MTN launches cloud services

MOBILE Telecommunications Company, MTN Ghana, has launched cloud services to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to cut down on the cost of information technology (IT) software and hardware.

MTN is the first mobile network operator in Africa to launch the cloud service brokerage model which is expected to improve productivity and efficiency of businesses.

Cloud computing is one of the new innovations in the IT world and it involves the delivery of hosted services over the Internet, enabling users to access services anywhere and at any time.

The service centralises remote access to data and applications where a third party, in this case, MTN, acts as the single point of contact for customers.

This allows companies to focus on their core businesses instead of concentrating on infrastructure costs.

It also allows businesses to come out with information processing requirements of the average organisation in terms of secure data management, fire wall protection and some application to remove the infrastructure that allows functioning just as the user.

In effect, it is the delivery of hosted service over the Internet or any secured virtual private network (VPN).

The Chief Executive of the MTN Ghana, Mr Michael Ikpoki, said at the launch in Accra that the introduction of the cloud services marked an important milestone in the life of MTN Business, a division in the company.

The MTN Business was launched in 2011 to provide information, communication and technology (ICT) solutions for SMEs and other corporate institutions in the country.

Mr Ikpoki said out of six markets – Cameroon, Nigeria, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa – selected by the MTN Group, Ghana was the first country to launch the service in West Africa.

“Cloud services constitute a recent innovation in the IT space and we are very proud to be leading in this market. With the rapid development in ICT and telecoms sector, driven by strong desire to provide customer experience, there is expectation that technology can do more for SMEs,” Mr Ikpoki said at the event.

He thus called on SMEs and large corporate organisations to invest in new technologies and new solutions to drive growth in their respective businesses.

The Head of Business Solutions at MTN Ghana, Mr Eric Nsarkoh, said the idea of the MTN Cloud was to manage stress aspect of organisations.

“In terms of its uniqueness, there is a lot of flexibility because all you are required to do is to register and you have access. It is as easy as setting up an email address,” he said.