Close

Tag: Network as a service

As part of our work to deepen stakeholder relations and partnerships for Africa’s progress, MTN Group is a platinum sponsor of the Africa CEO Forum, which brings together the continent’s most influential decision-makers for two days of meetings on the private sector’s key role in accelerating Africa’s development.

The 12th edition of the annual summit is taking place in Abidjan on 12–13 May 2025. Some 2 000 business leaders, investors and policy makers are in attendance to shape practical strategies to expedite Africa’s economic transformation.

The theme for 2025 is ‘Africa in a transactional world: Can a new deal between state and private sector deliver the continent a winning hand?’. It recognises the need for governments to strike a new deal with the African private sector, anchored on three pillars: an improvement of governance and accountability; targeted public policies to address Africa’s structural challenges; and the accelerated implementation of the African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“At part of our shared value priority to support Africa’s progress, we at MTN seek to align with the priorities of our continent and nation states and to actively engage governments and regulators to help shape industry dynamics,” said MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo.

“MTN’s participation at the Africa CEO Forum reflects our nation states programme and our commitment to work together to enable inclusive growth,” she added, noting that escalating tensions in world geopolitics present headwinds to Africa’s budding economic recovery. “We believe the continent’s sustainable progress will come from trusted partnerships, coherent policy environments and shared investment in the systems that power Africa’s digital and economic future.”

As part of the Forum programme, MTN Group Senior Vice President: Markets, Ebenezer Asante, is participating in a panel discussion exploring tax policy and resource mobilisation. The session focuses on how public and private sector stakeholders can consult and collaborate to ensure fiscal environments that support both domestic priorities and the stability required for sustained investment.

MTN Côte d’Ivoire CEO Mitwa NG’ambi is contributing to a strategic roundtable on Africa’s digital transformation. This is looking at strategies to enhance network resilience and accelerate infrastructure deployment – particularly in underserved areas – and the role of policymakers in fostering an investment-friendly environment that accelerates digital transformation.

MTN Group’s sponsorship and participation at the Africa CEO Forum underscore our commitment to building a more connected, inclusive and prosperous Africa.

MTN Group this week convened its annual Chairmen’s Forum in Uganda, bringing together Board Chairs from its operating companies and senior executives from across the business. Held in Kampala, the Forum serves as a key leadership platform to reflect on strategic progress, strengthen alignment, and advance the Group’s ambition to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the MTN Group delegation, led by Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas and Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita, engaged with national leaders and key stakeholders to reinforce the Group’s long-standing commitment to Uganda as a strategic market.

These engagements included a high-level meeting with His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House, Entebbe, as well as a stakeholder dinner hosted by MTN, attended by senior government officials.

During the State House meeting, President Museveni welcomed MTN’s continued investment and emphasised the importance of targeting sectors that generate employment and expand the economy. “If people have jobs and incomes, they will buy more phones and use them more,” he said. “That’s why we must invest in the four key sectors of wealth and job creation: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.” He further encouraged MTN to explore cross-border investment as a means of promoting regional integration and intra-African trade.

Uganda holds a distinct place in MTN’s history as the first country outside South Africa where the Group secured a telecommunications licence. Granted in 1998, this licence marked the beginning of MTN’s international expansion, laying the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s leading digital infrastructure and platform businesses. Today, MTN Uganda stands as one of the Group’s most important markets, commercially and developmentally.

Mcebisi Jonas, MTN Group Chairman, expressed appreciation for the long-standing collaboration between MTN and the Government of Uganda. “We just came today to say thank you very much for the support you have always given us. We have had excellent collaboration from the regulators, and MTN is not here for the short term—we are here for the long haul,” he said. He also emphasised MTN’s interest in strengthening trade and business linkages between Uganda and South Africa, and highlighted the Group’s broader capacity to support national development. “We believe there is real opportunity to help Ugandan businesses enter the South African market, and that is something we can explore further.”

As MTN Group continues to drive the acceleration of Africa’s digital future, Uganda remains a key partner, demonstrating the enduring value of early investment, collaborative nation-building, and a shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable progress.

The 7th edition of the Benin Investment Forum (BIF) will take place from 8 to 9 May 2025 at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, bringing together leaders from government, business, and civil society to foster economic cooperation, attract foreign direct investment, and promote inclusive development. Organised by the Government of Benin through the Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEX) and the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Forum comes at a crucial moment in Benin’s development, underpinned by structural reforms and macroeconomic stability.

MTN Group proudly joins the Forum as the Platinum and Headline Sponsor. This strategic partnership follows MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita’s market visit to Benin in January 2024, where the company reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the country’s development as a trusted partner. MTN’s participation at BIF 2025 will be led by Senior Vice President Markets Ebenezer Asante, who will deliver a keynote address at the Opening Ceremony on the topic “MTN: Partner in Africa’s Development.” He will be joined by MTN Benin CEO Uche Ofodile and MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo, both of whom will participate in high-level discussions on finance, the future of technology, and women’s leadership in business.

