Lonestar Cell MTN

What Lonestar Cell MTN does

Lonestar Cell MTN is a Liberian public limited liability company founded in 2001 and operating as a subsidiary of MTN Group, a multinational telecom present in 19 African and Middle Eastern countries. The company is Liberia's first mobile operator and incumbent market leader, serving approximately 5 million subscribers — effectively the country's entire connected population — through prepaid voice, SMS, and LTE/4G data services, complemented by the MoMo mobile financial services platform (also launched in 2012 as Liberia's first mobile money service). MoMo extends the operator into person-to-person transfers, merchant payments via MoMo Pay, bank integrations through Push & Pull with seven Liberian banks, international remittances via Sendwave and World Remit, USD-LRD forex exchange with BnB Transfer, and Xtra Cash micro-credit powered by Optasia.

Underlying technology centers on an LTE/4G mobile network with USSD-based access (*156#, *125#, *124#, *500#), the My MTN App and MoMo App for self-service, a Huawei-supplied device portfolio (MiFi $34.99, 4G routers $49-$79), and the MoMo Open API at momodeveloper.mtn.com. Distribution combines 9 retail service centers across 10+ Liberian provinces, 9,000-25,000 MoMo agents, merchant acquirers, and a dedicated MTN Business field-sales team selling enterprise ICT (MPLS, Fiber to Business, Dedicated Internet, Data Center Hosting, Call Center Setup, Enterprise Wi-Fi bundles from $9 to $479/month). The company also runs CSR through the MTN Foundation and developer/community engagement via the Mobile Money Hackathon and MoMo Heroes of Change programs.

The business model blends five revenue streams: usage-based voice/SMS/data, transaction fees on MoMo cash-in/cash-out and remittance withdrawals, recurring MTN Business subscriptions, one-time device sales, and interest/fee revenue from Xtra Cash micro-credit. Pricing is split between LRD-denominated local bundles and USD-denominated enterprise services and devices, with aggressive MoMo-bonus mechanics (up to 400% airtime bonus) used to migrate subscribers from physical vouchers to digital wallets.

Name

Lonestar Cell MTN

Legal name

Mobile Telephone Networks (Proprietary) Limited

Website

https://lonestarcell.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lonestar Cell MTN is Liberia's incumbent mobile operator and MTN Group subsidiary, providing LTE voice and data, MoMo mobile financial services, and enterprise ICT solutions to roughly 5 million subscribers across consumer, SME, and government segments via retail stores, agents, USSD, and mobile apps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Mobile Network Operators (Retail MNOs) (HDAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial/OT Private Connectivity (Factory, Mining, Ports) (HDAIAGAD), IoT Connectivity Management (Private APN, SIM/eSIM, Device Connectivity) (HDAIAGAG), Mobile Wholesale & Roaming Providers (Interconnect, IOT, Roaming Hubs) (HDAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Mobile telecommunications
• Mobile money services
• Enterprise ICT solutions
• Mobile financial services
• LTE data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Monrovia

HQ country

Liberia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Telecommunications Services (Airtime & Data): Primary revenue stream from voice call airtime ($0.25/min on-net with up to 400% bonus on MoMo recharge), SMS ($0.025/message), and data bundles (from $0.35 for 70MB daily to $479 for 1078GB monthly). New SIM purchases at 100LRD with bundled welcome benefits.
2. MTN Business Solutions: Enterprise services including Managed Networks (MPLS, Fiber, Dedicated Internet), Cloud (Data Center Hosting, Server Hosting), Communications (Call Center Setup), and Enterprise Wi-Fi bundles ($9-$479/month). Also Bulk SMS with sender ID customization and campaign scheduling for SMEs.
3. MoMo Mobile Money Services: Transaction-based revenue from MoMo services including cash-in/cash-out (sliding commission), merchant payments (no fees to business), bank transfers via Push & Pull, international remittance withdrawal fees, and MoMo Bundle purchases. Mobile Money account creation and deposits are free.
4. Device Sales: Sale of hardware including MiFi devices ($34.99), 4G Routers Standard ($49), and 4G Router Premium ($79) as one-time purchases, often bundled with data promotions such as free 50GB on MiFi activation.
5. Xtra Cash Micro-Credit: Micro-credit loans powered by Optasia, disbursed to Mobile Money wallets. Revenue derived from interest charged on loans and service fees, with automated repayment via MoMo wallet debit after due date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Lonestar Cell MTN operates Liberia's leading mobile telecommunications network, providing prepaid and postpaid voice, SMS, and LTE/4G data services to approximately 5 million subscribers. The company's flagship MoMo platform enables mobile money transfers, merchant payments, bank integrations, international remittances, micro-credit, and forex exchange without requiring a traditional bank account. It also delivers enterprise-grade ICT solutions including managed MPLS/Fiber networks, dedicated internet, cloud/hosting, and bulk SMS for businesses.

