Category: Media releases
For the 13th year in a row, MTN has been named South Africa’s most valuable brand by Brand Finance, which assigned the Group a brand value of R50.9 billion in 2026.
“We appreciate this accolade, which encourages us to keep delivering on our purpose of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita, adding that it came soon after the launch of MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which has a renewed focus on providing the leading customer experience across markets.
MTN serves more than 300 million customers at its mobile operations in 16 countries.
“It also reminds us of the many partners on whom we rely in our work to extend digital and financial inclusion so that no-one is left behind. I would like to thank all of them, and our other stakeholders for their continued support,” Mupita said.
The Brand Finance award comes after MTN Group was inducted into the inaugural Brand Africa Hall of Fame in January. That honour acknowledged brands that have demonstrated sustained excellence and influence on the continent over the past decade.
Read the full report here: https://brandfinance.com/press-releases/south-africas-top-100-brands-grow-12-to-r771-billion-in-2026
MTN Group on Friday announced changes to the MTN Group Board of Directors, with the appointment of five new directors whose collective and diverse expertise and experience are expected to significantly enhance the Group as it works to extend digital and financial inclusion across Africa.
Effective 31 March 2026, Herman Bosman, Advocate Ouma Rasethaba, Stéphane Richard, Ignatius Sehoole and Saf Yeboah-Amankwah will join the Board as independent non-executive directors.
Stan Miller and Nkululeko Sowazi, who have served MTN Group with distinction since August 2016, will retire as non-executive directors at the Group’s annual general meeting on 29 May 2026.
“These changes are part of the Group’s comprehensive succession planning to ensure delivery against our evolved Ambition 2030 strategy. They also reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, expertise and strategic oversight,” said MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas. “The Board will temporarily expand to accommodate new appointments during the transition period and will gradually reduce as directors retire and succession plans progress.”
Jonas thanked the outgoing directors for their dedicated service, which had been instrumental in guiding the Group through numerous challenges and opportunities. He welcomed the incoming Board members, looking forward to their contribution as the Group delivers on its strategy of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
MTN Group also announced changes to the Board of major subsidiary MTN South Africa. Mike Harper steps down as Chairman on 31 March 2026, after almost a decade of dedicated service, for which the Board expressed its sincere appreciation. Sindi Mabaso Koyana takes over as Chairperson of MTN SA on 1 April 2026. She remains on the Board of MTN Group, as does Noluthando Gosa, who also joins the MTN SA Board.
For more detailed information, see our announcement on the JSE’s Stock Exchange News Service here: https://irhosted.profiledata.co.za/mtngroup/2019_feeds/SensPopUp.aspx?id=543392
Premier Syndicate of Investors Join Together to Accelerate ODC’s Deployment of the World’s First AI-Native Open-Architecture Platform Unifying Communication, Sensing, and Edge Intelligence
ORAN Development Corporation (ODC), a pioneer in AI-Native Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) and the architect of the U.S.-based Odyssey RAN technology platform, today announced the successful closing of its $45 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by a premier syndicate of global technology and infrastructure powerhouses, including Booz Allen, Cisco Investments, Nokia, and NVIDIA, alongside Tier-1 telecoms AT&T, MTN, and Telecom Italia. This strategic round joins these industry leaders with Phoenix Venture Partners and existing seed investment from affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (“Cerberus”).
This collaboration accelerates the deployment of the world’s first AI-native, open-architecture platform the definitive U.S.-based RAN stack which structurally unifies communication, sensing, and edge intelligence. ODC is currently partnering with top-tier global customers and expects to ramp these and other commercial engagements throughout 2026.
ODC is architecting the “Distributed Compute Grid”—the essential AI processing engine for the world’s digital and physical infrastructure. By integrating NVIDIA Aerial RAN Computer Pro the industry-standard platform for high-performance, software-defined 5G ODC is moving beyond traditional connectivity to enable Robotic AI RAN autonomous, sense-and-respond networking at the forward edge. This infrastructure serves as the sovereign fabric for the AI-Native era, transforming today’s cell sites into high-performance compute hubs capable of orchestrating everything from autonomous Agentic AI and real-time generative inference to the Physical AI applications that secure and define national infrastructure resilience.
