Eight of the largest operators in Africa and the Middle East are studying network infrastructure sharing initiatives across the regions, with a strong focus on rural areas to expand internet and mobile services.
The cooperation plans follows a meeting…
Eight of the largest operators in Africa and the Middle East are studying network infrastructure sharing initiatives across the regions, with a strong focus on rural areas to expand internet and mobile services.
The cooperation plans follows a meeting at the Mobile World Congress in February between top executives at Bharti Airtel, Etisalat, MTN, Ooredoo, Orange, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Vodafone and Zain.
Together, these companies manage 79 mobile network operations in 47 countries in Africa and the Middle East, according to a statement from the GSMA trade body of mobile operators.
“Unique mobile subscriber penetration is only 40% in Africa and the Middle East, lower than the global average of 47%, so we need to work together to expand the reach of mobile,” said Anne Bouverot, GSMA director general.
Manoj Kohli, managing director of Bharti Enterprises and chair of the public policy committee of the GSMA, called on “governments to support and encourage the commercial infrastructure sharing arrangements that we aim to propose”.
Specifically, the GSMA wants telecoms regulatory frameworks to “encourage flexible commercial sharing arrangements and facilitate access to government-owned assets at preferential rates” for faster network rollouts in rural areas.
In an email to TelecomFinance, Peter Lyons, director for Middle East and Africa at GSMA said that more operators are welcome to join the cooperation. Asked when companies were expected to start sharing their networks, he said “this will not happen overnight”.
Lyons added: “In many countries, a lot more work still needs to be done on developing suitable regulatory framework that allow for flexible commercial sharing arrangements. Where the local policy environment is supportive, and regulatory conditions offer practical flexibility, operators will need to thoroughly assess the commercial and technical feasibility of possible sharing arrangements.”
