Airtel Uganda, the country’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers, has announced plans to build a new 770km fibre ring network covering western Uganda with support from Facebook. According to a report from The Observer in Kampala, the network will connect at least 15 towns and help to improve performance and support upgrades to 3G and 4G technology.
Airtel Africa managing director Raghunath Mandava said in a statement: ‘We are confident that this 770km fibre in western Uganda will not only lessen the digital divide but also provide opportunities to increase inter-country connectivity with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.’ TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that Airtel claimed 35% of the Ugandan mobile sector at the end of 2016, behind market leader MTN with 46%.