Category: Media releases
As evidence of MTN Group’s commitment to transformation in South Africa, we retained our Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) contributor status for the 2022 financial year.
The rating is contained in the Group’s annual B-BBEE compliance report, in which major subsidiary MTN South Africa retained a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor status for the fourth year running.
The B-BBEE contributor status considers both the MTN South Africa operating entity and the MTN Group’s South African operating entities.
“In our work to create the MTN of tomorrow, we are committed to fulfilling our strategic priority to create shared value,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita. “This incorporates a focus on increased localisation across our markets, including in South Africa where we were established at the dawn of democracy in 1994 as a leader in transformation.”
Notable improvements for the MTN Group in 2022 were in our ‘Management Control’ and ‘Preferential Procurement’ scores.
The ‘Management Control’ improvement was a result of the consistent alignment of MTN’s recruitment practices to the targets related to the economically active population (EAP) in South Africa. The improvement in the ‘Preferential Procurement’ score was mainly due to an increase in procurement spending with exempt micro enterprises (EMEs), qualifying small enterprises (QSEs) and ‘Designated Groups’.
“Retaining our Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor status is critical. We intend to take steps not only to retain this status in future but also to put more emphasis on our preferential procurement and localisation efforts,” Mupita said.
MTN South Africa CEO Charles Molapisi said a focus of preferential procurement will be the development of a new approach to Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) in MTN SA. “In the year ahead, we intend to drive an ambitious programme to enhance supply chain resilience, with B-BBEE and localisation at its core.”
“Key to this effort is to go beyond mere compliance to current legislation and rather to improve our ability to adapt to the ever-changing operating environment and the challenging economic conditions,” he added.
MTN Group is pleased to announce the appointment of M. Mudassar Aqil as Executive: BankTech, in its Fintech business, MoMo, effective from 1 August 2023. BankTech, is one of MTN Fintech’s five verticals, currently serves over 69 million monthly active users across 16 markets.
With a wealth of experience in the financial services industry, including a 12-year tenure as a CEO in the banking and fintech space, Mudassar brings with him a deep understanding of banking regulation, lending, payments, and platform strategy.
Over his 25-year career, Mudassar has served in several senior executive roles in the financial services and fintech sectors across the United States and Pakistan. His notable achievements include turning around two banks and a significant wallet platform as CEO, transforming them into market-leading profitable entities.
Most recently, Mudassar served as CEO at Telenor Microfinance Bank & Easypaisa (a joint venture between Telenor Group and Ant Group) in Pakistan since 2019. During his tenure, he successfully led the bank back to profitability, expanded the wallet business threefold to 12.5 million MAUs – making Easypaisa Pakistan’s largest app – and revitalized its credit business through digital transformation.
Mudassar holds an MBA from Salisbury University, MD, USA and is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
“We are delighted to welcome Mudassar to the Group Fintech team. His wealth of experience in the financial services sector and diverse background will undoubtedly ensure that we continue to break new ground in our ongoing efforts to promote financial inclusion across the continent,” said Serigne Dioum, Group Chief Fintech Officer.
“Mudassar has built a stellar career through his innate ability to establish an organisational vision, develop strategic and tactical plans, and execute them with well-led and highly effective teams. He is a strategic yet pragmatic leader, renowned for his hands-on approach to business,” concluded Dioum.
We congratulate Mudassar and wish him the very best in his new role.
MTN Group today announced the launch of its highly anticipated 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, set to run from 1 to 21 June 2023. This year’s campaign focuses on “Empowering entrepreneurs to unlock growth and job creation for communities.”
Building on the successes of prior years, the 2023 campaign underlines MTN’s enduring commitment to instigating positive change within the communities it serves. This year’s initiative targets grassroots entrepreneurs, providing them with essential digital and financial tools, facilitating wider market access, and offering valuable business mentoring and knowledge-sharing sessions.
“Our purpose extends beyond connectivity; it’s about catalysing change and enabling progress in the communities we serve,” said Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at MTN Group. “By focusing on grassroots entrepreneurs and harnessing digital and financial tools, MTN is actively fostering an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that will drive sustainable economic development across the continent. This campaign aligns with our long-term vision for a digitally inclusive Africa. It underscores our commitment to being more than just a telecom provider, but a catalyst for positive change and growth in the communities we serve.”
Now in its 16th year, the “21 Days of Y’ello Care” campaign stands as MTN’s flagship employee volunteerism initiative, designed to engage MTN staff in high-impact social projects within their local communities. Each year, the campaign focuses on a different theme, reflecting MTN’s multifaceted approach to social responsibility.
In addition to leveraging digital and financial tools as vital enablers to stimulate growth for grassroots-based entrepreneurs, the 2023 campaign emphasises often overlooked communities – those in rural, remote, and disadvantaged areas, with a particular emphasis on women, youth, and differently-abled individuals.
