Press Release:MTN and Sierra Group partner to offer free WiFi in Lusaka

MTN Zambia in a joint development project with Sierra Group has deployed the first of its kind Public WIFI access network in Lusaka city. The new broadband platform over WIFI is set to enable mass public access to broadband in Lusaka. The objective of the project is to enable the accelerated penetration of online services by a majority who might to date be excluded on account of various considerations.

Speaking on the launch of the Wi-Fi service, MTN Zambia Enterprise Business Head Mark Townsend said, “We took our time to study the communication challenges that our customers are facing and we took it upon ourselves as Zambia’s fastest and leading internet provider to provide solutions to these challenges. Students, shoppers and indeed anyone on the go can now access internet through our Wi-Fi links for free.”

“We live by our promises and with the recent unveiling of the first ever 1Terabyte data bundle in Zambia, MTN Zambia is leading on every front. Our vision is to deliver a bold new digital world to our customers so as we continue to work around that statement, we are constantly looking at our products so that we better them in order for our customers to enjoy superior and uninterrupted data services.”

The offering allows all residents in Lusaka who are within the following areas to access the internet for upto 30 minutes for free.

• Northmead
• ZCAS
• Eastpark Mall
• Cosmopolitan Mall

A subsidized fee will be levied for extended usage beyond allocated minutes of “free usage”. Sierra Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Fred Moturi said of the partnership, “The long term objective is to ensure that Lusaka is fully covered with MTN and Sierra WIFI signal at major population concentration centers including malls, schools, transport corridors, health facilities, tourism centers and even low income communities to ensure all get on board the wave of digital connectivity and the pursuit of penetration of access to over 50% of the population.”

This initiative will start the process of having an online connected population across Lusaka and will provide for the delivery of online public services, e-Education, E-health, access to job portals as well as given opportunity to business to create and expand their businesses online. Sierra Group is a company that specializes in the development and management of Mass Broadband access projects and Service and has been at the forefront in deployment of mass/public Wi-Fi projects in South Africa (Soweto, Taxi Ranks, Thokoza Townships) and is pleased to be partnering with MTN Zambia, the country’s leading internet provider operator to deploy the services in Lusaka, Zambia.

About MTN Zambia

MTN Zambia is part of the MTN Group a multi-national telecommunications company with a footprint in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East. It started its operations in Zambia in 2005 after acquiring the then Telecel. It initially started as an exclusive GSM network providing voice and Short Message System (SMS) services. The portfolio has grown to include voice (local and international), data, fixed and wireless internet, money transfer and other value added services. The company is Zambia’s market leader with the largest market share providing communications solutions across all the 10

The company is Zambia’s market leader with the largest market share providing communications solutions across all the 10 provinces of Zambia. MTN Zambia’s footprint is covered by 4G, 3G, Edge and 2G networks. MTN Zambia is the country’s fastest growing and most innovative network and is highly acclaimed for its quality network and

MTN Zambia is the country’s fastest growing and most innovative network and is highly acclaimed for its quality network and dynamic tariff billing system.

The company puts its customers at the forefront and uses its position on the market to uplift people’s lives and communities through a robust Corporate Social Investment programme in Education, Health (United Against Malaria), and preservation of the country’s cultural heritage through sponsorship of traditional ceremonies. 

MTN Zambia supports Zambia’s number one passion; soccer and is a proud sponsor of the national soccer team chipolopolo. The relationship with the local football association, FAZ started in 2010 and has seen the national team crowned 2012 African Champions at the continental showpiece – the Africa Cup of Nations. MTN Zambia is also proud sponsor of the premier league also known as the MTN/FAZ Premier League which has grown to become a competitive league watched by millions of African’s across the continent.

At MTN Zambia we have continued to grow from being a generic telecommunications company known for basic telephony to a lifestyle-enabling, one-stop shop for solutions that support consumers through every moment and every stage of their life.