MTN Joins SVOD Fray With MTN One TV, Takes On Netflix, Amazon Prime, Others

MTN Group, one of Africa’s largest telecom providers, is making a major comeback into the continent’s video streaming market. On Monday, the company officially launched MTN One TV, a platform offering live television, local content, and international programming.

The move marks its most significant attempt to break into digital entertainment since its South Africa-focused FrontRow service shut down in 2017. This time, MTN is embracing a flexible model service which will offer a mix of free-to-view content, ad-supported viewing, pay-per-view, and SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) services.

Unlike traditional subscription models that have struggled with low credit card penetration and high data costs in Africa, MTN is leveraging its telecom infrastructure to allow users to pay via airtime deductions, Mobile Money (MoMo), and other local methods.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer. “We are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible.”

The rollout will be phased across MTN’s 16 African markets, tapping into a subscriber base of over 307 million people. The platform, built on a partnership with UK-based Synamedia, is part of MTN’s broader “Ambition 2030” strategy to pivot from a traditional telecom operator into a pan-African digital services giant.

The service is now live in initial markets, including South Africa and Zambia, signaling a new era of telco-led streaming wars across the continent. MTN has not yet disclosed specific launch dates for remaining countries.