Africa’s largest telecom operator, MTN Group, has reported a cybersecurity breach resulting in unauthorized access to personal data of customers in select markets. The company confirmed that its core network, billing systems, and financial infrastructure remain secure and fully operational, with no evidence of compromised accounts or digital wallets.
The breach, attributed to an unidentified third party, targeted parts of MTN’s systems but did not affect its Nigerian operations, according to sources. MTN swiftly activated its cybersecurity protocols, notifying law enforcement agencies including South Africa’s SAPS and the Hawks, and began alerting impacted customers in compliance with local regulations.
Customers are urged to update apps, use strong passwords, enable multifactor authentication, and avoid suspicious links. The incident underscores rising cyber threats faced by global telecom providers, following similar attacks on operators like South Korea’s SK Telecom.
