Playing a vital role in Zambia’s ongoing development, the telecommunications (telecoms) sector continues to enable communication between individuals and businesses and acts as a powerful driver of socioeconomic activity.
“We recognise that the telecoms sector grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased demand for digital services as people adapted to partial lockdowns, contributing to a rise in mobile and internet subscriptions, domestic calls, and general usage,” opens Abbad Reda, CEO of MTN Zambia (MTN), the country’s leading mobile network operator.
In this way, the industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, fuelled by technological advancements and supported by targeted government initiatives.
“The government has made a concerted effort to encourage the use
ZAMBIA IS CALLING
Celebrating 20 years of connectivity, MTN Zambia is on a mission to increase its customers’ access to a modern, connected life. Abbad Reda, CEO, reflects on two decades of success for the company and its hopes for a digitally enabled future
Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Ben Weaver
of ICT as a tool for economic growth and social inclusion in Zambia,” he adds.
Take, for example, the establishment of the Ministry of Technology and Science alongside the launch of the SMART Zambia Institute – both of which share the common goal of driving the country’s digital transformation and improving national growth through technology.
The SMART Zambia Institute –responsible for the management and promotion of electronic government services – has been pivotal in expanding the use of ICT.
This is demonstrated by its substantial investments in data centres, a computer assembly plant, ICT training centres, and its Digital Skills Training Programme.
These developments are complemented by the expansion of broadband access and improved connectivity to international submarine cables, resulting in more
affordable fixed-line and mobile services for end-users.
“It is exciting to note that the recent PwC Zambia Telecommunications Report 2025 highlighted the telecoms sector’s pivotal role as a catalyst for socioeconomic growth and job creation,” he notes.
The report’s findings confirmed rising national demand for increased access to mobile connectivity, data services, and digital financial transactions.
The sector also reportedly generated local employment opportunities and contributed 4.6 percent of total net revenue collections.
20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
With 2025 marking two decades of MTN connecting Zambians, driving digital transformation, and empowering progress across the nation, it is certainly a thrilling time for the company.
“FROM THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE CHAMPIONED A BUSINESS STRATEGY CENTRED AROUND PROVIDING LEADING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS THAT PROPEL ZAMBIA’S PROGRESS, ENABLING INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES TO UNLOCK THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN TODAY’S FASTPACED DIGITAL WORLD”
– ABBAD REDA, CEO, MTN ZAMBIA
“From the beginning, we have championed a business strategy centred around providing leading digital solutions that propel Zambia’s progress, enabling individuals, businesses, and communities to unlock their full potential in today’s fast-paced digital world,” Reda explains.
Reflecting on 20 years of success, Reda is proud that MTN was the first mobile network operator to launch 5G in Zambia, support financial inclusion, increase rural site connectivity, and ensure ordinary citizens have access to affordable mobile devices and plans.
“We have enabled everyone from
entrepreneurs to the mining sector to reach global markets,” he outlines.
In addition, the MTN Skills Academy – an online platform providing free digital and financial training – has enabled students to access online learning.
Enhanced connection over the last two decades has also empowered healthcare providers to deliver critical telemedicine services.
“We have been at the forefront of ensuring that people can stay connected to family, friends, and colleagues,” Reda prides.
Acknowledging their role in helping the company reach this important milestone, the 20th anniversary campaign provided an important opportunity for MTN to thank its customers, partners, and stakeholders.
A DIGITALLY ENABLED SOCIETY
MTN prides itself on being a leader in innovation and customer-centric service provision.
Through unique product propositions, such as Mixo Mixo, the company provides its customers with the opportunity to tailor their data, voice, and SMS bundle depending on individual requirements, creating a sense of control, freedom, and value-for-money.
“As an inclusive supplier, we seek to enable and empower everyone from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations and public sector organisations,” Reda shares.
As such, MTN recently signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zambia’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) to upskill SMEs in terms of digital proficiency, market access, finance, and innovation.
“We have also implemented digital self-service portals to make accessing services and onboarding more straightforward,” he details.
For large corporate organisations, MTN is enabling seamless mobile communication such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) for office connectivity locally and internationally.
Unified communications, meanwhile, enables e-businesses to seamlessly connect with their
customers across multiple digital channels, whilst Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud solutions allow businesses to effortlessly monitor and optimise their operations in real-time.
In addition, MTN’s high-security networks enable the protection of its customers’ information against cyber-attacks.
CONNECTING THE NATION
Having recently partnered with Huawei to introduce new 5G technology to Zambia, MTN is advancing the country’s network infrastructure and digital future.
“By launching 5G, we have ensured that our various stakeholders get an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the advanced technology,” Reda insights.
