MTN and Airtel Africa Partner to Expand Network Coverage

Telecom giants MTN Group and Airtel Africa have signed agreements to share network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, aiming to improve coverage, cut costs, and enhance mobile services. This strategic partnership is expected to bridge digital and financial inclusion gaps, especially in rural and underserved communities.

As data demand surges across Africa, network sharing has emerged as a cost-effective way to boost connectivity while complying with regulatory frameworks. MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita highlighted the growing need for expanded services:

“As MTN, we are driven by the vision of delivering digital solutions that drive Africa’s progress. We continue to see strong structural demand for digital and financial services across our markets. To meet this demand, we continue to invest in coverage and capacity to ensure high-quality connectivity for our customers. That said, there are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher efficiencies and improve returns.”

Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar echoed this sentiment, stressing the benefits of a shared infrastructure approach:

“As we compete fiercely in the market on the strength of our brand, services and our offerings we are building common infrastructure, within the permissible regulatory framework, to provide a more robust and extensive digital highway to drive digital and financial inclusion at the same time avoiding duplication of expensive infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies and benefits for our customers.”

The Rise of Network Sharing in Africa

The collaboration between MTN and Airtel Africa aligns with a global trend of telecom operators working together to optimise resources. Infrastructure sharing reduces redundancy, improves service delivery, and enables broader access to reliable mobile networks.

With the Uganda and Nigeria agreements now in place, both telecom firms are exploring similar initiatives in other African markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. This could involve Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing, technical partnerships for fibre infrastructure, or even joint investments in new fibre networks where necessary.

Competition Remains Intact

Despite working together on infrastructure, MTN and Airtel Africa remain competitors in their respective markets. Both companies have affirmed their commitment to maintaining independent operations while also being open to partnering with other telecom providers where beneficial.