MTN Group is actively exploring acquisitions in the fintech sector as it intensifies push into digital financial services with a focus on payments, lending, and remittances to drive its next phase of growth.
Ralph Mupita, chief executive officer of MTN, said the strategy is aimed at strengthening MTN’s technology platform and improving customer experience, rather than pursuing deals for short-term financial gains.
Mupita stated that any acquisition must deliver faster growth, deeper capabilities, or enhanced service delivery across the group’s expanding fintech ecosystem, according to a report by Semafor.
Across Africa, MTN’s fintech operations are anchored by its mobile money services, now available in over 10 markets. The platform enables domestic and cross-border transfers, merchant payments, and digital financial transactions, which form a central pillar of the company’s diversification strategy as traditional voice revenues plateau and data competition intensifies.
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Beyond mobile wallets, MTN is also expanding into airtime and data lending, particularly in Nigeria, where the service allows customers to borrow and repay later. This segment alone generated more than N131 billion in revenue in 2025, which underlines fintech’s growing contribution to group earnings.
While fintech remains MTN’s primary acquisition focus, the company is also open to opportunities in related technology areas, including digital infrastructure, cloud services, and enterprise solutions.
Since rebranding from a telecom operator to a technology platform in 2022, MTN has invested heavily in data centres, fibre networks, and digital tools designed for businesses and governments.
The group is also rethinking its geographic expansion strategy, and instead of launching full telecom operations in new markets, MTN is considering a phased entry approach, beginning with fintech or digital services.
