Airtel Africa and MTN Explore Shared Network Infrastructure in Rwanda & Congo

Introduction

Africa’s telecom behemoths, Airtel Africa Plc and South Africa’s MTN Group, are in advanced talks to share network infrastructure in Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, and Zambia. This follow-up to their landmark agreements in Uganda and Nigeria aims to trim capital and operating expenses, bolster service quality, and accelerate digital and financial inclusion across the continent (Reuters, Telco Titans).

The Rise of Infrastructure Sharing in Africa

Telecom infrastructure sharing—where operators pool resources like towers, antennae, fiber, and base stations—has become a strategic imperative in cost-sensitive markets.

• Cost savings: By sharing passive (towers, masts) and active (Radio Access Network or RAN) infrastructure, operators typically cut capital expenditure by up to 30–40%, while slashing operating costs through shared site maintenance and energy use (telecomreviewafrica.com, Analysys Mason).
  
• Environmental impact: Fewer tower sites minimize land use and carbon emissions, especially when combined with renewable-powered energy solutions on site (Q4 CDN).
  
• Regulatory push: While most sharing deals are commercially negotiated, many regulators—such as Rwanda’s RURA and Zambia’s ZICTA—encourage partnerships to accelerate rural coverage and bridge the digital divide (minict.gov.rw).
  

From Uganda and Nigeria to Central Africa

In March 2025, MTN and Airtel signed RAN-sharing pacts in Uganda and Nigeria. These deals enable both groups to:

1. Expand rural coverage: Quickly roll out mobile broadband in low-ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) areas.
   
2. Share fiber backhaul: Pool fiber-optic links to offload data traffic more efficiently.
   
3. Accelerate 5G readiness: By sharing the cost of upgrading sites to 5G standards, both operators can enter the high-speed market simultaneously (Reuters, Techpoint Africa).
   

Following the success of these West and East African agreements, the telcos have publicly stated their intention to replicate the model in Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Zambia, covering both passive and active elements of their access networks (Telco Titans, Zawya).

Market Context: Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, and Zambia

Rwanda

• Mobile penetration: Rwanda boasts a SIM penetration rate of 97.7% as of April 2024, up from 96.3% the previous year, reflecting near-universal mobile access (Rura).
  
• Broadband uptake: Over 90% of connections use 3G, 4G, or 5G networks, yet fixed-line broadband remains below 1%, underlining the importance of mobile networks for high-speed data (DataReportal – Global Digital Insights).
  
• Regulatory support: The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has rolled out the “Connect Rwanda” initiative to expand rural coverage, making infrastructure sharing an attractive solution for operators.
  

Congo-Brazzaville

• Low network density: With just 13 mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants as of 2023, Congo-Brazzaville ranks among Africa’s lowest in digital connectivity.
  
• High infrastructure cost: Dense forests and limited power grids make standalone tower deployment costly, with shared sites presenting a more viable alternative (World Bank Public Documents).
  
• Regulatory landscape: The ARPCE (Regulatory Authority) has recently opened consultations on active sharing frameworks to jump-start rural network roll-out.
  

Zambia

• 5G pioneers: Both MTN and Airtel launched 5G Fixed Wireless Access in Lusaka and key towns in 2023–24, yet rural coverage lags behind at 45%, compared to national mobile penetration of 85%.
  
• Operational costs: High diesel prices for off-grid towers inflate OPEX. Shared, solar-hybrid tower sites can reduce fuel dependency and cut costs by 20–25% annually (Q4 CDN).
  
• Policy direction: The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) is revising its National ICT Policy to favor commercial sharing over wholesale leasing, smoothing the way for multi-operator RAN accords.
  

Technical Blueprint: What’s on the Table

The prospective agreements in Rwanda, Congo, and Zambia are expected to cover:

1. Passive sharing: Tower structures, power systems, and security infrastructure.
   
2. Active sharing (RAN): Antennae, baseband units, and transport backhaul links.
   
3. Fiber partnerships: Joint construction or leasing of fiber-optic routes to connect sites to core networks.
   
4. Energy solutions: Co-investment in solar-battery systems at off-grid sites to ensure uninterrupted power and sustainable operations (telecomreviewafrica.com).
   

