MTN will deploy a mixture of fibre and satellite infrastructure across Africa for Standard Bank.
The companies have not revealed the value of the deal that will see MTN tasked with expanding the bank's infrastructure for its African operations. However, MTN Business executive Angela Gahagan admits the task will be large.
“There is no doubt that providing this complex infrastructure was always going to be challenging; however, with clear objectives and collaboration between both parties, we have agreed on a solution roadmap which will be beneficial to ensuring a smooth transition onto the infrastructure,” she says.
According to its Web site, Standard Bank, under the banner of Stanbic, has a presence in 17 African countries, including the increasingly lucrative Angola and Nigeria.
As a group, MTN also has a vast presence in Africa. However, it is unclear how much access to the already installed networks MTN Business will incorporate into the new infrastructure for Standard Bank.
MTN Business has a physical presence in Botswana, Namibia and SA.
Gahagan says the company is expected to provide infrastructure that will give Standard Bank real-time access to application and management systems. “As a result, a key element of the contract is to provide combined satellite and fibre-optic networks from [other African] countries to SA,” she adds.
Standard Bank director Ken Holtshousen says MTN's African presence was partly why the company was chosen to complete the roll-out. “Certainly, it was evident from the start that due to MTN's African presence and the roll-out of all the current cable systems available, that the company would be able to meet our objectives.”
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