MTN Group and Airtel Africa have reached an agreement to share mobile network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda.
In statements released on Wednesday, the two companies said the collaboration aims to reduce investment costs while expanding service coverage.
As mobile operators across Africa face growing demand for digital and financial services, building and maintaining networks—particularly for high-speed 5G connections—can be costly.
The companies also mentioned that they will explore potential opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia.
Some of the agreements being considered include sharing radio access networks, which represent the largest portion of network deployment and operational costs; commercial and technical arrangements for sharing fibre infrastructure; and, if needed, the construction of fibre networks.
The companies said, “This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market.”
Speaking on the agreement, MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita in a statement said “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 the agreement would avoid duplication of expensive infrastructure.
He added that sharing infrastructure allows operators to extend their network coverage more quickly, especially in rural or less densely populated areas where it might not be economically viable to build separate networks.