MTN and Microsoft are two digital innovation powerhouses teaming up to accelerateAfrica’s digital transformation in the public cloud. Following the signing of a five-year strategic partnership in September 2022, the two technology giants are set to deliver a joint programme that will bring the latest digital technologies to MTN’s customers, primarily starting with South Africa and Nigeria.
The core of the programme isn’t restricted to aerospace alone; it involves migrating Business Support System (BSS) and Operation Support System (OSS) applications to the Microsoft Azure cloud with the goal of realizing operational benefits and cost efficiencies. Collaborating with Accenture, the pair have already begun work on the establishment of the MTN Group Cloud Centre of Excellence and Project Nephos to safely transition data and applications to Azure.
The key element of the programme is the migration of EVA, MTN’s expansive data platform, to Azure. This combined with a common data model that MTN has evolved for use cases that bridge the gap between networks, IT and commercial domains, taking advantage of Azure’s native technology, such as AI and machine learning.
In addition to optimising their infrastructure, MTN has launched the ‘Enterprise Skills Initiative’, a programme with Microsoft that will provide practical training and certification opportunities in Microsoft Azure technologies to hundreds of their employees in South Africa and Nigeria. Project Nephos is designed to eventually ensure maximum value over the shortest timeline by selecting applications to be migrated to Azure with fixed transition costs and designed operational costs.
However, the partnership is more than just helping MTN transition to a digital cloud – it is aimed at realising the company’s core belief: ‘everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.’
MTN Group Chief Information Officer Nikos Angelopoulos said, “Our strategic partnership with Microsoft will enable us to transform the way we deliver products and services to our customers. We will bring the power of cloud computing to life driving development and innovation with speed, flexibility and predictable investments and operations. We remain focused on nurturing the digital skills within MTN and in the societies we operate in and building digital platforms to drive digital transformation across Africa and the Middle East.”
MTN Group, formally known as M-Cell, is a South African-based multinational telecommunications company that provides mobile network services to 221 million subscribers across Africa and the Middle East. The mobile network operator also offers a number of services, including internet, value-added services, handset and device sales, as well as fixed broadband services. MTN is the fourth-largest mobile telecommunications company in the world.
Nikos Angelopoulos is the current Chief Information Officer at MTN Group. In this role, Angelopoulos is responsible for creating the company’s digital vision, technology and operational strategy, as well as the execution of IT delivery projects across the MTN Group. Angelopoulos is also a member of the Group Information Technology (IT) and Group Risk & Compliance board committees. He has held several other notable positions at the company including Head of Group Planning & Transformation, Head of Corporate Business Development, and General Manager of Corporate Strategy & Business Development.
MTN and Microsoft’s joint collaboration is set to be applauded, as it allows the two companies to collectively make leaps forward in digital transformation technologies to the benefit of customers in the African and Middle Eastern region. With Accenture’s involvement to ensure the successful deployment of the projects, and Project Nephos spinning off decades of know-how, everyone stands to benefit in the long run.
