Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group have announced an infrastructure sharing agreement aimed at accelerating digital connectivity across East Africa, with a focus on Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The deal, pending regulatory approval, is designed to fast-track network expansion, reduce operational costs, and improve service delivery in underserved regions.
A Strategic Move to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide
By sharing fibre networks and tower infrastructure, the two telecom giants plan to enhance 4G and 5G rollout, delivering faster internet speeds and more reliable coverage. The initiative will lower infrastructure costs while expanding access to mobile, fixed, and financial services in rural areas where connectivity gaps remain significant.
“Providing connectivity to empower people is at the core of our strategy,” said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.
“Our partnership with Airtel Africa is a proactive step forward in creating a sustainable, inclusive, and connected digital future for the continent. Through infrastructure sharing, we can provide cost-effective services to more people, more rapidly, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.”
Joosub added that the collaboration supports Vodacom’s ambition to connect 260 million customers by 2030, emphasising the need for scalable, cost-efficient network solutions.
“This partnership provides us with the opportunity to narrow the digital divide, empowering more individuals and communities through digitalisation across the continent. It is aligned with our purpose to connect for a better future.”
Airtel Africa: Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage
Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, echoed the importance of the partnership in driving inclusive growth:
“This partnership is aligned with our unwavering commitment to delighting our customers by always making our network available to them even in the remotest locations. Working with Vodacom, we will open greater access to digital and financial opportunities which will transform the lives of our customers while complying with all regulatory requirements.”
Taldar emphasised that collaboration is now a business imperative:
“It has become a business imperative for us to collaborate in the provision of critical infrastructure required to build resilient network with strong capacity to support the emerging digital technologies as well as the growing need for data-enabled products and services.”
He also highlighted the role of fibre deployment in enabling next-generation technologies:
“Accelerating the deployment of fibre connectivity is a key enabler in the acceleration of 4G and 5G technologies in Africa to deliver the high-speed, low-latency, and reliable connections needed for modern digital applications.”
“This partnership allows for further opportunities for both operators to enhance network performance, extend coverage, and increase mobile, fixed, and financial services leveraging a broader footprint on the continent.”
Supporting East Africa’s Digital Economy Goals
The agreement reflects a growing trend in Africa’s telecom sector, where operators are joining forces to meet rising data demands amid economic pressures.
