African Telecoms Face AI Transformation Imperative
Africa's telecommunications industry stands at a crossroads. The companies that built the continent's digital backbone must now fundamentally reimagine their role or risk being left behind in the artificial intelligence revolution.
That stark warning comes from Ibrahim Misto, Chief Digital Officer at MTN Ghana, who delivered a compelling vision for the industry's future at the Rethink Africa Intelligence Conference (RAIC) 2026. The conference, held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), brought together technology leaders to examine Africa's position in the global AI race.
"MTN is being positioned as a platform business now, beyond just connectivity, owning the data flows of customers and building trusted data systems," Misto told The Newscenta in a sidelines interview.
From Pipes to Platforms
What particularly notable about Misto's comments is how directly he addresses the existential challenge facing African telecoms. These companies cannot remain passive conduits for data if they want to capture value in an AI-driven economy.
MTN Ghana is already executing this transformation. The company is building what Misto calls an "intelligence layer" on top of its existing network infrastructure. This represents a fundamental shift from being a data pipe to becoming a data owner and processor.
The Intelligence Layer Strategy
Misto outlined how this intelligence layer creates tangible business value. The system enables highly personalized services for consumers and AI-powered tools for enterprise customers. This approach aligns with broader trends we have been covering in our AI coverage, where data ownership becomes the foundation for competitive advantage.
"With that intelligence layer, we are able to serve consumers and enterprises better, through personalised services, personalised offers to consumers, and AI as a service to enterprises," Misto explained.
The practical applications span from personalized consumer offers to comprehensive AI services for business clients. This positions MTN not just as a connectivity provider but as a critical enabler of digital transformation across multiple sectors.
Trust as the Foundation
However, Misto emphasized a crucial caveat that many companies rushing into data monetization often overlook. Trust and data privacy cannot be afterthoughts in this transformation.
"Monetising data must go hand in hand with keeping trust and ensuring data privacy. That is critical as we build this ecosystem," he stated.
This focus on responsible data use is particularly important in African markets where regulatory frameworks around data protection are still evolving. MTN's commitment to data anonymization and responsible usage could set industry standards.
Energy: The AI Infrastructure Challenge
Misto also addressed one of the most pressing challenges facing Africa's AI ambitions: energy costs. His assessment was characteristically direct.
"The cost of intelligence is the cost of energy," he warned, highlighting how AI-powered data centers will drive energy consumption to unprecedented levels.
This observation highlights a critical infrastructure bottleneck that could limit Africa's participation in the global AI economy. Reliable and affordable energy remains fundamental to powering AI systems and supporting the continent's digital transformation goals.
Misto's vision represents more than corporate strategy. It outlines a pathway for African companies to move beyond being consumers of global technology platforms to becoming creators and owners of valuable data ecosystems. The success of this transformation will largely determine Africa's position in the AI-driven global economy.