MTN will also take the lead in hosting the exclusive MTN Investment Night, a high-level networking engagement aimed at facilitating meaningful dialogue among investors, policymakers, and senior business leaders. As part of its broader contribution to the Forum, MTN will collaborate with the Benin Ministry of Trade and Commerce to evaluate start-up pitches, spotlighting innovative solutions from emerging entrepreneurs. Additionally, the Group will deliver an inspirational leadership masterclass, curated to inspire and equip the next generation of African business leaders with insights drawn from MTN’s journey of growth and transformation across the continent.

Having operated in Benin for more than 25 years, MTN has made significant contributions to the country’s digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, and social development. The Group has committed over $215 million in new investments through 2026, including the rollout of 5G services, expansion of fibre connectivity, and the construction of a new MTN Benin headquarters. MTN’s impact also extends into health, education, and entrepreneurship through the work of the MTN Foundation, reinforcing its belief that digital access is key to unlocking national and regional progress.”

Commenting on MTN’s commitment to the Benin Investment Forum and the country, Ebenezer Asante, MTN Group Senior Vice President, Markets stated: “Our presence at the Benin Investment Forum reflects more than sponsorship, it’s a reflection of our unwavering belief in Benin’s potential and our shared journey toward inclusive digital transformation. Through strategic partnerships rooted in national development goals, MTN is proud to be a catalyst for progress, investment, and innovation in Benin and across the continent.”

MTN’s participation in the Benin Investment Forum 2025 exemplifies the company’s belief that inclusive, resilient growth must be rooted in strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors. As a partner of choice to African governments, MTN continues to play a leading role in building the infrastructure, capabilities, and ecosystems required for nations to thrive in a digital world. Through its involvement in BIF 2025, MTN reaffirms its commitment to Benin’s development journey and to advancing Africa’s digital and economic integration.

MTN Group announces the release of our annual reports for 2024. Produced under the theme of ‘Accelerating Africa’s digital future’, the suite of reports provides a thorough overview of our robust underlying performance, strategic delivery and contribution to society, as well as our priorities ahead.

“Committed to operating responsibly and ethically, in 2024 MTN remained focused on executing on our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress, despite the global uncertainties,” said MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita.

“We couldn’t have done this without the support of our many diverse stakeholders. We invite you to read our reports, which strive to provide meaningful information tailored for various specific audiences.”

The 2024 Integrated Report tells the overall MTN value-creation story, detailing our strategic achievements and initiatives, including our operational highlights, financial performance and progress on ESG.  It explains how MTN leverages our brand, broad presence and skills as well as leading connectivity business, fintech offerings and digital infrastructure to expand digital and financial inclusion across Africa. This is done while mitigating risks and making the most of opportunities in our 16 markets.

This information, which reflects integrated thinking at the Group, endeavours to assist our investors and other stakeholders to understand the Group’s overall health and future focus. It is published alongside sustainability and financial reports as well as other important information for our shareholders.

ESG remains at the core of our strategy and is aligned with our work to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through our business activities and our support of governments, communities and customers. Our Sustainability Report provides a view of the Group around sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could reasonably be expected to affect MTN’s prospects.

As stewards of the digital age, we believe that safeguarding human rights is at the core of connectivity. In a year of numerous elections across the world, our Transparency Report outlines how MTN reinforced digital rights in 2024 by ensuring secure, uninterrupted connectivity to support free and fair democratic processes.

It also spells out how the rapid expansion of AI presents new ethical risks, prompting MTN to develop a Responsible AI Policy to uphold digital rights and data privacy.

In 2024, Africa faced intensifying climate risks, making sustainability and resilience essential to MTN’s strategy, regardless of changes in countries’ and companies’ adherence to climate policies. Our Climate Report highlights how we are actively addressing both mitigation and adaptation while leveraging emerging opportunities. In the year, we surpassed our emissions reduction target, cutting emissions by more than 46% off a 2021 baseline.

Our Tax Report underscores the role we play in supporting the socioeconomic development of our host nations. In 2024, MTN’s total tax contribution was R52.7 billion, made up of corporate taxes, indirect taxes, withholding taxes, payroll taxes, operating licence fees and other payments to government authorities.

The suite of annual reports also includes a Notice of Annual General Meeting, which invites our shareholders to participate in our virtual meeting on Thursday 29 May 2025. Our Remuneration Report provides transparent disclosure of the remuneration of our leadership based on performance against strategic priorities.

Our ESG Data Booklet is a handy resource for those interested in detailed disclosures relating to MTN’s planet, people, ethics and governance matters. As well as relevant statistics, it highlights our policy and position statements on various ESG issues as well as a comprehensive GRI disclosure index.

