This collaboration is set to improve high-speed connectivity for businesses, enterprises, and underserved socio-economic communities

Airtel Africa has announced a new partnership with SpaceX to enhance next-generation satellite connectivity across the African continent

This collaboration is set to improve high-speed connectivity for businesses, enterprises, and underserved socio-economic communities. As part of the agreement, SpaceX has successfully acquired the necessary licenses in several African nations, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Chad. Licensing processes are also in progress in five additional countries within Airtel Africa's footprint.

Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, expressed the company's commitment to the partnership, stating, “We remain deeply committed to our vision to enrich the lives of people of Africa. Next-generation satellite connectivity will ensure that every individual, business, and community have reliable and affordable voice and data connectivity even in the most remote and currently underserved parts of Africa.”

SpaceX's vice-president of Starlink business operations, Chad Gibbs, shared, “We’re very excited to work with Airtel Africa to bring the transformative benefits of Starlink to the African people in new and innovative ways. Starlink is available in more than 20 African markets, and this agreement with Airtel highlights how, once licensed, Starlink welcomes the opportunity to join forces with important industry leaders to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from Starlink’s presence. The team at Airtel Africa has played a pivotal role in Africa’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering across Africa makes great sense for our business.”

This partnership marks a significant step in expanding satellite connectivity across the continent, aiming to bridge the digital divide and provide reliable communication services to underserved areas.

MTN's subscribers are on the rise (Image source: Adobe Stock).

MTN Group saw its total subscriber numbers climb 2.2% in 2024, to 290.9 million, the company revealed in its latest annual report

Active data subscribers also climbed 7.7% to 157.8 million, it added, while data traffic was up by 32.6% to 19,459 petabytes.

In his opening comments to the report, Ralph Mupita, MTN’s president and CEO, called it a “solid commercial performance” amid a challenging global geopolitical landscape.

“In terms of our commercial performance, our results were supported by an increase in the subscriber base to 291 million, a 6.2 million net addition in customers, excluding the markets we exited during the year,” he said.

MTN currently operates in 16 markets, following various international withdrawals last year, including a departure from Afghanistan.

The company also reported encouraging news in terms of its data services, an area in which it sees great potential going forward.

“Our ongoing investments enabled us to capture the ongoing structural demand for our data and fintech services in our markets, with traffic up by 37.3% (excluding JVs) and fintech transaction volumes up 15.3%,” said Mupita.

“Our prospects and investment case are underpinned by the structural demand we see in data and fintech.”

Produced under the theme of ‘Accelerating Africa’s digital future’, MTN also published various other reports covering areas such as ESG and transparency.

“Committed to operating responsibly and ethically, in 2024 MTN remained focused on executing on our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress, despite the global uncertainties,” said Mupita.

The reports also spell out how the rapid expansion of AI presents new ethical risks, prompting MTN to develop a Responsible AI Policy to uphold digital rights and data privacy.

“As a business, we remain resolute in our commitment to accelerating Africa’s digital future and will maintain the focus on operational excellence and strategic execution to capture the exciting growth opportunities in our footprint.”

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Morocco is bracing for an influx of tourists (Image source: Adobe Stock).

A new report by Ookla highlights the ongoing growth of Morocco’s fixed telecom sector, driven by fibre optic deployments, which are rapidly improving network performance, ahead of the country hosting various flagship international events in the next five years

The country’s fixed wired broadband market has grown significantly, reaching nearly 2.6 million connections by September 2024, up from over 1.6 million in 2019, according to the Moroccan telecom regulator (ANRT).

Ookla’s latest analysis of wifi performance in the country’s premier hotels also highlights how infrastructure is adapting to meet the demands of high-speed internet connectivity in support of the influx of tourists attending the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) event.

The soccer tournament runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. In 2030, Morocco is also set to host the World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

“Our analysis reveals the ongoing transformation of Morocco’s digital infrastructure, which will play a crucial role in supporting the influx of tourists and international events such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup,” said Karim Yaici, lead industry analyst for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla.

