Ralph Mupita-led MTN Group partners with Ericsson to elevate core network infrastructure

MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom service provider led by Zimbabwean senior executive Ralph Mupita, has announced a strategic partnership with Ericsson to modernize and upgrade its core network infrastructure. This venture, spanning a duration of five years, signifies a firm commitment to revolutionizing connectivity and enhancing customer experiences throughout the continent.

In line with MTN’s Unified Cloud Acceleration (MUNA) principles, the project concentrates on MTN affiliates in South Africa and Nigeria. Ericsson assumes the role of the exclusive core strategic supplier for this extensive modernization initiative, building on their successful collaborations, particularly in deploying cloud-native core networks in the aforementioned countries.

The primary aim of this partnership is not only to improve the current network performance but also to lay the foundation for future 5G standalone capabilities. Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core will drive the modernized core networks, empowering MTN to provide innovative solutions to consumers and enterprises across Africa.

Mazen Mroué, MTN Group chief technology and information officer, emphasized the strategic importance of this transformation program, stating, “This collaboration marks a significant milestone for our Ambition 2025 to establish new benchmarks in connectivity excellence, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to deliver superior customer experiences and innovation.”

Ralph Mupita’s visionary leadership propels MTN Group to new heights

Under the leadership of Mupita, MTN Group has cemented its status as Africa’s leading telecom service provider, boasting a customer base exceeding 292 million across 19 markets. Mupita’s strategic vision and execution have not only driven MTN Group’s expansion but have also positioned him among Southern Africa’s most influential CEOs, with his minority stake in MTN valued at $3.5 million.

The alliance between MTN Group and Ericsson underscores their shared dedication to innovation and progress in shaping the future of digital connectivity in Africa. It forms an integral part of MTN Group’s cloud-native transformation strategy, aligned with the expedited implementation of its Ambition 2025 objectives, with the aim of establishing one of the largest and most valuable platforms across consumer, enterprise, and wholesale segments in both mobile and fixed access networks.

This collaboration extends beyond core network modernization, as MTN Group and Ericsson further their Business Support System (BSS) modernization agreement. This extension aims to amplify digital transformation initiatives in Africa, focusing on exploring innovative capabilities such as 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) use cases.