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Vodacom
and Orange have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco
partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will
collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in
underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative
will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications and
mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely
populated rural communities, reinforcing their commitment to bridging the
digital divide and driving inclusive growth.
Deploying and operating networks, particularly in deep rural areas, continues
to be a significant challenge in the DRC. To bridge the digital divide and
expand network coverage in underserved communities, the companies have
pledged to jointly construct up to 2,000 new solar-powered base stations over
six years, using 2G and 4G technologies. This agreement commences with an
initial commitment of 1,000 sites after which Orange and Vodacom may scale
the project by a further 1,000 towers. The completion of this joint venture
remains subject to the approval of administrative, regulatory, and
competition authorities.
Beyond enhanced population coverage, this combined investment will enable
consumers to access voice, data, and mobile money services. With the first
base station expected to start operating in 2025, Orange and Vodacom will be
sharing active and passive equipment owned by the joint venture as anchor
tenants for an initial term of 20 years. The joint venture will offer
its passive infrastructure to any MNO interested wherever technically
feasible to increase usage and promote a wider range of options for the
population.
“With a footprint serving over 210 million
customers across Africa, we have the opportunity to significantly contribute
to the continent's socio-economic development by building a digital society
and fostering inclusivity for all. This aligns with our purpose to connect
for a better future, and our partnership with Orange is a crucial step
towards providing mobile coverage to people in previously underserved areas
in the DRC," says Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.
“Our longstanding presence in Africa,
including over 10 years in the DRC, has equipped us with a deep understanding
of the market and customer needs. Collaborating with Vodacom by sharing both
passive and active infrastructure is the most effective approach to
fulfilling our commitment to accelerating connectivity access for everyone,
including rural areas, while minimizing our environmental footprint,” says
Orange Middle East and
Africa CEO, Jérôme Hénique.
Mobile Internet penetration in the DRC is at 32.3% and Orange and Vodacom's
announcement to construct new base stations in the country aligns with the
country's new vision for the digital economy as included in the National
Digital Plan Horizon 2025 adopted in 2019 (https://apo-opa.co/4afDBYm).
The plan aims to foster digital transformation across various sectors,
leading to improved public services, enhanced economic growth, and equitable
access to digital services for all citizens. This initiative emphasizes
e-citizenship, e-government, and e-commerce and is expected to contribute to
job creation, bridge the digital divide, and boost the country's GDP.
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