Mozambique's Tmcel, Ericsson partner to enhance network

Mozambique's state-owned telco, Tmcel, has partnered with Swedish ICT company Ericsson to enhance its operational and business support systems and network performance.

Ericsson said the partnership will offer more personalized services to customers and accelerate Tmcel's digital transformation goals.

The agreement will see Ericsson deploy Ericsson Charging and Ericsson Mediation from its Business and Operations Support Systems (BSS/OSS) portfolio.

By integrating Ericsson Mediation, Tmcel will transform its OSS/BSS processes, enabling the company to utilize vast amounts of data for more informed business decisions, it said.

Mahomed Mussá, chairman of the management committee at Tmcel Mozambique, said the partnership with Ericsson will enable Tmcel to enhance its operational efficiency and deliver better, more responsive services to its subscribers.

"By modernizing our monetization suite with Ericsson, we are ensuring that we can meet the evolving needs of our community and contribute to the nation's digital future," Mussá added.

"As we continue to strengthen our partnership with Tmcel, we are dedicated to delivering the latest technology solutions that will enable them to modernize their infrastructure and improve service delivery," said Todd Ashton, VP and head of Ericsson for Southern and East Africa.

Mozambique's mobile ecosystem

The deal comes at a time when the Mozambican government is attempting to revitalize the struggling Tmcel.

According to Ecofin Agency the telco reported a loss of 2.1 billion Mozambican Meticals (US$32.8 million) in 2023, following a loss of MZN4.3 billion ($67.3 million) in 2022.

The publication said by the end of 2023, Tmcel had liabilities of around MZN37.9 billion ($593 million), exceeding its total assets of MZN27.8 billion around ($435 million).

The partnership will offer more personalized services to customers and accelerate Tmcel's digital transformation goals. (Source: Image by natanaelginting on Freepik)

Statistics from market research company Omdia, a sister company of Connecting Africa, show that Mozambique has three mobile operators.

Vodacom was the largest operator in the country with 11.6 million mobile subscribers at the end of June 2024. Movitel Mozambique was second with 4 million mobile subscribers around the same time. Tmcel is the smallest telco in the country with just 3.4 million mobile users in mid-2024.

Ericsson's African movements

Ericsson's latest partnership with Tmcel adds to the company's business dealings on the African continent.

In August 2024, Ericsson partnered with e& Egypt to utilize its 20-port antennas for site sharing, advancing toward e& Egypt's upcoming 5G technology rollout.

In July 2024, Ericsson appointed Patrick Johansson as its new senior VP and head of its market area for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), replacing Fadi Pharaon.

Ericsson announced in May 2024, that Pharaon was leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Pharaon had led the MEA business since 2019 and had worked for Ericsson for 26 years.

Pharaon's departure followed the company's appointment of Majda Lahlou Kassi as the VP and head of Ericsson West Africa and Morocco in January this year.

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— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa