MTN and Meta team up to enhance WhatsApp call quality across 12 African countries

If you’ve ever tried making a WhatsApp call in parts of Africa, chances are you’ve dealt with frustrating lags, dropped calls, or patchy audio. It’s a familiar struggle in regions where mobile internet is widespread but network quality hasn’t quite caught up. Now, MTN and Meta are teaming up to tackle that challenge head-on.

The two companies are collaborating to enhance the performance of real-time calling apps like WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets.

This partnership has been in motion since it was first established at the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Since then, MTN and Meta have worked together to identify key areas where targeted network optimizations can make the biggest impact. Using data analytics, they’ve developed and tested solutions to improve how mobile networks and apps like WhatsApp interact without compromising traffic efficiency. In short, it’s about fewer call interruptions and a more stable experience—even in areas with weak signals.

Nigeria is the first to see results. According to MTN, there’s already been a 50% improvement in key performance indicators related to call quality and stability. “We’re pleased with the remarkable improvement in our real-time communication services,” said MTN Nigeria CTO Yahaya Ibrahim. Meta’s Diego Marí echoed the sentiment, calling the collaboration a step toward “an unparalleled real-time experience in Nigeria.”

What makes this effort notable is that it's the first time Meta has partnered with a telecom operator in Africa on this kind of technical optimization specifically aimed at real-time voice and video calling.

For everyday users, it could mean WhatsApp calls that don’t cut out during important conversations. That’s a big deal in a region where mobile data is the default, and WhatsApp is essential for both personal and business communication.

But this isn’t just about smoother calls. It reflects a wider push to close Africa’s digital gap. Despite high mobile phone adoption, internet quality remains inconsistent across the continent. According to a 2024 OpenSignal report, 60% of African countries scored below 30% in “Consistent Quality”

Compared to more connected regions, Africa still faces an uphill climb in digital infrastructure. But collaborations like this suggest a shift. Instead of waiting for infrastructure to catch up, telcos and tech companies are finding workarounds

The success in Nigeria could serve as a model for the remaining 11 MTN markets—though the company hasn’t revealed which countries are next just yet.

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TechloyKelechi Edeh