• Airtel Africa and Vodacom announced a strategic network-sharing agreement on August 12, 2025.
  

• The partnership aims to expand coverage, improve connectivity quality, and reduce infrastructure costs.
  

• In the DRC, Airtel leads the mobile market with 35.5% revenue share, followed by Vodacom at 32.6%.

Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group have struck a strategic agreement to share network infrastructure across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Tanzania, pending regulatory approval. Announced on August 12, the collaboration pools fiber optic networks and mobile towers to accelerate digital service rollout, cut infrastructure costs, and enhance connectivity quality.

By leveraging their combined assets, the operators aim to expand coverage to rural and underserved areas and provide customers with more reliable 4G and 5G services. Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub emphasized that the partnership will connect more people faster and at lower cost, ensuring "no one is left behind in the digital age." Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar highlighted the shared goal of widening access to digital opportunities, even in remote regions.

In the DRC, Vodacom has already partnered with Orange to install solar-powered mobile base stations in rural areas, while Airtel Africa recently teamed up with SpaceX to offer Starlink broadband services. Last year, Airtel led the DRC mobile market with $741 million in revenues (35.5% market share), followed by Vodacom with 32.6%, Orange at 28.1%, and Africell at 3.8%.

This article was initially reported in French by Boaz Kabeya

Adapted in English by Ola Schad Akinocho