MTN Group is actively deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to position itself as a technology leader across Africa, with a focus on ethical, scalable, and value-driven transformation. The telecom giant is embracing AI not just as an automation tool, but as a catalyst for productivity, innovation, and socio-economic progress across the continent.
Strategic Focus on Responsible AI
At the heart of MTN’s AI journey is a strong commitment to responsible AI development that prioritizes ethics, safety, and human-centric outcomes. The company has:
Introduced a Responsible AI Policy aligned with global standards.
Formed a dedicated AI oversight sub-committee under the Executive Committee to govern impact and execution.
Adopted the GSMA’s Responsible AI Maturity Roadmap to support the ethical deployment of AI applications.
Key Strategic Pillars
MTN’s AI deployment strategy is built on three foundational principles:
Comprehensive governance for ethical and effective AI use.
Agile and scalable operating model to manage implementation across multiple markets.
Use-case-driven value creation to ensure measurable impact in operations and customer experience.
Deployment Infrastructure and Capabilities
To operationalize AI, MTN has created:
An AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) and a Cloud CoE, managing and scaling AI initiatives across the group.
A dedicated internal Software Solutions team of 300+ engineers.
Partnerships with enterprise-grade AI providers (including OpenAI-based platforms) and local AI start-ups to develop language-specific LLMs, enhancing regional relevance.
AI Use Cases Across Business Functions
Under its MTN Genova transformation programme, AI is being deployed at scale across business domains to:
Boost productivity
Enhance customer experience
Reduce operational costs
Drive revenue growth
Examples of AI Use Cases:
Network Optimization:
AI-driven fuel consumption reduction in South African data centers.
Dynamic energy management at cell sites in Benin.
Fibre cut detection in Côte d’Ivoire.
Traffic balancing and optimization in Nigeria.
Other Functions:
In Finance, HR, and Commercial operations, AI supports decision-making, predictive analytics, customer personalization, and workforce efficiency.
Vision for Africa’s AI Future
MTN believes AI will be central to Africa’s digital and economic development. Drawing from global forecasts (PwC, SAP, Statista), the company envisions:
AI contributing up to $1.5 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
Creation of 230 million digital jobs on the continent.
A booming AI market in Africa worth $18.7 billion by 2030.
Conclusion
MTN is not merely adopting AI — it is engineering AI for Africa by Africans, with a vision to redefine how the continent harnesses technology for development. With a strong governance framework, strategic partnerships, and purpose-driven deployment, MTN is shaping a future where AI becomes the engine of inclusive growth, innovation, and opportunity across Africa.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