For consumers and small businesses, this means increased speed of connectivity and lower latency – which is particularly beneficial for streaming, quicker downloads, faster browsing, video conferencing, and real-time applications.
MTN’s Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and home internet products offer cities where fixed fibre penetration is still low – like Lusaka, Kitwe, and Ndola – best-in-class 5G internet service with affordable packages.
Bridging Africa to the GCC Digital Future
Powering Agility, Security, and Global Growth Since 1997
The RACS Global Value Proposition
R A Consulting Services Zambia Limited (RACS) is a prominent part of a multi-national technology and compliance powerhouse, delivering transformative solutions that connect rapidly digitalising African markets with the GCC’s world-class standards. Our mission is to enable businesses to embrace innovation, security, and operational efficiency in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
With over 25 years of demonstrated expertise, RACS combines state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure with highly specialised business management consulting, offering tailored solutions that are secure, scalable, resilient,
Strategic
Global
Positioning:
and future-proof. From enterprise data centres and cloud platforms to advanced cybersecurity frameworks and end-to-end digital transformation, RACS helps organisations focus on strategic growth while reducing operational complexity.
At the heart of our offering lies Computer-Aided Management Solutions (CAMS), which enable clients to streamline operations, enhance productivity, reduce costs, and achieve measurable returns on investment, all while ensuring complete regulatory compliance across multiple regions.
Africa → GCC Technology and Compliance Bridge
RACS serves as a strategic digital and compliance bridge between Africa and the Middle East, leveraging operational hubs in Zambia, Botswana, Mauritius, Madagascar, the UAE, and a global development centre in Noida, India
Why This Matters
By leveraging the UAE’s global hub for technology, compliance, and trade, RACS empowers African enterprises to meet international standards, confidently access new markets, and scale operations efficiently and securely.
This broad footprint allows us to provide consistent, highquality service delivery, rapid issue resolution, and access to world-class expertise, all under one unified partner framework.
This strategic positioning allows clients to benefit from both regional insight and global expertise, creating a competitive edge in highly regulated and fast-evolving markets.
Our Key Locations and Coverage:
Zambia – Lusaka
Botswana – Gaborone (Head Office)
Mauritius – Ebene
Madagascar – Antananarivo
UAE – Dubai (Regional HQ)
Saudi Arabia and Oman – via UAE hub
India – Noida (Global Development and Support Centre)
Our Competitive Edge
RACS differentiates itself by offering a unique integration of technology delivery, regulatory compliance expertise, and cross-border business insights.
Strength
Africa–GCC Nexus
ICT + Compliance
Cost-Effective CAMS
Skill Transfer and Capacity Building
Proven Track Record
Service Portfolio
What It Means
Seamless cross-border ICT and compliance solutions for businesses operating between Africa and the Middle East, ensuring smooth expansion and market entry.
Combines advanced data centres, cloud platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and UAE certifications (EQM, ECAS, Halal) for holistic solutions.
Custom solutions designed to replace inefficient legacy systems, streamline operations, and optimise costs.
Every engagement includes comprehensive training to ensure clients can independently sustain and manage their systems in the long term.
Trusted by governments, banks, telcos, and multinational enterprises for executing national and regional projects to international standards.
RACS operates across two integrated pillars: technology solutions and managed services, providing end-to-end support for digital transformation, operational excellence, and compliance.
A. Technology Solutions – Building the Digital Core
1. Data Centre and Infrastructure
• Design, construction, and maintenance of energyefficient, high-availability data centres.
• SAN/NAS storage, virtualisation, disaster recovery, and hyperconverged infrastructure.
Value: Ensures scalable, resilient, and reliable environments capable of handling exponential growth in data, applications, and digital services, maintaining uninterrupted business continuity.
2. Network and Cyber Security
• Comprehensive network design, integration, and optimisation.
• Firewalls, IDPS, endpoint security, SIEM, and proactive threat intelligence.
• Security audits aligned with African and GCC compliance standards.
Value: Protects critical data, financial systems, and operations, enabling secure and compliant business practices across all locations.
3. Cloud and Digital Transformation
• Hybrid, private, and public cloud migration strategies.
• AI-driven analytics, modern workplace solutions, and bespoke software development.
• Process automation and digital service enablement.
Value: Reduces capital expenditures, enhances organisational agility, and provides predictive insights for smarter and faster decision-making.
4. Compliance and Conformity Assessment
• Emirates Quality Mark (EQM), ECAS compliance, and Halal certification
• Ensures GCC regulatory adherence for imports, exports, and product distribution
Value: Offers clients a single partner solution for both technological advancement and regulatory compliance, facilitating smooth entry into GCC markets.
B. Managed Services – Sustained Performance and Operational Excellence
• Centralised multi-vendor service management.
• Proactive monitoring, patching, optimisation, and preventive maintenance.
