MTN Group and Airtel Africa have signed a strategic agreement to share mobile network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda.
The move will help the two telecom giants improve coverage while optimizing capital and operational expenditures.
In separate statements issued on Wednesday, both telecom giants confirmed the collaboration and said it was orchestrated by the need to drive efficiency and expand connectivity in high-growth markets.
The partnership represents a shift in network deployment strategy for two of Africa’s largest mobile operators, particularly in the face of rising infrastructure costs and increased demand for data-driven services.
The agreement will initially focus on passive infrastructure sharing, including towers and radio access networks (RAN), which represent the most capital-intensive components of network deployment.
Both parties also signaled plans to explore technical and commercial arrangements related to fibre infrastructure and, where necessary, co-invest in new fibre builds.
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita described the deal as a pragmatic response to evolving market conditions, adding that network sharing supports the company’s broader objective of delivering inclusive digital solutions across the continent.
“To meet the growing demand for digital and financial services, especially in rural and underserved areas, we must invest wisely,” Mupita stated. “By sharing infrastructure where appropriate, we can improve efficiencies, accelerate coverage expansion, and ultimately deliver greater value to customers.”
Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, echoed similar sentiments, adding that infrastructure sharing avoids unnecessary duplication and allows operators to expand their footprint faster, particularly in less commercially viable regions.
“Extending high-quality network coverage to remote areas can be cost-prohibitive when done independently,” Taldar noted. “This collaboration allows us to reach more people, more quickly, while maintaining capital discipline.”
Beyond Nigeria and Uganda, the agreement includes a framework to explore further opportunities in additional markets such as Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, and Zambia.
According to both firms, the engagement is non-exclusive, allowing for similar partnerships with other operators where applicable.
The deal comes at a time when African telecom operators are under increasing pressure to invest in 4G and 5G rollouts while balancing shareholder returns and navigating regulatory complexities.
With mobile data usage accelerating across the continent, the shared infrastructure model is gaining traction as a sustainable path for network expansion.
Analysts see the partnership as a forward-looking step that could set a precedent for broader industry collaboration, especially in capital-intensive sectors such as telecoms.
