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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said MTN Uganda needs to sell shares on the local stock exchange to facilitate domestic ownership of the company and ensure more of the money it earns stays in the country. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss this MTN listing is Oscar Emasu, Research Analyst for Equity &#038; Fixed Income at Crested Capital.

Ugandan President wants MTN to list on local exchange

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MTN CEO Rob Shuter discusses the resolution it has reached with Nigeria over the repatriation of $8.1billion and its tax dispute.

MTN has reached a resolution with Nigeria: CEO Rob Shuter explains what’s been decided

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MTN CEO Rob Shuter met with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to discuss ways to get Ugandan investors to participate in the mobile operator and deported executives.

MTN CEO Rob Shuter: We met with Uganda’s President Museveni this is what we discussed

MTN has the fastest internet speed among South Africa&#8217;s mobile operators, according to MyBroadband Insights Q4 2018 Mobile Network Quality Report. In Africa Madagascar does, according to UK analytics firm Cable&#8217;s Worldwide broadband speed league 2018, which is based on over 163m speed tests in 200 countries. 



By MyBroadband 



The report is based on 383,479 speed tests which were performed by thousands
of MyBroadband Android Speed Test App users across South Africa between 1
October 2018 and 31 December 2018.



The research shows that South Africa had an average mobile download speed of
22.18Mbps during the period.



MTN had the highest average download speed at 26.95Mbps, followed by Vodacom on 26.78Mbps, Rain on 21.67Mbps, Telkom on 19.83Mbps, and Cell C on 15.56Mbps.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MTN.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-325544"/></figure>



MyBroadband Insights director Marius Hollenbach said the results were in
line with expectations and closely tracked the network investments by mobile
operators.



MTN has invested R43.6 billion over the last four years to expand its 3G and
LTE network footprint across South Africa.



This investment helped MTN to launch 11,000 LTE sites which brought its 4G
population coverage in the country up to 90%.



Hollenbach highlighted that MTN’s network investment over the past few years
was significantly higher than Vodacom’s, and the results now show the impact of
this investment.



Best mobile network in South Africa



To determine the best mobile network in South Africa, a “Network Quality Score”
was calculated for each network using download speed, upload speed, and
latency.



The Network Quality Score out of 10 shows how the network performed in
relation to other networks.



MTN reigned supreme with a Network Quality Score of 10.00, followed by Vodacom
on 9.68, Rain on 8.04, Telkom on 6.88, and Cell C on 6.16.



The table below provides an overview of the mobile network rankings in South
Africa.



<table class="wp-block-table"><tbody><tr><td>
 Operator 
 </td><td>
 Latency
 (ms) 
 </td><td>
 Download
 Speed (Mbps)
 
 </td><td>
 Upload
 Speed (Mbps)
 
 </td><td>
 Network
 Score
 
 </td></tr><tr><td>
 MTN
 
 </td><td>
 37
 
 </td><td>
 26.95
 
 </td><td>
 12.15
 
 </td><td>
 10.00 
 </td></tr><tr><td>
 Vodacom
 
 </td><td>
 39
 
 </td><td>
 26.78
 
 </td><td>
 11.08
 
 </td><td>
 9.68 
 </td></tr><tr><td>
 Rain
 
 </td><td>
 44
 
 </td><td>
 21.67
 
 </td><td>
 9.26
 
 </td><td>
 8.04 
 </td></tr><tr><td>
 Telkom
 
 </td><td>
 44
 
 </td><td>
 19.83
 
 </td><td>
 4.79
 
 </td><td>
 6.88 
 </td></tr><tr><td>
 Cell
 C 
 </td><td>
 53
 
 </td><td>
 15.56
 
 </td><td>
 7.87
 
 </td><td>
 6.16 
 </td></tr></tbody></table>

This SA mobile operator has the fastest internet speed

CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) &#8211; Sudanese authorities are blocking access to popular social media platforms used to organise and broadcast nationwide anti-government protests triggered by an economic crisis, internet users say.



Sudan has been rocked by near-daily demonstrations over the past two weeks. Protesters have set alight ruling party buildings and have called on President Omar al-Bashir, who took power in 1989, to step down.



In a country where the state tightly controls traditional media, the internet has become a key information battleground. Of Sudan’s 40 million people, some 13 million use the internet and more than 28 million own mobile phones, local media say.



Authorities have not repeated the internet blackout they imposed during deadly protests in 2013. But the head of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Abdallah, told a rare news conference on Dec. 21: “There was a discussion in the government about blocking social media sites and in the end it was decided to block them.”



Users of the three main telecommunications operators in the country — Zain, MTN and Sudani — said access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp has only been possible through use of a virtual private network (VPN).



Though VPNs can bring their own connection problems and some Sudanese are unaware of their existence, activists have used them widely to organise and document the demonstrations.



