Mupita emphasized MTN’s early-stage AI adoption, focusing on improving customer service, optimizing network efficiency, and boosting workforce productivity. He noted that AI will form a core pillar of MTN’s future growth.
At MWC 2026 in Barcelona, in an interview on the Mobile World Live, Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group , outlined the company’s priorities for the coming years. Following the completion of its five-year Ambition 2025 strategy, MTN is now focusing on the next five years, targeting growth in connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.
Key strategic priorities include:
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Home Connectivity: Expanding internet access to homes across Africa using diverse technologies.
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Enterprise Empowerment: Supporting small and medium businesses with digital solutions.
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Fintech Expansion: Transforming MTN’s mobile money platform into a modern fintech ecosystem.
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Digital Infrastructure & AI: Investing in fiber, AI-enabled networks, data centers, and tower infrastructure to future-proof operations.
Mupita emphasized MTN’s early-stage AI adoption, focusing on improving customer service, optimizing network efficiency, and boosting workforce productivity. He noted that AI will form a core pillar of MTN’s future growth.
The CEO also highlighted Africa’s structural challenges, including limited energy access, device affordability, regulatory fragmentation, and the need for more pervasive digital infrastructure. He framed these challenges as opportunities, stressing the continent’s young median age of 19 as a long-term driver for a digital economy.
On new services, Mupita indicated MTN is exploring AI-driven business models and digital infrastructure solutions, positioning the company as Africa’s “fiber railroad” with edge computing and Africa-appropriate data centers.
Finally, Mupita touched on MTN’s $2.2 billion acquisition of IHS Towers, a move to bring tower assets back in-house to strengthen MTN’s digital infrastructure capabilities while maintaining third-party services.
“When IHS revised their strategy from one of growth and expansion to one focused on value creation, we went into conversation with them to buy our towers back. This will be a critical part of our digital infrastructure. We will continue to serve third-party clients, including some competitors, while maintaining the right governance models to protect them, subject to all approvals.”
-Ralph Mupita, President and CEO, MTN Group
MTN’s strategy reflects a broader transformation from a traditional telecom operator to a tech-driven company, aiming to lead Africa’s digital future.
