National Treasury has awarded MTN Business with a three-year contract to enhance digitisation of municipalities.
MTN Business has won a contract to enhance and implement smart electricity and water technology in 257 municipalities across the country.
Commencing this month, the three-year contract with National Treasury will see MTN Business supplying, delivering, installing, managing, and maintaining end-to-end smart metering solutions across the country.
Commenting on the contract, Charles Molapisi, CEO of MTN SA, says, “We are deeply committed to playing a significant role in providing leading digital solutions for South Africa’s progress. Digital technologies have become fundamental to everyday life, and our ambition is to ensure that these technologies touch the lives of our government, customers, and businesses in various ways. This solution will not only bring value and impact to municipalities but will see our households and businesses reaping the benefits of a modern connected life.”
Across the world, countries are addressing similar issues by replacing outdated infrastructure with new digital smart technology, enhancing efficiency for both businesses and homes, and conserving precious resources.
In the UK, for example, the Carbon Trust estimates that businesses may be wasting up to 20% of the energy they are billed for due to outdated or faulty metering units.
In South Africa, MTN Business smart metres offer numerous benefits to various stakeholders within the supply chain, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and security.
For municipal customers, they provide better data access for managing electricity usage, leading to more accurate billing, improved outage restoration, and power quality data.
“It’s clear that this partnership will bring about significant benefits that will take South Africa one step further towards achieving a technologically advanced and economically developed electricity and water systems that will ensure South Africa’s usages remain sustainable for future generations. This is of utmost importance because while the water crisis may not be as apparent as the energy crisis, it remains a looming risk which we collectively need to address”, says Molapisi.
Tumi Sekhukhune-Chamayou, MTN South Africa Chief Enterprise Business Officer, adds: “The National Treasury was looking for a cost-effective solution that would also meet very high technical requirements including query resolutions and training for municipal staff. We are pleased to have been selected as a preferred service provider. We aim to provide a high level of expertise to ensure households and businesses across South Africa benefit from digital solutions that matter”.
“The integration of smart electricity and water technology across these municipalities will not only bring us closer to ensuring people’s right to sufficient water and inherent dignity as laid out in our constitution are met but will also further solidify financial sustainability for municipalities by eliminating bypasses and ghost vending to ensure transparent and financially viable utility management,” says Sekhukhune-Chamayou.
This contract demonstrates the significant role played by MTN Business within the public sector. In 2021, MTN Business was awarded the RT15 contract by the National Treasury, enabling the company to digitise government entities and connect thousands of employees.
This new partnership will further enable MTN Business to assist municipalities in effectively managing their clients’ electricity and water consumption through smart technology.
“MTN Business believes in the power of technology and how it can change lives. Digital solutions are rapidly evolving, making it imperative to keep pace with the latest changes in South Africa. Smart solutions that improve our lives are at our fingertips, and we look forward to playing a key role in enhancing South Africa’s electricity and water sector with our digital expertise and solutions,” concludes Sekhukhune-Chamayou.
