MTN Taps Global Partnerships to Build AI-Ready Data Centers Across the Continent
The model is simple but ambitious: build the facilities, equip them with AI computing power, and lease that capacity to governments, enterprises, and third parties across Africa.
Africa’s largest telecom operator, MTN Group , is laying the groundwork for a new era by investing in large-scale data centers to support artificial intelligence. CEO Ralph Mupita confirmed the company is in advanced talks with global technology firms from both the US and Europe to establish large-scale data centres.
The strategy is designed to close Africa’s significant AI infrastructure gap—currently less than 1% of global capacity—by creating facilities that can host powerful computing resources and serve businesses, governments, and enterprises across the continent. Rather than going it alone, MTN plans to split the heavy investment between its own balance sheet and partnerships with international players. The model is simple but ambitious: build the facilities, equip them with AI computing power, and lease that capacity to governments, enterprises, and third parties across Africa.
For MTN, the move goes beyond technology—it’s a strategic push to unlock fresh revenue streams. Through its new AI data center unit, Genova, the group aims to monetize infrastructure, open its platforms to partners, and drive long-term growth.
