Operators

Airtel Africa, Vodacom to share infrastructure in African markets

Airtel Africa, Vodacom to share infrastructure in African markets

Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group announced they would share infrastructure in key African markets to cut deployment costs and accelerate 4G and 5G rollouts.

The network-sharing agreement was subject to regulatory approval in Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Once implemented, the partnership was set to initially focus on sharing fibre networks to support the deployment of digital services, expand coverage and reduce infrastructure costs.

Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar said the initial focus on fibre connectivity was a key enabler for 4G and 5G network deployment across the continent.

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub described the partnership as a “cost-effective” move that would allow the company to rapidly connect more people and move closer to its target of reaching 260 million people by 2030.

“This partnership was aligned with our unwavering commitment to delighting our customers by always making our network available to them, even in the remotest locations. Working with Vodacom, we would open greater access to digital and financial opportunities that could transform the lives of our customers while complying with all regulatory requirements,” added Taldar.

Vodacom recently partnered with Orange to build and operate solar-powered base stations in rural locations of the DRC. 



More Articles you may be Interested in...