Under the terms of the new collaboration, the services included Network Operations Centre, Field Services in Radio, as well as Core and Transmission.
“Network managed operations play a significant role in improving MTN customers’ satisfaction and enhancing customer experience as well as enabling revenue growth and cost efficiency,” said Stephen Blewett, CEO at MTN Benin.
“We expect advanced technologies like AI, automation and analytics to further accelerate operational transformation through this new managed services partnership.”
Additionally, the new deal will enable MTN Benin to offer intelligent & data-driven operations with AI use cases. Together, MTN Benin and Ericsson will jointly create a world of predictive operations with a focus on customer experience, network quality, performance and automation.
“We are strengthening our long-term partnership with MTN Benin and we look forward to leveraging the skills and know-how we have developed by managing networks around the world,” said Nicolas Blixell, Vice President Middle East and Africa at Ericsson.
“We believe this contract will enable MTN to improve its focus on its core business. Ericsson will facilitate through this contract an even more effective and integrated management of its networks and service delivery.”
Ericsson’s AI-based managed services offering is an end-to-end managed services operating model that leverages AI, automation and data. It also reimagines network and IT operations, network design and optimisation, as well as applications development and maintenance.
Earlier this month, MTN received regulatory approval for the sale of its 49% stake in ATC Ghana. The sale is expected to generate $384 million with funds due to be transferred over the coming week.
In addition, Greece’s COSMOTE has appointed Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) as the country’s sole 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) vendor under a major network modernisation deal that will see 5G services introduced from 2021.
