MTN Group and Airtel Africa have announced a strategic partnership to share mobile network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, a move aimed at enhancing service coverage while optimizing investment expenditures. The collaboration was confirmed in a joint statement released on Wednesday.
With the growing demand for digital and financial services across Africa, mobile operators face increasing costs in deploying and maintaining high-speed networks, especially with the introduction of 5G technology. This partnership seeks to alleviate those financial pressures by allowing both companies to share critical infrastructure, improving operational efficiencies and service availability.
Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN Group, highlighted the significance of this arrangement, stating, "There are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher operational efficiencies and improve returns." Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that reducing the duplication of infrastructure would streamline operations and enhance network performance.
Prior to this agreement, MTN Nigeria, a subsidiary of MTN Group, had been in discussions with Nigerian telecom operator 9mobile regarding a mobile-roaming arrangement. If finalized, the deal would allow 9mobile to access MTN Nigeria’s network infrastructure in designated regions while granting MTN access to 9mobile’s spectrum, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.
By leveraging shared infrastructure, MTN and Airtel Africa can expedite network expansion, particularly in rural and underserved areas where independent investments may be cost-prohibitive. This initiative is expected to improve connectivity and digital inclusion for millions of users.
Beyond Uganda and Nigeria, the two companies are exploring additional infrastructure-sharing opportunities in other African markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. Future collaborations may involve the sharing of radio access networks, fiber infrastructure, and even the joint construction of new fiber networks where necessary.
Both MTN and Airtel Africa have clarified that this partnership does not preclude them from engaging with other operators, ensuring a flexible and coopera
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