MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a digital entertainment platform the company says will redefine how African consumers access video content; on their terms, and through payment methods they already use.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.

The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

The platform is also positioned to go beyond the consumer. Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.

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One of the most significant barriers to streaming adoption in Africa has never been the want of content, it has been the ability to pay for it. Many people in Africa struggle to use streaming services because of payment barriers; MTN is betting that its existing financial infrastructure solves exactly that problem.

Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access. For many African consumers, most of whom do not have credit cards and haven’t used international payment systems, this is crucial.

The launch of One TV is a deliberate chapter in MTN’s broader pivot away from pure telecoms. The company has spent years building out MoMo, its mobile money product, into one of Africa’s most widely used financial services platforms. Entertainment, it now appears, is the next vertical.

The launch of MTN One TV reflects a broader trend across Africa’s telecom sector: operators are increasingly building digital ecosystems that combine connectivity, payments, commerce, and entertainment. The launch builds on MTN’s partnership with video software company Synamedia in April 2025 to develop a pan-African streaming platform initially targeted at Nigeria before expanding across its footprint.

MTN’s move comes as competition in Africa’s streaming market intensifies. The company will enter a space already occupied by players such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and several local streaming platforms. However, MTN appears to be betting that its extensive distribution network, mobile money ecosystem, and localised content strategy can help it reach audiences that remain underserved by existing platforms.

Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer at MTN Group, framed the launch as both a business move and a broader mission. “Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation. Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” he said.

The rollout is ongoing, with specific market availability and content offerings expected to vary by country as the platform scales across MTN’s footprint.