Product overview

Lonestar Cell MTN operates as a platform-plus-services telecommunications company in Liberia. The core offering combines mobile voice and data services (LTE network with prepaid/postpaid plans, e-SIM) with an extensive mobile financial services ecosystem called MoMo. MoMo serves as the central platform enabling person-to-person transfers, merchant payments (MoMo Pay), bank integrations (Push & Pull with 7 banks), international remittances (Sendwave, World Remit), micro-loans (Xtra Cash), and forex exchange. Business solutions include enterprise connectivity (MPLS, Fiber, Dedicated Internet), cloud hosting, Bulk SMS, and Call Center services. Device portfolio features Huawei-branded 4G routers and MiFi units. The company also operates the MTN Foundation for CSR activities. The platform architecture supports third-party integration via MoMo Open API and serves both consumer and enterprise segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MoMo: Mobile financial services platform offering money transfers, payments, airtime purchase, bill payments, savings, loans, international remittances, and merchant services
• MTN Business
• MTN Foundation
• MoMo Business
• MoMo Pay
• MTN X5
• MTN Prestige
• MTN Rush Hour

Products and services

• MoMo Mobile Money MTN's flagship mobile financial services platform enabling money transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, merchant payments, international remittances, savings, and micro-loans via mobile phone. Serves consumers, agents, merchants, and corporates across Liberia.
• Mobile Voice Services Prepaid and postpaid mobile voice and SMS services including national and international calling, voice bundles, and SMS bundles. Coverage spans approximately 5 million subscribers across Liberia.
• Mobile Data Services LTE mobile data services with daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly bundle plans ranging from $0.35 to $30 for consumers, with separate Enterprise Wi-Fi bundles from $9 to $479.
• MoMo Pay Merchant payment solution allowing customers to pay for goods and services using MoMo with no transaction fees for businesses accepting payments.
• MoMo Push & Pull Service enabling transfers between bank accounts and MoMo wallets via partnerships with seven Liberian banks (UBA, GT Bank, Access Bank, LBDI, IB, Afriland, ECOBANK), accessible via USSD *156#.
• International Remittance via MoMo Service allowing MTN MoMo subscribers in Liberia to receive international money transfers from Sendwave (USA & Canada) and World Remit (Africa) directly into their Mobile Money account.
• Xtra Cash Micro-Credit Micro-credit loan service powered by Optasia, disbursed to Mobile Money wallets with automated repayment via MoMo wallet debit. Reports to national credit bureaus after 90 days default.
• MoMo Forex Exchange Foreign exchange service allowing subscribers to exchange US Dollars for Liberian dollars directly within their MoMo wallet, implemented in partnership with BnB Transfer and aligned with the Central Bank of Liberia.
• MoMo Business Corporate mobile payment platform enabling businesses of any size to request payments, create bills, upload invoices, make bulk disbursements, manage salary payments, and access financial services including loans and savings.
• MoMo Agent Program Entrepreneur program enabling operators to run Mobile Money kiosks offering cash-in/cash-out, airtime sales, bill payments, and MoMo registration. Agents earn commission on transactions across three tiers with initial deposits from LRD 10,000 to LRD 50,000.
• Bulk SMS Self-service messaging solution for SMEs enabling SMS campaigns with sender ID customization, scheduling, text merge, duplicate removal, delivery reports, and multiple payment options.
• MTN Business Solutions Enterprise-grade managed network services including Domestic & International MPLS, Fiber to Business, Dedicated Internet Services, Server Hosting, Data Center Hosting, Call Center Setup, and Enterprise Wi-Fi bundles up to 1000MBPS.
• Enterprise Bundles Managed Wi-Fi bundle solution for organizations with data plans from $9 (10GB) to $479 (1078GB) per month, supporting up to 32 users per portable device.
• Dedicated Internet Services Fully managed high-speed internet with direct-to-router connectivity, integrated internet access, high availability, redundancy, built-in firewall, and dedicated account management.
• Fiber to Business Fiber optic connectivity solutions for businesses from 1MB and above, including Dark Fiber, LCC, and Managed options.
• Domestic & International MPLS Private leased circuit solution providing connectivity between Liberian operations and branch offices across Africa and beyond via MPLS technology.
• Data Center Hosting Website and server hosting service with free spam protection, auto installer, unlimited email, brandable control panel, free data migration, and route advertisement.
• My MTN App Self-service mobile application for airtime purchase, bundle management, balance checking, spend limits, and plan updates. Zero-rated (does not consume airtime or data). Available on Google Play and Apple Store.
• MoMo App Suite of three MoMo mobile applications: Consumer App for money transfers and payments, Agent App for commission processing, and Merchant App for business payment management. Available on Google Play and Apple Store.
• 4G Router Premium Huawei-branded 4G/LTE router supporting download speeds up to 300Mbps and upload speeds up to 50Mbps. Features 5000mAh battery (4 hours), connects 32-64 devices, supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz. One-time price of $79.
• 4G Router Standard 4G/LTE router with download speeds up to 150Mbps, connecting up to 32 devices simultaneously. One-time price of $49.
• MTN Broadband MiFi Portable 4G/3G mobile hotspot with 150Mbps download speed, 6-8 hour battery life, connects up to 10 devices. Includes free 50GB data for 30 days. One-time price of $34.99.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 million transactions processed on MoMo, making it Liberia's first choice for mobile money
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BnB TransfercoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational remittance and tech company that partnered with Lonestar Cell MTN to design the software enabling mobile money wallet foreign exchange (USD to LRD). BnB Country Manager David Ojo noted the service solves problems for remittance recipients by ensuring fair exchange rates.
• Mercy CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization partnering with Lonestar Cell MTN to organize the inaugural Mobile Money Hackathon, contributing to digital financial inclusion and mobile money ecosystem development in Liberia.
• Kwagei GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner collaborating with Lonestar Cell MTN and Mercy Corps on the Mobile Money Hackathon to foster innovation in mobile financial services.
• UBA (United Bank for Africa)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank partner enabling MoMo Push & Pull service allowing transfers between bank accounts and MoMo wallets. Customers dial *156# option 7 to access the service after registering at partner bank branches.
• GT BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationBank partner for MoMo Push & Pull enabling bank-to-wallet and wallet-to-bank transfers. Part of the integrated banking ecosystem accessible via USSD.
• Access BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationBank partner for MoMo Push & Pull bank-to-wallet and wallet-to-bank transfer service.
• LBDI (Liberian Bank for Development and Investment)coreTechnology or IntegrationLiberian bank partner for MoMo Push & Pull enabling integration between LBDI accounts and MoMo wallets.
• IB (International Bank)coreTechnology or IntegrationBank partner for MoMo Push & Pull service enabling bank account to mobile money wallet transfers.
• Afriland First BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationBank partner for MoMo Push & Pull service enabling integrated banking and mobile money transactions.
• ECOBANKcoreTechnology or IntegrationPan-African bank partner for MoMo Push & Pull enabling cross-network mobile money and bank account integration.
• SendwavecoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational remittance partner allowing MTN MoMo subscribers in Liberia to receive money from the USA and Canada directly into their Mobile Money account. Sender uses sendwave.com.
• World RemitcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational remittance partner enabling MTN MoMo subscribers to receive money from Africa directly into their Mobile Money account. Sender uses worldremit.com.
• OptasiacoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner powering the Xtra Cash micro-credit loan service on MTN MoMo. Loans are disbursed to Mobile Money wallets and repaid via automatic deduction. Optasia handles credit assessment and loan servicing.
• HuaweiminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSupplier of 4G Router Premium and potentially other network devices. Huawei brand devices sold through MTN Liberia retail channels.
• MTN GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent multinational telecommunications group operating in 19 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Lonestar Cell MTN operates under the MTN Group brand and follows Group strategies including Ambition 2025.
• MSMEs, Large Organizations, Public Sector, NGOsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpression of Interest program inviting resellers, VARs, and referral partners across various verticals (hospitality, education, agriculture) to extend MTN Business ICT solutions reach.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wave (mobile money): Mobile money operator expanding across West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, others) with low-fee P2P transfers. Could enter Liberia as a fintech-native competitor to MoMo without legacy telecom infrastructure.
• Onafriq (MFS Africa): Pan-African digital payments network connecting mobile wallets across operators and countries. Relevant as a partner/competitor for cross-border remittance and wallet interoperability — directly intersecting MoMo's international remittance and Push & Pull services.

