The continent’s largest mobile service provider announced altMTN, a metaverse platform that will host the first virtual concert this month.
MTN, a South African mobile network giant last week announced that it will be tapping into its large database of 34.5 million African subscribers across 17 countries to steer the continent into the new age of the internet.
The operator’s metaverse, altMTN, will be fundamental in the company’s support for African innovations and digital platforms.
According to MTN Group’s marketing executive, Bernice Samuels, altMTN will focus on creating immersive experiences for its users, and will eventually include an array of features like gaming, learning, and shopping, among others.
To help showcase the potential of this new immersive technology, altMTN will be partnering with The Mic: Africa- a networking platform for African music, arts, and culture- to hold a virtual music concert. The event will be held in Ubuntuland, where MTN earlier purchased land in February. The move saw the mobile network operator become the first African company to enter the metaverse.
MTN users have to win their way into the concert
The exclusive concert is scheduled for 30th November and the only way to get access to the exclusive concert is by winning the tickets. Users have till 24th November to use up to 1GB of MTN data for a valid entry into the competition.
Access to the concert is limited and MTN will be choosing random winners from entries in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The winners will receive an NFT ticket and will need a crypto wallet to access the concert.
MTN’s choice to use a virtual music concert as the inaugural venture into the metaverse was a calculated move, according to Bernice Samuels. “We believe that by tapping into a key passion on the continent, namely music, we can actively draw our customers into the environment to not only experience it first-hand, but also to help us to improve altMTN as this developing technology increasingly interconnects and matures, to unlock the full benefits for our customers.”
The concert’s lineup brings together different artists from the continent with a blend of sound cutting across Hip Hop, Afro-pop blend, Indie Afro-Fusion, and House.
Current metaverse activities in Africa
The continent holds massive potential when it comes to all things blockchain, with the metaverse at the very front. African artists across the continent have been quite vocal on matters NFT with strong communities coming up in various countries.
Africarare is the continent’s first metaverse and home to Ubuntuland. In August this year, the company announced its plans for commercialization. It opened its doors to the rest of the world in a bid to create more opportunities in the metaverse and boost its economy.
Africa’s large consumer market holds great potential for the exciting times ahead in the metaverse world. The continent’s digital economy growth is projected to grow by 10% annually till 2025 and the working capital by 450 million people by 2035.
Still, even as tech giants cast their focus towards the continent, hindrances such as slow internet speeds and high costs of data, make it a challenge to keep building these immersive experiences.
