MTN Group has become the first African mobile operator to surpass 300 million customers, a landmark accomplishment announced just three decades after its commercial launch in South Africa. As reported by BusinessLIVE, the Johannesburg-based telecommunications giant revealed this achievement during its annual Ambassadors Appreciation Dinner on 17 October 2025, highlighting the early completion of its Ambition 2025 strategic goal to connect 300 million users across its 16 markets. According to Technology Times, this milestone reflects MTN’s growth from 120.9 million customers in September 2010 to 300 million by September 2025, empowering connectivity for families, entrepreneurs, students, and farmers throughout the continent.
Established in 1994 after acquiring one of South Africa’s initial cellular licences, MTN began operations during the nation’s democratic era. Initially supported by a substantial stake from the M-Net-Naspers consortium, the company—briefly operating under M-Cell—integrated mobile services with early pay-TV ventures that later formed MultiChoice. In collaboration with rival Vodacom, MTN introduced the prepaid model in 1996, transforming access for millions without traditional banking or contracts and accelerating mobile adoption across Africa.
The group’s international expansion gained momentum in 1997 and 1998 via MTN International, securing licences in Uganda, Rwanda, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). By the end of the 1990s, MTN had amassed two million domestic subscribers. As of the half-year ended 30 June 2025, its South African base exceeded 39 million, driven by strong demand for data and fintech services. According to MTN’s interim financial results, active data subscribers reached 164.4 million—a 10.3 per cent year-on-year increase—while monthly active Mobile Money (MoMo) users grew 1.7 per cent to 63.2 million, with transaction volumes rising 14.5 per cent to 11.1 billion.
Nigeria stands as MTN’s flagship market since launching there in August 2001, with over 89.64 million active mobile lines as of August 2025, representing 52.31 per cent of the country’s 171.35 million GSM connections, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission cited by Technology Times. This dominance outpaces competitors like Airtel Nigeria (33.89 per cent, 58.07 million subscribers), Globacom (12.21 per cent, 20.91 million), and T (formerly 9mobile) at 1.59 per cent with 2.73 million. Nigeria contributes approximately one-third of MTN’s group revenue, with first-half 2025 service revenue surging 54.1 per cent, overtaking South Africa as the top contributor at 26.9 per cent. Group-wide, subscribers grew 4.7 per cent to 297.7 million by June, with data traffic up 29.1 per cent and fintech revenues advancing 24.9 per cent in constant currency, paving the way for the 300 million threshold, as reported by Technext24.
Ghana has also emerged as a powerhouse for MTN, boasting 30 million subscribers and a 70 per cent market share, generating more profit after tax than any other operation and handling greater traffic than MTN South Africa, according to TechAfrica News. Despite recent divestments of five operations to reduce risk, MTN maintains a lead over rivals. Vodacom reports over 200 million subscribers, targeting 260 million by 2030, while Airtel Africa and Orange’s Middle East and Africa units stood at 166.1 million and 166.7 million by mid-2025, respectively. Globally, MTN aims to eclipse Vodafone (around 330 million), Mexico’s América Móvil (290 million), and Orange (260 million), though it trails China Mobile’s over one billion users.
At the appreciation event, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Ralph Mupita praised the workforce for their efforts, particularly through the 21 Days of Y’ello Care volunteer programme. As detailed by Technology Times, the 2025 theme, “Connecting at the Roots: Connecting communities through the use of digital tools,” featured initiatives like MTN Eswatini’s e-governance platform, MTN Cameroon’s digital centres, MTN Uganda’s solar-powered health and education facilities, and MoMo for financial inclusion. Mupita, as quoted in Technext24, urged greater collaboration for Africa’s digital transformation to achieve Agenda 2063, emphasising self-reliance amid global uncertainties.
The milestone aligns with Ambition 2025, launched in 2019 to optimise operations, divest non-core assets such as towers, and raise about R25 billion. The plan has seen exits from high-risk Middle Eastern markets: Yemen and Syria in 2021, Afghanistan in February 2024, and Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau later that year. Iran remains the sole regional holding, with a 49 per cent stake in MTN Irancell accounting for about 21 per cent of subscribers.
Looking ahead, MTN’s “Beyond 2025” strategy, as outlined by TechAfrica News, positions the group as a holding company for three platforms by 2030: Connectivity (including fixed wireless and fibre-to-the-home), Fintech (expanding into full financial services with potential listings in Ghana and Uganda), and Digital Infrastructure (focusing on AI-grade data centres and edge computing). The strategy bets on connected homes, driven by gaming, entertainment, and remote work, with efforts to lower smartphone prices to $15–$20 for broader adoption. Consolidation opportunities, such as in Ghana and South Africa, are expected to enhance profit pools.
Financially, the announcement boosted investor sentiment. As reported by BusinessLIVE, MTN’s shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange closed 1.9 per cent higher at R165.83 on 17 October, delivering a 79 per cent year-to-date gain. Interim results showed 22.4 per cent service revenue growth in constant currency to R105 billion, EBITDA margins at 42.7 per cent, and a 76.1 per cent rise in adjusted headline earnings per share to 657 cents. The company forecasts high-teens growth medium-term, led by Nigeria (over 50 per cent) and Ghana (mid-to-upper thirties), with capital expenditure up 55 per cent to R20.8 billion to support 42.1 per cent data traffic growth.
With 55 per cent of subscribers now using data services—a significant rise since 2019—MTN is well-positioned to drive Africa’s digital surge through broadband, financial inclusion, and technologies like 5G and AI, solidifying its role in continental transformation.