Dar es Salaam. Leading telecoms giants Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group have entered into a landmark infrastructure-sharing agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to expand network coverage across key African markets including Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This strategic partnership, announced jointly on Tuesday August 12, 2025, is designed to accelerate digital inclusion by extending access to reliable connectivity, particularly in underserved communities.
For both operators, the deal will also significantly lower operational costs.
The initial focus of the collaboration will be on sharing existing fibre networks and mobile tower infrastructure, a move aimed at speeding up the rollout of digital services.
The Drive for Digital Inclusion in Africa
Africa’s mobile and internet sectors have seen explosive growth in recent years, but significant challenges remain. While urban areas generally enjoy good connectivity, many rural and remote regions still lack access to reliable, high-speed internet.
This “digital divide” can hinder economic development, limit educational opportunities, and restrict access to essential services.
Infrastructure-sharing agreements like this one are a growing trend in the African telecoms market.
Rather than each company building and maintaining its own separate network of towers and fibre cables, a shared approach allows them to leverage existing assets.
This not only reduces the financial burden of building new infrastructure but also minimises the environmental impact.
By working together, competing companies can expand their reach more efficiently, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved service quality and wider coverage.
Accelerating Service Delivery and Bridging the Digital Divide
By pooling their resources, Airtel and Vodacom anticipate delivering faster internet speeds, improved reliability, and broader coverage.
This collaboration is expected to play a crucial role in narrowing the digital divide and enabling more people to access vital digital services, from mobile banking to e-learning.
Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub, said the agreement is important to the company’s long-term vision of connecting 260 million customers by 2030.
“Providing connectivity to empower people is at the core of our strategy,” he said.
“Through infrastructure sharing, we can deliver cost-effective services more rapidly, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.”
Similarly, Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, described the deal as a critical step in expanding network availability to even the most remote areas.
He emphasised that collaboration on essential infrastructure has become a business necessity for building robust networks capable of supporting emerging technologies like 4G and 5G.
“Working with Vodacom, we will open greater access to digital and financial opportunities that can transform lives, while meeting all regulatory requirements,” he added.
Both leaders agreed that accelerating fibre deployment is crucial for the expansion of next-generation networks, which require high-speed, low-latency, and reliable connections to power modern digital applications.
The partnership will also allow both operators to enhance network performance and expand their mobile, fixed, and financial services by utilising a broader continental footprint.
