MTN CEO Warns Global Trade Tensions Could Delay 5G, Mobile Coverage in Africa
MTN CEO Warns Global Trade Tensions May Derail Africa’s Digital Future
At this year’s Mobile World Congress, Ralph Mupita, Group President and CEO of MTN, issued a direct warning: global trade tensions could pose a serious threat to Africa’s telecom expansion, including mobile internet access and the continent’s fragile push toward 5G.
While Mupita refrained from naming specific countries, his remarks come amid a surge in tariff measures targeting telecom imports, particularly from the United States, which is doubling down on protectionist tech policies.
“We are concerned about that,” Mupita said. “We hope there will be constructive dialogue between those two blocs.”
MTN operates across 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East and currently invests about $2 billion annually in network infrastructure. From the streets of Lagos to the rural zones of Uganda, this infrastructure is critical for scaling mobile internet, advancing digital inclusion, and competing in fast-moving markets. But the costs and stakes are rising fast.
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Tariffs Could Undermine Africa’s Network Expansion
If new tariffs raise the cost of base stations, fibre hardware, or 5G components, the ripple effects will be felt across Africa’s telecom landscape.
For operators already wrestling with inflation, volatile exchange rates, and constrained capex, such policies could:
- Delay 5G rollouts and service upgrades
- Stall expansion into underserved communities
- Shrink profit margins and investor confidence
- Increase reliance on foreign debt or subsidies
“African telcos are caught in the middle,” said a Lagos-based analyst. “They depend on global supply chains but are increasingly vulnerable to policy decisions made in Washington or Brussels.”
MTN’s Resilience Is Being Tested
This isn’t MTN’s first encounter with external headwinds. In 2022, its Nigerian operations were hit hard by rising diesel prices and a scarcity of foreign exchange, both of which slowed base station rollouts and threatened uptime in key regions.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, regulatory interventions placed temporary speed bumps on the company’s expansion strategy.
Still, MTN has pushed forward. Over the past year, it has:
- Launched 5G services in Nigeria
- Expanded its fintech and enterprise offerings
- Invested in fibre deployment across several markets
But according to Mupita, the storm clouds are gathering again, this time from outside the continent.
Strategic Autonomy: Africa’s Long Road Ahead
For years, Mupita has advocated for “strategic autonomy,” a vision that emphasises
- Local manufacturing of telecom equipment
- Policy harmonisation across African regulators
- Greater regional trade and infrastructure collaboration
However, building this resilience won’t happen overnight.
“We try to be neutral,” Mupita added. “But the industry will be affected if the tensions persist and turn into hard policy.”
Mupita’s remarks are more than just boardroom caution; they reflect a deeper systemic vulnerability for Africa’s digital future. As global powers entrench themselves in a tech trade war, Africa may become collateral damage unless the continent builds internal buffers.
For brand leaders, policymakers, and telecom investors, the message is clear:
Africa’s telecom evolution now depends as much on global diplomacy as it does on towers and fibre.