MTN Group has been named by Brand Africa as the number one African brand that is doing good for people, society and the environment in a new category of its annual awards inspired by businesses shifting from profit to purpose. Brand Africa also named MTN as the most admired African brand recalled spontaneously.
“As we celebrate Africa Day, we are greatly encouraged to receive this accolade, which recognises our work to deliver on our strategic priority to create shared value with ESG at the core,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita. “It motivates us to keep focused on providing leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress and to ensure that everyone enjoys the benefits of a modern connected life.”
The new award category acknowledges MTN’s contributions towards empowering people, supporting sustainable societal development and preserving the environment. Through our broad range of initiatives and alliances, MTN Group demonstrates dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of Africans.
Understanding that commitment needs to translate into action, our advances in this regard in 2022 include ensuring greater digital inclusion by extending broadband (including rural) coverage to almost 88% of the population in our markets; contributing approximately R149 billion in economic value-added to society; and reducing GHG emissions by around 13.9%^ as part of journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
“This award would not have been possible without the support of the many stakeholders with whom we engage every day. I would like to thank them all – among them our customers, our employees, governments and regulators, and society at large across our 19 markets,” added Mupita as he acknowledged the role of the Group’s partners in its achievements in connecting the unconnected, uplifting communities and protecting the planet:
In April, Brand Finance assigned MTN the highest ‘sustainability perceptions value’ of all companies in its ‘South Africa 100 2023’ survey in which the Group retained the rank as South Africa’s most valuable brand.
MTN, Africa’s leading telecommunications company, is thrilled to announce its upcoming SME hybrid event aimed at fostering growth and providing essential resources to the continent’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The two-day event, featuring a combination of physical and online components, will bring together industry experts, inspirational thought leaders, and innovative solutions to support the success of African businesses.
Scheduled to take place from the 23rd to the 24th of May 2023 at the company’s 14th Avenue Innovation Centre, this groundbreaking event will serve as a platform for SMEs to connect, learn, and showcase their products and services to a broader audience. The event will feature a live exhibition of SMEs and partner solutions, engaging activities such as the highly anticipated JumpStarter funding competition and insightful keynote speeches from influential industry figures.
MTN is committed to empowering SMEs by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support to thrive in a competitive business landscape. With this event, MTN aims to position itself as the leading brand dedicated to supporting the growth and success of over 40 million African SMEs through targeted development programs and a comprehensive range of services.
One of the event’s highlights will be the live exhibition, where selected SMEs will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative products and services to potential customers, investors, and partners. This platform will enable them to increase their visibility, expand their networks, and attract new business opportunities.
MTN’s commitment to supporting SMEs extends beyond the event itself. The company’s suite of services, including MoMo (Mobile Money), Digital, ayoba, and Chenosis, will be showcased during the event, demonstrating how these platforms can empower SMEs with convenient and secure financial transactions, digital marketing solutions, communication tools, and access to a broader customer base.
“MTN understands the critical role SMEs play in driving economic growth and job creation across Africa,” said Tumi Chamayou, MTN Group Executive: Enterprise. “We are proud to host this empowering event that brings together the brightest minds and resources to support the success of SMEs. Our goal is to position MTN as the go-to brand for African entrepreneurs seeking to thrive in today’s digital economy.”
As reported in its 2022 Sustainability report, MTN supported 1,250 small and medium-sized enterprises through its enterprise skills development initiative. This SME event is a further testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to empowering African SMEs and driving their success. By providing a platform for innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, MTN aims to equip SMEs with the tools and support they need to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.
For more information about the MTN SME event, including registration details and the full lineup of speakers and activities, please visit MTN EBU SME 2023
The prestigious Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Awards ceremony brought together procurement professionals from around the globe to celebrate their accomplishments. MTN Global Sourcing and Supply Chain (GSSC) emerged as the standout winner, taking home five prestigious awards, including the coveted “Procurement Team of the Year – Large Organization.”
The awards won by MTN GSSC include “Best Approach to Risk Mitigation” and “Best Initiative to Deliver Social Value Through Procurement,” highlighting the team’s commitment to excellence and their ability to create tangible value for their organization and society.
This impressive accomplishment demonstrates MTN GSSC’s unwavering commitment to delivering value and innovation, embodying the essence of MTN Group’s Ambition 2025 strategy – leading Africa’s digital advancement while making a positive and sustainable impact on the continent. Dirk Karl, Group Executive and Chief Procurement Officer, was recognized as “Leader of the Year” for his exceptional leadership skills and the positive impact he has made on the team and the procurement profession as a whole. Karl’s leadership has been instrumental in successfully implementing MTN’s agile operating model, contributing to the team’s outstanding performance.
