MTN Calls for Stronger Partnerships to Boost Africa’s Digital Economy
MTN Group has underscored the need for stronger collaboration among governments, private sector players, and global institutions to unlock Africa’s next phase of digital and economic transformation.
Speaking at CNN International’s inaugural Global Perspectives: Africa event held in London, the telecom giant which served as a key sponsor called for “smart regulation”, innovation, and strategic partnerships as essential drivers for connecting the next one billion Africans to the digital world.
“We are getting to a space where, without partnership and working together, not only with our competitors, but also with other investors, with government, as well as even multilateral agencies and development fund providers, we are simply not going to be able to cover the next one billion people,” said Ebenezer Asante, MTN Group Vice President for Ghana and Southern and East Africa.
Asante’s comments come amid concerns that nearly one billion Africans remain excluded from mobile internet access. Data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) indicates that only 38 percent of Africa’s population was online in 2024, compared with a global average of 68 percent. The GSM Association (GSMA) further estimates that closing this gap could inject up to US$700 billion into sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP by 2030.
“We require smart regulations,” Asante added. “We require to bring the cost of deployment way lower than where it is today. That speaks to innovation, it speaks to partnership. We also require to build talent and skills.”
MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator with more than 300 million subscribers continues to strengthen its presence across the continent through expanded digital and financial services. In the first half of 2025 alone, the company’s 63 million active Mobile Money (MoMo) users conducted over 11 billion transactions, valued at more than US$212 billion.
Addressing a panel discussion on fuelling Africa’s next-generation startup ecosystem, MTN Group Fintech CEO, Serigne Dioum, highlighted the transformative role of financial technology in bridging funding gaps, scaling startups, and formalising informal economies across borders.
“Us and regulators, we have the same vision, the same objective. We want to drive financial inclusion, we want people to get more dignity,” Dioum said. “What is more important than financial inclusion, is for people to be independent financially.”
The Global Perspectives: Africa forum brought together business leaders, policymakers, and innovators for high-level discussions on technology, sustainable growth, and Africa’s development trajectory. The event was moderated by CNN journalists and provided a platform for key stakeholders to explore how collaboration and innovation can drive inclusive growth across the continent.
