MTN, Safaricom listed among world’s top 10 strongest telecom brands
Leading African telecoms providers, MTN Group and Kenya’s Safaricom have been listed among strongest telecom brands in the world. The annual report, released by Brand Finance last week, showcases telecom operators that are more trusted and emotionally resonate with their subscribers. The report rates operators using a brand strength index (BSI) with metrics including reputation, reliability, likeability, preference, and recommendation.
Safaricom ranked fifth in the list with a BSI score of 88.1, reflecting the operator’s strong influence in Kenya and Ethiopia. MTN Group ranked sixth with a BSI score of 87.3, a ranking that recognises the operator’s track record of trust across more than 15 African countries. As Kenya’s leading network provider with over 60 million subscribers, Safaricom continues to drive digital transformation across its markets, powering growth in both the public and private sectors.
In its latest earnings report for the six months ending September 2025, the operator posted a voice and data revenue of KSh200 billion (~$1.5 billion), majorly powered by its Kenyan market, which saw revenue of KSh194 billion. Though losses still abound in Ethiopia, the operator still stands firm in a market it launched four years ago. Safaricom’s mobile money product (M-Pesa) and infrastructure rollout are part of its tools for powering growth and bridging both the financial and digital divide.
It recently secured regulatory approval to raise $308 million (KSh40 billion) through a corporate bond to upgrade its infrastructure in both markets. MTN Group’s appearance in the ranking is expected, with its subscriber base surpassing the 300 million mark in December. Powered by its MTN Ghana and Nigeria businesses, with each having the largest customer base in its country, the operator has become a leading voice in the industry.
As evidence of its consumer trust, MTN Group is expecting its 2025 earnings to surge by 300 percent following a strong year, driven by a positive turnaround of profit in its Nigerian and Ghanaian markets. Both saw a combined profit after tax of over $1.5 billion. Its ongoing deal to acquire the remaining 75 percent stake in IHS Tower is another significant boost to its brand, which investors see as a move that could strengthen the company’s fleet of assets.
Although only MTN and Safaricom made the top 10 list from Africa, other notable mentions on the continent include Orange, Vodacom and Yas.