A Unified Syndicate for the AI-Native Frontier
“The industry is moving toward software-defined, AI-native telecom networks, which will be essential for the Physical AI era,” said Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA. “ODC’s AI-RAN stack is a key enabler of this shift, turning today’s 5G networks into a distributed AI computing fabric at the wireless edge. By leveraging the NVIDIA Aerial platform to unify high-performance 5G with sensing, ODC is helping to raise the innovation bar for AI-RAN and creating a strong on-ramp to 6G”
Masum Mir, SVP and GM, Cisco Provider Mobility, commented: “As AI intelligence and decision-making moves to the edge, the mobile network becomes the central fabric of the digital economy. We are excited to invest in ODC as AI-RAN has the potential to drive a critical infrastructure transformation, moving the industry beyond simple connectivity and towards simplified, secure and open platforms that can support AI workloads and unlock new services opportunities.”
Cisco, a cornerstone of global networking, sees the ODC platform as the vital link between cloud intelligence and edge execution across all sectors.
The global scale of the ODC syndicate is further underscored by the participation of leading operators across Africa, Europe, and the United States.
“AI is a fundamentally new workload that is reshaping network architecture—driving the need for software-driven platforms, intelligence at the edge, and continuous innovation,” said Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia. “That shift is putting real pressure on infrastructure and requires architectural change across the network. ODC’s approach to AI-RAN reflects where the industry is heading, moving the RAN toward a more software-driven, AI-ready platform. Nokia’s investment reflects that direction and our focus on enabling AI-native networks across 5G and 6G.”
Mazen Mroue, CEO of MTN Digital Infrastructure, added: “For Africa, AI-RAN represents a leapfrog opportunity to deliver world-class intelligence from our largest cities to our most remote rural villages. By partnering with ODC, we are taking a leadership role in enabling advanced, precision-driven digital solutions across industry landscape in Africa. This isn’t just about connectivity; it’s about building the distributed AI compute foundation required to accelerate financial inclusion, industrial autonomy, and local innovation, serving as a true force-for-good and supporting the development of Sovereign AI across the continent.”
Leonardo Capdeville, Chief Technology Officer at Telecom Italia, commented: “ODC is the platform that unlocks the power of AI-RAN turning the access network into a seamless extension of AI, purpose-built for mission-critical applications that demand ultra-low-latency inference, from eVTOL control to advanced robotics and the intelligent systems that will shape our future.”
As the convergence of AI and connectivity becomes a matter of national security and economic resilience, Booz Allen sees ODC as a critical component of secure, sovereign infrastructure.
“Maintaining technological superiority in a complex global environment requires a fundamental shift from single-use systems to an interconnected, high-velocity infrastructure fabric,” said Bill Vass, Chief Technology Officer at Booz Allen. “By integrating ODC’s AI-RAN architecture into our mission-critical solutions, we are accelerating the modern technology flywheel where communication, sensing, and edge compute converge. This unified ‘Nervous System’ provides the resilient, software-defined foundation necessary to deploy Sovereign AI at speed and scale—protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring our nation stays ahead of emerging threats.”
Industry Perspective: The Road to Artificial Super Intelligence (“ASI”)
The announcement comes as the industry reaches a pivotal turning point in the convergence of AI and telecommunications. SoftBank Corp., a pioneer in the AI-RAN ecosystem, highlighted ODC’s vision for transforming traditional networks into intelligent compute hubs.
“We are on our way to a new era of Artificial Super Intelligence where robotics will revolutionize every industry on Earth,” said Ryuji Wakikawa, Vice President and Head of the Research Institute of Advanced Technology at SoftBank Corp. “ODC’s platform is a critical link in the autonomy stack. Their ability to provide low-latency command and control through existing infrastructure enables autonomous systems to scale globally. We have been working tirelessly to nurture a global ecosystem where ASI is delivered to society on a simple, accessible and trustworthy platform. The emergence of AI-native players like ODC is a powerful validation of this vision and the path toward ASI.”
Concluding the announcement, Dr. Shaygan Kheradpir, Chairman of ODC, noted the broader potential for civilizational impact of its platform:
“The successful raise of our Series A allows us to scale our engagement with global partners who recognize that the wireless edge is the ultimate frontier for AI,” said Dr. Kheradpir. “This is more than a technical deployment; it is a technological odyssey to build a U.S.-based nervous system of the physical world. Our platform transforms the network from a communication pipe into a Distributed Compute Grid—a global network of Token Factories capable of everything from general AI inference to the real-time spatial sensing required for autonomous systems. We are now focused on ramping our engagements and accelerating the commercial deployment of this intelligent infrastructure throughout 2026. From powering industrial robotics to protecting critical national infrastructure, ODC is enabling the fabric that makes the physical world intelligent and sovereign.”
