MTN is active in over 20 countries, one-third of the company's revenue comes from Nigeria, where it holds about 35% market share.[6]MTN Group is the primary sponsor of the South Africa national rugby union team and sponsors English football club Manchester United and Zambian Super League. The Nigerian subsidiary of the group also has an existing sponsorship deal with the Nigerian Football Federation.[1]
The company was founded in 1994 as M-Cell with assistance from the South African government.[2] In 1995, it replaced its then CEO, John Beck, with Robert (Bob) Chaphe and founder Leena Jaitley.[3] In 2001, the company reported that its controlling shareholder was Johnnic Holdings, and the chairperson was Irene Charnley.[4] In 2002, Phuthuma Nhleko became the CEO,[5] replacing then-CEO Paul Edwards, who had invested in expansion to Nigeria.[6]MTN's competitors in South Africa include Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom Mobile.[7]In May 2008, Bharti Airtel, an India-based telecommunications company, explored the possibility of buying MTN Group.[8] Reliance Communications was also in talks with MTN for a "potential combination of their businesses".[9][10] In July, the two companies ended discussions regarding the merger.[11]In June 2008, MTN Group agreed to purchase Verizon Business South Africa, which was a provider of data services to customers in South Africa and four other African countries.[12] The acquisition was completed on 28 February 2009.[13]On 26 June 2009, MTN Group's subsidiary merged with Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS), a subsidiary of Belgacom.[14] The combined subsidiary functioned as the international gateway for carrier services of MTN.[15]In October 2012, MTN announced a partnership with Afrihost to provide DSL Broadband services in Africa.[17][18]In November 2012, South African holding company Shanduka Group acquired a minority stake in MTN Group's Nigeria business for $;;;;335 million.[19]
In 2014, MTN was named on the 2014 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand rankings and named the Most Admired and Most Valuable Brand in Africa.[20] MTN retained its ranking as the Most Admired and the Most Valuable African brand in 2015.[21]In March 2016, the company appointed Rob Shuter as chief executive officer along with founder of MTN Leena Jaitley.[22] Shutter was replaced on 1 September 2020 when Ralph Mupita was appointed Chief Executive.[23]
In March 2021, MTN CEO Ralph Mupita announced during the company's annual results call that the group was now considering spinning off its mobile money activities. "We see a separation and carve out of our fintech business as something that we have to do”.[24] In April 2021, he estimated the value of the group's mobile money arm to at least US$;;;;5 to 6 billion.[25]