Infobip and MTN’s Bayobab Signs Deal to Revolutionize SMS Connectivity in Africa

MTN’s Bayobab and global communication leader Infobip have sealed a strategic five-year partnership aimed at transforming SMS messaging services across Africa. This collaboration promises to simplify messaging for brands, enhance security, and improve efficiency, marking a major leap in Africa’s digital connectivity landscape.

Bayobab, a subsidiary of MTN Group and a key player in Africa’s digital infrastructure, will integrate Infobip’s Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) solutions to streamline SMS connectivity. This move eliminates the need for brands to connect separately with each MTN mobile network operator (MNO), enabling a single, secure access point for terminating SMS traffic.

With over 115,000 km of fiber cable and management of 24 subsea cables, Bayobab is well-positioned to scale this initiative, ensuring brands and aggregators can reach millions of users seamlessly.

The partnership also incorporates Infobip’s industry-leading security solutions, including advanced firewall technology to protect mobile subscribers. This ensures not only efficient SMS routing but also safeguards against fraud and unauthorized access.

By leveraging Infobip’s CPaaS capabilities, Bayobab can optimize routing, reduce administrative costs, and provide a higher quality messaging experience for brands and telecom providers alike.

Kedar Gupte, Bayobab’s Chief Mobility Business Officer, emphasized the importance of this partnership in Africa’s growing digital economy:

“We wanted to simplify how brands manage messaging in Africa with a single access point, high-quality service, and necessary controls. Our partnership with Infobip equips us to do this on a large scale and is crucial for tapping into Africa’s growth potential.”

Similarly, Matija Ražem, Infobip’s Chief Commercial Telecom Officer, highlighted how this collaboration will set new standards for SMS connectivity across the continent:

“Our partnership optimizes Bayobab’s SMS connectivity and routing across Africa, supporting its expansion plans. Infobip has been managing global SMS traffic since 2006, and this move aligns with our mission to enhance messaging solutions worldwide.”

Infobip’s CPaaS enablement modules offers:

• Smart campaign and bulk messaging management
• Advanced routing controls for quality and cost efficiency
• Revenue protection features like grey route detection
• Unified reporting and analytics for better decision-making
• Seamless onboarding for brands and telecom partners

By integrating these capabilities, Bayobab and Infobip are setting the stage for more reliable, cost-effective, and secure messaging services across Africa.

As Africa’s mobile economy continues to expand, this partnership represents a critical step in ensuring that businesses, telecom operators, and consumers benefit from a more connected and efficient digital ecosystem.

With this alliance, Infobip and Bayobab are not just improving SMS services—they are reshaping Africa’s telecom future. Businesses can now expect faster, more secure messaging, while telecom operators gain greater control over their networks.

This is a major win for the African digital economy, signaling a shift toward more innovative and scalable telecom solutions in the years ahead.