Once on the market, MTN did not content itself with providing call and SMS services. More was needed to keep up with consumer demands and continue to earn their trust. MTN therefore committed to connecting Cameroonians to the new digital world. Thanks to the Internet. The journey through the network of networks began in 2005 with the creation of MTN Network Solutions, a subsidiary born out of MTN Cameroon’s acquisition of the operator Global Net. Public and private organisations were the first to be served, followed by private individuals. At the time, mobile internet was not available on phones, but on a kind of USB stick that had to be connected to a computer. Then came the technologies that made it possible to have internet on your mobile phone. Nokia 3310, Sony-Ericsson and other popular handsets of the time gave way to smarter phones, including Blackberry, which was introduced in Cameroon in 2008. By MTN. Technology evolved, and so did the possibilities. GPRS, 3G, 4G and now 4.5G. From simple text, images and videos, today everything is possible: education, medicine, commerce, entertainment. In real time.

Why limit this civic and responsible commitment to the environment when African values of solidarity and sharing are ingrained in its DNA ? The answer came in February 2006 with the creation of the MTN Foundation, first corporate foundation in Cameroon and first corporate foundation of the MTN Group. The new MTN Foundation is funded annually with 1% of the company’s after-tax profits, with its main areas of focus being health, education and community development. MTN is no longer contented with simply connecting its subscribers; it is now committed to their well-being.

Through the MTN Foundation, the company has cemented its belief that supporting and empowering communities is the best way to contribute to the country’s development. At that time, MTN did not yet realise what its Foundation would achieve in Cameroon: bringing lasting and inclusive smiles and hope to millions of Cameroonians from disadvantaged social backgrounds in the country’s 10 regions.

Speaking of lasting impact, MTN Cameroon further entrenched its roots in Cameroon by acquiring a head office, which was inaugurated in May 2006. Located at 360 Rue Drouot in Akwa Douala, MTN House reflects MTN’s commitment to investing sustainably in the Cameroonian economy and providing its staff with a modern and fulfilling working environment.

MTN House now stands as the beating heart of this ambition : a place where tomorrow’s strategies are shaped to support every Cameroonian, wherever they may be, on their own path to innovation and growth. Behind these walls, more than 1,370 billion CFA francs will be gradually injected into infrastructure development across the country.

This long-term commitment inspired another innovation in February 2007 : the Y’ello Night offer. Once again, this package was designed by local Cameroonians, engineers, completely immersed in their environment and aware of citizens’ expectations. When the streets get empty and the streetlights cast a soft glow, ‘Y’ello Night’ comes into play. Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., it is possible to make non-stop calls, paying only for the first minute.