MTN Group has teamed up with Meta to improve the quality of voice and video calls on WhatsApp across 12 African markets, including Nigeria, in a bid to enhance user experience. This collaboration is set to optimize network performance for real-time communication on mobile devices.
The partnership, announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, focuses on leveraging data analytics and network optimisations to improve call quality. Early results in Nigeria show a 50% improvement in key performance indicators, making WhatsApp calls more stable and reliable for MTN users.
The collaboration works by enhancing the synergy between mobile networks and calling apps. Meta’s team has deployed advanced solutions for real-time calling, ensuring more efficient traffic delivery.
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, emphasised the company’s commitment to improving customer experience. “We’re proud of the remarkable improvements we’ve seen in real-time communication services. This collaboration underscores our dedication to providing innovative digital solutions to our customers.”
Diego Marí, Head of Network Ecosystems Engineering at Meta, added that the collaboration is crucial for advancing service quality. “We’re dedicated to elevating user experience and ensuring efficient traffic delivery, especially in high-demand regions like Nigeria,” he said.
The move comes as WhatsApp prepares to phase out support for older Android and iPhone models by May 2025. Smartphones affected include the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and various older Android models such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola’s Moto G. Meta cites the need to focus on newer devices for better security and performance as the reason for this update.
This partnership between MTN and Meta represents a significant step toward enhancing digital communication in Africa. The collaboration also aligns with WhatsApp’s ongoing effort to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly digital-first world.
Impressive, happy to see the improvement.