MTN - MTN Group Limited - Release Of Subscriber Nu29 Apr 2010
MTN
MTN                                                                             
MTN - MTN Group Limited - Release Of Subscriber Numbers For The Quarter Ended   
                             31 March 2010                                      
MTN Group Limited                                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1994/009584/06)                                            
Share code: MTN                                                                 
ISIN: ZAE000042164                                                              
RELEASE OF SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2010               
MTN Group recorded 123,580,000 subscribers at 31 March 2010. This is a 7%       
increase for the quarter from 116,025,000 subscribers recorded at 31 December   
2009.                                                                           
The attached analysis is presented on a regional basis. The three regions`      
subscribers continue to grow at marginally different rates although, when       
compared to December 2009, the relative subscriber contribution between the     
regions remains unchanged. South and East Africa (SEA) region contributed 22%   
(December 2009: 23%) of the Group`s total subscribers while West and Central    
Africa (WECA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) contributed 46% (December 
2009: 46%) and 32% (December 2009: 32%), respectively.                          
The SEA region increased its subscriber base by 4% for the quarter. The South   
African operation contributes 60% to the region`s subscribers, increasing 2.2%  
to 16,424,000 for the quarter ended 31 March 2010. The positive net additions of
358,000 signal a more normalized growth pattern following the effect of the RICA
implementation in the second half of 2009. The growth was mainly attributable to
increased brand awareness including the "Ayoba" campaign and the continued      
success of the "Mahala" campaign. Uganda increased its subscriber base by 8% to 
5,615,000 despite aggressive competition.                                       
The WECA region increased its subscriber base by 7% for the quarter. The strong 
growth in the region was primarily due to growth in Nigeria which contributes   
59% to the region`s subscribers. Nigeria recorded an 8% increase in its         
subscriber base to 33,301,000 as network quality and the continued success of   
the distribution framework allowed for a competitive advantage. Ghana increased 
its subscriber base by 5% to 8,431,000 within an increasingly competitive       
market. This is due to improved network quality combined with a strong brand    
position. Cameroon and Cote d`Ivoire increased their subscriber bases by 2% and 
4% to 4,443,000 and 4,590,000, respectively.                                    
The MENA region recorded an 8% increase in subscribers for the quarter. The     
growth within the region was largely due to the Iran operation, which           
contributes 64% to the region`s subscribers and increased its subscribers by 9% 
to 25,386,000. Iran`s continued subscriber growth is due to acquisition         
promotions that remain compelling. Syria increased its subscribers marginally by
1% to 4,297,000.                                                                
MTN South Africa`s blended average revenue per a user ("ARPU") increased by 7%  
to R155. This was due to a 9% increase in prepaid ARPU to R108. Nigeria and     
Ghana`s ARPU declined each by 10%, to $11 and $7, respectively as a result of   
increased penetration into lower market segments and seasonal trends.           
Notwithstanding high growth rates and seasonal trends, Iran`s ARPU remain       
relatively stable at $8.                                                        
Subscriber Numbers                                                              
                     Dec-09      Mar-10      % change    Contribution %         
                     Subs `000   Subs `000                                      
SEA                                                                             
South Africa          16,067      16,424      2.2%        60%                   
Post-paid             3,023       3,116       3.1%        11%                   
Pre-paid              13,044      13,308      2.0%        49%                   
Uganda                5,222       5,615       8%          21%                   
Mascom - Botswana     1,202       1,215       1%          4%                    
Rwanda                1,854       2,050       11%         8%                    
Swaziland             642         662         3%          2%                    
Zambia                1,165       1,293       11%         5%                    
Sub total             26,152      27,259      4%          22%                   
WECA                                                                            
Nigeria               30,827      33,301      8%          59%                   
Ghana                 8,001       8,431       5%          15%                   
Cameroon              4,364       4,443       2%          8%                    
Cote d`Ivoire         4,424       4,590       4%          8%                    
Benin                 1,564       1,686       8%          3%                    
Conakry               1,273       1,467       15%         3%                    
Congo - Brazzaville   1,274       1,380       8%          2%                    
Liberia               719         731         2%          1%                    
Bissau                413         453         10%         1%                    
Sub total             52,859      56,483      7%          46%                   
MENA                                                                            
Syria                 4,249       4,297       1%          11%                   
Iran                  23,260      25,386      9%          64%                   
Sudan                 3,773       4,042       7%          10%                   
Afghanistan           3,186       3,390       6%          9%                    
Yemen                 2,343       2,509       7%          6%                    
Cyprus                205         214         4%          1%                    
Sub total             37,014      39,838      8%          32%                   
Total Subscribers     116,025     123,580     7%          100%                  
ARPU                                                                            
                       Dec-09     Mar-10       % change*   LC % change          
                       YTD ARPU   YTD ARPU                                      
SEA                                                                             
South Africa           R 145      R 155        7%          7%                   
Post-paid              R 365      R 357        -2%         -2%                  
Pre-paid               R 100      R 108        9%          9%                   
Uganda                 $6         $6           -11%        -12%                 
Mascom - Botswana      $11        $10          -7%         -11%                 
Rwanda                 $6         $6           -10%        -10%                 
Swaziland              $13        $13          4%          -5%                  
Zambia                 $7         $6           -8%         -14%                 
WECA                                                                            
Nigeria                $12        $11          -10%        -9%                  
Ghana                  $8         $7           -10%        -9%                  
Cameroon               $9         $9           -9%         -8%                  
Cote d`Ivoire          $9         $7           -19%        -18%                 
Benin                  $12        $10          -20%        -19%                 
Conakry                $7         $6           -18%        -7%                  
Congo - Brazzaville    $13        $11          -11%        -10%                 
Liberia                $11        $9           -13%        -13%                 
Bissau                 $10        $8           -12%        -11%                 
MENA                                                                            
Iran                   $8         $8           -2%         -1%                  
Syria                  $18        $16          -11%        -12%                 
Sudan                  $5         $5           -16%        -17%                 
Afghanistan            $5         $5           -4%         -8%                  
Yemen                  $7         $6.48        -12%        -7%                  
Cyprus                 $39        $35          -11%        -13%                 
* %`s are based on actual and not                                               
rounded figures                                                                 
Subscribers are customers who                                                   
have participated in a revenue                                                  
generating activity in the last                                                 
90 days. ARPU is the monthly                                                    
weighted average revenue per                                                    
subscriber. Revenue includes                                                    
interconnect fees and excludes                                                  
connection fees and visitor                                                     
roaming revenue, and this is                                                    
divided by the weighted average                                                 
subscriber base over the period.                                                
** South Africa subscribers and                                                 
ARPU`s include community service                                                
payphones into pre-paid and                                                     
application providers into post-                                                
paid.                                                                           
Fairland                                                                        
29 April 2010                                                                   
Sponsor                                                                         
Deutsche Securities (SA)                                                        
(Proprietary) Limited                                                           
Date: 29/04/2010 12:31:07 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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