MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator by subscribers, announced on Wednesday a deepening of its partnership with Huawei to accelerate the modernization of its telecommunications networks across the continent.
The agreement, formalized at the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, focuses on next-generation, AI-enabled networks and intelligent digital infrastructure. It covers autonomous network deployment, fixed wireless broadband expansion, data monetization, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
A central feature of the collaboration is the rollout of Level 4 Autonomous Networks (AN L4). These agentic networks, supported by AI copilots and intelligent agents, are designed to move network management from human-driven operations to autonomous systems capable of closed-loop optimization across planning, deployment, and operational functions.
“Artificial intelligence is a strategic priority for MTN. This next phase with Huawei allows us to optimize network efficiency, reduce operational costs, and accelerate service delivery for our customers,” the company said in a statement.
MTN has already deployed AI in several operational areas, including AI-enabled fuel savings at data centers in South Africa, dynamic energy management at cellular sites in Benin, automated fiber-cut detection in Côte d’Ivoire, and traffic balancing and optimization in Nigeria. The new partnership will scale these initiatives and introduce additional AI-driven solutions across the group’s footprint.
The agreement also supports expansion of MTN’s broadband and digital services infrastructure. The company is enhancing its fixed home broadband network to meet growing demand driven by remote work, e-learning, video streaming, gaming, and connected home services.
MTN reported 301.3 million subscribers at the end of September 2025, including 165.8 million internet users and 64.4 million mobile financial services customers, cementing its position as the continent’s leading telecom operator by reach. In the first nine months of 2025, the group generated service revenue of 160.37 billion rand (US$9.68 billion), a 25.9% increase compared with the previous year.
The expansion reflects broader trends in Africa’s telecom sector, where operators such as Econet Wireless and Orange are increasingly investing in AI and digital infrastructure to improve network performance, reduce operational costs, and deliver new services.
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By leveraging autonomous networks and AI-driven operational tools, MTN and Huawei aim to reduce human intervention in network management, improve service quality, and optimize energy usage, supporting both business efficiency and ESG goals.
“This collaboration positions MTN at the forefront of technological innovation in Africa, enabling smarter, more resilient networks that can adapt to growing digital demand,” said industry analysts.
The partnership underscores the role of AI and intelligent networks in transforming telecom operations across Africa, where demand for broadband connectivity and digital services continues to grow rapidly. Through this initiative, MTN seeks to strengthen its market leadership while delivering next-generation network experiences to millions of customers across its footprint.
With Huawei’s technical expertise and MTN’s regional presence, the expanded collaboration is expected to accelerate the adoption of autonomous network technologies and enhance Africa’s digital infrastructure, supporting economic development and connectivity across the continent.
