South African telecommunications giant, MTN, has launched free weekly TikTok access for customers. The new feature gives gives South Africans one free hour of uninterrupted TikTok access every Sunday at no data cost.
According to an official statement by MTN South Africa on Tuesday, the free access is available through the MyGifts tab on the MTN app and is designed to reward customers who have the app installed.
The telecom operator said the initiative builds on the momentum of MTN Yiyo, its campaign positioning MTN as the only SIM a South African customer needs.
“MTN is making it easier for customers to unlock more value, more rewards, and greater convenience from a single MTN SIM instead of juggling multiple networks to chase different deals,” the company stated.
TikTok’s selection as MTN South Africa’s first Open Time partner is not coincidental. TikTok has become one of South Africa’s most dominant digital platforms, boasting over 17 million active users as of mid 2025 from just 4 million in early 2023. The platform currently has a penetration rate of around 30% among smartphone users, making it the second most-used social media network in the country after Facebook.
MTN said the free hour is designed to give customers uninterrupted time to scroll, share, and create on the platform, whether they are catching up on trending videos, supporting local creators, or producing their own content. Muyiwa Lapido, Chief Consumer Officer for Prepaid at MTN South Africa, noted that South Africans were creating and consuming more content online than ever before.
“We’re giving them experiences that are relevant, rewarding, and effortless. TikTok Open Time delivers exclusive digital perks every week, which customers can claim through the MTN app,” he said.
Also read: TikTok launches £3.99 monthly subscription for UK users who want an ad-free experience
The bigger picture for MTN and TikTok
TikTok Open Time is MTN’s first move under its broader Open Time rewards architecture, signalling that this is not a one-off promotion but the beginning of a structured loyalty strategy for prepaid customers.
In a continent where mobile data costs remain a significant barrier to digital access, a free hour of one of Africa’s most popular apps every week is a meaningful offer.
Whether other African operators respond with similar partnerships remains to be seen. But MTN has made its position clear: one SIM, more rewards, and now, a free hour of TikTok every Sunday.
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