MTN Group at MWC Barcelona 2026 |

MTN Group at MWC Barcelona 2026

11 March 2026

Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026 once again served as the world’s most influential gathering for the mobile and digital technology ecosystem. For MTN Group, the event provided a high-level platform to advance strategic partnerships, engage policymakers, showcase innovation across its markets, and reinforce its leadership in Africa1s digital transformation. Across four days of engagements in Barcelona, MTN’s presence focused on accelerating Africa’s digital future through Al-driven networks, digital inclusion, financial ecosystem expansion, infrastructure investment, and strategic industry collaboration.

Global Themes at MWC Barcelona 2026

MWC Barcelona 2026 was defined by a strong focus on the next phase of digital transformation, with discussions centered around artificial intelligence, intelligent networks, digital infrastructure, and the need to close the global digital usage gap. Across panels, leadership dialogues, and industry announcements, a common theme emerged: connectivity alone is no longer enough. The next phase of growth will be driven by Al enabled networks, affordable access to devices, trusted digital financial ecosystems, and strong collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, and technology partners.

Against this backdrop, MTN Group’s participation throughout the week reflected its strategic priorities of building intelligent connectivity, expanding financial inclusion, and strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure.

Strategic Partnerships & Industry Collaboration

Ralph Mupita at Global Leadership panels

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita participated in several high-level discussions during MWC Barcelona 2026, contributing perspectives on the future of connectivity, Al, and digital infrastructure.

During the keynote session “Built for What’s Next”, global telecom leaders discussed how the industry is evolving as connectivity becomes more intelligent, adaptive, and human-centric. The discussion explored how artificial intelligence, cloud-native technologies and next-generation infrastructure are reshaping both network operations and digital experiences.

The session brought together senior industry leaders including executives from Jio Platforms, TIM, Turkcell, Colt Technology Services and global policymakers, highlighting the global scale of the transformation underway.

Ralph Mupita also participated in the GSMA Ministerial Programme session “Unlocking Al Readiness Globally.” The discussion examined how governments and industry can collaborate to accelerate Al adoption, build the right regulatory frameworks, and create the enabling conditions required for innovation and investment across regions.

The Africa Pavilion: A Landmark Moment for the Continent

One of the defining moments of MWC Barcelona 2026 was the launch of the Africa Pavilion, inaugurated by Africa’s leading telecom CEOs, known as the G6, in collaboration with GSMA Africa.

MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita joined fellow industry leaders to officially open the pavilion, which represents the first coordinated platform dedicated to showcasing Africa’s digital innovation and telecom ecosystem at the world’s largest mobile industry event.

The initiative highlights a collective commitment from Africa’s telecom leaders to accelerate digital development through:

Expanding rural connectivity
Increasing smartphone affordability
Scaling digital financial services
Developing African-centric Al capabilities
Strengthening digital infrastructure

The pavilion generated strong engagement from global stakeholders and was widely seen as an important step in elevating Africa’s digital ecosystem on the global stage.

In addition to the inauguration ceremony, MTN was strongly represented at the Africa Pavilion throughout the event. The pavilion served as a focal point for African innovation and collaboration, hosting discussions with policymakers, industry partners, and global stakeholders.

The official ribbon cutting marked the launch of the pavilion, reinforcing the collective ambition of Africa’s telecom leaders to showcase the continent’s digital ecosystem on the global stage.

The G6 leadership group also convened during MWC Barcelona to launch two important industry initiatives focused on smartphone affordability and Al language innovation, reinforcing the role of African operators in shaping the continent’s digital future.

Connectivity for Displaced Communities

Another important milestone during MWC Barcelona was the announcement of a multi-year partnership between MTN Group and UNHCR.

The collaboration aims to expand meaningful connectivity for refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities across Africa. The partnership will focus on improving access to connectivity, mobile money services, digital skills, and digital identity solutions in regions hosting displaced populations.

