Vodacom and Orange have launched Africa’s first rural TowerCo partnership to address the challenges of network coverage in underserved areas. The collaboration aims to build, own, and manage solar-powered mobile base stations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), providing telecom and mobile banking services to up to 19 million people in rural and less populated areas. This partnership is a significant step toward bridging the digital divide in the country, ensuring better access to essential services for millions of Congolese citizens.
The project will focus on deploying 2,000 additional solar-powered base stations over six years, utilizing 2G and 4G technologies to enhance network coverage. The first phase of the initiative includes the construction of 1,000 base stations, with the possibility of expanding by an additional 1,000 towers, depending on future developments. This initiative is expected to play a key role in boosting mobile internet penetration, which currently stands at just 32.3% in the DRC.
By improving mobile network access, the joint venture between Vodacom and Orange will not only extend coverage to rural areas but will also enable millions of people to access voice, data, and mobile money services. This project aligns with the DRC’s National Digital Plan Horizon 2025, which aims to enhance digital transformation in the country, improve public services, foster economic growth, and ensure equitable access to digital resources for all citizens.
The mobile network operators (MNOs) plan to share both active and passive equipment within the joint venture, with each company acting as anchor tenants for a 20-year period. In addition, the passive infrastructure developed by this project will be available to other MNOs wherever technically feasible, promoting increased competition and providing more options for the population. This collaboration underscores the potential for cooperative efforts to enhance connectivity across the DRC.
Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub, highlighted that the partnership provides the opportunity to significantly contribute to Africa’s socio-economic development. With Vodacom serving over 210 million customers across the continent, the project represents a major step in building a digital society that promotes inclusivity, particularly for rural and underserved areas.
Orange Middle East and Africa CEO, Jérôme Hénique, added that the partnership leverages the companies’ extensive market experience in Africa. By sharing infrastructure and minimizing their environmental footprint, both companies aim to accelerate connectivity access and contribute to the digital transformation of the DRC. This initiative aligns with their commitment to fostering a more inclusive and digitally connected Africa.
#Vodacom #Orange #TowerCo #DigitalTransformation #MobileNetwork #RuralConnectivity #SolarPower #DRC #Africa #Inclusion #Telecom #MobileBanking #EconomicGrowth