MTN acquires controlling stake in Afrihost but nothing changes says CEO

Mobile operator MTN is really carving its way into telecoms dominance. According to an email sent to Afrihost users, the company has “agreed to join MTN” for an undisclosed amount. In the email, sent from Gian Visser CEO, Afrihost explains that the mobile juggernaut is acquiring “50% +1 of Afrihost’s shares and the current shareholders are retaining the remaining 50%”.

This means that MTN group will have a controlling interest of the internet provider. Founded in 2000 as a Web hosting and IT services company, Afrihost has evolved in the last 14 years.

“For the 14 years that Afrihost has been alive our guiding principle has always been to do what’s best for our clients and our team,” the email goes on to say. “And I sincerely believe that joining MTN is the best thing we can do for you, our clients, and our team. We’re going to do amazing things. I’m incredibly excited about what the future holds for all of us.”

The move to join MTN isn’t entirely a surprise, as any Afrihost user would tell you. Two years ago the company moved all its ADSL clients to the MTN network and since then both companies have been working closely on a daily basis, Visser says.

“Launching the industry-shaking Afrihost Mobile on the MTN network eight months ago has also meant we’ve spent many, many more hours in the trenches together,” Visser says. “And I can honestly say that they have been incredible. In every way. Their commitment and transparency has been inspiring. Even when things have gone wrong they’ve always been right by our side, arm in arm, fighting the fire with us.”

To assure users that everything will be business as usual, Visser notes that Afrihost would not have considered joining the MTN family if it had not experienced MTN’s dedication and service to the company as a client, for the last two years.

He reckons that the results of the relationship speak for themselves. “We’ve won the coveted ‘ISP of the Year’ award for the last three years; we’ve won the ADSL MyBroadband survey the last six times they’ve run it; and Afrihost Mobile has, since launching, won the last two MyBroadband Mobile Broadband surveys.”

It will be business as usual for the company, as the management team will remain the same as well as the full-time staff. The brand will also remain the same and the team will continue to work out of its current premises. The only change is that it is now part of MTN.