Have you ever heard of MTN?
Communication. It’s key to doing business. The telephone is one of the most powerful tools in connecting people across distances. However, in most African countries, there are not nearly enough landlines, which are costly to lay down and maintain. That’s where cheap wireless technology comes in, allowing people in cities, on farms, and even on fishing boats to have a phone. Leading the way in connecting Africa is MTN, Africa’s largest cell-phone company.
MTN started offering cell-phone services in South Africa, where the company is based, in 1994. Three years later, it began expanding to other African countries, starting with Uganda, Rwanda, and Swaziland. By 2004, MTN was serving more than 11 million people (see chart). Considering that the company started with a ten-year goal of signing up 500,000 customers, that level of success is out of this world.
But MTN was just getting started. In 2005, it made its first moves into the Middle East, paying for a license to operate in Iran. Then, in May 2006, MTN made one of the biggest moves in the history of African business. For $5.53 billion, it bought Investcom, a Dubai-based cellphone company that operated in three Middle Eastern and six African countries. That increased MTN’s customer base to 28 million people across 21 countries.
This rapid growth in cell-phone use has had many positive effects. Of course, it’s great for MTN’s bottom line. But it also changes people’s lives. Before heading back to port, fishermen can phone ahead to find the best place to bring their catch. Farmers can ask around to find the best price for their crops. And people can stay in touch with relatives in distant places.
But voice communication is just the beginning. MTN also offers Internet access, which will continue to grow as wireless technology improves. Considered a model company, MTN is regularly voted as one of the best companies to work for in South Africa. On its 10th birthday, MTN was praised by Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former president, as a model African business. Indeed, the future looks bright for this cellphone superstar.
Q & A
1. MTN’s expansion into Uganda _______ .
- A. came after the company’s licensing deal in Iran
- B. took place as MTN was celebrating 10 years in business
- C. was one of many expansion moves in Africa
- D. brought 11 million customers to MTN
2. What does the article suggest about MTN on its 10th birthday?
- A. The company went well past its growth target.
- B. The company was disappointed with its growth.
- C. The company was not well known in South Africa.
- D. The company had already expanded into the Middle East.
3. What resulted from the Investcom deal?
- A. MTN’s customer base doubled.
- B. MTN’s customer base increased by 28 million people.
- C. MTN gained a customer base in several Middle Eastern countries.
- D. MTN more than doubled the number of countries it operated in.
4. What does the article imply about cell phones in Africa?
- A. Cell phones are too costly for most people.
- B. MTN is Africa’s only cell-phone service provider.
- C. They can change the way people do business.
- D. Services for cell phones cost as much to maintain as landline services.
5. Which of the following is true about MTN?
- A. It was the first multinational South African business.
- B. It offers more than basic cell-phone services.
- C. It expanded into the Middle East before expanding in Africa.
- D. It does not have a positive image in its home country.
How would you describe this chart?
Simple Past Tense
(you have finished the time period you are talking about)
The key to making a good introduction is to having all the pieces ready, and then using them in the correct order, but always being flexible to adapt to each situation that you are in.
«Good evening everyone.»
«For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Eric …»
«Today, we will look at the line graph from just one angle.»
«This will just take me one minute so please hold any questions until the end of the presentation.»
«So let’s get the ball rolling!»
«As the title states, we will be looking at MTN’s customer base growth in the mid-2000s.»
«On the left-hand side you can see the customers from 10,000,000 to 60,000,000.»
«Across the bottom you can see the period goes from 2002 to 2007.»
(start using simple past tense here)
«In 2002 MTN’s customer base started at about 5 million customers.»
«It grew steadily until 2004.»
«From 2004 to 2006 there was a slight increase in their customer base, reaching around 30 million customers in 2006.»
«In 2006 there was a dramatic increase from 30,000,000 to 60,000,000 customers in just one year.»
«and if you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to ask and have a nice evening.»
costly (adj.) – expensive.
ex. Since the new equipment is costly, we need approval before buying it.
based (adj.) – where something is.
to expand (verb) – to get bigger.
to operate (verb) – to run, to manage.
a customer base (noun) – a group of a company’s customers.
the bottom line (noun) – a point of profit or loss.
model (adj.) – a great example of something.
out of this world (adjective) – incredible.
to head back (verb) – return.
Expressing Basic Time
More expressions here
General Range
“In the first quarter …”
“In the first half …”
“In the summer …”
Specific Time
“At the beginning of the year …”
“At the end of the year …”
“At 3pm …”
Days
“On June 7th, 1983 …”
“On Tuesday …”
“On Christmas …”
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