NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 27 – MTN Business, a unit of South African telecoms giant MTN on Tuesday formally integrated with UUNET Kenya with the re-branding of UUNET to MTN Business Kenya.
MTN Business acquired a 60 percent stake in UUNET Kenya in 2008, as it looked to tap into the emerging Internet market in the country.
Speaking during the re-launch, MTN Business Kenya Managing Director Tom Omariba said the move was set to improve the competitiveness of Kenya\’s business sector through offering them a world-class telecommunications solution.
"An array of key structures and network transitions has been implemented to deliver standardised service and seamless integration for customers culminating in the official name-change, MTN Business Kenya," Mr Omariba said.
He said the name change was in line with MTN Business’ vision of giving its customers competitive advantages.
As organisations across the globe are moving their data to the cloud, MTN Business is building an African cloud enabling MTN Business Kenya to introduce quality business solutions such as server virtualisation and virtual storage to the region and ensure the turnaround time of these solutions to the regional market is within international best practices.
MTN Business is present in 21 countries, 19 of them in Africa and serves Iran and Afghanistan.
MTN Business Managing Executive Angela Gahagan said with the Pan African and Global reach of MTN Business, MTN Business Kenya is now uniquely positioned to assist with the complex and diverse solutions required the company\’s customers.
"This re-brand reiterates MTN Business\’ commitment to offer corporations across Africa and other emerging markets our "360 degree" service offering – an approach designed to give client\’s peace of mind in their communication needs, pinned on reliability and availability," she said.
Even with the name change, the ISP remains adamant it will focus on its corporate customers rather than enter the retail space.
"You cannot be everything to all customers. We have to look at our strengths and choose which area we can serve. If you try and serve both markets, you will suffer… that is the experience elsewhere," Mr Omariba said.
MTN Business\’ strategy is expected to give the firm a cash injection as well as technical expertise to forge a strong campaign into the data business in Kenya and grow its current 700-corporate customers.
