Airtel Africa and MTN Group have partnered to share network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, aiming to expand coverage and improve cost efficiencies.
In a joint statement, the operators said the agreement would particularly benefit remote areas that have yet to fully access digital services.
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said: “We continue to see strong structural demand for digital and financial services across our markets. To meet this demand, we are investing in coverage and capacity to ensure high-quality connectivity for our customers. At the same time, regulatory frameworks provide opportunities to share resources, driving greater efficiency and improving returns.”
Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar added that the partnership would help avoid duplication of costly infrastructure while enhancing operational efficiencies to the benefit of subscribers.
Future network sharing
MTN and Airtel are also exploring further agreements in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. In addition to RAN sharing, they are considering commercial and technical agreements for fibre infrastructure sharing and the construction of new fibre networks. The operators also indicated they may collaborate with other providers on network sharing initiatives.
This follows Vodacom and Orange agreeing a network sharing deal in the DRC.