“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.” – Nompilo Morafo, Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN Group

“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.”- Kelly T. Clements UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner

The initiative aligns with the broader Connectivity for Refugees initiative, which aims to connect 20 million displaced people by 2030.

The MTN stand also welcomed several high-level visitors during the week, including the Minister of Communications of Syria, who met with MTN leadership to discuss digital infrastructure development and opportunities for international collaboration in the evolving telecom landscape.

Closing the Digital Usage gap

A major theme across MTN’s engagements during MWC Barcelona was addressing Africa’s mobile internet usage gap, where millions remain offline despite living within broadband coverage.

As part of the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, MTN joined other industry leaders and global partners in launching pilots to introduce affordable entry-level 4G smartphones across six African countries:

Democratic Republic of Congo
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uganda

The initiative aims to bring sub-$40 smartphones to market, helping unlock mobile internet access for millions of people who currently cannot afford connected devices.

“Affordable smartphones are the gateway to digital and financial inclusion, economic opportunity and innovation. 3.1 billion people have mobile coverage but are not connected to the mobile internet. Together with the G6 group of leading African operators, we are sending a clear demand signal to bring low-cost 4G devices to market. In a global context of rising memory costs, governments have an important role in bridging the usage gap. Removing taxes and import duties on entry-level 4G smartphones will be critical to achieving scale.” – Vivek Badrinath – Director General GSMA

By combining affordable devices with infrastructure investment and supportive regulatory policies, the coalition seeks to accelerate digital adoption and economic participation across Africa.

MTN and Hauwei expand strategic cooperation

One of the key announcements during the week was the signing of a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding between MTN Group and Huawei. The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening collaboration around next-generation network evolution and intelligent infrastructure.

The partnership focuses on several priority areas including Al-driven network operations, home broadband expansion, digital infrastructure development, data monetization, and ESG initiatives.

A central of the collaboration is the evolution toward Level 4 Autonomous Networks (AN L4). Through the introduction of Agentic Networks powered by Al copilots and intelligent agents, MTN and Huawei aim to transform network management from traditional human-driven operations to autonomous systems capable of closed-loop optimization across planning, deployment, and operations.

The agreement also includes joint innovation through the Huawei-MTN Technology Innovation Lab in South Africa, enabling new solutions to progress from proof-of-concept to pilot and large-scale commercial deployment.

This collaboration reflects MTN’s strategic commitment to Al-enabled network transformation and the development of Africa’s next generation digital infrastructure.

Industry recognation and network leadership

Opensignal Awards Confirm MTN Network Leadership

During MWC Barcelona, MTN1s strong network performance was recognized by Opensignal, whose latest South Africa Mobile Network Experience Report confirmed the operator’s leadership in user experience.

MTN secured 11 out of 15 awards, including:

All Overall Experience awards
Four of five 5G Experience awards
The 5G Availability award
A shared Reliability Experience award

The results underline MTN’s continued investment in network quality and customer experience as mobile data demand accelerates across South Africa.

Mobile data traffic continues to grow rapidly across the market. Between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, MTN recorded a 23% increase in mobile data traffic, reflecting the growing importance of mobile connectivity for everyday digital services.

Speedtest Awards for MTN Ghana and MTN Nigeria

Further recognition came through Ookla Speedtest Awards, where multiple MTN markets were honored for network performance.

MTN Ghana was recognized as:

Fastest Mobile Network in Ghana
Best Fixed Network in Ghana
Top Connectivity Performance in Western Africa

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria received Speedtest Awards for:

Fastest 5G Network in Western Africa
Best Mobile Network in Nigeria
Best Mobile Video Experience in Nigeria

These awards highlight the Group’s continued investment in both mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure across its markets.

Policy engagement and strategic dialogue

MWC Barcelona also provided an opportunity for MTN leadership to engage directly with policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders on the future of Africa’s digital economy.

A notable moment during the week was a leadership exchange between MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita and South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, focusing on the policy environment required to accelerate digital growth, infrastructure investment, and innovation across the continent.

