MTN Group and Airtel Africa have signed an agreement to share mobile network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda, with an aim aiming to cut costs while expanding service coverage.
The move will save the longstanding business rivals resources as they face growing demand for digital and financial services amid high costs of building and maintaining networks.
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said network-sharing will improve operational efficiency and boost returns for the two firms. Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar noted that the partnership would help avoid the costly duplication of infrastructure.
“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,” he said.
By sharing network infrastructure, both companies can expand coverage more rapidly, especially in rural and underserved areas where independent investments may not be financially viable.
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Following the deals in Nigeria and Uganda, MTN and Airtel Africa plan to explore similar opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia.
Potential collaborations include radio access network sharing—one of the biggest cost drivers in network deployment—alongside agreements on fibre infrastructure and new fibre network construction if required.
The companies clarified that the agreement does not prevent them from partnering with other operators in their respective markets.
Read the full statement of the agreement:
Driven to extend digital and financial inclusion across Africa, MTN Group and Airtel Africa have entered into agreements to share network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, while ensuring compliance with local regulatory and statutory requirements.
These sharing agreements target improved network cost efficiencies, expanded coverage and the provision of enhanced mobile services to millions of customers, particularly those in remote and rural areas who do not yet fully enjoy the benefits of a modern connected life.
MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita said operators on the continent were seeing sustained demand for data 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 Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said: “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 initiative is part of a growing global trend toward network sharing. By collaborating, telecoms operators can explore innovative and pro-competitive solutions to improve service quality while managing costs more effectively. The sharing of infrastructure has the potential to enable the delivery of world-class, reliable mobile services to more and more customers across Africa.
Following the conclusion of agreements in Uganda and Nigeria, MTN and Airtel Africa are exploring various opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia. Among the types of agreements considered are RAN sharing and those aimed at establishing commercial and technical agreements for fibre infrastructure sharing and, if necessary, the construction of fibre networks.
MTN Group and Airtel Africa are dedicated to working with other mobile operators within the countries in which they have a presence to achieve the advantages of network sharing. Throughout this process, the parties will continue to function as independent market entities and will compete freely in shared markets. This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market.
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