Airtel Africa has partnered with Finnish technology company Nokia to deploy a high-capacity fiber optic network across Central and East Africa. The project, managed by Airtel’s wholesale fiber subsidiary Telesonic, aims to boost regional connectivity and handle the continent’s rising data traffic.
The project was unveiled during the 28th AfricaCom conference in Cape Town, marking a key development in Africa’s digital infrastructure development. It will connect several countries and integrate major submarine cables such as 2Africa with inland networks. The system will rely on Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), capable of transferring up to 38 terabits per second (Tbps) for faster and more secure data transmission.
According to Prasanta Das Sarma, Managing Director of Airtel Africa Telesonic, the partnership will accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. He noted that the new network will unlock economic opportunities, stimulate innovation, and expand internet access for communities and businesses across the continent.
Meeting Africa’s Data Growth
Since its launch in February 2024, Telesonic has focused on addressing Africa’s growing need for wholesale data capacity. Reports from GSMA show that mobile data usage in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase by about 6 GB per user per month between 2023 and 2030. This growth is largely due to expanding broadband coverage, rising smartphone use, and a surge in high-bandwidth applications.
Supporting Airtel Africa’s Long-Term Strategy
In addition, Telesonic’s rollout supports Airtel Africa’s goal to diversify beyond voice and mobile data services. The company continues to invest in fiber networks, data centers, and digital advertising to strengthen future growth and resilience.
During the first half of its 2026 fiscal year, Airtel Africa generated $2.98 billion in total revenue, including $1.16 billion from data services. This shift underscores how the telecom landscape in Africa is increasingly moving toward data-driven business models.
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