NOKIA AND MTN GROUP SIGN A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

Dubai & Johannesburg, 10 May, 2011- Nokia and MTN Group are pleased to announce signing of an agreement that will expand their strategic relationship to new key markets within Middle East and Africa MTN affiliates. The Framework agreement will permit the large community of MTN customers to benefit from the integration of Nokia devices and solutions.

Joint marketing and sales campaigns will be designed on a regional level and will bring consumers the latest Nokia mobile phones and smartphones, combined with value added services such as orientation and navigation tools, for seamless mobile communications while at work, home or on the go.

Building on previous success stories such as the joint launch of the Nokia C3 with MTN data and value add package in Nigeria, and the launch of the Nokia E7 and business tools for corporate clients in South Africa, the intention is to drive similar bundles, services and experiences in other MTN markets to add value to consumers.

The two companies will also collaborate to create hyper-local applications, such as Ovi Life Tools, which will soon be officially launched in Nigeria, bringing value to consumers through the provision of locally relevant data for farming, education and entertainment.

Mr Christian De Faria, Senior Vice President Commercial and Innovation MTN group
said, “Going to the market with a strategic partner like Nokia is of prime importance for our operations. We are convinced that our MTN customers will obtain immediate advantages for their cost effective and reliable communications thanks to a strong brand such as Nokia.”

Mr Chris Braam, Vice President for Nokia Middle East and Africa, added: “A strategic
partnership agreement with MTN Group brings us an additional opportunity to strengthen our existing relationships and bring a strong consumer proposition to other markets. We are committed to delivering outstanding communications technologies to the growing community of 141 million MTN subscribers in the whole of Middle East and Africa.”

ABOUT NOKIA

Nokia is committed to connecting people to what matters to them by combining advanced mobile technology with personalized services. More than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia, from our most affordable voice-optimized mobile phones to advanced Internet-connected smartphones sold in virtually every market in the world. Through Ovi (www.ovi.com), people also enjoy access to maps and navigation on mobile, a rapidly expanding applications store, a growing catalogue of digital music, free email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, and Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the leading providers of telecommunications infrastructure hardware, software and professional services globally.

ABOUT MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 December 2010, MTN recorded 141, 6 million subscribers across its operations in
Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at www.mtn.com and www.mtnfootball.com

Media Enquiries:
Nokia
Delia Sieff
Email: delia.sieff@nokia.com

MTN
Maphamola Paul Lebelo
E-mail: lebelo_m@mtn.co.za
Tel: +2783 212 9918
ABOUT MTN GROUP

No merger between Nokia and Microsoft

In February this year, Nokia announced a partnership with Microsoft. The partnership will allow Nokia adopt Windows as its primary platform for all of its smartphones. This decision became necessary after Nokia realized the competitive edge its rivals ,Google and Apple had over the Finnish company.

After this partnership, many people have speculated an acquisition or merger between the two giants. To clear the air, the CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop speaking recently in Dubai during an interactice session with the media drawn across the Midddle East and Africa, came out to explain that no discussions of a merger have been initiated by either company.

According to Elop, the adoption of windows as the platform for Nokia’s smartphone strategy was a mutually beneficial relationship between Nokia and Microsoft. He maintained that the issue of merger or acquisition was never tabled for consideration by either of the parties. Stephen Elop also disclosed that Nokia was working round the clock to ensure that the first Nokia smartphone hits the market in the very near future.

Although Nokia intends to adopt the Windows platform for its smart phones, the company has not lost sight of the over 200 million Symbian market. Nokia’s huge market share in mobile phones is a good business case for mobile application developers to continue building innovative apps on symbian platform. Nokia's Chief Executive promised that Nokia would reward such disproportionate achievements with disproportionate investments.

Entrepreneurship through Enterprise without Borders innitiative

Enterprise without Borders (EwB) is a secondary school and/or college programme that teaches the value and importance of international trade and the practical skills necessary to do business across borders. This initiative seeks to introduce entrepreneurship and partnerships among young people Africa, Middle East, Europe and the United States of America. Ghana is one of the only two African nations partaking in this initiative made possible by Nokia and the Junior Achievement (JA).

The Enterprise without Borders (EwB) programme started in Ghana in 2009 and has so far reached over 200 students in the country across five regions. Kwabena Kugblenu, the EwB coordinator in Ghana revealed that 14 enterprises were successfully created in the 2009/2010 academic year. The goal for 2010/2011 is to impact more students with the support and mentorship Nokia. A website is created by teachers of the participating schools after which the students can upload their company profiles and enter an entrepreneurial 'dating game'. The aim is for students to share learning and business ideas; have the opportunity to sell each other's products in other markets; possibly reduce costs by sourcing components in other countries and also encouraging visits.

Half and Half Trade is a Norwegian enterprise created by students from the Lambertseter Secondary School in Oslo. They are in Ghana to primarily sign a joint venture agreement with a Ghanaian student enterprise GIANT LINK.

'Nokia is proud to be associated with the EwB initiative, which essentially promotes innovation and creativity among youths. He said the values being promoted among the youths through the Enterprise without Borders are in sync with Nokia values' - Head of Communications for Nokia West Africa, Osagie Ogunbor

With the introduction of such entrepreneurial initiatives, Ghanaian youth will soon be prepared to create businesses locally create jobs for themselves.

About Junior Achievement® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 137 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 123 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.2 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

Photo Credit : http://www.ewb.ja-ye.org/