The pinnacle of the night was MTN GSSC being named the “CIPS Overall Winner,” an award celebrating their extraordinary achievements across all categories.
“These awards underscore the hard work and dedication of our team, and their commitment to delivering value and making a positive societal impact. Transforming GSSC into an agile, innovative organisation underpins our success tonight and this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our Group Chief Financial Officer, Tsholo Molefe and our Group Chief HR Officer, Paul Norman. It’s an honour to be recognized in this way, and it only strengthens our resolve to continue our relentless pursuit of excellence, shared value, and digital progress for Africa.” Says Dirk Karl, Group Executive and Chief Procurement Officer
The CIPS awards ceremony is a globally recognized event celebrating the accomplishments of procurement professionals. MTN GSSC’s sweeping victory at this year’s ceremony sets a new benchmark in procurement excellence and serves as an inspiration to their peers worldwide.
Project East2West partnership will:
- Help bridge Africa’s connectivity gap by improving broadband access for landlocked African countries
- Offer substantial improvements for data traffic in Africa
- Boost consumption of local content throughout the region and promote regional economic development
Bayobab and Africa50 on Monday signed a partnership to develop Project East2West, a terrestrial fibre optic cable network connecting the eastern shores of Africa to those on the continent’s west.
The partnership will invest up to US$320 million connecting ten African countries over the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Bayobab is wholly owned by MTN Group. This investment is within MTN’s previously announced Ambition 2025 plans and will contribute to Bayobab reaching the Group’s target of having 135 000km of proprietary fibre over the coming three years.
“This partnership with Africa50 comes at an opportune time, just as we rebrand MTN GlobalConnect to Bayobab to position the business as an Africa-focused open-access digital infrastructure platform,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita.“The alliance is more than cables and connections; it is about building bridges of connectivity that span nations and bring people closer together.”
“For landlocked African countries, Project East2West will improve latency by almost two-thirds and increase capacity to support high-quality broadband access. In this way, it will level the playing field and ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed in the digital world,” he added.
The partnership will offer substantial improvements in data traffic for internet service providers, mobile network operators and hyper scalers operating in these countries. It will also bridge the bottlenecks in global internet traffic landing in and going out of Africa. It is expected to cut latency by up to 65% on the east-to-west route.
Bayobab CEO Frédéric Schepens said: “Guided by the belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life, we see the provision of digital infrastructure as critical in driving digital transformation, weaving African countries together and connecting them to the rest of the world.”
He added: “Africa’s connectivity relies on strategic and global partnerships coming together to build the much-needed large-scale backbone infrastructure to meet the explosive demand for digital services. We are looking forward to Project East2West meeting the connectivity demands to power digital services, bridging the digital divide across Africa, and paving the way for the sustainable digital societies of tomorrow.”
As a co-developer, Africa50 is fostering the harmonisation of regional data and security regulations, boosting consumption of local content throughout the region and promoting inter-regional exchanges and regional economic development.
“Project East2West is a remarkable and transformative project that will step-change Africa’s internet capacity expansion drive by supporting the growth and development of 4G and 5G,” said Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé.
“This is an important project that will have a significant impact on Africa’s quest to make the internet accessible to most of its growing population. Partnering with a large pan-African company like Bayobab and MTN is important to roll out such an impactful cross-border project,” he added.
The development of Project East2West is expected to be completed in 2025.
MTN GlobalConnect announced an important step in the evolution of its business through the unveiling of its new name and positioning – Bayobab. The brand reveal took place at International Telecommunications Week (ITW) Conference in Washington DC, attended by over 6000 delegatesfrom acrossthe digital wholesale telecoms community. The new identity, Bayobab, represents the company’s strategic transformation journey to connect Africa with open next-gen digital solutions through its two distinct businesses, Bayobab Fibre and Bayobab Communication Platforms.
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said, “Building the largest and most valuable platforms is part of our Ambition 2025 strategic priorities. The brand change from MTN GlobalConnect to Bayobab reflects the change underway to position the business as a world class, Africa-focused open-access digital infrastructure platform serving not just MTN but other third parties as customers. We will also bring strategic partners into the business over time who will provide skills and capital to support and accelerate the growth of this business.”
Inspired by the Baobab tree – which many recognise as the “tree of life”, Bayobab is the enabler of the digital connectivity value chain across the African continent. The rebrand is the first step in the business transformation journey since announcing MTN Group’s Ambition 2025 strategy to structurally separate its fibre business, targeted for completion by 2024. This will enable Bayobab to unlock value within the business, attract strategic partners, and comply with local regulations across its key markets.
Commenting on the rebrand, Frédéric Schepens, Bayobab Group CEO, said: “As a young entrepreneurial business delivering value through open next-gen digital solutions, we believe Bayobab best encompasses our vision of connecting Africa and ensures we add meaningful value across the continent.”
