Ethio Telecom eyes 45.5% revenue growth by June 2026, driven by data demand and Telebirr. Despite network expansion, it remains off Ethiopia’s new stock exchange.
Telecoms
From telco data wars, to 5G, Techpoint Africa brings you the latest update on connectivity, telecom companies, Internet service providers, Internet infrastructure among others.
Top stories
MTN Nigeria will lease spectrum from T2mobile starting October 2025 in a deal linked to national roaming, marking a key move for both operators’ network strategies.
Nigeria’s NCC has issued over 46 MVNO licences since 2023, but very little has been heard about these companies. According to one of them, there’s a lack of talent in Nigeria’s telecom industry.
Ghana is betting on a Telecel–AirtelTigo merger to challenge MTN’s dominance in the telecom sector. But it’s $600m plan may not match MTN’s scale.
Djibouti Telecom will extend the DARE1 cable from Kenya to South Africa, adding new landings by 2028 to boost capacity and connectivity across the region.
Safaricom is building Kenya’s first locally controlled subsea cable with support from Meta’s Edge Network Services, aiming to fix recurring Internet blackouts by 2026.
Nigeria’s telecom regulator, NCC, is racing to implement a cybersecurity framework by 2026 to counter rising threats and protect the nation’s digital backbone.
From a 90% subscriber loss to a rare rebound, T2 posts its first growth since 2023, hinting at a potential turnaround under its new T2 Mobile identity.
Ethio Telecom expects a 45.5% revenue boost by June 2026, driven by user growth and Telebirr expansion, even as privatisation plans remain on hold.
The EU is investing $16 million in broadband mapping across 11 African countries, marking a major step in its Global Gateway strategy to close digital access gaps.
President Tinubu’s decision to eliminate the 5% telecom tax on data and voice services could mark a significant policy shift that could reduce consumer costs and promote equitable digital access across Nigeria.
MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola will now also lead Francophone Africa operations, covering markets like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.
MTN Group returned to profit in H1 2025, with revenue up 23% to ($5.6 billion), driven by data and fintech. Nigeria led growth with a 54% revenue surge, while South Africa grew slowly.
Vodacom has secured approval to acquire a co-controlling stake in fibre operator Maziv, following a protracted regulatory battle.
Cell C has won approval to acquire Comm Equipment Company, a move that will bring its postpaid operations in-house, streamline processes, and give the operator greater control over customer services.
Airtel Africa and Vodacom will share fibre and tower infrastructure in key African markets to cut costs, speed 4G/5G rollout, and boost connectivity in underserved regions.
MTN Uganda reported strong growth in its H1 2025 results, with customer numbers rising 10.2% year-on-year to 22.8 million and revenue climbing 13.1% to $479.88 million. The growth was largely driven by higher data usage and increased MTN MoMo transactions.
NCC introduces a five-year ban on former telecom regulators joining operators, aiming to curb conflicts of interest, boost transparency, and align with global best practices.
Nigeria’s 9mobile has rebranded to T2, its second major name change in eight years, as it battles falling subscribers and fierce competition.
Airtel Nigeria says it is working with device manufacturers to make 5G smartphones more affordable. However, many Nigerians still can’t afford 4G devices.
Airtel Nigeria says it is building the country’s largest data centre, a 38MW hyperscale facility in Eko Atlantic designed not just for cloud hosting, but to power artificial intelligence