MTN, led by Ralph Mupita, drawn into Iran shutdown

MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, under the leadership of Zimbabwean executive Ralph Mupita, has been drawn into Iran’s decision to shut down mobile and internet services during a violent crackdown on nationwide protests, after authorities moved to replace the chief executive of its Iranian affiliate without consulting the South African parent.

Iran telecom shakeup follows protest shutdown

Iranian authorities removed Alireza Rafiei, chief executive of MTN Irancell, accusing him of delaying compliance with an order to block communications as protests spread across the country earlier this month, according to people familiar with the matter. Rafiei took about two hours to shut down voice calls after receiving the directive on Jan. 8, the people said, asking not to be identified because the issue involves sensitive political and business considerations.

That delay prompted Irancell’s state-backed majority shareholders, who have close ties to Iran’s security services, to replace Rafiei with Mohammad Hossein Soleimanian, a former military officer, the people said. MTN Group, which owns 49 percent of the Iranian mobile operator, was not informed in advance of the decision. MTN has since written to the Irancell board to formally dispute the move, according to the people. The MTN board has not spoken directly with Rafiei since his removal, they added.

The communications blackout has sharply limited information coming out of Iran during some of the largest demonstrations the country has seen since the 1979 revolution. Protesters have taken to the streets over rising prices, economic hardship and allegations of government corruption. A United Nations expert said this week that at least 5,000 civilians may have been killed by security forces. The internet shutdown, now in its third week, has cut off access for more than 90 million people.

MTN growth strong, Iran asset frozen

MTN Group, led by Chief Executive Ralph Mupita, a Zimbabwean business and telecom executive , operates in 16 markets and serves about 300 million subscribers. In the first half of 2025, the company reported a 23 percent increase in revenue to $6 billion, driven by a 37.5 percent rise in Nigeria and a doubling of revenue in Ghana.

MTN entered Iran in 2006 through a partnership backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, helping to build what is now the country’s second-largest mobile operator. The company has tried to sell its stake since 2020, but U.S. sanctions and restrictions on transferring funds have blocked any exit. Mupita described the investment last year as a “frozen asset.” MTN has not repatriated dividends or capital from Iran since U.S. sanctions were reimposed in 2018. 

Irancell has about 70 million active SIM cards, giving it roughly 42 percent market share, according to Iran’s telecom regulator. The Iranian business has also weighed on MTN’s reputation. Turkey’s Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS has alleged MTN paid bribes to secure its Iranian license, claims MTN has repeatedly denied. Elsewhere, MTN has successfully exited higher-risk markets, including Afghanistan and Syria.