WCRC Researched Brand · World's Most Powerful Brands 2026 · Second Global Mega Edition
MTN
MTN is a telecommunications and fintech group headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded in 1994 and listed on the JSE. It operates in 16 markets and was the first African-headquartered telecom operator to pass 300m subscribers; by H1 2026 it had 317.7m customers, 70.8m monthly active MoMo users and 179.3m active data users. FY2025 service revenue was ZAR218bn and EBITDA was R98.5bn. WCRC's research found the brand strongest in media presence, with pan-African coverage of its results and fintech growth, and in industry standing. The weak point is regulatory: a 2015 Nigeria SIM fine, sanctions exposure through Irancell, and a EUR4bn lawsuit over the Mobile Money trademark.
- Sector
- Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Country
- South Africa
- WCRC research
- Research Matrix screening
What WCRC found
First African-headquartered telecom operator to pass 300m subscribers, with 317.7m customers by H1 2026.
FY2025 service revenue of ZAR218bn across 16 markets.
70.8m monthly active MoMo users and 179.3m active data users.
What holds it back: Irancell sanctions exposure, a 2015 Nigeria SIM fine and a EUR4bn Mobile Money trademark lawsuit weigh on its compliance picture.
Status in the 2026 edition
MTN was screened on the six-dimension WCRC Research Matrix for the 2026 edition. It is not among the 100 ranked brands.
WCRC publishes scores only for the 100 ranked brands. How WCRC ranks brands.
Questions people ask
Is MTN in the WCRC World's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026?
MTN was screened on the six-dimension WCRC Research Matrix for the 2026 edition. It is not among the 100 ranked brands.
Which Telecommunications brands are ranked in 2026?
No Telecommunications brand reached the 2026 top 100.