“Our prospects and investment case are underpinned by the structural demand we see in data and fintech,” said Mupita. “As a business, we remain resolute in our commitment to accelerating Africa’s digital future and will maintain the focus on operational excellence and strategic execution to capture the exciting growth opportunities in our footprint. We thank our stakeholders for their ongoing support.”

Click HERE to view the reports

No evidence of compromise to any of our critical infrastructure, core MTN platforms or services

MTN Group would like to inform stakeholders that it has experienced a cybersecurity incident that resulted in unauthorised access to personal information of some MTN customers in certain markets. Our core network, billing systems and financial services infrastructure remain secure and fully operational.

An unknown third-party has claimed to have accessed data linked to parts of our systems. At this stage we do not have any information to suggest that customers’ accounts and wallets have been directly compromised.

The Group immediately activated its cybersecurity response processes including informing the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks in South Africa.

We also informed the relevant country authorities and will continue to update them on an ongoing basis while working closely with them and law enforcement agencies in supporting their investigations.

We are in the process of notifying affected customers in compliance with local legal and regulatory obligations.

As a reminder, customers are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow regular security measures, such as:

The privacy of information is our top priority and MTN remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our systems and the trust placed in us by our customers and other stakeholders. We will continue to contain and manage this matter carefully.

In a significant move to improve the user experience, MTN Group, Africa’s leading telecommunications service provider, has partnered with Meta to enhance the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets.

By optimising application-aware networks and network-aware applications, the initiative aims to deliver a more seamless, stable, and high-quality user experience. The collaboration aims to improve real-time calling experiences across 12 markets by pinpointing areas for enhancement and executing specific interventions.

Since MWC 2024, MTN and Meta teams have been collaborating to identify key areas for improvement and implement targeted network optimizations that enhance the interaction between mobile networks and real-time calling applications while maintaining efficient traffic delivery. By harnessing data analytics and conducting comprehensive testing, they have successfully created and deployed solutions that significantly enhance the quality of experience for mobile users.

The first market to implement these enhancements is Nigeria, where early results show notable improvements in key performance indicators (KPIs), including 50% improvement, leading to a better user experience for MTN Nigeria mobile users.

“This implementation further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our customers’ digital experience. We’re pleased with the remarkable improvement in our real-time communication services, reflecting our commitment to innovative customer solutions,” said Yahaya Ibrahim, CTO at MTN Nigeria.

“The collaboration allows us to deploy advanced solutions for an unparalleled real-time experience in Nigeria and showcases our dedication to elevating service quality and improving user experience, while striving for continued efficiency in traffic delivery,” added Diego Marí, Head of Network Ecosystems Engineering at Meta.

MTN Group, Africa’s leading mobile network operator, has entered a strategic partnership with Synamedia, a leading video software provider, to develop a new streaming platform tailored for mobile and fixed broadband subscribers across Africa. This collaboration aims to enhance digital content accessibility and provide a diverse range of viewing options to meet the evolving preferences of audiences throughout the continent.

The service will leverage Synamedia’s advanced, cloud-based technologies to deliver both linear television and video-on-demand content.  The platform will offer diverse monetisation models, including subscriptions, ad-supported content, and free streaming channels with targeted advertising. Each market will benefit from a curated content strategy, thoughtfully adapted to local cultures, languages, and viewing habits – ensuring deep relevance and strong audience resonance across the continent. 

Synamedia’s technology will play a key role in shaping the platform, enabling seamless content management and personalised recommendations. With Synamedia’s integration expertise, the platform will be built for reliability and scalability.

Selorm Adadevoh, Group Chief Commercial Officer at MTN Group, said, “We see a unique opportunity to transform video consumption in Africa with high-quality, accessible, and relevant content. This partnership enables us to leverage cutting-edge technology and deep customer insights to enhance entertainment experiences and drive digital inclusion.”

Paul Segre, Synamedia CEO, said, “Thanks to MTN’s leadership and innovation, smartphone owners across Africa will be able to enjoy innovative linear TV and on-demand video. By taking advantage of the breadth of our integrated, cloud-based portfolio to quickly deploy new services at scale, MTN will be able to create a groundbreaking set of offerings for customers and viewers that will drive new revenues.”

This collaboration underscores MTN Group and Synamedia’s shared commitment to advancing digital inclusion and enhancing access to quality content across Africa. By leveraging innovative technologies and a localised approach, this partnership is poised to create a service that brings value to audiences and contributes to the development of the continent’s digital ecosystem. With this strategic alignment, MTN and Synamedia are taking meaningful steps toward empowering communities, driving industry progress, and shaping the future of entertainment in Africa.