MTN Group posted excellent operational and financial results for 2025, delivering significantly on our Ambition 2025 strategy and transitioning to Ambition 2030 priorities to capture value from the attractive structural growth opportunities brought about by accelerated data adoption and financial inclusion across Africa.
We reported very strong commercial outcomes led by MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana; a resilient performance from MTN South Africa; robust free cash flow; improved return generation; and a 45% jump in the dividend.
We also unveiled an enhanced shareholder remuneration framework, including a R6 billion share buyback programme, and re-affirmed our medium-term guidance, updating our return and leverage metrics.
“The Group’s overall performance in 2025 was excellent. In the final year of our Ambition 2025 strategy, we were proud to have exceeded the 300 million customers milestone in line with our priority to deepen digital and financial inclusion,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita.
At 31 December 2025 across 16 markets, we served more than 307 million voice, 172 million data and 70 million Mobile Money customers. Increases were supported by diligent commercial execution as well as sustained investment of R38 billion to enhance the capacity, coverage and quality of our networks and platforms.
MTN’s data traffic accelerated by 27%, with average monthly data use per customer up at 12.5GB from 10.8GB. We continued to scale our fintech platform, growing the ecosystem and benefiting from greater customer take-up of more advanced services. This supported a 15% increase in the volume of transactions to more than 23 billion in the year, with total transaction value topping US$500 billion.
In line with our commitment to create shared value, we contributed approximately R150 billion in economic and social value across Africa; expanded broadband coverage to more than 94% of the population; and cut the cost of data to communicate for customers by an average 14%. Our work with communities, nation states and other stakeholders led to the achievement of our strongest reputation and trust scores since the launch of our Reputation Index Survey in 2019.
Underpinned by improved macroeconomic conditions, the Group increased service revenue by nearly a quarter to R218 billion. In constant-currency terms MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana – which announced results in late February – lifted service revenue by 54.9% and 35.9% respectively. MTN SA increased service revenue by 2.0%, demonstrating operational resilience and sustained commercial momentum as it navigated the challenges of a mature and competitive market.
At R98.5 billion, earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (before once-off items) were up by more than a third in constant currency. This was supported by expense efficiencies of R3.6 billion in the year. Basic earnings per share (EPS) swung from a loss in 2024 to a profit in 2025 and adjusted headline EPS increased by 67%.
With a sustained healthy financial position and balance sheet flexibility, MTN declared a dividend of 500 cents per share from 345 cents in 2024, comfortably outstripping the minimum 370 cents the Board of Directors had anticipated.
The Group also announced an evolution of strategy, unveiling Ambition 2030, which streamlines our execution approach into three principal platforms of choice for consumers, homes and businesses: Connectivity; Fintech; and Digital Infrastructure. Through the strategy, we are energised to provide the leading customer experience, leveraging AI for growth and creating shared value.
While remaining vigilant to evolving risks in global geopolitics, Mupita said Ambition 2030 embodied the right framework to sustain MTN’s medium-term growth and value-creation journey: “We are hugely excited about Africa’s potential and are well positioned to leverage our scale, footprint and brand leadership to capture the significant structural growth opportunities identified. We are committed to accelerate our impact and empower the people, businesses and nation states we serve.”
For more detailed information, see our announcement on the JSE’s Stock Exchange News Service here.
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita has met with Syrian Arab Republic Minister of Communications and Information Technology His Excellency Abdulsalam Haykal on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The two parties formalised an agreement to regularise MTN’s exit from Syria, with the intention that both sides implement the agreement imminently.
In August 2021, MTN Group announced its decision to abandon the MTN operation in Syria given regulatory actions and demands that made operating in the country untenable.
MTN first announced plans to exit the Middle East in 2020, as part of a strategy to focus on its African operations. The Group finalised its exit from Yemen in 2021 and from Afghanistan in 2024. It is still seeking to exit its 49% investment in Iran, but this has been complicated by US sanctions.
MTN Group signed a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to advance meaningful connectivity and digital inclusion for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers and host communities across MTN’s markets.
Announcing the partnership, Nompilo Morafo, Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at MTN Group, said: “At MTN, we believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life”. Connectivity is not a privilege; it is foundational to dignity, protection and economic participation. When people are forced to flee, digital access becomes critical, it keeps families connected, enables access to assistance, and restores agency. This partnership reflects our conviction that inclusion must be intentional and systemic, especially for the most vulnerable.
Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, added: “For displaced communities, digital access is essential to protection, resilience and opportunity. It allows people to receive lifesaving information, connect with support networks and rebuild their futures. MTN’s reach and scale across Africa make this collaboration a significant step toward closing the connectivity gap for millions.”
The partnership underscores a broader reality: in an increasingly digital world, connectivity is not secondary to humanitarian response, it is central to it. The agreement recognises a shifting humanitarian landscape across sub-Saharan Africa, where conflict, economic shocks and climate-related disasters continue to drive large-scale displacement. More than 20 million displaced people reside in markets where MTN operates. For many, exclusion is compounded by systemic digital barriers which include lack of recognised identification, unaffordable devices and data, limited broadband coverage, language constraints and low digital literacy. Without reliable connectivity, access to protection updates, humanitarian assistance, education, financial services and livelihood opportunities is severely constrained.
MTN and UNHCR are committed to making connectivity more affordable and accessible in refugee-hosting areas, expand resilient network infrastructure, and advance digital and financial inclusion through mobile money, remittance enablement and digital skills development. The partnership will also support pathways that address identity and literacy gaps, recognising that documentation and capability are often the first barriers to meaningful participation in the digital economy.
Beyond service provision, the collaboration aims to catalyse broader ecosystem change by mobilising funding and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships that deliver measurable socio-economic impact. Implementation is expected to begin in Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan, with a structured roadmap to scale across additional MTN markets hosting significant displaced populations. This collaboration is anchored in the ambitions of the Connectivity for Refugees initiative, that brings together international organizations, public and private sector actors towards a goal of advancing connectivity for 20 million forcibly displaced people by 2030.
MTN Group announced today that the board of IHS Towers has accepted an offer of US$8.50 a share in a transaction that would see MTN increasing its shareholding to 100%. The potential transaction is subject to various approvals and the delisting of IHS from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Upon the completion of IHS’s announced disposals (on 11 February and 17 February 2026) of its Latin American assets, it is intended that MTN will acquire 100% of IHS’s remaining business.
IHS is one of the world’s largest tower companies, with nearly 29 000 high-quality towers in Africa serving various mobile network operators in five key MTN markets.
The proposed transaction, which follows discussions noted on 5 February 2026, marks an important step to unlock compelling value for MTN and strengthen and reintegrate its ownership of critical digital infrastructure across Africa. For IHS shareholders, it provides them with an attractive opportunity to crystallise value.
The funding for the proposed transaction of the remaining shares MTN does not already own, for a consideration of some US$2.2 billion, will be through cash of approximately US$1.1 billion on IHS’s balance sheet, along with available liquidity and debt from MTN.
MTN has approximately 24.7% shareholding in IHS. As part of the transaction, it intends to take the company private through the acquisition of all outstanding shares it does not own, pursuant to a cash merger.
By reintegrating the tower assets, MTN will be able to internalise the margin currently paid to IHS, benefit from current and future incremental third-party revenues, improve cost predictability and unlock significant long-term value embedded in its existing investment.
“This proposed transaction is a pivotal step in further strengthening MTN Group’s strategic and financial position for a future where digital infrastructure will become ever more essential to Africa’s growth and development,” saidMTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita. “This transaction gives us a unique opportunity to buy back our towers and strengthen our ability to be partners for progress to the nation states in which we operate.”
“For IHS customers and partners across the continent, we commit to continuing high standards of service and the right governance of what is the largest standalone and integrated tower company in Africa, enabled by the excellent people within IHS.”
Through this transaction, shareholders of IHS will receive US$8.50 per share. This translates to an 9.7% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average price as at 4 February 2026 (the last day of trading before the release of MTN’s cautionary announcement) on the NYSE, enabling them to unlock the value of their investment.
Long-term IHS shareholder Wendel has provided a letter of support to vote in favour of the transaction and will receive full liquidity on its shares upon closing. With support from Wendel (and certain affiliates) and MTN being able to vote at a general meeting, ~40% has already been secured of a minimum two-thirds approval of voting shareholders.
IHS Chairman and CEO Sam Dawish commented: “The proposed transaction deepens our long-standing partnership with MTN as it combines Africa’s largest mobile network operator with one of its largest digital infrastructure platforms and underscores the strong connection between IHS Towers and the African continent.”
In structuring this transaction, MTN remains focused on disciplined capital allocation inclusive of shareholder remuneration going forward. No new equity issuance will be required at the MTN Group level and the funding plan allows for a short-term increase in leverage. The transaction is forecast to be accretive to net income and cash flow.
