MTN Group and Airtel Africa team up to swap telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda for mutual benefit
MTN Group and Airtel Africa Partner to Boost Digital Infrastructure in Africa
In a significant move, MTN Group and Airtel Africa have joined forces to share network infrastructure in key African markets, including Nigeria and Uganda. This strategic collaboration is set to optimize costs, accelerate digital service deployment, and address the growing demand for data services and digital financial solutions across the continent [1][2][5].
The partnership focuses primarily on sharing fibre-optic networks, mobile towers, and Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure. By doing so, both parties aim to reduce capital and operational expenditures while expanding coverage and improving network resilience [1][2][5].
Key opportunities and cost optimization prospects include:
- Fibre Sharing: Shared fibre infrastructure addresses critical capacity demands driven by rising data consumption. This collaboration facilitates rapid scaling and rollout of 4G and 5G services, thus reducing duplication and speeding time-to-market [1][2].
- Tower and Site Sharing: Sharing of physical tower sites and base stations reduces maintenance and lease costs. This collaboration is expected to cut operational expenses by approximately 20% in Nigeria and Uganda [4].
- Extended Rural and Underserved Coverage: Shared infrastructure enables both operators to economically expand network reach to rural or low-density areas that are otherwise expensive to serve, thus supporting broader digital inclusion and future revenue growth [3].
- Scalability and Reduced CAPEX: Pooling resources lowers capital expenditures required for new infrastructure while supporting a more rapid and scalable rollout of advanced technologies, such as 5G [1][4].
- Enhanced Service Quality and Digital Economy Enablement: Improved network reliability and capacity from infrastructure sharing underpin key services like mobile money, e-learning, and broader digital financial services, which are growth areas for both companies [3][4].
These network-sharing models started in Uganda and Nigeria and are rapidly expanding to other markets like Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and the DRC, reflecting a regional strategy shift toward collaborative infrastructure to optimize costs and accelerate digital transformation at scale [1][3][5].
In Nigeria, MTN saw its market share rise to 51% in January, adding over 3 million new subscribers, bringing its total to 87.5 million. Airtel Nigeria also expanded its subscriber base, increasing from 56.6 million in December 2024 to 57.6 million in January 2025 [1][3].
This partnership is part of a larger strategy to reduce operational costs and enhance mobile coverage in underserved regions. By sharing towers, base stations, and fiber-optic networks, MTN and Airtel aim to control expenses while improving connectivity in rural and remote areas [1][3].
In conclusion, the network-sharing initiatives between MTN Group and Airtel Africa in Nigeria and Uganda provide significant cost optimization through shared fibre and tower infrastructure. This collaboration enables faster, more cost-effective 4G/5G rollout and expanded coverage, particularly benefiting rural areas and supporting the growth of Africa’s digital economy [1][2][4].
[1] TechCabal (2025). MTN and Airtel Africa partner to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.techcabal.com/2025/02/23/mtn-airtel-africa-partner-to-share-network-infrastructure-in-nigeria-and-uganda/
[2] ITWeb Africa (2025). MTN and Airtel Africa partner to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.itweb.co.za/content/XgvzGqwKjG0J21hK
[3] Business Daily Africa (2025). MTN and Airtel Africa partner to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/mtn-and-airtel-africa-partner-to-share-network-infrastructure-in-nigeria-and-uganda/
[4] African Business Magazine (2025). MTN and Airtel Africa partner to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/mtn-and-airtel-africa-partner-to-share-network-infrastructure-in-nigeria-and-uganda/
[5] Telecompaper (2025). MTN and Airtel Africa partner to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.telecompaper.com/news/mtn-and-airtel-africa-partner-to-share-network-infrastructure-in-nigeria-and-uganda--1311757
Venture capital firms could find attractive investment opportunities in technology companies that are expanding their network infrastructure in Africa, thanks to the strategic collaboration between MTN Group and Airtel Africa. As these partners share fiber-optic networks, mobile towers, and Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure, they aim to improve network resilience, reducing capital and operational expenditures while expanding coverage in response to the growing demand for data services and digital financial solutions across the continent.
