Accra, May 14, GNA - The MTN Group has reached the 100 million subscriber mark in its drive to become the world's leading telecommunications service provider in emerging markets. With a telecommunications network that covers a population of approximately 500 million, the 100 million subscriber achievement means that 1 in 5 people in MTN's 21 markets in Africa and the Middle East is an MTN subscriber, a statement released in Accra said on Thursday. The Group recorded 98,203,000 subscribers at 31 March 2009, up eight per cent from 31 December 2008, touching the all-important 100 million mark in April, as the telecoms operator signed up more customers.

The statement quoted Group President and CEO Mr Phuthuma Nhleko as saying: "For a 15-year-old company operating amid increased competitive intensity in all its markets, this is a most satisfactory performance by MTN."

He said the milestone affirmed MTN's leadership position in many areas of their business, adding that MTN's success was also attributable to a business model that had included sound financial investment, strong corporate governance, effective management and corporate social responsibility.

Mr Nhleko paid tribute to MTN's culturally diverse staff of over 40 nationalities across the company's markets, saying their "can-do" spirit and "innovative mindset" had placed the Group in a strong competitive position.

The statement said the proportional subscriber contribution between the regions that MTN operated in remained relatively unchanged since 31 December 2008 - South and East Africa (SEA) region contributed 26 per cent of the Group's total subscribers while West and Central Africa (WECA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) contributed 45 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

It said the WECA region increased its subscriber base by 10% for the first quarter, adding that the strong growth in the region was primarily due to growth in Nigeria which contributed 59 per cent to the region's subscribers and recorded a 12 per cent increase in its subscriber base to 25,908,000.

"This was mainly due to continued improvements in network quality and capacity with 173 base stations added in the quarter. "Ghana increased its subscriber base by five per cent despite fierce competition, recording almost seven million subscribers in January 2009; both Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire increased their subscriber bases by seven per cent to 3,824,000 and 3,810,000, respectively," the statement said.