MTN Swaziland

active

MTN Swaziland was awarded a 10-year exclusive national license to build and operate a 900 MHz GSM mobile phone network in Swaziland in July 1998. The company started its commercial operations in November 1998. The company was created as a joint venture between the state-owned Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications (SPTC)(70%) and South African firm MTN (30%). In December of 2004, King Mswati III of Swaziland purchased a 6% interest in MTN Swaziland through SPTC with Euro 23 million of his personal funds. The initial phase of the project was estimated to cost US$10 million. The area of service covered 40% of the country and was to be extended over a period of five years to cover 70% of the country. The exclusive license was awarded on the condition that MTN assume all the costs of building a national mobile network. In 2005, MTN Swaziland added over 57,000 subscribers, taking its total to 213,000. Its geographical coverage stood at 79% and population coverage at 89%. The company continued to enjoy a 100% mobile market share. 2005- Total capital expenditure was USD3 million with geographical coverage at 79% and population coverage of 89%. 2003 - "A total of R266 million has been spent on infrastructure to date." 2004 - "During the year, total additional capital expenditure on network infrastructure amounted to R56 million."