Telecoms operator MTN eyes banking licences as it pushes deeper into lending

Africa's leading telecommunications provider, MTN Group, is considering obtaining banking licenses in certain markets as it aims to grow its lending capabilities directly from its balance sheet, CEO Ralph Mupita announced on Tuesday. The company is intensifying its efforts into fintech services to boost earnings beyond its conventional telecommunications income, with lending becoming a rapidly expanding part of its mobile money business.

In an interview with journalists, Mupita highlighted the rapid growth of advanced services like payments, e-commerce, and lending, stating, "The big growth now, which will be the growth of the future, is actually lending." At present, MTN extends loans through collaborations with banks. However, the CEO revealed that the firm is examining whether it should acquire a banking license, enabling it to accept deposits and lend from its own financial resources, particularly in regions with substantial mobile money balances.

Mupita emphasized that this strategy would be targeted rather than universally applied across all MTN operations, and any entry into balance-sheet lending would be a cautious and incremental process due to the associated risks. In addition to its banking initiatives, MTN is also investing in digital infrastructure. The company plans to establish AI-powered data centers in South Africa and Nigeria through Africa Data Hub Holding, a joint venture with an undisclosed UAE-backed investor.

MTN will hold a minority stake in this venture, while its UAE partner will contribute most of the capital and technical know-how. The project's initial phase targets approximately 150 megawatts of capacity in South Africa and Nigeria, with subsequent growth contingent on demand.