Digitnomics 
By Francisca Anuforo,
MTN Group is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform network operations across its markets, including Nigeria, with the deployment of intelligent systems capable of detecting fibre network disruptions before they escalate into major service outages.
The telecom giant disclosed this during its Capital Markets Day, where Group Chief Technology Officer, Charles Molapisi, outlined how the company plans to generate approximately R30 billion in value through AI-driven innovation and operational efficiency over the next three to five years.
One of the most significant developments is the deployment of AI-enabled monitoring systems that turn fibre infrastructure into what MTN describes as a “sensor network.” The technology analyses micro-vibrations along fibre routes and uses agentic AI to identify abnormal patterns that could indicate impending fibre cuts or network disruptions.
For Nigeria, where fibre cuts caused by road construction, excavation activities, vandalism and infrastructure projects remain a major challenge to service quality, the innovation could significantly improve network reliability.
According to Molapisi, the AI system continuously learns normal network behaviour and can alert engineers to unusual activity in real time, reducing the time required to identify and respond to faults.
Industry analysts believe such proactive monitoring could help telecom operators reduce service downtime, improve customer experience and lower operational costs associated with network maintenance.
AI-Powered SIM Registration Already Active in Nigeria
Nigeria is also emerging as a key testing ground for MTN’s customer-facing AI innovations.
The company revealed that it has already deployed an agentic AI-driven SIM registration platform in the country. The system uses 13 AI agents working collaboratively to process and manage SIM registrations, replacing tasks previously handled by approximately 200 personnel.
The AI agents distribute registration workloads, verify information and support compliance requirements while human supervisors remain involved in oversight and governance functions.
The development comes at a time when telecommunications operators in Nigeria continue to navigate strict subscriber registration regulations and identity verification requirements introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
By automating significant portions of the process, MTN expects improvements in speed, accuracy, compliance and operational efficiency.
Fibre Expansion to Support Africa’s Digital Future
Beyond AI deployment, MTN announced ambitious plans to expand its fibre infrastructure footprint across Africa.
The company’s fibre network is projected to grow from its current 140,000 kilometres to between 420,000 and 560,000 kilometres by 2030. The expansion will support MTN’s target of adding 100 million new data customers across the continent.
The strategy is expected to have implications for Nigeria, MTN’s largest market by revenue and subscriber base, where demand for high-speed connectivity continues to rise among consumers, enterprises and digital service providers.
MTN also plans to double its subsea cable capacity through Bayobab, its digital infrastructure subsidiary, strengthening connectivity between Africa and global digital networks.
Betting Big on AI
MTN’s AI roadmap is built around two pillars: internal AI adoption and commercial AI services.
The first pillar, known as “AI Inside,” focuses on integrating AI across network management, customer service, operational processes and decision-making systems. MTN expects this initiative alone to contribute about half of the projected R30 billion value creation target.
The second pillar involves commercialising AI capabilities through new products and services targeted at consumers and businesses. These offerings could include AI-powered applications, small language models tailored for African markets and access to computing resources hosted in MTN’s data centres.
For Nigeria, the strategy signals growing opportunities around AI infrastructure, enterprise digital transformation and localised AI solutions designed to address African market realities.
As competition intensifies among telecom operators and technology providers, MTN’s investment in agentic AI and intelligent infrastructure reflects a broader industry shift towards autonomous networks capable of self-monitoring, self-optimisation and predictive maintenance.
With Nigeria positioning itself as a leading digital economy in Africa, the successful deployment of these technologies could play a significant role in improving network resilience, accelerating digital inclusion and enabling next-generation digital services across the country.
