The Group Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has signalled a major transition in Africa’s digital financial ecosystem, noting a gradual shift from USSD-based services to smartphone-driven, app-based financial platforms. He made the remarks during a fireside chat at the 2026 3i Africa Summit where industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of digital finance on the continent. Mupita indicated that Africa’s financial services landscape is undergoing a structural transformation, moving beyond basic mobile money transactions to more advanced, technology-enabled financial ecosystems. “We are in the middle of a transformation for digital finance. Historically, this has been driven by USSD-based services on 2G devices. But going forward, we will see a shift toward smartphone-driven, app-based digital finance experiences.” He explained that while USSD and feature phone-based services played a critical role in expanding financial inclusion across Africa, the next pha...