MTN Group SWOT & PESTLE Analysis

Strengths

1) Strong brand with largest market share in 15 countries: MTN is a top global brand and features regularly in top 500 global brands. It was also South Africa’s most valuable brand as of 2016, for a fourth consecutive year. MTN’s excellent network coverage and high capacity has proved to be a key differentiator which has helped it to achieve number one operator in 15 out of 22 markets it operated in 2015.

2) Huge subscriber base with more than 230 mn customers: It offers segmented voice and data services to more than 234 million subscribers across 22 markets as of Q3 2016. However, with the SIM registration mandate in Nigeria, there was a temporary 6.9% fall in users to 57.04 million in the country in Q1 2016 which again improved by Q3 2016 to almost 60.5 million subscribers. With close to 52 million 3G-enabled devices on network, MTN is continuing to invest and expand its 3G and LTE networks and the overall growth prospects in its major markets seem bright over the next 4 years.

3) Comprehensive range of innovative products and services: MTN offers its customers a complete range of services. MTN has more than 80 companies providing 5000 content services under its lifestyle offerings and it is the largest distributor of music in Africa. Its joint venture (JV) with Middle East Internet Holding (MEIH) is an e-commerce start-up which aims to establish its base in the attractive Middle East markets. Its JV with Africa Internet Holding (AIH) is making steady progress and clocked 4.4 million transactions in 2015 with more than 2.3 million customers on-board. MTN Mobile Money an e-wallet had 35 million across 15 countries as of 2015.

Weakness

This section is available in the Complete Report

Opportunities

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Threats

1) Power shortages across Africa affecting telecom infrastructure: The greatest threat facing telecom sector across countries in Africa is the shortage of electricity. Power problems in the region have not only hampered the growth of the industry and has also affected the health of the telecom infrastructure as frequent power outages have tendency to damage the sensitive and expensive equipment in the telecom towers. Currently two-thirds of the population in the continent (600 million people) do not have access to electricity. South Africa, the most industrialized nation in the continent still suffers power shortages in many regions as of 2017. The country has insufficiently invested in new projects and distribution and infrastructure maintenance. Outside South Africa, the situation is even more bleak, with the remaining 47 countries generating less power annually than Spain. Even alternative power solutions such as reusable/green energy, solar energy, and wind hybrids have not been implemented due to red tapism and bureaucracy in governments. Until, the African governments liberalize the power sector, there will be limited private investment and the telecom industry will continue to suffer due to power shortages.

2) Political developments and unrest across MENA markets: There have been major political developments and ongoing unrest in some major Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets where MTN operates. Syria is a major market for MTN where political unrest and terrorism has been ongoing since 2011. There has been a decrease of almost 50% of the country’s population and its currency significantly depreciated. MTN continues to operate in safe zones near the capital Damascus and other coastal areas but the current business environment is challenging and risk prone. Yemen, another market for MTN also is going through a period of civil war and unrest which has resulted in destruction of infrastructure. Afghanistan and Sudan have also challenging business environments with ongoing civil and regional conflicts. Though the current prospects look grim, there may be good growth opportunity in the above markets if situation stabilizes and there is country rebuilding.