MTN Group and Airtel Africa have signed a network infrastructure-sharing deal in Nigeria and Uganda, aimed at reducing costs and expanding mobile connectivity in underserved areas.
The agreement, announced on March 27, 2025, is designed to reduce operational costs and enhance service delivery, particularly in rural regions with limited access to digital services.
The collaboration will include several network-sharing models, such as Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing and fibre infrastructure partnerships, potentially involving the creation of new fibre networks. Both MTN and Airtel, which control 51.79% and 34.11% of Nigeria’s telecom market respectively, have faced challenges due to foreign exchange losses caused by the naira’s depreciation.
In response, the companies have reduced their investments in network infrastructure to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations and rising operational costs, including the increasing price of energy.
MTN’s President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, noted the rising demand for data services across Africa and the importance of strategic investments to meet this demand. He reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to expanding digital and financial services while exploring ways to improve operational efficiency through regulatory frameworks.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, described the partnership as a practical way to build a stronger digital infrastructure while ensuring cost efficiency. The agreement aims to eliminate costly infrastructure duplication, leading to operational savings and benefits for customers. Airtel serves over 156 million customers across 14 countries, while MTN operates in 19 countries across Africa and the Middle East with a customer base of 287 million.
Both operators are also exploring similar network-sharing opportunities in other countries, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia.
