Huawei and MTN Sign Strategic MoU to Accelerate AI-Driven Intelligent Networks Across Africa

In a significant stride towards accelerating Africa's digital transformation, telecommunications giants MTN Group and Huawei have formalized a landmark 2026 Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Signed during the prestigious Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, held from March 2 to March 5, and formalized on March 11, this renewed partnership is set to usher in an era of AI-driven intelligent networks across the continent. The collaboration pivots on enhancing network planning, deployment, and operations through advanced artificial intelligence, with a shared ambition to evolve towards Level 4 Autonomous Networks (AN L4).

Driving Towards Autonomous Networks Level 4 (AN L4)

A central tenet of the MoU is the commitment to achieving AN L4, a revolutionary stage where network management transcends human-driven operations to become largely autonomous. This transformative shift will be facilitated by the deployment of 'agentic networks,' powered by AI copilots and intelligent agents, capable of closed-loop optimization across the entire network lifecycle. The objective is to establish self-monitoring, self-improving, and self-repairing networks, promising MTN's vast subscriber base of 301.3 million as of September 2025, faster speeds, fewer service interruptions, and more reliable connectivity across Africa.

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The strategic cooperation encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives designed to deepen digital inclusion and sustainable development. Key areas of focus include AI-driven network operations, significant expansion of fixed wireless broadband (including Fiber-to-the-Home and 5G Fixed Wireless Access), and robust digital infrastructure development, which will involve creating AI-ready data centers and advanced fibre networks. Furthermore, the partnership will explore compliant and secure data monetization models leveraging AI-driven precision operations, and integrate critical Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Notably, this aligns with MTN's ambitious target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, with Huawei supporting efforts to decarbonize the operator’s telecommunications infrastructure, including radio access network sites and data centers.

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Expanding Digital Footprint and Fostering Innovation

Addressing Africa's persistent connectivity and usage gaps remains a priority. The partners will validate and replicate cost-efficient rural network solutions and explore innovative access models with affordable devices to ensure digital inclusion for underserved communities. MTN aims to extend coverage to 95% of the African continent and achieve 95% rural broadband coverage by 2025. The Huawei and MTN Technology Innovation Lab, strategically located at MTN Group's headquarters in South Africa, is poised to be a pivotal hub for this transformation. It will facilitate a phased innovation mechanism, allowing priority use cases to transition seamlessly from proof-of-concept to pilot testing and eventual commercial deployment, thereby accelerating large-scale implementation of joint innovations. Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer of MTN Group, emphasized that this collaboration is expected to evolve from incremental optimization to structural transformation, particularly in AI-enabled network capabilities, operational efficiency, and business model innovation. This partnership underscores Africa's growing commitment to harnessing AI, mirroring a continent-wide $10 billion AI initiative backed by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, aimed at accelerating innovation and job creation.