Bharti Airtel’s mobile broadband subscribers in Africa will soon enjoy faster Internet access speeds on its 3G and 4G networks.
The company on Wednesday announced that it will use Liquid Telecom’s terrestrial fibre network to connect its mobile base stations and enterprises.
The framework agreement enables Airtel operations to leverage Liquid Telecom’s existing 20,000km-long fibre network across East, Central and Southern Africa, as well as enjoy new purpose-built fibre infrastructure, to connect Airtel’s mobile base stations and enterprise customers with the fibre, it said in a statement.
According to Liquid Telecom, the agreement will enable mobile operators to increase the Internet speed delivered over their mobile broadband networks.
"Mobile operators are relying on Internet access and data services to grow their revenues. Airtel has managed to attract a large number of customers on their 3G and 4G networks and now need to strengthen their backhaul to deliver a super-fast Internet access service," Nic Rudnick, Group CEO at Liquid Telecom, said.
The agreement enables Airtel operations gain access to Liquid Telecom’s fibre infrastructure and to benefit from new fibre routes on an ongoing basis.
This will also enable Airtel to rapidly connect its mobile base stations and enterprise customers with unlimited capacity, the company said.
Commenting on the agreement, Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria, said, “Airtel has invested significantly in mobile broadband technology across its African footprint and this agreement will deliver end-to-end fibre connectivity to our 3G and 4G base stations. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all.”
Airtel has African operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Liquid Telecom’s fibre network spans 20 000 km across Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.