Telecommunications giant Airtel Africa has announced a strategic partnership with Nokia to deploy a transformative, high-capacity terrestrial fiber network spanning East and Central Africa.
The initiative, under Airtel Africa’s fiber service brand Telesonic, aims to strengthen Africa’s digital backbone by linking key submarine cables to terrestrial networks.
The development, unveiled during the 28th edition of AfricaCom, Africa’s largest connectivity event, is expected to enhance internet speed, reliability, and affordability across the continent. For landlocked countries like Uganda, the project provides a crucial, high-speed gateway to the global digital economy through direct connection to the 2Africa subsea cable.
According to Airtel Africa, the project will play a pivotal role in bridging digital divides, stimulating innovation, and supporting economic growth by providing affordable, high-capacity data connectivity across multiple countries.
The new network will be powered by Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform, enabling up to 38 Terabits per second (Tbps) of data capacity. The infrastructure, which is C+L Band Ready, will support fast data transmission and advanced cloud-based services.
With 139 network nodes deployed across multiple nations, the system will rely on Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine (PSE) and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology, ensuring scalable, high-speed, and energy-efficient connectivity.
Razvan Ungureanu, Chief Technology Officer at Airtel Africa, said the upgrade marks a major step toward building a robust, continent-wide fiber backbone.
“Deploying Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch platform is a pivotal upgrade to our network infrastructure across Africa. It will provide greater capacity and high-speed connectivity to handle webscale traffic efficiently, setting the stage for transformative growth and new opportunities.”
PD Sarma, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa Telesonic, described the collaboration as a milestone for Africa’s digital progress.
“Our partnership with Nokia reflects our commitment to meeting the growing demand for data across Africa. This network will drive economic growth, empower communities, and open new opportunities for businesses and individuals.”
In Uganda, David Birungi, Airtel Uganda’s Public Relations Manager, emphasized the project’s importance to the nation’s connectivity goals.
“For Uganda, as a landlocked nation, this terrestrial fiber network is our digital lifeline. It directly connects us to the global economy via the 2Africa subsea cable, ensuring speed, resilience, and affordability. It’s a vital step toward realizing Uganda’s digital vision.”
Samer Lutfi, Nokia’s Head of Growth Group for Network Infrastructure in the Middle East and Africa, highlighted the company’s commitment to Africa’s digital growth.
“We are proud to work with Airtel Africa Telesonic on this ambitious project. Our advanced DWDM technology is designed to deliver high capacity and reliability, supporting digital transformation and economic growth across the region.”
The Airtel Africa–Nokia partnership underscores a shared vision of connecting communities, advancing education and healthcare, and fostering sustainable digital economies across Africa.
By leveraging world-class fiber and subsea infrastructure, the initiative positions Africa at the forefront of the global digital revolution.
