Key takeaways
- MTN has launched One TV, a streaming platform that combines live TV, local content, and international entertainment for African audiences.
- Users will be able to access content through flexible models, including free ad-supported viewing, subscriptions, and pay-per-view options.
- The platform integrates local payment methods such as Mobile Money and airtime billing, addressing one of the biggest barriers to streaming adoption in Africa.
- MTN is positioning One TV as part of its broader strategy to expand beyond telecoms into digital services, fintech, and entertainment.
Telecommunications giant MTN is making another push beyond telecoms with the recent launch of One TV. The digital entertainment platform is designed to make video content more accessible across its markets and create new opportunities for content creators, broadcasters, and advertisers. The service is being rolled out gradually across MTN’s market in Africa.
The new platform brings together local productions, live television channels, and international content under a single brand. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, MTN says viewing options will vary by market, with users able to choose between free-to-watch content, ad-supported experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription plans.
For many African consumers, the biggest hurdle to streaming isn’t content availability but payment. MTN says customers in supported markets will be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other local payment methods, potentially reducing the barriers that have limited the adoption of streaming services on the continent.
MTN’s latest attempt to move beyond connectivity
The launch is part of MTN’s broader strategy to evolve from a traditional telecom operator into a digital services company.
In recent years, the company has expanded aggressively into fintech, cloud services, digital platforms, and enterprise solutions. Entertainment is now the next battleground as telecom operators search for new revenue streams beyond voice and data services.
According to Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group’s Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer, entertainment is increasingly becoming an entry point into the digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” Selorm Adadevoh said. “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.”
The company believes its combination of connectivity infrastructure, payment systems, and large customer base gives it a unique advantage in distributing digital content at scale across Africa.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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A crowded streaming market awaits
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.
This isn’t MTN’s first foray into digital entertainment. The operator has previously experimented with content partnerships, including collaborations with Sony Pictures Television to distribute video content to subscribers. And more recently, the telecommunications company shut down its super app Ayooba.
Why it matters
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.
For MTN, success could mean deeper customer engagement and new revenue opportunities. For African creators, it could offer another distribution channel at a time when demand for local content continues to grow.
Whether One TV can stand out in an increasingly crowded streaming landscape remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: MTN wants a bigger share of Africa’s digital entertainment economy.