Broad incumbents

• Safaricom: Kenyan MNO and pioneer of M-Pesa, the most successful mobile money platform globally. Comparable business model of integrated telecom + mobile financial services, and benchmark for MoMo product strategy and ecosystem development.
• Airtel Africa: Pan-African mobile operator with operations across multiple Sub-Saharan markets, including presence in Liberia-adjacent West Africa. Operates Airtel Money, comparable mobile financial services product to MoMo.
• Millicom / Tigo: Latin America and Africa-focused telecom with Tigo Money mobile financial services. Comparable in operating mobile + mobile money in emerging markets, with similar low-ARPU consumer base profile.
• MTN Group (other subsidiaries): Parent group operating mobile networks in 18 other African and Middle Eastern countries. Closely comparable in business model, brand, technology stack, and MoMo-style mobile money platforms (MTN Mobile Money).
• Vodacom Group: Africa-focused mobile operator (including operations in DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique) with M-Pesa mobile money. Comparable integrated MNO + fintech business model serving emerging African markets.

Others

• Huawei: Supplier of 4G Routers and MiFi devices sold through Lonestar's retail channels, and a likely infrastructure vendor for the LTE network. Indirect ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Econet Wireless: African mobile operator with EcoCash mobile money in Zimbabwe and adjacent markets. Comparable emerging-market MNO + mobile financial services operator with similar subscriber scale and product mix.
• Orange Liberia: The only other meaningful mobile operator in Liberia and direct competitor to Lonestar across voice, data, and mobile money (Orange Money). Closest comparable in terms of market, regulatory positioning, and product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MTNlonestar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lonestarcellmtn9943
• Facebookfacebook.com/LonestarCellMTN
• LinkedInlr.linkedin.com/company/lonestar-cell-mtn
• Instagraminstagram.com/lonestarcell_mtn/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lonestar Cell MTN