Hashtags in Arabic such as “Sudan’s_cities_revolt” have been widely circulated from Sudan and abroad. Hashtags in English such as #SudanRevolts have also been used.



“Social media has a really big impact, and it helps with forming public opinion and transmitting what’s happening in Sudan to the outside,” said Mujtaba Musa, a Sudanese Twitter user with over 50,000 followers who has been active in documenting the protests.



NetBlocks, a digital rights NGO, said data it collected, including from thousands of Sudanese volunteers, provided evidence of “an extensive internet censorship regime”.



Bader al-Kharafi, CEO of parent company Zain Group, told Reuters: “Some websites may be blocked for technical reasons beyond the company’s specialisation.”



Neither the National Telecommunications Corporation, which oversees the sector in Sudan, nor MTN or Sudani could be reached for comment. Twitter and Facebook, which also owns WhatsApp, declined to comment.



“While Sudan has&nbsp;a long history of systematically&nbsp;censoring print and broadcast media, online media has been relatively untouched despite its exponential growth&#8230; in recent years,” said Mai Truong of U.S.-based advocacy group Freedom House.



“The authorities have only now started to follow the playbook of other authoritarian governments.”



Additional reporting by Ahmed Hagagy in Kuwait; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Gareth Jones

Why Sudan has just blocked access to popular social media platforms

LAGOS (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s MTN Group has resolved a dispute with Nigeria’s central bank and made a $53 million payment, the telecoms company said in a message posted on Twitter on Monday.



Nigeria’s central bank had said $8.1 billion in dividends paid by MTN Nigeria to its parent company between 2007 and 2015 and sent back to South Africa were illegal and should be returned.



While the west African country’s regulator had accused MTN of illegally transferring the funds out of the country, MTN denied any wrongdoing.



“MTN resolves Nigeria dividend issue, makes $53m payment, engaging with banks regarding the agreement,” it said on Twitter.



Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market, accounting for a third of its annual core profit, but has proved problematic in recent years.



Around two years ago MTN agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a dispute over SIM cards in Nigeria.



In a separate case, MTN faces a $2 billion tax demand from Nigeria’s attorney general.



Reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram; editing by Jason Neely

MTN and Nigeria resolve dispute, here’s what you need to know

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) &#8211; South African mobile phone group MTN Group plans to apply for payment banking license in Nigeria and launch a service in Africa’s biggest economy by the second quarter of 2019, its chief executive said on Tuesday.
“We will be applying for a payment service banking license in Nigeria in the next month or so, and if all goes according to plan, we will also be launching Mobile Money in Nigeria probably around Q2 of 2019,” Rob Shuter said.
Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia

MTN plans to apply for mobile money license in Nigeria

LAGOS (Reuters) &#8211; A Lagos judge adjourned a hearing on Tuesday in a $10.1-billion dispute between South African telecoms firm MTN Group and Nigeria’s central bank to Dec 4.
The central bank alleges the firm illegally sent $8.1 billion abroad, and the Nigerian government has demanded $2 billion in taxes from MTN.
MTN, which makes about a third of its annual core profit in Nigeria, has said the allegations are without merit.
Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha and Didi Akinyelure; Writing by Paul Carsten; editing by John Stonestreet

