Truecaller, the popular caller identity app, announced that it surpassed 450 million users earlier this week, expanding it’s global reach.

The company added 50 million users in the past 10 months, including 15.5 million since the beginning of 2025.

Leadership Changes and Market Expansion

India remains Truecaller’s largest market, a factor reflected in the company’s recent leadership decision.

Following the decision of its co-founders to step back from daily operations last year, Truecaller appointed Rishit Jhunjhunwala, previously the Chief Product Officer and MD of India operations, as the new CEO.

While India continues to be a key market, Jhunjhunwala noted that the company is seeing rapid growth in other regions.

“We are proud that we now serve more than 450 million users globally. As before, we continue to see steady growth in our largest market, India, but the fastest relative growth is in markets outside of India.

“So far in 2025, we see strong growth trends in Latin America, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, and the US,” Jhunjhunwala wrote in a blog post.

Regulatory Challenges in India

Despite its dominance in India, Truecaller faces potential challenges as the country’s telecom department pushes for mobile carriers to implement a government-backed caller ID system.

This move could introduce competition to Truecaller’s services in one of its most crucial markets.

Financial Performance and Market Position

Truecaller maintained an active user base of nearly 430 million throughout Q4 2024. The company reported strong financial results for the quarter ending in December, with:

Net sales increasing by 23% year-over-year

Profit after tax rising by 29%

Stock price up more than 33% year-to-date

Product Enhancements and AI Integration

Earlier this year, Truecaller improved its caller ID functionality for iOS, overcoming previous limitations imposed by Apple’s operating system.

The company has also been expanding its offerings beyond caller identification by introducing:

Call recording and transcription features

An AI-powered assistant for call screening

Enhancements to its SMS and chat functionalities

With these advancements, Truecaller aims to solidify its position as a comprehensive communication platform while navigating competitive and regulatory challenges.

Stephen Blewett, chief executive officer, MTN Ghana, has denied claims that the telecom provider steals consumer data, a recurring grievance he claims he has encountered in every market during his career.

His statement coincided with a surge of similar concerns in Nigeria, where customers are accusing rival operators and the nation’s biggest telecom giant which has more than 80 million users of unjustly consuming their data.

According to reports, customers have bombarded the federal competition and consumer protection commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with emails and messages calling for an investigation into unexplained data usage.

The MTN operators who spoke on the issue denied any system to drain customers data, attributing the higher usage to the moving of video streaming, 3G and 4G networks to 5G networks.

Blewett addressed the allegation that customers data disappears because of intentional manipulation by MTN.

He explained that his bonus is dependent on reported revenue, adding that there is no financial incentive for such behavior.

He said , “If I steal data, I can’t report it—I’d lose my bonus,”

“A better network speeds up data use,” YouTube switches to higher resolution on stronger signals—it’s like Pac-Man eating your data. We don’t control that,” he added.

In an attempt to foster trust, Blewett emphasized MTN’s procedures. He stated, “We’re independently audited, billing errors would fail our financials,” and that an internal revenue assurance team continuously looks for inconsistencies to guarantee accuracy and compliance.

Regarding consumer allegations over disappearing data, he emphasized MTN’s dedication to transparency by saying, “We don’t want revenue leaks or incorrect billing.”

Credit: naijaeyesblog

As the application window for the fourth edition of the MTN’s coveted Media Innovation Programme (MIP) remains open till April 7, 2025, prospective fellows will have an exclusive opportunity to gain valuable insights into the application process during a special webinar on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

The session, organised in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, will feature four distinguished MIP alumni:

Ebunoluwa Dosumu – A seasoned media professional with expertise in journalism and content strategy; Augustus Aigbe – A communications specialist known for innovative storytelling and strategic media engagement; Àmáká Òkóyè – A dynamic media consultant with experience in international media projects and digital transformation; and Mike Okwoche – A veteran broadcaster and media trainer with a passion for mentoring upcoming journalists.

This webinar follows the March 28 session, where previous MIP fellows shared how the programme reshaped their careers and perspectives on media innovation.

Tomorrow’s session will take the conversation further, providing step-by-step guidance on the application process, sharing practical tips for crafting compelling essays, and answering live questions from attendees.

The MTN Media Innovation Programme, launched in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, is designed to equip media professionals with the tools, exposure, and network to navigate the evolving media landscape. Since its inception, the programme has empowered journalists, content creators, and media strategists to lead innovation in the industry.

Interested participants are encouraged to register for the webinar and take advantage of this opportunity to hear directly from past fellows who have successfully gone through the programme.

Don’t miss this career-shaping session! Register now: bit.ly/MIP2025_webinar2

For more information on the MTN Media Innovation Programme and how to apply, visit https://smc.edu.ng/apply-here/.