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Opera Software announced that MTN, Uganda's largest mobile carrier, has selected Opera Mini mobile browser to be embedded in their customers' mobile phones. This will enable MTN's Ugandan subscribers (nearly 3 million) to connect to the Internet without any problems, no matter where they may be (as long as their mobile device is functional, and they are in the carrier's coverage).

Talking about the new agreement with the Ugandan operator, Jon von Tetzchner, Opera's President and CEO, said: "Africa has enormous growth potential in web search and MTN is a large company that focuses on the African continent. We believe that everyone should have access to the Web regardless of location or device. MTN and Opera Software has a vision of initiating a new era of connectivity across the African continent. "

Opera says that, even before MTN's implementation of Opera Mini, users from Uganda were already surfing via its browser. The top ten sites visited from Uganda through Opera Mini (according to a report in June 2008) is:

1. Google (predictable);
2. Yahoo;
3. Facebook
4. Wikipedia
5. BBC News
6. Gmail
7. New Vision Uganda
8. BBC
9. CNN
10. Monitor Uganda

"MTN has been at the forefront of bringing our customers the most innovative and effective way to the world at their fingertips," said Noel Meier, CEO of MTN. "With this latest addition to MTN's solutions portfolio, we are confident that customers will find browsing a lot easier and more enjoyable experience. Partnerships with Opera Software will allow MTN to provide this experience to our customers, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to To be a total telecommunications solutions provider in Uganda. "

With a population of over 30 million, land-locked Uganda has only about 6 million mobile subscribers. However, the mobile penetration is growing rapidly, which is one of the main reasons Opera should be proud of the new agreement with MTN.

Based in South Africa, MTM offers mobile services in 21 countries from across Africa and the Middle East. So, after interaction with Opera for Uganda, the carrier may also bring Opera Mini to more African and Middle Eastern countries.

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