MTN Group reports strong H1 2026 results and expands into AI data centers

MTN Group has reported strong financial results for the first half of 2026, characterized by a 17.5% increase in service revenue to 115 billion rand (approximately 4,048 billion FCFA). The group's EBITDA rose by nearly 25% to 56 billion rand, driven largely by performance in markets including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon.

As part of a strategic diversification to move beyond traditional mobile connectivity, the South African telecommunications giant is investing in digital infrastructure. Through the creation of Africa Data Hub Holding Limited—a partnership supported by Emirati capital—MTN aims to develop “AI-ready” data centers. This initiative is designed to meet the rising demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence capabilities across Africa, where cloud service demand is projected to grow between 25% and 30% annually.

As of June 30, 2026, MTN serves 317.7 million customers across 19 markets, with 179 million active data users. Following these results, the company announced a share buyback program of up to 6 billion rand.