Cape Town, 11 November 2025 - Africa’s digital transformation is gaining new momentum as Airtel Africa Telesonic, the wholesale fiber and subsea capacity arm of Airtel Africa, unveils a landmark partnership with Nokia to build a mega terrestrial fiber network spanning East and Central Africa.
Announced at the 28th edition of AfricaCom in Cape Town, the ambitious project will link multiple African countries and integrate major submarine cables with terrestrial networks—dramatically boosting high-speed internet access, enabling cloud services, and expanding digital connectivity across the continent.
A Major Step Toward Africa’s Digital Future
Airtel Africa, which operates in 14 countries and serves over 161 million customers, is positioning this new fiber backbone as a key driver of economic growth and digital inclusion. The project will leverage the vast potential of the 2Africa subsea cable, connecting it with inland networks to deliver more affordable and reliable data services to businesses, operators, and communities.
Rising demand for wholesale data across Africa has created a need for stronger, scalable infrastructure. Telesonic’s investment aims to close this gap by building a network capable of supporting rapid cloud adoption, data-heavy applications, and expanding digital ecosystems in areas such as fintech, e-commerce, education, and healthcare.
High-Capacity Technology for High-Speed Connectivity
At the heart of the project is Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)—a next-generation optical transport platform capable of supporting up to 38 Terabits per second (Tbps). With C+L Band readiness and powered by Nokia’s advanced Photonic Service Engine (PSE), the Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network will include 139 nodes across several countries.
This means faster data transfer, higher capacity, and the ability to handle web-scale traffic—all essential for Africa’s growing digital economy.
Driving Growth, Innovation, and Inclusion
For Airtel Africa Telesonic, this project is more than just infrastructure; it is an enabler of long-term socioeconomic change. The new fiber network is expected to:
- Expand digital access across underserved regions
- Support enterprise connectivity and cloud-based innovation
- Strengthen national backbone networks
- Enable digital learning, telemedicine, and remote working
- Power fintech and mobile money ecosystems
Speaking at the launch, Razvan Ungureanu, Airtel Africa’s Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the upgrade as a pivotal investment that will “set the stage for transformative growth across the continent.”
PD Sarma, CEO of Airtel Africa Telesonic, emphasized that the partnership with Nokia will help meet Africa’s soaring data demand and “create new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.”
Nokia, through its Middle East & Africa leadership, expressed pride in powering such a strategic initiative aimed at deepening connectivity and accelerating digital transformation.
A Shared Vision for Africa’s Digital Economy
As Africa undergoes one of the fastest digital transformations in the world, robust and high-capacity networks are critical. The Airtel Africa Telesonic–Nokia partnership aligns with continental priorities such as the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy and ongoing efforts to boost regional data infrastructure.
With this mega fiber project, Airtel Africa moves closer to its goal of driving digital and financial inclusion, while Nokia continues its mission of delivering secure, scalable, and sustainable networks.
The initiative marks a milestone in Africa’s digital connectivity journey—laying the foundation for stronger economies, empowered communities, and a more connected future.
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