The proposed transaction is subject to IHS shareholder approval, regulatory approvals in the relevant markets and customary closing conditions.
Link to SENS
MTN, together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its strategic partners, has announced the winners of the 2025 Africa PachiPanda Challenge, concluding a continent-wide search for scalable, youth-led environmental enterprises driving Africa’s green economy.
Hosted at the MTN Innovation Centre in Johannesburg this week, the finale marked the culmination of a highly competitive process that attracted 2,484 youth-led small and medium enterprises from across multiple African markets. Guided by the theme, “Nourishing Tomorrow: Innovation for Food, Energy and Water Security,” the Challenge spotlighted commercially viable solutions addressing systemic environmental pressures while advancing inclusive, low-carbon growth.
Arnaud Njita of Cameroon won first place for nTron STEM Kit, converting plastic waste into 3D-printing filament for STEM education; Ndaman Joshua Olayinka from Nigeria secured second for BuyScrap, a tech-enabled e-waste recycling platform; and Bill Agha of Cameroon placed third for AgriCheck, a climate-smart digital agriculture solution. Together, they reflect the strength of youth-led innovation driving circular economy and climate resilience across Africa.
“Africa’s youth are not just responding to the climate challenge – they are shaping the solutions,” said Nompilo Morafo, MTN Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer. “Through the PachiPanda Challenge, MTN is backing youth-led innovation that can scale environmental impact and unlock economic opportunities that could help enable long-term resilience for communities across the continent.”
The Challenge reflects the scale of opportunity within Africa’s climate economy. Agriculture remains central to employment yet constrained by land degradation, limited irrigation and climate volatility. At the same time, Africa’s renewable energy and water potential remains significantly underdeveloped. Innovation across food systems, energy access and water security therefore represents both a climate imperative and a strategic growth frontier.
The PachiPanda Challenge is a flagship pan-African platform for youth-led environmental innovation. The programme goes beyond ideation, equipping entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and governance support to build investment-ready enterprises that create jobs and measurable environmental outcomes.
“What we have seen confirms that this is far more than a competition. It is a statement of intent. It shows that Africa is not waiting to be rescued by ideas from elsewhere, but is actively generating its own solutions—solutions rooted in local realities, driven by African entrepreneurs, and designed to deliver both economic value and measurable benefits for nature and communities” Alain Ononino, WWF Cameroon Country Director.
A distinguished panel of industry experts selected the winners from a diverse group of finalists spanning clean energy, food security ecosystems, circular economy solutions and waste-to-value innovations. The standard of innovation reflected the depth of Africa’s emerging climate-tech pipeline.
Jane Mammatt, ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change Partner at Deloitte, formed part of the expert judging panel “The PachiPanda Challenge highlights the growing pipeline of African innovators who are developing practical solutions to complex environmental challenges. Through the masterclass and ongoing mentoring, our focus has been to help participants strengthen their business models, governance and investment readiness, so that these ventures are well positioned to scale and deliver meaningful environmental and social impact.”
Flame Innovation Zambia, led by Agatha Mumba Mwansa, received both the Thematic Excellence Award and the Ubuntu Award for transforming waste materials into clean-energy alternatives such as fire blocks and eco-friendly household products, reducing deforestation and fuel costs while advancing circular economy principles. The Baobab Growth Award was presented to EcoDrop Project from Uganda founded by Kanyesige Pascal, Kigozi Martin Koyamu and Nyesiga Promise, for its incentive-based recycling model that rewards communities with cash, data or airtime for responsible plastic disposal, driving behavioural change at scale.
Winners will receive MTN funding to accelerate the next phase of growth, complemented by structured post-competition mentoring from Deloitte to strengthen business models, governance and investment readiness. The programme concludes with an executive immersion hosted by Wits Business School, providing finalists with exposure to leadership perspectives, enterprise development frameworks and innovation ecosystems to support scale.
By enabling youth-driven climate innovation, MTN and its partners are not only addressing environmental risk but also strengthening local ecosystems and contributing to Africa’s transition toward a more resilient, low-carbon future.
MTN Group has announced the appointment of Shoyinka Shodunke as Executive: IT Core Design and Delivery, effective 1 March 2026.
Shoyinka brings more than 29 years of experience in technology leadership, digital transformation and innovation across Africa’s telecommunications sector. His career spans several senior roles, including Director of Technology at Vodafone Ghana, Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) at MTN Cameroon, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at MTN Zambia, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at MTN South Africa and General Manager: Architecture for the MTN Shared Services Hub in Southeast Africa.
