MTN Sets up New Company to Power Africa’s AI Expansion

By Adedapo Adesanya

MTN Group has established a new company, Africa Data Hub Holding Limited, as part of efforts to accelerate its expansion into artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres across Africa.

The telecommunications giant disclosed the development in its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, released on Monday.

It said the new company was created following a strategic partnership with an undisclosed United Arab Emirates-backed data centre investment platform.

The telco giant said the partnership would accelerate its data centre ambitions as demand for AI, cloud computing and enterprise digital services continues to grow across African markets.

The group said its Digital Infrastructure business is leading the initiative, with plans to develop an AI-enabled data centre network capable of supporting the continent’s expanding digital economy. It identified Nigeria and South Africa as its two priority markets for the data centre and AI infrastructure expansion.

In Nigeria, MTN launched the first phase of its Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre in Lagos in 2025. At the time, the facility was described as the largest data centre in West Africa.

MTN said Africa Data Hub Holding would combine its extensive African footprint, market knowledge and existing infrastructure with international investment and specialised data centre expertise.

According to the company, the new platform will provide the vehicle through which future digital infrastructure opportunities are developed and scaled across key African markets, particularly to meet rising demand for cloud, enterprise and AI-enabled services.

MTN is also advancing its AI infrastructure strategy through an investment in ORAN Development Corporation (ODC), a US-based company developing AI-native radio access network technology; it invested in its $45 million Series A in March.

ODC is building what it calls a Distributed Compute Grid designed to turn telecommunications sites into high-performance computing hubs capable of supporting AI applications.

MTN said work is already underway with ODC to identify priority use cases, deployment opportunities and commercial models that align with its digital infrastructure strategy.

The developments mark a shift in MTN’s digital infrastructure strategy from conventional telecommunications connectivity towards providing the computing infrastructure required to support Africa’s emerging AI economy.

The company also got approval for its $2.2 billion takeover of IHS Towers in Nigeria from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), but must list 30 per cent to ease antitrust worries.