• 24/7/365 service desk and on-site support with SLA guarantees.
Value: Reduces operational risks, minimises downtime, and allows clients to focus on strategic growth, whilst RACS ensures the continuous performance of critical IT ecosystems.
The RACS Promise
Partnering with RACS provides clients with secure, modern IT infrastructure, alongside:
• Agile, cloud-enabled operations
• Full regulatory and compliance alignment
• Seamless cross-border expansion capabilities
• Sustainable skill transfer and operational independence
RACS is not just an ICT vendor—we are your partner in transforming digital ambitions into real-world, globally-compliant outcomes, helping businesses thrive across continents.
A Message from the Managing Director
Elevating Your Enterprise: Our Global Commitment to Your Digital Future
To our valued customers and future partners, In today’s dynamic global marketplace, technology is no longer just a support function; it is the fundamental engine of growth, competitiveness, and international commerce. At RACS, we have proudly spent over two decades dedicating ourselves to ensuring your engine runs optimally, securely, and seamlessly across borders.
Our journey began in 1997, built on the core belief that right decisions, effective strategies, and quality services delivered rapidly are the cornerstones of client success. Today, that belief drives our specialised teams in key economic hubs across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The Power of Our Global Footprint
We understand that modern business is boundaryless. This is why RACS has strategically established a global footprint, allowing us to offer you a unique advantage – worldclass technical standards delivered with essential local insight
Whether you are seeking to secure a new data centre in Zambia, establish a robust cloud platform in Botswana, manage IT infrastructure in Madagascar or Mauritius, or navigate critical compliance and certification standards required for the UAE and the wider GCC, RACS is your single, reliable partner. Our presence in the is particularly crucial, acting as a vital
bridge that connects the growing economies of Africa to the sophisticated technological and regulatory environment of the Middle East.
Beyond Technology: The RACS Partnership Pledge
Our commitment to you extends beyond the powerful solutions we deliver—from cyber security and digital transformation to our expert managed services. Our true strength lies in our dedication to genuine partnership, which includes:
• Customised Solutions – We don’t believe in onesize-fits-all solutions. We blend management practice and IT expertise to deliver unique Computer-Aided Management Solutions (CAMS) tailored specifically to your operational realities and strategic goals.
• Empowering Your Teams – We are committed to local capacity building. Every RACS project includes a structured plan for skill transfer to your personnel, ensuring the long-term sustainability and independence of your new systems.
• Guaranteed Service – Our 24/7/365 service desk and strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs) ensure that wherever you operate, you have the consistent, high-quality support necessary to maintain business continuity and focus on your core mission.
Your success is the only metric that truly matters to us. We are positioned, prepared, and committed to helping you turn today’s technological challenges into tomorrow’s global opportunities.
I invite you to engage with the RACS team and experience the difference that comes from partnering with a proven leader dedicated to your long-term growth.
Warm regards,
Saurabh SainiManaging Director R A Consulting Services
“IN AFRICA, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS A STORY OF INCLUSION, EMPOWERMENT, AND OPPORTUNITY”
– ABBAD REDA, CEO, MTN ZAMBIA
Elsewhere, Zambia’s major industries such as mining are also benefitting from MTN’s 5G infrastructure and coverage.
“This is our strategic, long-term national benefit as we believe a private 5G network can power the mining industry – our roll-out in the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, for example, was not a coincidence,” he reveals.
As Zambia’s economy is powered by mining, 5G has arguably become the key to unlocking a new era of industrial
efficiency and safety.
In addition, 5G’s ultra-low latency allows for the remote operation of heavy mining machinery like drills and haulage trucks, ensuring safety and monitoring become an active process.
Increased operational efficiency from 5G, meanwhile, will allow mines to connect thousands of IoT sensors for real-time data updates, as well as
facilitate predictive maintenance on equipment and fleet automation.
“This directly translates to higher productivity and a stronger mining sector,” Reda highlights.
As the first telecoms company to launch 5G in Zambia, Reda emphasises how achieving this prolific milestone is about more than just sending a message, but symbolising
IF YOU
COULD
RESHAPE ONE ELEMENT OF ZAMBIA’S TELECOMS ECOSYSTEM OVERNIGHT, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Abbad Reda, CEO: “We work with the belief that everyone deserves the benefit of a modern connected life, and we are actively pursuing it through expanding our coverage footprint and offering affordable smartphones to customers.
“Zambia’s growth depends on how fast we can transition from fragmented investments to a shared, open-access ecosystem –where fibre, towers, and spectrum are optimised collaboratively, not competitively.
“With a forward-looking policy that encourages infrastructure sharing, fair spectrum allocation, and investment incentives, we can rapidly close the rural access gap, expand digital inclusion, and create a platform for innovation across industries.