GSMA Board names new Deputy Chair to serve until end of 2026

The GSMA Board of Directors has elected Ralph Mupita as Deputy Chair for the remainder of the Board term, until the end of 2026. In this role, he will support the Chair and Board in overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents the world’s mobile operators and companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

“This appointment is a great honour as it comes at a time of rapid developments in technology and increasing digital adoption across Africa. Mobile technology will play a critical part in addressing the pressing challenges facing our communities and unlocking the full potential of Africa and the rest of the Global South, ensuring that no one is left behind in this journey toward a more connected future,” Mr Mupita said.

“I am committed to supporting the strategic direction of the GSMA, which plays a pivotal role in representing the global mobile ecosystem. Together, we will continue to drive innovation and positive change in the industry,” he added.

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, commented: “My warmest congratulations to Mr Mupita on being elected as the Deputy Chair of the GSMA Board. His experience will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the dynamic landscape of our industry. I look forward to working closely with him and the Board.”

Mr Mupita is the Group President and CEO of MTN Group, a position he has held since September 2020, after previously serving as MTN Group’s Chief Financial Officer from April 2017. Since joining MTN, he has helped strengthen the Group’s financial position and strategy formulation and overseen the successful listing of MTN subsidiaries in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda.

Prior to joining MTN, Mr Mupita was CEO for Old Mutual Emerging Markets, providing financial service solutions to individuals and corporates across 19 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. He holds a BSc. Engineering (Hons) and MBA from the University of Cape Town and has completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Read accompanying release here.

As part of MTN Group’s ambition to lead in the provision of reliable, high-quality home broadband services, the company is pleased to announce the elevation of Group Home into a dedicated business function within Group Commercial. To lead this strategic focus area, Ankur Bajpai has been appointed Executive: Group Home Broadband, effective 1 April 2025.

This move reinforces MTN’s commitment to strengthening its position in the broadband market by ensuring executional focus, accelerating innovation, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. The dedicated function will play a critical role in driving market penetration while achieving sustainable growth through operational excellence.

Ankur brings over 21 years of experience in business strategy and advanced analytics, with extensive expertise in the telecommunications sector. For the past seven years, he has been an integral part of MTN Group, contributing significantly to its growth and innovation efforts.

Throughout his career, Ankur has worked across three continents and travelled to over 80 countries, giving him a rich global perspective. Before joining MTN, he held leadership roles at Etisalat Group, including Director of Commercial Intelligence across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Marketing at Etisalat DB. He also held key roles at Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications.

Ankur holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Managerial Finance from Cardiff Business School in Wales and an Advanced Diploma in Web-Centric Curriculum from the National Institute of Information Technology in India.

As Executive Group Home Broadband, Ankur will lead the development and execution of MTN’s home broadband strategy, with a strong focus on Fibre to the Home (FTTH) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions.

“We are excited to see Ankur take on this role at a time when home connectivity is more critical than ever. His leadership will help us bring practical, high-quality solutions to more households across our markets. I’m looking forward to working with him on this journey,” said Selorm Adadevoh, Group Chief Commercial Officer.

Please join us in congratulating Ankur on his new appointment and wishing him continued success as he leads the next chapter of MTN’s home broadband journey.

Driven to extend digital and financial inclusion across Africa, MTN Group and Airtel Africa have entered into agreements to share network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, while ensuring compliance with local regulatory and statutory requirements.

These sharing agreements target improved network cost efficiencies, expanded coverage and the provision of enhanced mobile services to millions of customers, particularly those in remote and rural areas who do not yet fully enjoy the benefits of a modern connected life.

MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita said operators on the continent were seeing sustained demand for data services: “As MTN, we are driven by the vision of delivering digital solutions that drive Africa’s progress. We continue to see strong structural demand for digital and financial services across our markets. To meet this demand, we continue to invest in coverage and capacity to ensure high-quality connectivity for our customers. That said, there are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher efficiencies and improve returns.”

Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said: “As we compete fiercely in the market on the strength of our brand, services and our offerings we are building common infrastructure, with in the permissible regulatory framework, to provide a more robust and extensive digital highway to drive digital and financial inclusion at the same time avoiding duplication of expensive infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies and benefits for our customers”.

The initiative is part of a growing global trend toward network sharing. By collaborating, telecoms operators can explore innovative and pro-competitive solutions to improve service quality while managing costs more effectively. The sharing of infrastructure has the potential to enable the delivery of world-class, reliable mobile services to more and more customers across Africa.

Following the conclusion of agreements in Uganda and Nigeria, MTN and Airtel Africa are exploring various opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia. Among the types of agreements considered are RAN sharing and those aimed at establishing commercial and technical agreements for fibre infrastructure sharing and, if necessary, the construction of fibre networks.

MTN Group and Airtel Africa are dedicated to working with other mobile operators within the countries in which they have a presence to achieve the advantages of network sharing. Throughout this process, the parties will continue to function as independent market entities and will compete freely in shared markets. This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market.