The seeds of MTN's expansion into Cameroon began serendipitously in Swaziland. A chance encounter between Ross Macdonald and Colin Mukete during a conference in the kingdom sparked discussions about the untapped potential of the Cameroonian market. The MTN team was then invited to explore opportunities in Cameroon.

At the time, West Africa wasn't really on the radar for MTN, so the visit was put off for a year. However, Ross's subsequent visit to Cameroon revealed a vibrant market filled with potential. ‘I eventually got to visit Cameroon and found a fascinating, flourishing and colourful culture with much potential,’ he said.

MTN's path to entering this promising market wasn't without its challenges. ‘We went through two iterations of bidding there because we were too conservative the first time around, losing to Orange,’ said Ross. However, the company's perseverance led to a second chance.

With Colin Mukete as MTN's local partner, in February 2000 the company prevailed in the bid to acquire Camtel Mobile, the mobile arm of the former state-owned monopoly fixed-line operator. The newly christened MTN Cameroon launched commercial operations in July with a modest 4 500 inherited subscribers.

The following year, MTN Cameroon would boast 100 000 customers – a number it had more than doubled by 2002; by 2003 it reached half a million. This explosive growth was achieved by doing what the company does wherever it operates – putting money into delivering the best, most extensive network: by mid-2004 it was providing coverage in all 10 provinces. MTN Cameroon also gave the market what it wanted – affordable, flexible packages with the introduction, in December 2000, of Pay as you Go.

MTN Cameroon's remarkable success story culminated in its first profit of US$10 million in 2003, solidifying its position in the burgeoning African telecommunications landscape.

In 2024, MTN is truly part of the fabric of society in Cameroon – providing 11.5 million subscribers with essential mobile services and extending financial inclusion to more than 5.3 million Cameroonians. We connect the unconnected while reducing our carbon footprint and drive sustainable development by investing in skills and community development initiatives, including supporting reforestation and various health initiatives. And the best is yet to come!