• Partnership focuses on 5G, cloud networks, and AI-driven operations
• Aims to expand digital finance and value-added services
• Comes as 75% of Africans remain offline, GSMA says

Pan-African operator AXIAN Telecom announced on February 10 the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Chinese technology group Huawei. The deal, concluded in January in Shanghai, is intended to modernize AXIAN’s infrastructure and support the development of more inclusive digital ecosystems across its African markets.

“This partnership reflects AXIAN Telecom’s core values, long-term commitment, local empowerment, and responsible growth. By working closely with Huawei, we are reinforcing our ability to deliver high-quality digital services while building the digital capabilities Africa needs to compete and thrive in the global economy,” said Hassan Jaber, chief executive officer of AXIAN Telecom.

The agreement is built around three pillars: digital connectivity, digital finance, and operational transformation. It provides for joint network modernization, expansion of value-added services, and integration of next-generation technologies to improve service accessibility, quality, and security in the countries where the group operates.

The partnership will focus on scalable solutions, including 5G deployment, cloud-based network architectures, advanced digital platforms, and artificial intelligence-driven operational tools. These technologies are expected to help AXIAN optimize operating costs, increase network capacity, and deliver improved services to consumers, businesses, and public institutions.

Africa’s digital gap

The agreement comes as Africa continues to face uneven progress in connectivity. According to the GSMA’s “The Mobile Economy Africa 2025” report, about 416 million people on the continent currently use mobile internet. However, roughly 75% of the population remains unconnected to mobile internet, and nearly 960 million Africans do not use the internet despite network coverage being available.

The gap is more pronounced in next-generation technologies. Data from the International Telecommunication Union shows that 5G accounts for only about 1.2% of mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa. This technological lag limits the expansion of high-value digital services, including cloud-based solutions, industrial applications, and artificial intelligence.

In this environment, telecom operators face the challenge of investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades while maintaining affordable services in price-sensitive markets. Technology partnerships are increasingly seen as a way to share expertise, accelerate deployment, and manage costs.

For Huawei, the agreement offers an opportunity to strengthen its presence among African operators. The Chinese group said it aims to bring advanced technologies and innovation to local markets while supporting sustainable development, improving connectivity, and enhancing digital experiences across the continent.

Digital economy as a growth driver

Beyond the bilateral agreement, digital infrastructure modernization represents a key macroeconomic issue for Africa. According to the GSMA, the mobile sector already contributes more than 7% of Africa’s GDP, and this share is expected to grow as broadband connectivity, digital financial services, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence-based solutions expand.

AXIAN Telecom operates in nine African countries, including Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal. The group serves several million subscribers and continues to expand its infrastructure in a competitive market dominated by large pan-African operators.

Samira Njoya