Court case between MTN and Nigeria’s central bank postponed

LAGOS/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; MTN Group, Africa’s biggest mobile operator, will keep engaging with Nigerian authorities to resolve a $10.1 billion dispute with the west African country, but is putting its faith in the courts to protect itself, its CEO said on Monday.
The telecom firm, which makes about a third of its annual core profit in Nigeria, has said the allegations are without merit, but added that no further negative steps have been taken by authorities in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s central bank on Aug. 29 ordered the South African firm and its lenders to bring $8.1 billion back into Nigeria that it alleges the company sent abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations. MTN also faces a $2 billion tax demand from the country’s attorney general.
MTN has denied any wrongdoing, and filed a court case against the central bank.
“We have continued engagement with authorities, exchanging documentation and there is genuine will to reach an amicable situation,” MTN’s Chief Executive Officer Rob Shuter said on a conference call.
“However, we need to protect ourselves and we are relying on the courts in Nigeria to make sure there’s an amicable resolution.”
A court hearing between the central bank and MTN on the $8.1 billion repatriation case is scheduled for Tuesday.
Shuter said investors should note that the company did not expect a resolution to come through then.
“No further negative steps have been taken by the authorities in Nigeria, however it is important to keep legal steps going,” Shuter said, adding that MTN was not carrying out any repatriations from Nigeria for now.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are likely to have an adjourned date because more information will likely be requested, however, it is important to create an environment to look for continued solutions.”
Shuter said although it had been a difficult quarter due to the regulatory challenges in Nigeria, the company still managed to put in a strong performance in Africa’s biggest economy with data revenue growing.
MTN said its debut stock market listing in Nigeria may slip into early 2019 because it needs to work on the format for the share sale.
It reported a 1.1 percent rise in quarterly user base, helped partly by strong performances in Nigeria.
The company said its user base increased by 2.5 million subscribers to 225.4 million users in the quarter ended September, and mobile money customers grew by 1.7 million to 25.8 million users.
Mobile money customers charge their phones with cash, and send it to friends or family via the short message service. These counterparties can then make similar transfers or cash in their credits with pre-approved agents, such as merchants or banks.
Reporting by Didi Akinyelure and Chijioke Ohuocha in Lagos and Tiisetso Motsoeneng in Johannesburg; Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Here’s what MTN is relying on to end dispute with Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; MTN Group, Africa’s biggest mobile operator, reported a 1.1 percent rise in quarterly user base on Monday, helped partly by strong performances in Nigeria, its largest but increasingly problematic market.
The company said its user base increased by 2.5 million subscribers to 225.4 million users in the quarter ended September, and mobile money customers grew by 1.7 million to 25.8 million users.
Mobile money customers charge their phones with cash, and send it to friends or family via the short message service. These counterparties can then make similar transfers or cash in their credits with pre-approved agents, such as merchants or banks.
MTN is embroiled in a $10.1 billion dispute with the west African country of Nigeria, which has accused the company of illegally sending money abroad.
The telecom firm, which makes about a third of its annual core profit in Nigeria, said the allegations are without merit.
Nigeria’s central bank on Aug. 29 ordered the South African firm and its lenders to bring $8.1 billion back into Nigeria that it alleges the company sent abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations. MTN also faces a $2 billion tax demand from the country’s attorney general.
“We continue to engage with relevant authorities on these matters. We remain resolute that MTN Nigeria has not committed any offences and will continue to defend this position vigorously,” MTN said while posting the quarterly results.
Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips

MTN’s strong performance in Nigeria aid rise in Q3 subscribers despite dispute

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; Telecoms firm MTN said on Tuesday that it was continuing to hold talks with Nigerian officials to find a mutually acceptable solution to a dispute over the alleged transfer of $8.1 billion of funds.
“Shareholders are advised to continue to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s securities until a further announcement is made,” MTN said in a statement on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, where its shares are listed.
Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Sunil Nair

MTN continues talks with Nigeria over $8.1 billion dispute

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Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele speaks to CNBC Africa on what the Competition Commission is doing to protect consumers from exorbitant data costs in the country.

Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele gives update on inquiry into high data prices

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CNBC Africa&#8217;s Lubabalo Mashiqana has been following the proceedings of the Competition Commission inquiry into high data prices in the country. He caught up with the Telkom CEO, Themba Maseko to about tackling high data prices in South Africa.

Telkom CEO Themba Maseko on tackling high communication costs

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s MTN Group shares rose as much as 2.55 percent after the Nigerian central bank governor said on Sunday the bank may reduce the amount it has ordered the telecoms firm to repatriate as part of an ongoing disagreement.
MTN and the central bank are in a dispute over the transfer of $8.1 billion of funds which the bank said the company had sent abroad in breach of foreign-exchange regulations. At 0837 GMT shares in MTN were up 2.03 percent to 85.50 rand.
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by James Macharia

MTN shares rise as Nigeria’s central bank could reduce amount it ordered the company to repatriate

ABUJA (Reuters) &#8211; MTN has received a counterclaim from Nigeria’s central bank to its request for an order to stop the bank forcing it to repatriate $8.1 billion it claims was illegally sent out of the country, the South African telecom’s lawyer said on Friday.
MTN has received the central bank’s response to its court filing, Wole Olanipekun said, adding that MTN will file a reply to the bank’s claim.
The central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in August ordered MTN and its lenders to bring back the funds which it alleged the company had sent abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations.
“MTN had gone to court, sued the central bank and the attorney general. The central bank has filed a response and a counter claim, meaning that nobody can resort to self-help in the matter any longer,” Olanipekun told Reuters.
“With this development everybody has now surrendered &#8230; the greviances to the court. Everybody has to wait for the decision of the court.”
CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor said: “Although there’s a case in court, the CBN is aggressively engaging MTN and the banks and I’m hopeful that an amicable resolution will soon be achieved.”
Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Jan Harvey and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Nigeria’s central bank responds to MTN with a counterclaim, what you need to know…

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; Shares in South Africa’s MTN rose 5 percent on Thursday, after Nigeria’s central bank said on Wednesday that it was reviewing information provided by the telecoms firm and four banks over a dispute on the repatriation of dividends.
“The statement suggests there are some talks going on and the market welcomed the less harsh tone by the Nigerian central bank,” said Ruhan Du Plessis, telecoms analyst at Avior Capital Markets.
“It is looking more likely that MTN will not have to pay back the for amount after all as the market feared. The market has welcomed the progress.”
The central bank on Aug. 29 said it had ordered MTN and the four banks to bring $8.1 billion back into Nigeria that it alleged the telecoms firm sent abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations.
Reporting by Patricia Aruo; Editing by James Macharia

