In a packed hall at the annual Ambassadors’ Appreciation Dinner, cheers erupted when Ralph Mupita, MTN Group president and CEO announced that the telecom giant had officially crossed the 300-million subscriber mark across its African markets, making it the first operator on the continent to achieve this feat.

Growth fueled by strategy and scale

The journey to 300 million subscribers was far from accidental, it was the clear target of MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy. In 2024, the group added 6.2 million new customers to end the year at 291 million.

In just the first half of 2025, it acquired another 6.7 million, edging it closer to the landmark figure, according to Tech Central.

Nigeria held the largest share with 84.7 million users by mid-2025, followed by Iran (56 million) and South Africa (39.8 million). Other markets, including Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia, contributed significantly to the climb.Nigerian laptop deals

Milestone, but not the finish line

While 300 million subscribers is a headline-winning figure, for MTN it’s both a celebration and a stepping stone. “We’re delighted to have met our 2025 target,” Mupita said, “but our focus now shifts to fintech, digital infrastructure and the connected home.”

Their mobile money platform, MoMo, is already central to this next phase, especially in markets where banking access remains limited. Meanwhile, MTN is ramping up fibre deployments and expanding “smart home” offerings like “MTN Sky Premium”.

Why it matters for Africa

Reaching 300 million customers is more than a corporate win, it’s a signal of telecoms evolution in Africa. It underscores how connectivity is scaling and how digital services are becoming foundational to economic growth. As MTN deepens its reach, the opportunities for inclusion, innovation and infrastructure expansion multiply.