Africa’s biggest telecoms operator, MTN Group, has confirmed a recent cyberattack that exposed personal information of some customers in a few of its markets.
However, the company assured that its key systems remain intact and secure.
In a statement published on its website on Thursday, the Johannesburg-based company said an unidentified third party gained limited access to its systems. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the full extent of the breach.
Despite the incident, MTN emphasised that there is no evidence to suggest that customer accounts or digital wallets were directly affected.
“There is no compromise to our critical infrastructure, core network, billing platforms, or financial services systems. These remain fully secure and operational,” the statement read.
MTN, which operates in 19 countries and serves over 280 million subscribers, said it has notified relevant security agencies in South Africa, including the police and the Hawks. The company is also collaborating with authorities in other affected countries.
In line with regulatory obligations, MTN has begun notifying customers whose data may have been exposed.
“We are working closely with authorities and law enforcement agencies to support their investigations and will continue to provide updates,” the telecom giant stated.
To help customers stay protected, MTN advised them to take precautions such as updating their apps regularly, using strong and unique passwords, and enabling multi-factor authentication where possible.
Customers were also urged to be wary of unsolicited messages, especially those containing suspicious links, and to avoid sharing sensitive information like passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords via calls, texts, or emails.
MTN says it remains committed to protecting customer information and will continue enhancing its security measures.