“With continued investment in fibre and the upcoming 5G rollout, Morocco is boosting its appeal as a tourist destination, especially for travellers who prioritise seamless online access.”

According to Speedtest Intelligence data, Morocco’s leading cities, Rabat and Casablanca, are at the forefront of fixed broadband performance. These cities recorded median broadband speeds of 36.55 Mbps and 35.57 Mbps, respectively, in Q4 2024.

Furthermore, wifi performance in luxury hotels in Agadir and Marrakesh is setting a high standard, notes the Ookla report.

Despite lower broadband speeds in these cities, the wifi in top hotels, such as The View, Hotel Riu Palace Tikida, and La Mamounia, far outperforms its peers in other cities with higher overall broadband speeds.

“Casablanca and Rabat offer strong fixed broadband performance, but some of their five-star hotels face challenges in delivering high-quality wifi service,” Ookla said in a statement announcing the report.

“These properties, which are likely connected to fibre networks, deliver limited wifi performance. Potential causes include outdated or misconfigured access points.”

It said optimising equipment placements and upgrading systems could enhance guest experience by reducing congestion and improving connectivity.

Moreover, Morocco’s broadband market is poised for “significant growth”, it added, driven by fibre deployment and plans for a 5G technology rollout.

The Moroccan government’s ‘Maroc Digital 2030’ initiative, with a budget of US$1bn, aims to connect 4.4 million households with fibre by the end of 2025 and reach 5.6 million households and 6,300 government institutions by 2030.

“This expansion, along with the launch of 5G services this year, promises to improve overall internet connectivity and strengthen the telecom sector in Morocco, providing a strong foundation for the tourism and hospitality industries.”

Orange and Camusat team up to cut CO₂ emissions from telecom infrastructure and advance net zero goals

Orange has partnered with the Camusat Group – renowned for its leadership in sustainable telecom infrastructure – to launch a joint plan aimed at significantly cutting CO₂-equivalent emissions from the products and services delivered by Camusat

This strategic collaboration will focus on reducing energy usage across telecom facilities, increasing the use of eco-friendly materials, and improving logistics processes.

The initiative forms a crucial part of Orange’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2040. Given that scope 3 emissions – largely tied to purchasing and supply chains – represent over 80% of the Group’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) output, addressing them is critical. Camusat aligns with this objective, having already developed its own low-carbon strategy with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

This joint roadmap falls under Orange’s wider ‘Partners to net zero carbon’ programme, which is designed to co-develop impactful actions with suppliers that result in tangible emissions reductions. The focus is on implementing practical, trackable solutions in two main areas:

Reducing GHG emissions: Orange and Camusat will work closely to apply identified levers for cutting GHG emissions. Through shared data, they will quantify the carbon footprint of telecom infrastructures and track progress in addressing shared environmental challenges.

Assessing product and service impact: Camusat will deliver detailed data on the carbon impact of its offerings, which Orange will incorporate into its overall scope 3 emissions inventory. This will help Orange refine its emissions tracking and support long-term reduction goals leading up to 2040.

“Orange is firmly committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040. This partnership with Camusat illustrates our desire to work hand in hand with our suppliers to accelerate the energy transition and reduce our collective carbon footprint,” said Elizabeth Tchoungui, executive director in charge of corporate social responsibility for the Orange Group.

“With the signing of this contract, Camusat is pursuing its GHG reduction objectives while helping ambitious companies like Orange to reduce their carbon footprint. Our solutions, such as low-carbon energy infrastructures, are a strategic lever for meeting the growing demand for clean, renewable energy in telecommunications,” added Elodie Perrigot, director of ESG HSE E&S ethics for the Camusat Group.

Orange and Camusat have long collaborated across regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and Europe on infrastructure development. This latest agreement marks a new phase in their partnership—focusing on innovation and sustainability.

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