The social media giant, Meta, has secured a partnership deal with MTN Group, the largest telecommunication company in Africa, for the purpose of improving the quality of voice and video calls on apps like WhatsApp.
How the system works
- Application-Aware Networks: MTN's networks are being optimized to better respond to the unique demands of real-time applications such as voice and video calling.
- Network-Aware Applications: Meta is adjusting its applications to become more sensitive to changing network conditions, which helps maintain service quality during calls on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Both companies emphasized they'll deliver optimisations to MTN’s “application-aware networks” and the “network-aware applications” so that call services on Meta's messaging apps can improve across 12 of MTN’s operating markets.
The network optimization has already been implemented for MTN subscribers in Nigeria. The telecom also reported that improvements of up to 50% in voice and video-call quality has been seen so far as a result of the network optimization.
Meanwhile, it's worth noting that efforts have been rendered to make the development possible. According to MTN, the development has been initiated since Mobile World Congress 2024 when MTN teamed up with Meta to figure out key area for improvement for the network optimizations, and also keep maintaining efficient traffic delivery while delivering the optimizations.
MTN's VideoSMS
Although, this service is already implemented in Nigeria with no clue what the next targeted market will be. But in South Africa, MTN--through it's digital advertisement arm, MTN Ads-- has launched a new service that allows businesses to send video content into a subscribers’ SMS inboxes.
This development works in the sense that users can send VideoSMS of up to 2MB without the need for more complex protocols such as MMS or the newer RCS standard integrated into Google Messages on Android phone.
These initiatives, network optimization and VideoSMS, are part of MTN's broader strategy to modernize its infrastructure. For example, MTN is also working with Ericsson to upgrade core networks in South Africa and Nigeria, supporting 5G capabilities and improving performance.
What do you think about these MTN's new developments? Let's know your opinions in the comments section below. Cheers!
