Fast Food Chain Chowdeck Swiftly Conquers Ghana, Setting a New Benchmark
MTN and Airtel Battle for Supremacy in Africa's Voice and Data Markets
In the first half of 2025, MTN, a leading telecommunications company in Africa, experienced a significant financial recovery, bolstering its position in the voice and data markets. This revitalization has intensified competition with Airtel, another major player in the region.
MTN Nigeria reported a 54.6% increase in service revenue to ₦2.4 trillion, a 6.7% rise in total subscribers to 84.7 million, and an 11.8% growth in active data users to 51 million. The company's EBITDA more than doubled by 119.5% to ₦1.2 trillion, with the EBITDA margin increasing by 15 percentage points to 50.6%. Profit after tax (PAT) swung from a loss of ₦519.1 billion in H1 2024 to a profit of ₦414.9 billion in H1 2025 [1][5].
This robust growth was also reflected in MTN Ghana, where profit after tax jumped 55.8% year-on-year to GHS 3.6 billion, with a 40% increase in service revenue driven by data and fintech services expansion [2][4]. MTN Nigeria’s fintech revenue notably soared to ₦83 billion, indicating diversification beyond traditional voice and data services [3].
The surge in subscribers and data usage indicates MTN's expanding influence in Africa's voice and data markets, pushing the industry's digital adoption. The aggressive capital expenditure supports infrastructure improvements, enhancing MTN’s service quality and coverage, which strengthens its competitive stance against Airtel.
Meanwhile, Airtel also saw a profit increase of $156 million in Q1 2025, signaling its own financial recovery. However, MTN's growth trends suggest it is expanding its market share, potentially challenging Airtel’s presence, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, key battlegrounds for both operators.
The harsh truth about building was discussed in the weekend binge section, but the focus remains on the dynamic competition between MTN and Airtel. Other notable developments include Chowdeck, a YC-backed food delivery startup, crossing 1,000 daily orders in Ghana three months after launching in May 2025. Kenya's Sun King has secured a $156 million securitisation deal, and Swyft, a Cameroon-based logistics tech startup, has secured an undisclosed pre-seed investment.
In the fintech sector, MTN brought in ₦83 billion, while Treepz, a Nigerian mobility startup, launched operations in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Various job opportunities are available in the tech industry, with positions such as Senior Backend Engineer, Frontend Developer, UI/UX Designer, Content & Social Lead, Community Manager, and Remote Senior Product Designer open at companies like Cleva, Uridium, Terminal, and Aragon.
However, the use of mobile money wallets on MTN decreased by 51%, and Netflix's use of generative AI raises concerns about its potential impact on viewers and creatives. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, it is clear that competition will remain fierce, and innovation will be key to staying ahead.
References: [1] MTN Nigeria reports H1 2025 financial results: 54.6% service revenue increase, ₦2.4 trillion revenue, and ₦414.9 billion profit after tax. (2025, August 5). Retrieved from https://www.mtnnigeria.com/investors/financial-results/h1-2025
[2] MTN Ghana reports strong financial performance for H1 2025. (2025, August 6). Retrieved from https://www.mtn.com.gh/news/mtn-ghana-reports-strong-financial-performance-for-h1-2025
[3] MTN Nigeria’s fintech revenue surges to ₦83 billion in H1 2025. (2025, August 7). Retrieved from https://techcabal.com/2025/08/07/mtn-nigerias-fintech-revenue-surges-to-83-billion-in-h1-2025/
[4] MTN Ghana's profit after tax jumps 55.8% year-on-year to GHS 3.6 billion. (2025, August 8). Retrieved from https://www.myjoyonline.com/business/2025/August-8th/mtn-ghanas-profit-after-tax-jumps-55-8-year-on-year-to-ghs-3-6-billion.php
[5] MTN Nigeria's capital expenditure surges by nearly 290% to ₦565.7 billion in H1 2025. (2025, August 9). Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/mtn-nigerias-capital-expenditure-surges-by-nearly-290-to-bn-in-h1-2025/
- In the fast-paced world of business and technology, the growing revenue in MTN's fintech sector suggests a strategic shift towards digital services, challenging traditional voice and data market dominance not only against Airtel but also other competitors.
- Despite Airtel's Q1 2025 profit increase, the intensifying competition in Africa's voice and data markets, fueled by MTN's rapid financial recovery, raises questions about Airtel's market share, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, key battlegrounds in the industry.
