MTN Group and Airtel Africa have reached an agreement to collaborate on network infrastructure sharing in Nigeria and Uganda, while adhering to local regulatory and statutory guidelines.
In a joint statement, both companies stated that the partnership aims to strengthen their commitment to expanding digital and financial inclusion across Africa.
The agreements are designed to enhance network cost efficiency, broaden coverage, and deliver improved mobile services to millions of customers. The initiative particularly aims to connect underserved communities in remote and rural areas, ensuring they can fully experience the benefits of modern digital connectivity.
The companies also revealed plans to explore similar opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia.
They noted that the agreements under review include radio access network sharing, one of the most significant cost factors in network deployment along with commercial and technical collaborations for fibre infrastructure sharing. If required, they may also undertake fibre network construction.
The companies further clarified, stating, “This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market.”
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita, speaking on the agreement, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering digital solutions that drive Africa’s progress. He stated, “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, emphasized that the agreement would help reduce the unnecessary duplication of costly infrastructure. He further explained that sharing network infrastructure enables operators to expand coverage more efficiently, particularly in rural and densely populated areas where constructing separate networks may not be financially feasible.
