MTN Eswatini Takes Overall Prize at 2026 Y'ello Care Awards as Drone Network Cuts Delivery to 30 Minutes

MTN Eswatini has been named the overall winner of the 2026 Y'ello Care Awards for the fifth time, after extending a medical drone network to a remote clinic in partnership with the Luke Commission and cutting medicine delivery times from up to four hours by road to as little as 30 minutes. EIN Presswire reported the award.

MTN Eswatini's Drone Network and the 2026 Awards

The awards were presented during MTN Group's annual Ambassadors' Appreciation Dinner in Sandton, attended by South Africa's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, alongside ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of development institutions and international organisations from across MTN's markets. The awards recognised colleagues and teams who worked alongside health ministries, health workers and communities during this year's 21 Days of Y'ello Care, held from 1 to 21 June under the theme "Expanding Equitable Health for Every Community". A total of 6,384 MTNers from MTN's operating companies, MoMo and Bayobab, the Group's digital infrastructure business, contributed more than 50,000 volunteer hours to healthcare initiatives that reached more than 400,000 people.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said the Group's success had always been intertwined with that of the countries and communities it serves. "A year ago, I said the time was now for Africa to take charge of its own socioeconomic progress. I believe that more firmly today," said Mupita. "Progress is built through partnership. For your partnership, we sincerely thank you." Since 2007, Y'ello Care has seen MTN employees contribute their time, skills and care to communities across the Group's markets. This year's campaign focused on healthcare amid disparities in access to health services and staffing across the continent. According to Africa CDC and McKinsey, Africa carries about a quarter of the global disease burden but only 3% of the world's health workforce, with the gaps widest in rural and underserved communities. Fourteen awards were presented, with every participating operating company and platform business recognised.

MTN Eswatini's Scale Behind the Award

MTN Eswatini is the Kingdom's dominant mobile telecommunications operator and MoMo mobile money provider, according to akta.pro company records. The company serves over 950,000 subscribers with voice, data, home internet, enterprise ICT, and a fintech platform with more than 500,000 users supported by 3,400 agents. MTN Eswatini was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Ezulwini, with an estimated revenue of $50 million to $100 million and a valuation estimate of $250 million to $500 million.

Earlier Moves at MTN Eswatini

MTN Eswatini launched MTN Hybrid Direct Internet Access to protect businesses against network disruptions like fibre cuts and power outages, Telecompaper reported in October 2026. The operator and Lubane Cooperative signed a five-year partnership to introduce a Device Loan Facility, Telecompaper reported the same month. In September 2026, MTN Eswatini launched the 2026/27 PachiPanda Challenge, inviting youth aged 18 to 35 to create sustainable solutions under the theme "Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa's Green Economy", Telecompaper reported.

What Comes Next for MTN Eswatini

MTN Group appointed Jerry Soko as the permanent CEO of MTN Eswatini, effective July 1, 2026, following his seven-month tenure as acting CEO, Connecting Africa reported in August 2026. Bayobab won the Platform Business Award at the 2026 Y'ello Care Awards for its contribution to employee volunteerism, EIN Presswire reported on October 17, 2026.