MTN partners with Mimosa, CBNLA to transform broadband access across 14 African markets

Mimosa Networks, a prominent global provider of wireless broadband solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Cambridge Broadband Networks Africa Limited (CBNLA) to deliver its acclaimed product portfolio to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator

Through this collaboration, CBNLA will facilitate access to Mimosa’s high-performance fixed wireless products and services across all MTN locations.

This initiative allows MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries.

MTN, with a vast customer base spanning multiple African markets, plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital connectivity across both urban centres and underserved rural areas. The integration of Mimosa’s cost-effective wireless technology, offering fiber-like speeds — supports MTN’s commitment to delivering faster, more reliable broadband access across the continent.

The agreement between Mimosa and CBNLA ensures MTN has streamlined access to a full range of Mimosa’s products, including high-capacity backhaul systems, access points, and client radios. These solutions operate over unlicensed spectrum, enabling rapid network expansion without the limitations of traditional infrastructure. As a regional service partner and systems integrator, CBNLA will assist MTN in efficiently deploying these solutions across diverse market conditions, supporting the growing demand for broadband and improving overall network performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with MTN and CBNLA to expand broadband access across Africa,” said Jim Nevelle, senior vice-president and general manager of Mimosa Networks. “This partnership aligns with our goal of delivering high-speed, affordable connectivity to both established and underserved regions, creating new opportunities for economic growth and digital inclusion.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in Mimosa’s broader strategy to expand affordable, high-speed broadband throughout Africa by working alongside major network operators and infrastructure partners.

IHS Nigeria teams up with NSCDC to protect telecom towers and fibre infrastructure nationwide

IHS Nigeria – a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count – has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria

IHS Nigeria, which manages more than 16,000 towers and has deployed over 15,000 km of fibre in the country, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the NSCDC – the national agency responsible for safeguarding vital information infrastructure. This agreement aims to combat persistent issues like vandalism and theft at tower sites and along fibre routes, while reinforcing both organisations’ shared commitment to protecting Nigeria’s communications backbone.

Under the MoU, IHS Nigeria and the NSCDC will collaborate to develop and execute strategies that bolster the safety of IHS Nigeria’s network and other critical telecom infrastructure protected under Nigerian law. The NSCDC will provide support in surveillance, emergency response, and incident reporting, and assist with tower decommissioning and the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those found damaging telecom assets.

“At IHS we are key enablers of connectivity, and this partnership with the NSCDC is for us an important step towards enhancing the resilience, reliability and availability of telecommunications connectivity in Nigeria, commented Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria. “By working closely with the NSCDC, which enforces the law that designates telecommunication towers as critical national information infrastructure, we aim to create a safer and more secure environment for our operations, including our infrastructure, and more importantly, ensure better quality of service for all users in Nigeria.”

Ahmad Abubakar, commandant general, NSCDC, stated, “The Corp has a mandate to safeguard critical national infrastructure, and IHS Nigeria’s extensive telecommunications assets and network falls squarely within this mandate. We consider IHS to be a strategic partner whose infrastructure is essential to the operations of many organizations across the country. We aim to provide a heightened level of operational excellence and support, focused on securing telecommunications infrastructure more effectively than ever before. Our doors remain open for collaboration, and we look forward to working even more closely with IHS Nigeria.”

OMEA and IFC unite to develop sustainable digital infrastructure in eight African countries. (Image source: IFC)

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has entered a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to boost access to digital services across eight African nations

The agreement was formalised during the Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan on 12–13 May.

Focusing on underserved regions in West and Central Africa, this alliance aims to enhance digital inclusion and sustainability. It combines OMEA’s regional expertise and infrastructure with IFC’s development financing capabilities. Over the coming years, the collaboration will support the rollout of key telecom infrastructure, including towers and fibre networks.

The initiative builds on IFC’s prior involvement in the sector, such as its support for West Africa’s first telecom securitisation operation and its provision of sustainable financing to Sonatel. These efforts, valued at around US$75mn in 2024, have already strengthened Senegal’s digital infrastructure by expanding 4G and fibre coverage, particularly in rural areas.

Through this partnership, OMEA and IFC aim to establish a scalable investment model that bridges the digital divide, fosters financial inclusion, enhances regional resilience, and generates employment—especially in the digital sector.

“This partnership with IFC is a major step in accelerating our ambition to reduce the digital gap by offering quality, sustainable, and accessible connectivity to as many people as possible, especially in rural or underserved areas. By combining our strengths, we aim to build a more equitable digital future for everyone in Africa,” said Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa.

“Increasing access to digital connectivity in Africa is a key priority to foster innovation, expand financial inclusion, and create jobs. Strengthening our partnership with Orange Middle East and Africa demonstrates our commitment to positioning digital technology as a strategic lever for sustainable economic transformation, benefiting individuals and businesses,” added Ethiopis Tafara, IFC vice-president for Africa.

Nokia partners with Reflex to enhance ISP onboarding and broadband access across South Africa’s regions. (Image source: Nokia)

Nokia has announced that Reflex will roll out its advanced Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) solution to upgrade and scale its infrastructure, accelerating ISP onboarding and enhancing broadband services for South African communities and enterprises

The deployment will also improve space and energy efficiency, ensuring Reflex’s network can support long-term national growth.

With digital transformation driving rising broadband demand across both urban and rural South Africa, underserved areas remain a persistent challenge. Reflex is tackling this head-on by replacing legacy BNGs with Nokia’s scalable solution—designed to bridge connectivity gaps and empower more ISPs to expand their reach. Research has shown that broader broadband access could significantly boost Africa’s economy, reinforcing the importance of initiatives like Reflex’s network upgrade. Nokia’s technology supports this evolution by addressing network scalability, efficiency, and sustainability.

“Working with partners like Reflex from Myriad Group, which recognises the importance of Neutral Host models providing flexible and scalable networks, is crucial in addressing the connectivity challenges across South Africa. By replacing the legacy BNGs and investing in our Nokia 7750 Service Router platform, Reflex can onboard multiple ISPs and their subscribers with minimal equipment’s needs, lowering up-front investment, reducing energy use and supporting a more sustainable and inclusive digital future,” said Toni Pellegrino, managing director of South Africa and head of network infrastructure for Southern and Eastern Africa at Nokia.

“Reflex’s mission is to give every ISP in South Africa an instant, carrier-grade on-ramp to a truly Tier 1 network. Being a value-added reseller of Nokia, we believe in the solutions they provide so much that we deploy it in our core network ourselves,” remarked Charles Castle, commercial & sales executive at Reflex Carrier Solutions.

“By integrating Nokia’s 7750 SR-1 Broadband Network Gateways and carrier-grade NAT into the Reflex backbone, we are adding capacity and intelligence while reducing space, power and complexity. The result is a future-ready platform that is scalable, secure and always-on—delivering unrivalled uptime, rock-solid redundancy and the high-speed performance our partners need, to grow with confidence. With Nokia as our technology partner, Reflex can light up new services for ISPs nationwide in days instead of months, ensuring that the ISPs who rely on our VISP offering—and the communities they serve — enjoy the best possible broadband experience today and far into the future, supported by our highly accredited local engineering teams,” Castle concluded.

Reflex’s network upgrade is built on Nokia’s 7750 SR-1 platform, integrated with Carrier-Grade NAT (CG-NAT), enabling expanded reach and improved operations across South Africa while promoting a faster, more inclusive and resilient digital economy.