Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has selected Nokia to build a transformative, high-capacity terrestrial fiber network spanning East and Central Africa for its cutting-edge fiber service, Airtel Africa Telesonic.
The strategic initiative aims to interconnect multiple African countries and link key submarine cables to terrestrial networks, significantly enhancing digital connectivity across the continent. The project is expected to boost economic growth and improve the quality of life for millions by expanding access to affordable and reliable digital infrastructure.
Unveiled at the 28th edition of AfricaCom—the world’s largest gathering of Africa-focused connectivity leaders—the project will connect the 2Africa subsea cable to terrestrial networks across the region. By leveraging Telesonic’s extensive fiber assets and subsea cable systems, the network is positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for wholesale data in Africa, accelerating digital development and inclusion.
Using Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform, the new fiber network will support up to 38 Terabits per second (Tbps) of data capacity and is C+L band-ready to further enhance performance. The technology will play a critical role in enabling high-speed connectivity and cloud-based services across the region. The Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network—powered by Nokia’s high-speed coherent Photonic Service Engine (PSE) technology—includes 139 nodes deployed across multiple countries.
Beyond strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure, the project underscores Airtel Africa Telesonic’s commitment to empowering key sectors such as business, education, and healthcare through enhanced connectivity.
Airtel Africa’s Chief Technology Officer, Razvan Ungureanu, said:
“Deploying Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch platform is a pivotal upgrade to our network infrastructure across Africa. This will enable us to provide greater capacity and high-speed connectivity to efficiently handle webscale traffic. With Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine powering our DWDM network across multiple countries, we are setting the stage for transformative growth and new opportunities throughout the continent.”
Airtel Africa Telesonic CEO, PD Sarma, added:
“Our collaboration with Nokia is a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s digital infrastructure. By leveraging Nokia’s cutting-edge fiber-optic solutions, we aim to meet the escalating demand for data across the continent. This network will drive economic growth, empower communities, and create new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.”
Samer Lutfi, Nokia Middle East & Africa’s Head of Growth Group for Network Infrastructure, said:
“We are proud to partner with Airtel Africa Telesonic in this ambitious project to enhance digital connectivity across Africa. Our advanced DWDM technology, with its high capacity and reliability, is built to help enterprises succeed in their mission to spark digital transformation and economic growth in the region. This project reflects our shared commitment to connecting communities and driving progress.”