By pooling these components, both operators will maintain separate core networks and spectrum holdings, preserving competition at the service level while slashing duplicated costs.

Leadership Perspectives

Ralph Mupita, President & CEO of MTN Group, commented on the Uganda/Nigeria pacts:

“We see sustained demand for digital and financial services across our markets. This partnership model provides a robust framework for delivering high-quality connectivity while optimizing the use of scarce capital.” (MTN.com, Reuters)

Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, added:

“By building a shared digital highway—within permissible regulatory frameworks—we avoid duplicating expensive infrastructure. Our goal is a more extensive, reliable network that drives digital inclusion and operational efficiency.” (MTN.com).

Customer and Community Impact

Rural Connectivity

Shared infrastructure can cut the deployment time for new sites by up to 50%, bringing 4G and 5G services to remote villages months earlier than standalone roll-outs (Analysys Mason).

Financial Inclusion

Airtel Money and MTN Mobile Money, serving over 100 million combined users, rely on consistent network availability. Improved coverage directly translates to more reliable mobile payments and micro-lending services for underbanked populations (Techpoint Africa).

Quality of Service

Network sharing reduces the risk of service outages by enabling both operators to switch traffic dynamically across shared sites, ensuring redundancy during equipment failures or power cuts.

Regulatory and Competitive Dynamics

While commercial negotiations drive these deals, regulators play a pivotal role in:

• Defining fair access principles: Ensuring that cost-sharing formulas and site-allocation rules do not disadvantage smaller operators.
  
• Monitoring competition: Safeguarding against collusion or market-dominant behavior that could stifle innovation.
  
• Incentivizing green energy: Offering tax breaks or subsidies for renewable-powered towers, encouraging shared investment in solar-hybrid solutions (World Bank Public Documents).
  

In Rwanda, RURA’s proactive guidelines on active sharing have already accelerated negotiations between MTN Rwanda and Airtel Rwanda. In Zambia and Congo, draft regulatory frameworks are expected by Q4 2025, with formal consultations underway.

Lessons from Global Peers

• Nordic model: In Sweden, TowerCo subsidiaries like Telia and Ericsson share passive infrastructure, achieving cost reductions of 40% and faster rural roll-out (Wray Castle).
  
• India’s Indus Towers: A joint venture of Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea Cellular now hosts 200,000 towers, enabling a shared network that cut capex by 50% in its first five years. Airtel Africa’s parent, Bharti, draws on this experience to guide its African subsidiaries.
  

These international benchmarks underscore the potential gains for MTN and Airtel: accelerated coverage, lower costs, and environmental benefits.

Future Outlook: Beyond RAN Sharing

Open RAN and Virtualization

Both operators are exploring Open RAN architectures that decouple hardware and software, fostering a multi-vendor ecosystem and further driving down costs. Trials in Nigeria in early 2025 showed 20% lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) versus traditional RAN .

Data Center and Edge Computing

Shared fiber and site infrastructure can host localized edge data centers, enabling low-latency services (IoT, AR/VR) and supporting emerging digital industries in Kigali, Brazzaville, and Lusaka.

Green Energy Collaborations

Pooled investment in solar-battery systems allows both operators to meet net-zero targets, reduce diesel use by up to 60%, and qualify for carbon credits under global sustainability frameworks (Q4 CDN).

Conclusion

As Airtel Africa and MTN Group advance talks to share infrastructure in Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, and Zambia, they’re championing a model that cuts costs, accelerates rural connectivity, and promotes sustainable, high-quality services. Drawing on successful implementations in Uganda and Nigeria and global best practices, this alliance could redefine African telecom competition—shifting the focus from infrastructure duplication to collaborative ecosystem building. For millions of subscribers, it means faster, more reliable mobile and financial services; for the operators, it spells stronger returns and a clearer path to achieving the digital transformation goals that underpin Africa’s economic future.

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Photo source: Google

By: Montel Kamau

Serrari Financial Analyst

20th May, 2025