Transforming Financial Access in Africa

Mobile network operator, MTN Group Fintech, has completed a major infrastructure upgrade by migrating its mobile money (MoMo) platform to cloud-native architecture across Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and Uganda. This initiative, powered by Ericsson’s fFintech Platform, represents a significant step toward MTN’s ambition of becoming Africa’s leading digital financial services provider.

The migration moves MoMo from legacy virtualized environments to core cloud infrastructure—a critical upgrade as demand for mobile payments surges across the continent. According to Ericsson, the new architecture delivers substantial performance improvements, including:

  • Reduced processing overhead: CPU usage decreased by up to 86%
  • Faster transaction times: API response rates improved by up to 80%
  • Enhanced efficiency: Application and database resource utilization significantly reduced

These enhancements translate to a smoother user experience with quicker loading times and more reliable service—essential for maintaining competitiveness in the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.

Strategic Alignment with Ambition 2030

The cloud migration is integral to MTN’s broader digital transformation strategy, which aims to position fintech as a core growth engine. By building on Ericsson’s robust infrastructure, MTN can:

  • Support increasing transaction volumes without compromising service availability
  • Enable faster integration for merchants and customers
  • Create a scalable foundation for future innovation in digital financial services

Artemij Demidczyk, Acting CTO at MTN Group Fintech, emphasized that the MoMo Evolved Migration advances their vision of building Africa’s premier digital financial platform. The cloud-native foundation enhances performance, strengthens resilience, and accelerates service delivery across markets.

The rollout follows a structural separation of MTN’s fintech operations from its traditional telecom business—a move designed to comply with local regulations, attract independent investment, and foster innovation in both sectors.

Broader Implications for Financial Inclusion

MTN’s upgrade comes at a pivotal moment as mobile money transforms financial access across Africa. Digital payments empower millions of previously unbanked individuals to participate in the formal economy using basic mobile devices—sending remittances, paying bills, and managing micro-businesses without needing physical bank branches.

The migration not only improves MTN’s MoMo platform but also strengthens the broader digital ecosystem by enabling greater competition and seamless onboarding of new users. By prioritizing performance, reliability, and innovation, MTN is positioning itself to meet the evolving needs of African consumers and businesses in an increasingly digital world.