Subject to regulatory approvals, two African telecom giants, Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group, have signed an infrastructure sharing agreement covering Tanzania, Congo, and Mozambique.
- Subject to regulatory approvals, two African telecom giants, Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group, have signed an infrastructure sharing agreement covering...
- The partnership, which was announced on Tuesday, focuses on pooling fibre networks and tower infrastructure to speed up the rollout...
- Airtel and Vodacom’s commitment to enhancing digital inclusion in Africa Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer, Sunil Taldar, said: “Working with Vodacom,...
- MTN, 9mobile set network infrastructure-sharing pace Airtel-Vodacom’s network sharing deal is not the first in Africa.
Keep reading for the full breakdown on Airtel Africa — everything you need to know is covered below.
The partnership, which was announced on Tuesday, focuses on pooling fibre networks and tower infrastructure to speed up the rollout of digital services, enhance connectivity, reduce infrastructure costs, and enable a quicker time to market.
Both operators hope to increase dependable, fast internet access, especially in underserved areas, by utilising one another’s resources to promote digital inclusion throughout Africa.
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Airtel and Vodacom’s commitment to enhancing digital inclusion in Africa
Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer, Sunil Taldar, said: “Working with Vodacom, we will open greater access to digital and financial opportunities which will transform the lives of our customers while complying with all regulatory requirements.”
The collaboration bolsters Airtel Africa’s dedication to providing robust, high-capacity networks to support 4G, 5G, and emerging digital services and Vodacom’s objective of connecting 260 million customers by 2030.
Vodacom Group’s chief executive officer, Shameel Joosub, said: “Providing connectivity to empower people is at the core of our strategy. Our partnership with Airtel Africa is a proactive step forward in creating a sustainable, inclusive, and connected digital future for the continent.”
Even though they are competitors, the companies emphasise that infrastructure collaboration has become crucial for closing the digital divide, improving network performance, and opening up new digital and financial opportunities for communities throughout the continent.
MTN, 9mobile set network infrastructure-sharing pace
Airtel-Vodacom’s network sharing deal is not the first in Africa. Techpression reported in June that telecom operator 9Mobile received approval to launch nationwide roaming services on MTN Nigeria’s network after nearly five years of delays.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) permitted 9Mobile customers to use MTN’s infrastructure for data, calls, and texts effective June 1, in places where 9Mobile’s coverage is spotty or nonexistent.
With the network-sharing deal, 9Mobile could connect directly to MTN’s extensive network, gaining coverage without investing in developing its infrastructure.
In exchange for hosting the mobile phone company, MTN benefits from partial access to 9Mobile’s underutilised spectrum holdings in the 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 2100MHz bands.
In July, it was reported that MTN Nigeria and 9mobile began testing the historic radio access network-sharing arrangement.
Thanks to the agreement approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the operator with three million subscribers can take advantage of MTN’s vast radio access infrastructure while keeping its core network, billing systems, and customer identity.