Leading telecoms company, MTN Group, has now reached a milestone of 300 million subscribers across various African markets. This was revealed by the company during its annual Ambassadors Appreciation Dinner event held on Wednesday.
According to MTN Group, in a statement released on Friday, the latest feat signifies that the company has reached its “Ambition 2025 strategic target” of serving 300 million customers. It noted that the achievement is a testament to its dedication to digitally connecting Africans and strengthening financial inclusion.
The event saw the presence of diplomats, senior officials, CEOs and Executive members across various MTN’s markets. MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita admonished stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and investment in support of Africa’s digital transformation.
He stressed the importance of Africans rallying together for partnership at a time when uncertainty has marred foreign aid that most African countries depend on. To him, MTN Group’s ability to continue to digitally connect the continent is a testament to this goal.
“The time is now for Africa to take charge of its own socioeconomic progress. We need to look within for solutions and to develop our own communities,” he said.
In its first half 2025 financial report released in August, the group reported a 4.7% growth in its subscriber base to 297.7 million. Two months later, it has raked in at least 3 million new subscribers across its 16 markets in Africa.
The milestone not only places it as a leading telecoms company in Africa, but also serves as proof of its network to digitally connect homes across rural and urban communities.
Specifically, Mupita praised the company’s employees (called MTNers) for their dedication and ability to push on in between challenges. He pointed out the energy poured into the annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign and worked together to extend both digital and financial inclusion across various communities, especially the underserved settlements.
“We celebrate our Y’ello Care employee volunteers and take inspiration from their can-do attitude. We also celebrate their dedication, which has led to the Group meeting a strategic milestone by serving more than 300 million customers in a mere three decades since the start of our first commercial operation in South Africa,” he added.
In addition, the group chairman recognised the efforts of its diplomatic community for their continued partnership and support towards birthing and implementing innovative ideas. Mupita stressed that partnership is the soul of achieving Agenda 2063 of transforming Africa into a globally competitive continent.
The agenda, rolled out in 2013 by the African Union, provides a comprehensive plan for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development, broken down into five 10-year implementation plans. By digitally connecting African homes, MTN believes the project will be achieved.
MTN group: pulling strengths across various divisions
Aside from its 300 million customer milestone, the telecoms company recorded significant mentions in some of its subsidiaries.
For instance, MTN Nigeria received a Special Mention Award for the scale and innovation of its Y’ello Boxes and MoMo Market Storm initiatives. The initiative was tagged as a tool that drives both financial and digital inclusion for women, traders, and SMEs.
MoMo, its mobile money, emerged as the winner of the inaugural Platform Business Award, a recognition of digitally-driven solutions to financial gaps. MTN Uganda won the SEA Region Award for expanding digital inclusion through computer labs and solar-powered health centres.
Also, its Eswatini subsidiary received top honours from the government for integrating MoMo to deliver essential public services and build digital literacy.
In Cameroon, it earned the WECA Region Award for its community-driven digital centres that empower citizens to co-create local solutions, strengthening innovation at the grassroots.
During its H1 2025 financial statement, MTN Group reported significant growth.
The company saw a 22.4% increase in service revenue, driven primarily by strong performances in Nigeria and Ghana. This highlights its ability to navigate challenging macroeconomic conditions, including stabilising inflation and forex rates in key markets.
Headline earnings per share (HEPS) soared by over 350% to 645 cents, a significant rebound from a 256-cent loss in H1 2024. This places MTN’s performance squarely within its guided range, reflecting disciplined execution and operational resilience.
