- MTN Group has finalised the sale of its Afghanistan operations, signalling the end of its presence in the market.
- The Afghan telecom sector continues to face regulatory, infrastructure‑ and security‑related challenges despite growing mobile and data usage.
MTN Afghanistan completes exit
MTN Afghanistan, once operating under the MTN brand in Kabul and across Afghanistan, has officially concluded its divestment from the market. The parent company, MTN Group, states that all conditions for the sale of 100 % of its Afghanistan unit were fulfilled on 21 February 2024, marking the completion of its exit.
As part of its operations, MTN Afghanistan provided mobile voice, data and digital services across technologies including 2G, 3G and 4G, with network identifiers MCC 412 and MNC 40. The sale aligns with MTN Group’s broader strategy to concentrate on its core African markets and scale back in the Middle East.
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Sector context and why MTN Afghanistan matters
Although MTN has exited, the Afghan telecom market remains significant. The sector serves tens of millions of users and has attracted infrastructure investment despite ongoing political and security headwinds. For example, the country’s telecom market reached 25.3 million active users during 2024 according to local data.
Operators in Afghanistan contend with infrastructure roll‑out in remote areas, spectrum allocation issues, regulatory uncertainty and the need to deliver data services amid a challenging environment. Coverage remains uneven and network experience varies across providers.
MTN’s decision to sell its Afghan unit thus underscores how multinational telecom firms are weighing the risks and rewards of operating in such markets. Even when exiting, their legacy infrastructure, customer base and regulatory obligations continue to influence the sector.
For the telecom industry in Afghanistan, the exit of a major brand like MTN may shift competitive dynamics, open opportunities for local or regional operators, and underline the importance of digital infrastructure investment even in high‑risk markets. As the market evolves, maintaining reliable connectivity and scaling data services (including possible 5G deployment) remain key priorities for customers, regulators and service providers alike.
