If someone told you in 2025 that you could get 4G smartphones for R99, you’d probably laugh to their face. Or at least check, what’s the catch. But MTN isn’t joking. South Africa’s second-biggest mobile network has just launched one of its most ambitious projects yet: putting affordable 4G smartphones into the hands of more than 1.2 million prepaid users.
Why This Matters
For a change, this rollout isn’t about scoring headlines or clearing warehouse stock. It’s about something much bigger: inclusion. South Africa is racing to shut down its aging 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2027. The problem is, millions of South Africans still rely on those legacy technologies, either because they can’t afford to upgrade or because they’re in areas where 4G hasn’t felt accessible, until now.
MTN has responded to the call. Meet people where they are and give them the tools to move forward.
“We can’t talk about digital progress while leaving half the country stuck in the past,”
MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi
said MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi. And he’s right.
How It’ll Roll Out
The rollout is happening in three phases:
- Phase one, starting this May, will offer 5,000 devices to selected customers in Gauteng. Selection will be based on usage and loyalty.
- Phase two scales things up to over 130,000 users across the country.
- Phase three goes big — more than 1.1 million prepaid users will get access by the end of 2026.
The devices will be locked to MTN’s network, which is not unusual for subsidised phones. They will also come preloaded with key apps for education, health, communication, and work. It’s the kind of digital starter pack that can actually shift someone’s day-to-day life.
What Kind of Phones?
The first batch includes a 5.5-inch itel smartphone, retailing at around R740. Later devices will vary in specs, with retail prices ranging between R800 and R1,100. MTN is covering the logistics and distribution, spending about R150 to R190 per unit — a decent investment for a product being handed out at 90% off retail, if not more.
It’s all happening in partnership with Smartphone For All, a local company led by Babatunde Osho.
“This is about unlocking opportunity,” said Osho.
“Too many people have been left behind by the digital economy, and this is one way to bring them in.”
Babtunde Osho: Smartphone for all
He’s not exaggerating. For someone earning under R3,000 a month, buying a phone that costs R1,000 outright just isn’t an option. But at R99 a pop? That opens doors.
The Broader Industry Shift
It’s worth noting that MTN isn’t the only one playing in this space. Vodacom recently released a R249 4G phone aimed at feature phone users, and the writing is on the wall: telcos are done waiting for users to upgrade on their own.
Why? Because the future and the revenue that these telcos depend on lives in data, not voice calls. The faster customers shift to smartphones, the faster they start using WhatsApp, YouTube, online banking, and mobile payments. And that’s where operators make their money now.
Final Word
There’s a lot that can go wrong in a campaign this big. Logistics, uptake, device quality, long-term engagement — all of it matters. But if MTN can pull this off, this won’t just be good business. It’ll be a genuinely meaningful moment in South Africa’s digital journey.
And in a time when most tech talk feels like hype and sometimes greed, it’s refreshing to see something grounded in real-world impact.
