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Telecommunications leaders MTN Group and Airtel Africa have entered a strategic agreement to share mobile network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria. This collaboration aims to enhance service coverage, particularly in underserved and rural areas, while optimizing operational costs through resource-sharing initiatives.
Driving Efficiency and Connectivity Expansion
The CEOs of both companies underscored the importance of infrastructure sharing in extending connectivity to regions where independent network development would be financially challenging.
MTN Group CEO, Ralph Mupita, highlighted the regulatory support for such initiatives, stating:
“There are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher efficiencies and improve returns.”
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that reducing infrastructure duplication benefits both operators while ensuring cost-effective network expansion.
The agreement remains non-exclusive, allowing both MTN and Airtel Africa to explore additional partnerships with other operators as they continue expanding their network reach.
Expanding Collaboration Across Africa
Building on the success in Uganda and Nigeria, MTN and Airtel Africa are evaluating similar network-sharing initiatives in other African markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. Key areas of collaboration under consideration include:
- Radio Access Network (RAN) Sharing – Optimizing the most significant cost factor in network deployment.
- Fibre Infrastructure Sharing – leveraging joint technical and commercial agreements for enhanced connectivity.
- New Fibre Network Development – expanding high-speed digital infrastructure where necessary.
Boosting Rural Connectivity in Nigeria
This partnership aligns with Airtel Nigeria’s recent approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to construct 7,000 new telecom towers in rural areas. The investment supports Nigeria’s broader efforts to bridge the digital divide and expand nationwide connectivity.
By joining forces, MTN and Airtel Africa are set to accelerate network expansion, improve operational efficiency, and deliver enhanced telecommunications services across multiple African markets.
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