging platform, Ayoba has reached 2 million monthly active users. To ensure Africa doesn’t miss out on the instant messaging revolution, MTN launched its own instant messaging platform, Ayoba, in March 2019. “Ayoba is now live in 12 markets and has registered two million monthly active users,” said  MTN’s CEO, Rob Shuter. Ayoba was integrated into 12 MTN markets and is also available across multiple markets on the Google Play Store and via the Ayoba website as an OTT offering. MusicTime! is now live in six MTN markets. “We plan to continue…

Rob Shuter, MTN Group CEO, would be stepping down from his role at the end of his contract in March 2021, Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator announced on Wednesday. “The board thanks Rob for the contribution he has made and continues to make, to MTN. The succession process will be concluded during the year, enabling a seamless handover,” the company said in a statement. MTN group chief technology and IT officer Charles Molapisi has been appointed to the group executive committee and the fixed contract of the group chief operations officer, Jens Schulte-Bockum, has been extended…

Cape Town-based Privacy-by-Design startup that specialises in secure data sharing for businesses, Omnisient, has secured undisclosed pre-Series A funding from Nedbank CIB, Investec and Compass Venture Capital. Omnisient has created intersect.ai, the secure data exchange platform that ensures companies can protect personal information and intellectual property while sharing data internally or externally. Since launch, the intersect.ai platform has gained major traction amongst SA businesses, including leading banks, insurers and retailers. “Consumers now demand speed, ease and convenience in every sphere of life – and businesses can only meet these needs if they have seamless access to data on consumer behaviour,…

According to the Statistics SA’s Living Conditions Survey, approximately half (49,2%) of the adult population in South Africa are living below the upper-bound poverty line and the severity of poverty measures are larger for female-headed households compared to households headed by males. It is this grim reality that has compelled global beauty and personal care company, Avon Justine, to launch a poverty alleviation programme in 2010 known as Thuthukisa, which loosely translates to building together. This initiative is the first of its kind within the company and has, to date, invested approximately R600 000 in two early childhood development projects…

Sebata Holdings, a JSE-listed firm, takes a big bet on a South African startup that is making pool care a hassle-free experience and its solution monitors your pool water quality 24/7. Pro Automation is a startup that strives to bring innovative, smart and simple solutions to the connected home Internet of Things (IoT) market. Sebata is buying 30% in Pro Automation, which has developed a device that is changing the way we maintain our pools. Pro Automations’ Pool Sense product has transformed the complex and costly management of pool maintenance since its launch in December 2018, allowing owners to monitor and…

Few years ago, most telematics software users had a primary need for GPS location of vehicles on a map for dispatching. Today, if a business hasn’t evolved from track and trace, it has not evolved. But MiX Telematics sees a possible future business opportunity that could have huge growth potential in the coming years. The JSE-listed global fleet management and the vehicle-tracking company is exploring opportunities in commercial fleet managers who are seeking effective technology solutions to enhance their operations and bottom-line. ABI Research,a global tech market advisory firm assessed the market from the end user’s perspective and found that…

South African-based fleet management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider, MiX Telematics announced that global security group G4S has selected it to assist in modifying driver behaviour across their Cash Division in the UK. The R4.6 billion company – which in August 2013 listed on the New York Stock Exchange –said this implementation will cover a further 1,500 vehicles throughout the UK. The contract was awarded on the basis that the global player believes MiX’s products to be the gold standard for safety, improving efficiency and alleviating impact on the environment, said the JSE-listed company. “For many years, MiX has helped G4S address…

South African-based vehicle tracking firm Cartrack may be sold to a Singaporean investor. Cartrack provides services related to stolen vehicle recovery, fleet management and insurance telematics through Software as a Service (SaaS). The company competes with JSE-listed DiDigicore, which was acquired by US-based technology firm Novatel for R1.1 billion. It also competes with JSE-listed Mix Telematics and Tracker. The JSE-listed company informed investors on Monday that it has received an expression of interest from a foreign investor. It added that the investor is proposing a transaction that could ultimately result in the restructuring of the company such that shareholders would hold shares, pursuant to…