MTN and Airtel to Share Network Infrastructure Across Uganda and Nigeria

 (3 Minutes Read)

MTN Group and Airtel Africa have formed an agreement to share mobile network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, aiming to reduce costs and improve service coverage. This collaboration comes as mobile operators across Africa face rising demand for digital and financial services while grappling with the high expenses of expanding and maintaining networks, particularly for 5G connectivity.

MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita noted that regulatory frameworks in various countries support resource-sharing, which can greatly boost operational efficiency and profitability. Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar emphasized that infrastructure sharing would eliminate redundant investments and ease financial pressures.

By collaborating, the two companies can expand their network coverage more rapidly, particularly in rural and low-population areas where building separate infrastructure is financially unfeasible. This partnership is expected to improve mobile and internet access, reaching millions who previously lacked reliable network coverage.

The agreement in Uganda and Nigeria marks just the beginning. MTN and Airtel Africa plan to explore similar collaborations in other regions, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. They are considering various types of partnerships, such as sharing radio access networks (RAN), which are a significant cost factor in network deployment. They are also looking into commercial and technical agreements for sharing fiber infrastructure, along with potential joint investments in building fiber networks when necessary.

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Although this partnership signals a shift toward more collaboration in Africa’s telecom industry, both MTN and Airtel Africa clarified that it does not prevent them from entering similar agreements with other operators. This move aligns with a broader industry trend of infrastructure sharing as a cost-effective strategy for expanding connectivity.

As the demand for mobile data and digital services increases, partnerships like this are expected to play a key role in providing wider, faster, and more affordable network access across Africa.