MTN* = Mobile Telephone Networks. It’s one of Africa’s biggest telecom companies.
The basics:
1. *Mobile services* → Voice, SM- *Founded*: 1994 in South Africa, right at the start of democracy
- *Purpose*: “Enable the benefits of a modern connected life to everyone”
— basically connect Africa digitally
- *Size*: Most valuable African brand, with 307.2 million subscribers across 16 markets as of Dec 2025 233b487e
*What MTN does S, data, 4G/5G. First mobile operator to launch 5G in Nigeria.
2. *Mobile Money* → MTN Mobile Money/MoMo. In Uganda it controlled 80% of mobile money market by 2015. Also does savings/loans like MoKash
3. *Internet & Fibre* → Supersonic FTTH fibre in South Africa, plus 5G “Air Fibre”
4. *Business solutions* → MTN Business: ICT, cloud, enterprise connectivity for companies
5. *Digital services* → Music streaming with Tidal, insurance, e-commerce d982f7a92b9b99d019da
*Where MTN operates: 16 countries*
Biggest markets by subscribers:
- *Nigeria*: 79.3M — most MTN subscribers
- *Iran*: 55.1M under MTN Irancell
- *South Africa*: 38.4M
- *Ghana*: 28.3M
- *Uganda*: 20.7M ← relevant to you in Kampala 233b2b9b
*MTN Uganda specifically:*
- *Started*: 21 Oct 1998 as Uganda’s second national operator
- *Coverage*: All 134 districts of Uganda
- *Customers*: ∼19M, 45.5% market share
- *Agents*: ∼150,000 mobile money agents, 200 service stores
- *Listed*: Largest company on Uganda Securities Exchange, worth UGX 4 trillion
- *Tax*: Largest taxpayer in Uganda for 10+ years — UGX 839B paid in 2021 63d2f7a9
*Recent highlights:*
- *Revenue*: R218.5 billion service revenue for year ended Dec 2025
- *CEO*: Ralph Mupita
- *Strategy*: “Ambition 2025” — leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress
- *Awards*: Forbes 2025 World’s Best Employers 233b63d2
<*Bottom line:* MTN isn’t just SIM cards. It’s voice, data, mobile money, fibre, 5G, and business ICT across Africa + Middle East. In Uganda, it’s the biggest telco and fintech player./u>