MTN Ghana’s Data Subscribers Surge to 18.9 Million Amid Strong Digital Growth
MTN Ghana’s active data subscribers climbed 11.4% to 18.9 million in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the company’s dominance in Ghana’s telecommunications market amid surging demand for digital connectivity.
The rise reflects Ghana’s ongoing shift toward mobile internet, digital payments, and online entertainment. MTN added nearly two million new data users during the period, cementing its lead in both market reach and customer engagement.
Data continues to be a major growth driver for the company, boosted by wider 4G coverage and rapid smartphone adoption. MTN invested GHS4.6 billion in network upgrades and fibre expansion during the first nine months of 2025 to strengthen reliability and manage higher data volumes.
As a result, data revenue jumped 46.8% to GHS9.3 billion, accounting for more than half of MTN Ghana’s total service revenue. Average monthly data usage per user increased 41.3% to 14.5GB, showing that subscribers are not just connecting but consuming more content than ever.
However, the growth has also brought challenges. Users continue to report intermittent internet disruptions, slow speeds, and network congestion, especially in urban centres. A major glitch in July 2025 temporarily blocked data bundle purchases on the same day a new government-mandated 15% data bonus was to take effect.
MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett acknowledged that ongoing network modernization may cause short-term disruptions but stressed that these upgrades are vital for long-term improvement.
The company now maintains 98.9% 4G population coverage, supporting a 57.3% increase in data traffic year-on-year. Despite this, maintaining stable service for nearly 19 million data users across Ghana’s diverse regions remains a significant technical challenge.
MTN’s overall financial performance reflected its data-led growth. Total service revenue rose 36.3% to GHS17.3 billion, while profit after tax jumped 45.9% to GHS5.5 billion. EBITDA reached GHS10.2 billion, representing a strong 58.4% margin.
Digital entertainment also saw major gains, more than doubling to GHS324.4 million, driven by video streaming, gaming, and online content. MTN also acquired additional spectrum and a universal access license from the National Communications Authority (NCA), aligning expiration dates for most existing licenses.
Still, customer complaints about data depletion and failed transactions persist. In response, the NCA has begun conducting quarterly billing integrity audits to ensure accuracy in data crediting and rollover systems — signalling tighter regulatory oversight.
Looking forward, MTN plans to deepen its investment in AI-driven customer management, expand 4G and 4G+ sites in underserved areas, and integrate more fintech and entertainment services through the myMTN and MoMo apps. The company expects service revenue to grow in the mid-to-upper 30% range in the final quarter, maintaining strong EBITDA margins.
The macroeconomic environment has also stabilised, with inflation easing to 9.4% in September 2025 and improved consumer confidence supporting data consumption. MTN contributed GHS7.3 billion in taxes, up from GHS6.1 billion in 2024, and continues its social investments — including a digital resource centre at UDS Tamale to train over 30,000 students in emerging technologies.
Ultimately, MTN’s growth story mirrors Ghana’s broader digital transformation. Nearly 19 million active data users demonstrate how deeply mobile internet has become embedded in everyday life — from work and business to education and entertainment.
Yet, sustaining this dominance will depend not just on expansion, but on service quality, billing transparency, and customer trust. MTN’s investments suggest commitment, but as competition intensifies, execution will define whether its leadership remains unchallenged.