MTN Group is setting its sights on connecting between 20 million and 30 million homes across Africa over the next five years as it pivots toward broadband as a key engine of future growth.

Speaking during an investor call, the company’s chief executive, Ralph Mupita, said the telecom giant is responding to a fundamental shift in how connectivity is being consumed across the continent.

According to Mupita, digital usage is moving beyond mobile-first interactions toward more stable, high-capacity connections in homes and small businesses, creating a significant opportunity for broadband expansion.

We see a material home opportunity of 20 to 30 million homes connected by MTN using different technologies, he told investors.

From Mobile Dominance to Home Connectivity

For decades, Africa’s telecom growth has been driven largely by mobile adoption, bringing voice and internet access to hundreds of millions of users.

However, as digital services evolve, the limitations of mobile-only connectivity are becoming more apparent. Activities such as remote work, online education, streaming, and gaming increasingly require consistent, high-speed internet access.

This transition accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed gaps in connectivity for households relying solely on mobile networks.

A lot of the investment over the last three decades has been about mobility,” Mupita said. But over time, we think homes will account for a predominant share of digital workloads.

Broadband Rollout Gains Momentum in Nigeria

In Nigeria, MTN Nigeria is already scaling its home broadband footprint. The company added more than 281,000 home users in the third quarter of 2025 alone.

At the same time, investment in fibre infrastructure has surged, reaching approximately ₦1 trillion, reflecting the company’s commitment to expanding high-speed internet access.

This aggressive rollout underscores Nigeria’s importance as one of MTN’s largest and most strategic markets.

A Technology-Agnostic Approach to Expansion

To reach its ambitious target, MTN plans to deploy a mix of broadband technologies tailored to local market conditions.

These include:

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which delivers broadband using existing mobile network infrastructure

Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH), which provides higher speeds but requires significant capital investment

Mupita said the company will remain flexible in its deployment strategy, prioritising solutions that offer the best balance between performance and cost efficiency.

The right technology that will generate the right economics is the technology we will use, he said.We are not particularly precious about a specific technology.


Driving Data Consumption Through Digital Services

Beyond infrastructure, MTN's broadband strategy closely aligns with boosting data usage throughout its network.

Currently, the average MTN subscriber consumes just over 12 gigabytes of data per month, well below levels seen in markets such as India, where usage averages around 30 gigabytes at comparable price points.

Mupita noted that this gap is largely due to the limited availability of digital services that encourage higher data consumption.

Scaling data for us is not just providing raw connectivity, he said. It’s about building the digital services that sit on top of the network.

By expanding home broadband, MTN expects to unlock demand for:

  • Streaming platforms
  • Online education services
  • Gaming
  • Other data-intensive applications

This, in turn, could increase both user engagement and revenue per customer.

Expanding Digital Tools for Small Businesses

The company is also targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which are still in the early stages of digital adoption.

MTN believes improved connectivity can help small businesses streamline operations, manage payments, and communicate more effectively with customers.

Technology on the phone should be a real enabler, Mupita said, highlighting the role of mobile and broadband solutions in supporting informal and emerging businesses across markets such as Nigeria and Ghana.

Strengthening Infrastructure and Fintech Ecosystem

The broadband push forms part of MTN’s broader strategic focus on three core pillars:

  • Connectivity
  • Fintech services
  • Digital infrastructure

Alongside expanding its network, the company continues to grow its mobile money and digital financial services offerings, while investing in critical infrastructure such as data centres and fibre networks.

This strategy could receive a further boost if MTN completes its planned acquisition of IHS Towers. The proposed $2.2 billion deal would give the telecom operator greater control over its network infrastructure and potentially reduce long-term operating costs, although it remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Read More: Free High-Speed Wi-Fi Comes to Nigeria's Major Airports Through MTN Partnership

Disciplined Investment and the Role of AI

Despite its expansion ambitions, MTN said it will maintain a disciplined approach to capital allocation, typically investing between 15 percent and 18 percent of its revenue into network development and upgrades.

The company also plans to leverage artificial intelligence to optimise network performance and enhance customer experience.

Mupita compared the potential impact of AI on telecommunications to the transformative role electricity once played in economic development.

AI will evolve much like electricity did, he said. There is potential for Africa to leapfrog again if we allocate capital smartly.

Positioning for Africa’s Digital Future

MTN’s broadband expansion reflects a broader shift in Africa’s digital economy, where demand for reliable, high-speed internet is rising rapidly.

By targeting millions of homes and businesses, the company is positioning itself at the centre of this transition, betting that the next wave of growth will be driven not just by connectivity but by the digital ecosystems built on top of it.