MTN Zambia Outlines Expansion Plans

MTN's Zambia operations plans to invest US$95 million upgrading its network this year as it seeks to double its customer base to at least 1.4 million.

"We are looking at growing the business by double this year through purchasing new equipment and investing in support systems to improve our network," Chief Executive Officer, Per Christer Eriksson told the Reuters news agency. "The total cost of our expansion programme for this year is about $95 million and we are looking at increasing our market share to about 30 percent," he added.

The company invested US$80 million on its network in 2008.

MTN Group recently announced that Mr Erik van Veen, the current COO of MTN Uganda, is to take over as CEO of MTN Zambia.

According to figures from the Mobile World tracker, MTN ended last year with just under 700,000 customers - and a market share of around 18%. The country itself has a population penetration level of just 31% and two other operators, Zamtel and Zain, which is the market leader with 2.7 million customers.

On the web: Reuters - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 13th April 2009