Good news for MTN WhatsApp users in South Africa

MTN has partnered with WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms to enhance the quality of video and voice calls on the instant messaging application across 12 of the network’s markets.

The mobile operator says that the collaboration will help pinpoint areas in need of improvement and execute specific interventions.

It aims to do so by optimising application-aware networks and network-aware applications that will help to deliver a high-quality user experience.

Nigeria is the first of the 12 markets to implement the changes that Meta and MTN teams have collaborated on since Mobile World Congress 2024.

By analysing data and conducting comprehensive testing, the two companies believe that they significantly enhanced the quality of mobile users’ experiences.

“The collaboration allows us to deploy advanced solutions for an unparalleled real-time experience in Nigeria,” said Meta network ecosystems engineering head Diego Mari.

“It showcases our dedication to elevating service quality and improving user experience while striving for continued efficiency in traffic delivery.”

MTN noted that the early results from the rollout in Nigeria have yielded a 50% improvement in key performance indicators.

“This implementation further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our customers’ digital experience,” said MTN Nigeria CTO Yahaya Ibrahim.

“We’re pleased with the remarkable improvement in our real-time communication services, reflecting our commitment to innovative customer solutions.”

MTN did not confirm when this would be rolled out to South Africa.

A recent report by BMIT found that voice revenue earned by mobile networks in South Africa has declined significantly since 2020 due to the increased uptake of communication applications, such as WhatsApp.

Following the report, MTN told MyBroadband it had noticed this decline, reflecting evolving customer needs and preferences.

However, increased data subscribers have helped recoup some of this revenue.

“The rise in mobile data usage and the growing number of data subscribers in South Africa have helped mitigate some of the decline in mobile voice revenue,” MTN told MyBroadband.

“While data has become a primary revenue driver, the overall market dynamics are complex.”

A recent MyBroadband analysis found that it is over 95.75% cheaper to make voice calls on WhatsApp with 1GB monthly MTN data than regular calls with prepaid voice minute bundles or out-of-bundle rates.