In a strategic move to enhance operational efficiency and expand service coverage, MTN Group and Airtel Africa have entered into network-sharing agreements in Nigeria and Uganda. This collaboration aims to reduce infrastructure costs while extending mobile services to underserved regions.Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group, emphasized the growing demand for digital and financial services across the continent, stating, “We continue to see strong structural demand for digital and financial services across our markets.Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, highlighted the benefits of the partnership, noting that it would prevent the duplication of expensive infrastructure and drive operational efficiencies.The agreement includes sharing towers, base stations, and fiber-optic networks, facilitating faster network expansion, particularly in rural areas where independent infrastructure development may not be economically viableFollowing the implementations in Nigeria and Uganda, both companies plan to explore similar collaborations in other African markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. Potential areas of cooperation encompass radio access network sharing and fiber infrastructure development.This initiative reflects a broader trend in the telecommunications industry toward resource sharing to optimize costs and enhance service delivery, ultimately benefiting consumers with improved connectivity and broader access to digital services.
