• Airtel Zambia launched a $107 million nationwide network expansion program to improve coverage, reliability and customer experience.
• The plan includes 406 new network sites, with 121 already operational and full completion expected by March 2026.
• The investment follows regulatory pressure and potential sanctions over declining service quality in Zambia’s telecom sector.

In early November, Zambia’s telecom regulator had already warned operators over the quality of services delivered to consumers. According to official data, the country counted 24.5 million mobile subscribers at the end of June, shared among Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.

Against this backdrop, Airtel Zambia launched a nationwide network expansion program worth $107 million. The company disclosed the initiative on Tuesday, December 16. Airtel Zambia said the program aims to strengthen coverage, improve service reliability and enhance customer experience across the country.

According to the operator, the program includes the deployment of 406 additional network sites nationwide. Airtel Zambia said the rollout aims to reduce congestion, extend coverage and strengthen network resilience in high-demand and critical areas, including schools, hospitals and clinics. The company said 121 sites are already operational, while the remaining 285 sites should be completed by March 2026.

“As new sites come online, customers will benefit from improved data speeds, clearer calls and increased network availability, reinforcing our objective of delivering a stronger and more resilient network for all,” Airtel Zambia said in a statement published on its LinkedIn page.

This announcement followed a recent warning from the Zambian regulator over deteriorating service quality. Consumers continue to experience dropped calls, poor internet connectivity and unreliable services. Regulators now require operators to invest immediately to expand infrastructure, equip all core sites with backup systems and deploy sustainable energy solutions to ensure a more resilient and efficient network, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Authorities also warned operators of sanctions in case of non-compliance.

“The persistent deterioration in the quality of electronic communications services is not only concerning, it poses a direct threat to Zambia’s digital transformation agenda, economic competitiveness and the daily lives of our citizens. It undermines productivity, stifles innovation and erodes public trust in the very systems meant to connect and empower our population. The era of substandard services must now come to an end,” said Collins Mbulo, Director General of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).

These efforts to improve service quality, coverage and availability should strengthen Airtel Zambia’s market position, according to the GSMA. The industry body said such investments can “maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, which has the potential to reduce churn and increase usage.” The GSMA added that sustained investment can also help operators preserve a competitive advantage and avoid revenue losses linked to poor service quality.

At the same time, network expansion gives Airtel Zambia access to potential new customers. Airtel reported about 12.3 million subscribers at the end of September, compared with around 6.7 million for its main competitor MTN, while the telecom regulator counted 24.5 million total subscriptions at the end of June. The “PwC Zambia Telecommunications Report 2025” showed that, at the end of 2024, Airtel held a 48% market share, compared with 28% for MTN and 23% for Zamtel.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum