SENS Note - 15 May 2006

MTN issues subscriber numbers

MTN recorded 55% year-on-year growth in subscribers in its operations to 24 185 000. This represents a 4% increase since the last reported period ended 31 December 2005. Excluding operations acquired in the previous financial period, year-on-year subscriber growth was 43%. MTN South Africa showed strong post-paid acquisitions. Pre-paid acquisitions also remained strong although declining on a net basis due to increased churn at the low end following the promotion of pre-paid product in the previous quarter. The promotion has since been terminated, and net connections have now normalised. The subscriber base of MTN's South African operations therefore reduced by 36 000 in the first quarter of the year. MTN's international operations recorded a total of 13 986 000 subscribers - an increase of 8% since December 2005, now accounting for 58% of group subscriber base (31 December 2005: 56%). MTN Nigeria remained the largest of the international operations, with growth of 8% since the prior quarter and its closing base of 9 036 000 representing 65% of the group's subscribers outside of South Africa.

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