“The goal is simple – to make connectivity not a privilege, but a basic economic enabler for every Zambian.”
Zambia’s future readiness.
“This technology is critical for our industrial clients, especially in the mining sector where automation is becoming the standard.
“We are paving the way for a digital economy, supporting home entertainment, and powering the next SME businesses with reliable and faster internet connectivity.”
BRIDGE THE CONNECTIVITY DIVIDE
Having been appointed as an authorised dealer of SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, MTN is proud to offer Starlink Business packages, providing nationwide internet access across rural, peri-urban, and underserved regions.
“The initiative seeks to bridge the connectivity divide by providing Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband to underserved communities, businesses, and institutions,” Reda smiles.
With Starlink packages now purchasable through local retail outlets, MTN is also on hand to provide professional installation services, specialist support, and dedicated customer service, ensuring a smooth and reliable experience.
Contributing to the economic growth of the country through the
roll-out of its advanced technology, MTN is also prioritising digital and financial inclusion by providing affordable smartphones.
“We realised that many people want to use the internet, but the cost of a phone is a barrier,” he outlines.
In light of this, the company introduced the Alola 4G Smartphone in 2024, providing an affordable and subsidised entry-level smartphone to Zambians.
“The Alola 4G Smartphone gives customers a great experience without the need of the heavy price tag,” Reda points out.
By getting more people off 2G and 3G and onto 4G and 5G networks, MTN is opening a new dawn of digital services for its users.
“It is about making sure no one is left behind. This is in line with our commitment and belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life,” he adds.
GROWING WITH PURPOSE
Dedicated to helping its people grow with purpose, MTN actively ensures development happens where it matters most.
“Our approach goes beyond employment today – it’s about sustaining productivity and job satisfaction well into the future,” Reda tells us.
In this way, the company proactively balances the demands of the present with preparation for what lies ahead, considering evolving technologies, changing ways of work, cultural shifts, and the dynamic needs of both customers and employees.
MTN achieves this through a mix of structured learning programmes, leadership development initiatives, and digital learning platforms which make training accessible – anytime, anywhere.
In addition, the company’s
partnerships with digital learning providers enable employees to gain future-ready skills in areas such as digital transformation, customer experience, and emerging technologies.
“This commitment spans the entire organisation – from leadership to frontline teams, focusing on what we do today, what we will do tomorrow, and what we will continue doing to stay ahead,” he urges.
“At MTN, we anticipate tomorrow’s customer expectations and the skills
required to meet them, leveraging resources that enable us to deliver a truly modern connected life,” Reda reflects.
Through continuous learning and upskilling, the company ensures its workforce is ready to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving digital landscape.
MODERN, CONNECTED, PROGRESSIVE
Anticipating a digitally enabled future, MTN’s corporate social investment (CSI) approach has shifted towards more ICT-enabled programmes.
Today, the company aims for 75 percent of its CSI spend to be focused on ICT ecosystem programmes, and the remaining 25 percent used to address national priority areas or disaster relief efforts.
Continually ensuring it is making a difference in the community, MTN prides itself on its staff volunteer programme, 21 Days of Y’ello Care, conducted annually in June.
“We have been undertaking our 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative for 18 years and contribute to meaningful community development that has had a positive impact to several millions of Zambians,” Reda excites.
The initiative was a key part of last years’ 20th anniversary celebrations, where staff participated in activities focusing on bridging the digital divide for remote, rural, and underserved communities, women and girls, those with disabilities, refugees, and youth.
Employees travelled far and wide to implement community-focused, highimpact projects that directly helped over 10,000 Zambians.
Through the MTN Zambia Foundation, meanwhile, the company has continued to increase gender equality and youth development.
The Foundation’s PachiPanda Innovation Challenge in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), for example, offers younger generations a platform to present
innovative ideas on challenges relating to climate change, energy, and food security.
MTN is proud to see that a Zambian-born initiative has been widely adopted, with five countries now competing in the PachiPanda Innovation Challenge – namely Zambia, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and South Africa.
The MTN Skills Academy platform has been one of the flagship projects for the MTN Zambia Foundation, offering over 300 free courses addressing the need for digital skills enhancement and recording over 20,000 users so far, contributing to digital inclusion and bridging the digital skills gap.
Looking ahead, the company remains committed to ensuring access to a modern, connected life, protecting the planet, and driving digital and financial inclusion that will boost inclusive economic growth in Zambia and beyond.
“In Africa, digital transformation is a story of inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity. It’s not just about digitising services or adopting new tools – it’s about reimagining how people live, work, and prosper through technology and solving uniquely African challenges with African innovation.
“When digital becomes the foundation for socioeconomic mobility, not just convenience, that’s when transformation is truly real,” Reda passionately concludes.
