MTN Group and Airtel Africa have signed an settlement to share community infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda, a strategic transfer aimed toward decreasing rising operational prices whereas increasing cellular protection to underserved areas. The uncommon collaboration underscores a broader shift towards price optimisation amongst African telecom giants as foreign money devaluation and financial headwinds pressure profitability.
Nigeria, the largest marketplace for each firms, has been significantly difficult. The nation accounts for 40% of MTN Group’s income and 34.4% of Airtel Africa’s. Nonetheless, each telecom giants have struggled with income declines since 2023 because of naira devaluation. The foreign money droop has inflated community deployment prices, forcing operators to cut back infrastructure funding. By sharing towers, base stations, and fiber-optic networks, MTN and Airtel purpose to handle bills whereas enhancing connectivity in distant areas.
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita stated the settlement goals to satisfy the rising demand for knowledge providers and digital monetary options throughout Africa. In Nigeria, MTN’s market share grew to 51% in January, including over 3 million new subscribers to achieve a complete of 87.5 million. Airtel Nigeria expanded its subscriber base from 56.6 million in December 2024 to 57.6 million in January 2025.
“We proceed to see sturdy structural demand for digital and monetary providers throughout our markets,” Mupita stated in an announcement. “To satisfy this demand, we proceed to spend money on protection and capability to make sure high-quality connectivity for our clients.”
Earlier than stirking this deal, MTN Nigeria, a subsidiary of MTN Group, was in discussions with 9mobile, a struggling Nigerian operator that has misplaced hundreds of thousands of subscribers. The mobile-roaming deal, nonetheless beneath negotiation, would enable 9mobile to make use of MTN Nigeria’s infrastructure in choose areas, whereas MTN would acquire entry to 9mobile’s spectrum in return.
The brand new settlement aligns with regulatory efforts. When the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) accredited telecom tariff will increase in January, it required operators to deploy further infrastructure inside three months to enhance service supply. With the brand new tariffs taking impact in February, telecom firms now have solely two months left to conform.
Past Uganda and Nigeria, MTN and Airtel Africa are exploring additional network-sharing alternatives in different African markets, together with Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia. The businesses are contemplating numerous fashions, together with radio entry community (RAN) sharing and agreements targeted on fiber infrastructure sharing and development of latest fiber networks.
“As we compete fiercely out there on the energy of our model, providers, and choices, we’re constructing frequent infrastructure throughout the permissible regulatory framework,” Airtel Africa Chief Government Officer Sunil Taldar. “This permits us to supply a extra strong and in depth digital freeway whereas avoiding the pricey duplication of infrastructure.”
If profitable, the partnership might set a precedent for additional consolidation in community investments throughout the continent.