Airtel Africa and Vodacom, two of the continent’s largest telecom players, are teaming up to share fiber and cell tower infrastructure in Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, three of the least-connected markets on the continent.
Internet penetration is roughly 20% in Mozambique, 32% in Tanzania and 27% in the DRC, leaving huge gaps in coverage and plenty of room for cooperation.
The agreement, awaiting regulatory approval, will allow both companies to extend service faster and at lower cost, especially in remote areas where solo builds make little financial sense.