MTN Reports Record 2025 Performance as Group Unveils Ambitious 2030 Growth Plan

MTN Group has closed out 2025 with its strongest annual performance on record, driven by major growth in service revenue, data usage and fintech transactions across its African markets.

MTN Group has reported a major jump in its 2025 financial performance, with service revenue climbing by nearly 25% to R218 billion and adjusted headline earnings per share increasing by 67%.

The telecommunications giant also used the announcement to introduce Ambition 2030, a new long-term strategy focused on three major areas: connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure.

The results, released on March 16, come after a year of continued expansion across MTN’s operations in 16 African markets.

The group ended 2025 with more than 307 million voice subscribers, 172 million data users and 70 million Mobile Money customers.

Data usage also continued to surge. Overall data traffic increased by 27%, while average monthly data consumption per customer rose from 10.8GB in 2024 to 12.5GB in 2025.

MTN’s Fintech Business Surpasses $500 Billion in Transactions

MTN’s fintech operations recorded another significant milestone during the year, processing more than 23 billion transactions with a combined transaction value of over $500 billion.

The growth was not limited to traditional money transfers, as customers increasingly adopted a wider range of financial services through the company’s mobile money platform.

The performance reflects MTN’s broader push to turn its fintech operations into a more comprehensive financial services ecosystem across its markets.

Nigeria and Ghana Drive Strong Revenue Growth

MTN Nigeria emerged as one of the strongest contributors to the group’s growth, recording a 54.9% increase in service revenue in constant-currency terms.

MTN Ghana also delivered strong results, with service revenue increasing by 35.9%.

Meanwhile, MTN South Africa recorded a more modest 2.0% increase in service revenue, reflecting the more mature and competitive nature of that market.

At group level, EBITDA before once-off items reached R98.5 billion, representing growth of more than one-third in constant-currency terms.

MTN said the result was supported in part by R3.6 billion in expense efficiencies achieved during the year.

MTN Raises Dividend and Announces R6 Billion Share Buyback

The stronger financial performance also translated into higher returns for shareholders.

MTN’s board declared a dividend of 500 cents per share, representing a 45% increase from the 345 cents per share paid in 2024.

The group also announced a R6 billion share buyback programme, adding another boost for investors as the company moves forward with its longer-term growth strategy.

MTN Unveils Ambition 2030 Strategy

Alongside its annual results, MTN introduced Ambition 2030, a strategy designed to simplify and strengthen the group’s operations around three core platforms.

The first is connectivity, covering mobile and fixed broadband services.

The second is fintech, which includes Mobile Money and other financial services.

The third is digital infrastructure, covering assets and businesses such as data centres, fibre and towers. The proposed acquisition of IHS Towers also falls within this broader infrastructure direction.

MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita said the company sees significant opportunities across Africa and intends to use its scale, footprint and brand strength to take advantage of long-term growth across the continent.

MTN Invests R38 Billion in Network Expansion

MTN invested R38 billion in network infrastructure during 2025, reinforcing its focus on expanding connectivity and improving the customer experience.

The investment helped push broadband coverage to more than 94% of the population across its markets.

The company also reported a 14% reduction in the average cost of data for customers during the year.

With subscriber numbers continuing to rise, data consumption accelerating and fintech transactions reaching new levels, MTN is positioning its connectivity, financial services and digital infrastructure businesses as the foundation for its next phase of growth under Ambition 2030.