MTN launches cloud pilot project for SMEs

·6 Dec 2012

MTN Business has launched a pilot project for its MTN Cloud bouquet of services, claiming to be the first mobile network operator in Africa to adopt the Cloud Service Brokerage model.

Executive for enterprise business at MTN Group, Farhad Khan, says the pilot project will be carried out in six of MTN’s key markets in Africa, including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.

MTN said it will target small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and has identified a number of these enterprises in these markets to trial its cloud services and product.

Cloud computing is the delivery of hosted services over the Internet, enabling the delivery and access of communication services remotely from virtually anywhere, at any time.

MTN noted that the cloud Service Brokerage model centralises access to services, where a third party, in this case MTN, acts as the single point of contact for customers.

This, the operator claimed, eases the administrative burden for companies, where instead of dealing with multiple service providers, they now deal with one.

The trial period with selected customers will commence on Friday (7 December) and run until the end of January 2013.

Participating companies will automatically gain access to a variety of MTN Cloud services. These include Office Desktop, a cost-effective email and collaborative software; Mozypro, a back-up service for the effective management of files and servers; and Dialcom, an on-demand video conferencing offering.

Also on the catalogue is McAfee; Averiware, catering for companies’ HR; accounting, finance and sales force automation needs; and Microsoft SharePoint, a staff and cross functional collaborative tool.

Also available will be Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a customer relations management tool.

Users will be able to pay for MTN’s cloud offering using their airtime or MTN Mobile Money. Payment for the services will be in the local currency of the different markets.

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