“Our strategy has borne much fruit, as evidenced by our performance and delivery. We are well-positioned to open a significant digital doorway that bridges Africa’s digital divide to connect communities,” Schepens added.
Looking ahead, Bayobab will continue investing in the business and its people to achieve its strategic goals. As Bayobab, we will remain committed to forging strong global partnerships that connect the unconnected, deepening internet adoption to accelerate Africa’s vision for digital transformation.
Africa’s super app ayoba today announced the achievement of a significant milestone – surpassing the 25 million monthly active users’ mark as we celebrate our fourth anniversary.
This is up from 20 million monthly active users in December 2022. The platform is available globally but has a strong a focus on the African continent. Among key territories are Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda and The Republic of Congo.
“25 million is a significant milestone to pass on our fourth birthday,” says CEO Burak Akinci. “Our journey has been transformative, and the positive response from our users fuels our drive for innovation. Our users are at the heart of our progress, and we are grateful for their support.”
So far in 2023, ayoba has focused on enhancing communication and content features. These have been well received, with a 35% increase in messages, and a 16% increase in both stories and VoIP calls. Users have viewed 88 million cards across all channels, in topics such as entertainment, education, food, fashion and more.
“The first four months of 2023 was a period of significant growth and development for ayoba. We have improved our socialisation and messaging functionalities, enhanced our microapp experience and added many more features,” Akinci says.
The introduction of the new ‘explore’ landing page marks a significant advance for ayoba’s Android version. This page, currently in pilot phase, will be rolled out to all key territories in the future. It brings a simplified design for easy navigation through ayoba’s curated high-quality content and highlights our themes to our users.
The microapp’s vertical has also seen significant evolution in Q1 at ayoba, as a direct shortcut to the vertical has been added on the bottom navigation bar. This section, referred to as an evolving ‘ecosystem for small African business’ – and some larger ones – allows service providers easy access to the existing ayoba user base with minimal effort. The most popular micro-apps currently are ‘live scores’ (allowing users to get the latest sports scores), ‘ayoba gifting’, ‘video play apps’, sports, and shopping.
Born out of a partnership with MTN, ayoba is available on all networks. In certain participating territories, users on ayoba receive complimentary daily data, amplifying its value proposition*. ayoba’s growth trajectory has it on track to achieve 100 million monthly active users by 2025 in line with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy.
*VoIP and video call are not zero rated for MTN subscribers
MTN Group is pleased to announce the release of our suite of annual reports for 2022. The Integrated Report, the Sustainability Report, the Transparency Report and the Tax Report provide details of our work in the year to deliver on our purpose and our plans to build the MTN of tomorrow.
“2022 was a challenging year for everyone, everywhere, and was characterised by increased macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility,” says MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita. “But through the challenges, we stayed focused on our Ambition 2025, which is to provide leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress, and pursued opportunities to extend digital and financial inclusion for society at large.”
Our Integrated Report is our primary communication to all stakeholders. It aims to provide a holistic view of the Group in order to enable them to make an informed assessment of our strategic performance and prospects and the value we create and preserve through our business activities. It shows the connectivity between our strategic priorities; our material matters; the six capitals; the UN’s SDGs; our stakeholders; and the risks we face and the actions we are taking to mitigate them.
It contains the key focus areas of each of our board committees in the year and their plans for the year ahead. The Integrated Report also spells out our governance structures, policy and processes, as well as our remuneration policy and how we link rewards to performance.
In the Sustainability Report, we provide details of our environmental, social and governance performance and commitments. This is in a world that is lifting expectations of all organisations to operate responsibly, with integrity and a focus on the well-being of communities and the planet.
“This year, our Sustainability Report incorporates the GSMA’s new industry-specific ‘ESG Metrics for Mobile’ disclosures. It shows how we are positioning MTN at the centre of Africa’s transformation to improve the quality of life of Africans and to be economically empowering and environmentally sustainable,”says Mupita.
It details our progress in establishing MTN as a responsible, transparent and sustainable organisation, building on our climate disclosures and the work we are doing to strengthen data privacy and security, minimise the gender pay gap and uphold digital human rights.
Our Transparency Report provides insight into how MTN approaches digital human rights strategy and practice. “We believe all people should be able to communicate freely; to access and exchange information responsibly; and to enjoy privacy and security when using digital communication and data,” says Mupita.
Our voluntary Tax Report explains our tax affairs, shows our contribution to the socioeconomic development of our nationstate hosts, and that our total tax contribution in the year amounted to more than R51 billion, up from more than R44 billion in 2021.
“The 2022 suits of reports outlines the progress we are making as a company and the contribution we are making to society more broadly, which we trust all our stakeholders will find useful,” says Mupita.
Read the reports here: https://bit.ly/41Lxben