BARCELONA, March 3, 2026 — At the heart of MWC 26, Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group, sat down to discuss the monumental shift occurring within Africa’s largest mobile operator. As the company concludes its “Ambition 2025” strategy, Mupita outlined a vision that transcends traditional voice and data, positioning MTN as a “Techco” powerhouse driven by AI, fintech, and robust digital infrastructure.

The Next Frontier: Beyond Ambition 2025

Serving over 300 million subscribers, MTN is no longer just looking at mobile bars. Mupita highlighted three critical pillars for the next five years:

  1. Connecting the Home: A shift toward fixed-mobile convergence to bring high-speed internet to African households.
  2. Enterprise Empowerment: Providing SMEs with the technological “capacity” needed to scale.
  3. Modern Fintech: Transitioning a massive mobile money base into a full-scale digital financial services ecosystem.

Infusing AI into the African Landscape

While the world buzzes with talk of “Agentic AI,” Mupita remains pragmatic about its application. MTN is focusing on three domains:

  • Customer Experience: Using AI to serve 300 million users more effectively.
  • Network Intelligence: Driving energy efficiency and automated management.
  • Workforce Productivity: Enhancing internal operations to drive growth.

“We are at the start of the journey,” Mupita noted, emphasizing that the goal is to “infuse AI” into every pillar of the strategy.

Overcoming the “Usage Gap” and Energy Challenges

Despite the optimism, Mupita acknowledged significant hurdles. With only 600 million out of 1.4 billion Africans having reliable energy, MTN is pivoting toward off-grid solutions. Furthermore, the “usage gap” remains a priority. Mupita stressed the need for sub-$40 smartphones to ensure the continent’s median population—aged just 19—can participate in the digital economy.

The $2.2 Billion Strategic Pivot: Reclaiming Towers

One of the biggest headlines discussed was MTN’s recent $2.2 billion acquisition of IHS Towers. Mupita explained the rationale: the “asset-light” model of a decade ago has changed due to currency volatility and shifting market dynamics. By buying back its towers, MTN aims to secure its digital infrastructure—the “fiber railroads for Africa”—ensuring it has the foundation required for the AI era.

“The digital economy story for Africa is multi-decade long,” Mupita concluded. “To get that demographic dividend, we’ve got to put the infrastructure in now.”