MTN Calls for Shared Infrastructure to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide
Africa’s largest telecom operators are intensifying calls for shared network infrastructure, warning that the continent cannot close its widening connectivity gap through individual investment alone.
The push comes as Africa’s digital infrastructure funding shortfall is estimated at around $100 billion, a gap that continues to expand as demand rises for broadband, cloud services, data centres and AI-enabled networks.
Industry leaders argue that the traditional model of competing operators building parallel infrastructure in the same markets is becoming financially unsustainable. Instead, they are advocating for collaborative ownership of core assets such as fibre networks, towers, and backbone infrastructure.
MTN Group has emerged as one of the strongest voices behind this shift. The company says shared infrastructure models would reduce duplication, lower capital expenditure, and accelerate broadband expansion across underserved regions.
According to MTN Group Senior Vice President Ebenezer Asante, the telecom industry must rethink how connectivity is financed and deployed if Africa is to meet rising digital demand.
Support for infrastructure sharing has also been echoed by the GSMA, which has consistently urged closer cooperation between governments, regulators, and operators to expand digital access across the continent.
Regulatory and Economic Barriers
Despite growing momentum, infrastructure sharing remains a complex regulatory issue. Competition authorities are concerned that joint infrastructure ownership could strengthen dominant operators and limit market entry for smaller players.
These concerns have already influenced major regulatory decisions, including extended scrutiny of large telecom transactions such as the Vodacom–Maziv deal in South Africa.
At the same time, Africa’s broader economic integration challenges continue to complicate cross-border infrastructure development. Differences in licensing frameworks, spectrum allocation, and regulatory standards increase operational costs for multinational operators.
Affordability and Digital Exclusion
Beyond infrastructure financing, affordability remains a critical barrier to connectivity.
Industry data shows that hundreds of millions of Africans live within mobile broadband coverage but remain offline due to the high cost of smartphones and data services.
To address this, major operators under the African Group of Six—including MTN, Airtel Africa, Vodacom, Orange, Axian Telecom, and Ethio Telecom—are pushing for reduced taxes and import duties on entry-level devices.
Toward a Shared Digital Future
Operators argue that Africa’s next wave of digital growth will depend on more than just connectivity. Investments must now extend to data infrastructure, edge computing, and AI-ready networks.
MTN is already upgrading its infrastructure to support distributed computing models that process data closer to users, improving speed and reducing latency.
However, the broader question remains whether Africa can build a unified digital ecosystem while regulation and investment decisions remain fragmented across national borders.