MTN’s delegation also participated in broader GSMA discussions on Al, digital infrastructure, and the policy frameworks required to close Africa’s digital usage gap.

At the opening dinner of MWC Barcelona, Ralph Mupita met with the King of Spain and the President of Spain in his role as Deputy Chairman of the GSMA, highlighting MTN’s position within global industry leadership.

Advancing Inclusive Digital Financial Ecosystems

Financial inclusion also featured prominently during MTN’s participation at the event.

During an industry panel, Serigne Dioum, MTN Group Fintech CEO, highlighted how the company’s MoMo platform is evolving from a closed wallet into an open financial ecosystem.

Interoperability is expanding across MTN’s 14 fintech markets through integrations that now include:

Wallet-to-wallet transfers
Wallet-to-bank connectivity
National payment switches such as GhlPSS and NIBSS
Cross-border remittance services
Merchant and APl-driven ecosystems

The focus is not only on technical integration but on ensuring customer protection, transparent pricing, and sustainable partner incentives as digital financial ecosystems scale across the continent.

Fintech Leadership and Responsible Innovation

Responsible innovation is essential to the sustainable growth of digital financial services.

At MWC Barcelona, Nikiwe Tanga (Tsaagane), Group Chief Legal Officer of MTN Fintech Group, participated in the panel “Scaling Responsibly in Evolving Regulatory Environments.”

The discussion explored how fintech leaders can expand access to financial services while navigating complex and rapidly evolving regulatory landscapes. As digital financial ecosystems grow across Africa, collaboration between industry players, regulators, and policymakers remains critical to building trusted, secure, and inclusive platforms.

The session highlighted the importance of strong governance frameworks, responsible innovation, and regulatory alignment to ensure that fintech growth continues to deliver meaningful value to customers and communities.

At MTN Group Fintech, the focus remains on scaling digital financial services in a way that prioritizes trust, transparency, and customer protection while advancing financial inclusion across the continent.

Addressing The Responsible Use of Al

Mulinge Sylvia M.B.S., Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda, participated in a panel discussion titled “Managing the Dark Side of Al.” The discussion focused on the growing importance of governance, security, and ethical frameworks as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into digital ecosystems.

During the week of the event, Mulinge also experienced firsthand the risks associated with emerging Al technologies when a deepfake video using her likeness circulated online without her consent.

“Al is only as safe as the governance and integrity of the data it learns from. Build that foundation right, and Al becomes a powerful force for good. Get it wrong, and the consequences go beyond business, they touch livelihoods. Regulation is also a key part of the story when talking about this dark side. We must rapidly close the gap between technology advancing fast and rules catching up slowly.” – Mulinge Sylvia M.B.S., Chief Executive Officer of MTN

Key Themes From MWC Barcelona 2026

Several themes shaped MTN’s engagements throughout the week:

Artificial Intelligence and Agentic Networks

Al-driven network intelligence and autonomous operations are becoming central to the next generation of telecom infrastructure.

Digital Inclusion & Affordable Devices

Closing the usage gap through affordable smartphones remains critical to expanding Africa’s digital economy.

Infrastructure & Data Monetization

Investment in fiber, data centers, and next-generation connectivity platforms is essential for scaling Al and digital services.

Open Financial Ecosystems

Interoperable digital finance platforms are unlocking broader access to financial services.

Humanitarian Connectivity

Digital access is increasingly recognized as essential infrastructure for vulnerable populations.

“As I reflect on our own strategy at MTN, a couple of key takeaways stand out. First, we have set the right strategy for the next three to five years as we advance our ‘One MTN, Three Platforms’ approach: an intelligent connectivity business, a fintech business transforming to meet the needs of our customers, and digital infrastructure as a core pillar of our strategy, with continued investment in fiber, data centres, and towers – all increasingly infused with Al as it continues to evolve.” – Ralph Mupita, Group President & CEO, MTN