MTN Group and Telefónica announce partnership

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The strategic partnership is supported by the Telefónica Partners Programme, an initiative launched by Telefónica in 2011, which includes other leading telcos covering a total of 35 markets in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Middle East.

Under the terms of the agreement, both companies have agreed to work together to capture synergies in a number of strategic areas. Many of the initial areas are aiming to improve both companies' stand in regards to enterprise customers, including services to multinational companies in each other's footprint, collaboration in M2M and new digital products and services targeting the B2B segment. Additionally, the Groups will also cooperate in various strategic initiatives and exchange best practices to capture the new industry opportunities. Both companies will also enter in discussions on how to engage effectively in international wholesale, devices and network/IT procurement.

Sideline initiatives

MTN Group and Telefónica teams may also engage in other business areas under the scope of the strategic agreement, such as alignment in key technology projects in network and IT, new initiatives (such as mobile money or big data projects), and collaborate on commercial and marketing strategies. Companies will collaborate bilaterally on these and other selected areas.

Telefónica's Mario Martin, industrial alliances group director, said that "Telefónica has a strong belief in the advantages of scale and pooling of skills that industry partnerships can bring. And we are especially proud of having MTN Group, a player with outstanding track record, joining forces with Telefonica under the Partners Programme. We are confident that this agreement will bring important benefits to both our Groups".