MTN shares rise to 5 percent after Nigeria reviews information to resolve dispute, what you need to know…

* MTN faces $10 bln penalties in dispute with Nigeria
* Nigerian unit brings in third of annual core profit
* MTN CEO has said confident dispute can be resolved (Adds attorney general spokesman declining comment, background)
By Didi Akinyelure and Alexis Akwagyiram
LAGOS, Sept 11 (Reuters) &#8211; Nigeria’s attorney general exceeded his powers in demanding $2 billion in taxes and charges from MTN Group, Africa’s biggest telecoms firm said in papers filed with Nigeria’s High Court and reviewed by Reuters.
The papers, filed on Monday in a move by the Nigerian arm of the South African firm aimed at protecting its assets, also showed MTN was seeking 3 billion naira ($10 million) from the West African country in court and legal expenses.
Earlier this month, the Nigerian government handed MTN a $2 billion tax bill days after the central bank, in a separate move, ordered the company’s Lagos unit to hand over $8.1 billion that it said was illegally sent abroad.
Nigeria, which accounts for a third of MTN’s annual core profit, is MTN’s biggest market. Some analysts see politics as a factor in the pressure on MTN as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who took office in 2015 on promises to push through tougher regulation, is seeking re-election in 2019.
“The attorney-general of the federation (of Nigeria) acted illegally, unconstitutionally, and in excess of his powers” by implementing charges in a “self-assessment exercise” that related to customs, the inland revenue and import duties, the court documents state.
The attorney general did not respond to telephone calls and a text message requesting comment. His spokesman, Salihu Isah, declined to comment.
The documents seen by Reuters include a writ of summons, dated Sept. 10, ordering the attorney general or his representative to make an appearance at the high court in Lagos within 30 days.
It was not clear whether the attorney general had filed a statement of defence.
The attorney general has previously said MTN Nigeria should have paid approximately $2 billion in taxes relating to imports of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers.
The documents submitted by MTN, some 70 pages of which were seen by Reuters in which the attorney general is referred to as AGF and MTN Nigeria as MTNN, also refer to the allegation that MTN illegally sent $8.1 billion abroad.
The central bank said in a statement issued on Aug. 29 that the $8.1 billion was “illegally repatriated” through the “illegal conversion of MTN shareholders’ loan to preference shares”.
As a result, $8.1 billion in dividends paid by MTN Nigeria to its shareholders between 2007 and 2015 should be returned.
MTN has denied the allegations.
It is not the first time the telecoms firm has been accused of infractions in its largest market.
Its latest troubles come around two years after it agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a dispute over unregistered SIM cards in Nigeria, whose finances have been hit by a weak economy and volatile global oil prices.
The chief executive of MTN, which has expanded in more than 20 frontier markets including war-ravaged Syria and Afghanistan, on Monday told reporters in South Africa he was confident that the dispute would be resolved.
$1 = 304.2500 naira Additional reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha and Camillus Eboh in Abuja, and Paul Carsten in Kano; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Mark Potter/David Evans and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

MTN

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MTN shares rise as Nigeria’s central bank could reduce amount it ordered the company to repatriate

Nigeria’s central bank responds to MTN with a counterclaim, what you need to know…

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Why MTN believes Nigeria’s attorney general exceeded powers in demanding $2 billion in taxes

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MTN

Ugandan President wants MTN to list on local exchange

MTN has reached a resolution with Nigeria: CEO Rob Shuter explains what’s been decided

MTN CEO Rob Shuter: We met with Uganda’s President Museveni this is what we discussed

This SA mobile operator has the fastest internet speed

Why Sudan has just blocked access to popular social media platforms

MTN and Nigeria resolve dispute, here’s what you need to know

MTN plans to apply for mobile money license in Nigeria

Court case between MTN and Nigeria’s central bank postponed

Here’s what MTN is relying on to end dispute with Nigeria

MTN’s strong performance in Nigeria aid rise in Q3 subscribers despite dispute

MTN continues talks with Nigeria over $8.1 billion dispute

Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele gives update on inquiry into high data prices

Telkom CEO Themba Maseko on tackling high communication costs

MTN shares rise as Nigeria’s central bank could reduce amount it ordered the company to repatriate

Nigeria’s central bank responds to MTN with a counterclaim, what you need to know…

MTN shares rise to 5 percent after Nigeria reviews information to resolve dispute, what you need to know…

Why MTN believes Nigeria’s attorney general exceeded powers in demanding $2 billion in taxes

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