An event open to MTN employees and external innovators

The MTN Group Technology Hackathon 2026 is not limited to internal teams: it is also accessible to external developers, entrepreneurs, and experts, according to the group’s announcement on its X platform. This openness aims to foster collaboration between local talent and MTN’s resources to address concrete challenges in artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and digital infrastructure, particularly through the AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network). Participants can propose problems to solve, opportunities to explore, or already testable ideas, with the ultimate goal of materializing them into Proof of Concept (PoC) or Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Bring your imagination and ambition, and build solutions that connect the unconnected, reach all communities, and unlock Africa’s potential.

AI and AI-RAN at the Heart of Africa’s Technological Challenges

The focus on AI-RAN reflects a growing trend in Africa, where telecom operators seek to optimize their networks using artificial intelligence to enhance coverage, capacity, and energy efficiency. According to AfriqueITNews, this approach could inspire similar innovations in other African countries, such as Ghana and Gabon, where tests on Massive MIMO FDD+TDD solutions have already shown a 107% improvement in network performance. These technological advancements could serve as benchmarks for future projects in West Africa, where demand for high-speed connectivity and digital financial services continues to rise.

A framework aligned with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy

The Hackathon fits within the broader scope of MTN Group’s Ambition 2030 strategy, positioning the company as a key player in technological innovation across Africa. As Charles Molapisi, Chief Technology and Information Officer of MTN Group, emphasized, the goal is to ‘connect the unconnected and reach all African communities’ through practical solutions. The hackathon thus represents a concrete step toward realizing this vision by leveraging both MTN’s internal resources and external expertise.

What this changes here: opportunities for Beninese and West African businesses and administrations

For businesses and administrations in Benin and West Africa, an event like the Hackathon MTN 2026 could offer several strategic levers:

• Access to innovative AI and fintech solutions: the prototypes developed during the hackathon could inspire local adaptations, particularly in sectors such as inclusive financial services or intelligent management of network infrastructure.
• Strengthening technological partnerships: local players could collaborate with MTN or other participants to co-develop applications tailored to the specific needs of West African markets, such as precision agriculture or connected health.
• Training and skill development: the event could serve as a model for organizing similar initiatives in Benin, leveraging existing ecosystems like those promoted by institutions such as the eLITI (e-Learning Institute of Information Technology) in Kenya, which has already trained 1,239 public agents in AI and digital transformation (according to AfriqueITNews).
• Optimization of networks and infrastructure: insights from technologies like AI-RAN or Massive MIMO solutions could guide investments in regional backbones, such as the recent fiber-optic link between Mali and Senegal, announced on October 5, 2026.

In the long term, active participation in such events would allow Beninese and West African stakeholders to leverage emerging trends while reducing their dependence on imported solutions, thus aligning their strategies with continental priorities.