Telecom giants MTN Group and Airtel Africa have partnered to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda, aiming to improve connectivity and digital access while reducing costs.
The agreement, which aligns with local regulations, is designed to expand coverage, especially in underserved rural areas, ensuring more people benefit from reliable mobile and financial services.
MTN’s CEO, Ralph Mupita, highlighted that demand for digital services is surging, and sharing infrastructure is a smart way to keep up while maintaining affordability. Instead of duplicating expensive networks, both companies will pool resources to enhance service quality.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, emphasized that while the companies remain competitors, collaborating on infrastructure allows them to deliver stronger, more reliable services without unnecessary spending.
Network sharing is a growing global trend, enabling telecom operators to cut costs and improve efficiency, benefiting both businesses and consumers.
Beyond Nigeria and Uganda, MTN and Airtel are exploring similar partnerships in Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia, as well as fibre-sharing agreements to further boost digital access across Africa.