He currently serves as CIO for MTN Nigeria, where he has led large-scale digital initiatives impacting more than 80 million subscribers and overseen a technology ecosystem comprising over 350 professionals.
Shoyinka is recognised for a leadership approach anchored in adaptive intelligence, resilient system design and collaborative value creation. His work has focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance human creativity, strengthen system resilience and drive innovation at scale.
In 2025, he was named MTN Group CIO of the Year for his role in advancing one of Africa’s most ambitious digital transformations, supporting MTN’s evolution from a traditional telecommunications operator into an AI-enabled technology organisation. He also received the Tech Champion in Telecoms and CIO of the Year awards at the CIO and C-Suite Awards Africa.
His academic background includes an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at Harvard Business School, an MBA from the University of Northampton, a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Management from the University of Salford Manchester, and a Bachelor of Technology in Mathematics and Statistics from the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria.
In his new role, Shoyinka will lead the development and execution of standardised and AI-enhanced IT architectures across MTN’s footprint. His responsibilities will include integrating AI-driven automation, predictive analytics and digital transformation initiatives to improve customer experience, operational efficiency and service agility, while accelerating innovation cycles and time-to-market.
MTN Group’s digital infrastructure company, Bayobab, was one of the consortium partners recognised for its pioneering role at a celebratory event held in Cape Town last night to mark the completion of the world’s longest subsea cable infrastructure project.
The milestone marked a significant advancement in global connectivity and underscored the role that MTN, through Bayobab, plays as a digital ecosystem enabler to give Africans hope, dignity and opportunity.
2Africa, a META-led digital infrastructure initiative, is the first subsea cable to provide a continuous link between East and West Africa while extending onward to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. The system has taken nearly six years to build. It crosses 50 jurisdictions and required constant adjustment to shifting regulatory environments and technical conditions.
Its delivery reflects years of close collaboration, technical innovation and a shared vision among 2Africa consortium partners to connect communities, drive economic growth, and enable transformative digital experiences across Africa and beyond.
“For MTN, 2Africa isn’t just a cable but rather a statement of intent of what can be achieved when the world’s technology leaders and Africa’s own champions come together with purpose,” said Mazen Mroué CEO, MTN Group Digital Infrastructure, receiving the award on behalf of MTN and Bayobab.
“This project stands as proof that global scale and African leadership can combine to build the infrastructure that will define the next chapter of Africa’s growth story. Yes, together we’re connecting Africa to the world, but above all, we’re connecting Africa to its potential.”
2Africa delivers a step change in international bandwidth for Africa. On the West segment, from England to South Africa, the cable supports 21 Tbps per fibre pair with 8 fibre pairs on the trunk, totalling 168 Tbps. In the Mediterranean, shorter distances allow for more than 30 Tbps per fibre pair, and with 16 fibre pairs, the system can deliver over 180 Tbps in these segments.
This leap in capacity is expected to contribute up to $36.9 billion USD to Africa’s GDP within the first two to three years of operation, boosting job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation hubs across the continent.
With landings in 33+ countries and counting, 2Africa will help enable connectivity for 3 billion people – over 30 percent of the world’s population. This scale is unprecedented, and it was only possible through the collective effort of stakeholders across the ecosystem.
Mroué said, “At MTN, we view connectivity as the foundation of Africa’s digital future. Through Bayobab, we bring world-class infrastructure capability and the reach of a network serving over 300 million subscribers across 16 African markets. Of course, the Bayobab footprint, which embeds just under 135 thousand kilometres of cable extends beyond these markets to accelerates Africa’s Digital Transformation and AI adoption.”
Building 2Africa required pushing the boundaries of subsea infrastructure. The cable is double the capacity of older systems. It incorporates undersea optical wavelength switching, enabling flexible bandwidth management and supporting evolving demands for AI-Enabled Data Centre, cloud, and high-bandwidth applications.
Advanced SDM (Spatial Division Multiplexing) technology was deployed and undersea optical wavelength switching for flexible bandwidth management incorporated. The cable burial depth was increased by 50 percent and carefully routed the cable to avoid seabed hazards like hot brine pools and the Congo Canyon turbidity currents, optimizing for both capacity and reliability.
Over 35 offshore vessels and extensive local operations were mobilised, with specialist equipment deployed to ensure safe and resilient installation across 50 jurisdictions.
2Africa’s success is rooted in partnership. The consortium led by Meta, included Bayobab, center3, CMI, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC.
The 2Africa celebration ceremony was held at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town.