MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, has partnered with Tomorrow.io and Microsoft for a groundbreaking initiative. The collaboration aims to establish an infrastructure providing life-saving early warnings and crucial weather information to over 300 million people in Africa. Leveraging Tomorrow.io’s global weather intelligence and Microsoft’s AI for Good Labs Azure technology grant, the project integrates satellite monitoring, AI, mobile connectivity, and cloud computing into the daily lives of people on the continent.
Through this collaboration, MTN’s extensive customer base will receive early warning notifications about severe weather events, enabling timely evacuations and preparedness for emergencies. Juan Lavista Ferres, Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft, noted, “Data and AI have the potential to unlock life-changing weather information for people around the world.”
Rei Goffer, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Tomorrow.io, emphasized the collaboration’s significance in democratizing access to early warning information through mobile connectivity and cloud computing. Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer of MTN Group, highlighted the partnership’s alignment with the UN’s goal of ensuring early warning systems for all by 2027. She emphasized the potential of such systems in reducing fatalities and minimizing losses from hazardous weather, water, or climate events in Africa.
Chika Ekeji, MTN Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, reiterated MTN’s commitment to leveraging technology to address pressing climate challenges. The collaboration’s success paves the way for introducing AI-powered technology to a range of subscription-based value-added services, supporting the growth of various technology sectors in Africa.
