Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group have announced a network-sharing agreement aimed at reducing deployment costs and accelerating the rollout of 4G and 5G services in key African markets. The arrangement is pending regulatory approval in Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Initially, the partnership will focus on sharing fibre infrastructure to enable the rapid deployment of digital services, expand coverage, and lower infrastructure expenses. Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar highlighted that fibre connectivity would be a key enabler for high-speed mobile network expansion across the continent.
Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub described the initiative as a cost-effective way to connect more people and move closer to Vodacom’s goal of reaching 260 million individuals by 2030. Taldar added that the collaboration aligns with Airtel Africa’s commitment to making its network accessible even in the most remote areas, while opening greater access to digital and financial services.
Vodacom recently partnered with Orange to develop and operate solar-powered base stations in rural DRC, underscoring its push for sustainable connectivity solutions.
