Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has been named the Grand Prix Most Admired African Brand – Telecommunications at the 2025 Brand Africa Awards, earning recognition for its growing impact on the continent’s digital landscape.
The awards were announced at a ceremony held in Windhoek on Monday, where MTC also claimed the titles of Grand Prix Most Admired Namibian Brand, Most Admired African Brand (Aided Recall), Most Admired Namibian Brand Doing Good for Society and the Environment, and Most Admired Namibian Brand Contributing to a Better Africa.
The telco was also recognised as the Most Admired Telecommunications Brand in Namibia.
“These awards are a testament to the passion, resilience and innovation that define MTC,” said Tim Ekandjo, MTC’s Chief Brand, Marketing, Communication and Sustainability Officer.
“We are deeply honoured to be recognised by Brand Africa. This achievement reflects the trust our customers place in us and the dedication of our teams who work tirelessly to connect communities, bridge digital divides and power Africa’s digital future.”
Brand Africa, the organisation behind the awards, said MTC’s recognition reflects its brand leadership and purpose-driven business model.
Now in its 15th year, the Brand Africa Awards highlight companies that are shaping Africa’s development through excellence in branding and social impact.
Commenting on the company’s performance, Ekandjo said MTC has recorded a number of milestones over the past decade. “In 2011, we became the second operator in Africa to launch 4G services, despite the challenges posed by Namibia’s vast geography,” he said.
“In 2016, we partnered with Huawei to trial LTE-Advanced and 4.5G technology, the first such test on the continent. We followed that with the 081Every1 campaign in 2017, through which we erected over 581 towers to bring 3G coverage to every populated area in Namibia,” he added.
Ekandjo noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, MTC enabled the government’s remote working policy by accelerating digital access.
He also highlighted the company’s landmark listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange in 2021.
“This was the first time a Namibian public enterprise transitioned from full state ownership to a publicly traded entity,” said Ekandjo.
“The IPO raised N$2.54 billion, the largest in Namibian history.”
In terms of technological advancement, Ekandjo said MTC successfully demonstrated its 5G readiness in 2024.
On the social investment front, Ekandjo pointed to the launch of “MTC 4Life” in 2023, a programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment by providing skills training and business support.
“We are equipping young Namibians with practical and entrepreneurial skills to start or grow small businesses,” he said.
He also mentioned the National Internship Programme, launched in 2019, which has so far placed over 1,000 students in paid internships.
“In 2024 alone, we supported 293 interns, offering stipends and valuable workplace exposure,” Ekandjo said.
Turning to digital financial services, he said the launch of MTC Maris in October 2024 marked a major step forward in financial inclusion.
“This mobile money service allows users to store, send and receive money using any mobile device, with no need for a bank account. It works even on basic 2G or 3G phones,” he explained.
