MTN Cyber Breach Raises Data Security Concerns Across African Telecom Sector
The incident reflects the growing digital threats facing global telecoms.
MTN, the telecom giant with about 287 million customers spread across Africa and the Middle East, has recently stubbed its toes on a cybersecurity incident that led to unauthorized access to some of its customers' info.
The company says it quickly responded, activating its cybersecurity protocols, and thankfully, there's no evidence of direct compromise to customers' mobile wallets or accounts. Still, the breach raises valid concerns about how secure personal data is, even with the biggest players.
MTN also didn’t specify which countries were affected or how many customers were involved. While it's not clear what exact data was accessed, MTN is advising customers to stay alert, update apps, avoid suspicious links, use strong passwords, and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
What’s particularly concerning, though, is that this isn’t an isolated case. MTN is just the latest in a string of telecom companies targeted by cybercriminals worldwide. From SK Telecom in South Korea to Orange Romania and Japan’s NTT Communications, the telecom industry is increasingly under threat.
Just last month, cybersecurity firm Sygnia exposed how a China-linked threat actor called Weaver Ant infiltrated a major African telecom company to carry out cyber espionage. And in the U.S., attacks linked to Chinese-backed groups have compromised multiple telecom networks, raising not just corporate security concerns but national security alarms too.
The timing also couldn’t be more critical. Cyber incidents have topped the Allianz Risk Barometer for 2025 as the biggest global business threat. With AI accelerating the sophistication of attacks, even companies that invest heavily in security are finding themselves in a race to keep up. MTN, like many others, faces growing pressure to harden its digital perimeter and protect the massive volumes of sensitive data it holds.
In response to the breach, MTN has reiterated its commitment to protecting customer privacy and securing its systems. The company says it's working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and prevent future occurrences.
Kelechi Edeh
