• The Nokia-Vodafone deal will accelerate the rollout of 5G and support AI-powered connectivity.

• The partnership involves deploying Nokia’s AirScale portfolio and MantaRay AI platform to enhance coverage and reduce energy consumption.

• Building on past collaborations, including Open RAN trials and network upgrades, this initiative aims to close Africa’s 5G gap.

Nokia has extended its agreement to supply Vodafone with technical infrastructure, allowing it to provide next-generation radio access network (RAN) equipment as part of the operator’s five-year investment programme spanning Europe and Africa. The move, announced on October 14, will see Nokia deliver what is labelled as advanced, energy-efficient network technology to strengthen Vodafone’s mobile infrastructure and accelerate the rollout of 5G services across markets.

Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, emphasized that the partnership supports the transition of both regions toward AI-powered connectivity. “Today’s networks need new levels of performance, trust, and resilience. We are delighted to extend our partnership with Vodafone, Vodacom, and its affiliates to build future-proof 5G standalone networks across Europe and Africa,” said Atkinson. “This agreement underscores the strength of our industry-leading connectivity solutions, which help our customers respond to future demands as the AI supercycle accelerates.”

Under the extended deal, Nokia will supply equipment from its AirScale RAN portfolio, including Massive MIMO radios, baseband units, and remote radio heads (RRH) powered by its ReefShark System-on-Chip technology. The partnership will see the deployment of a 5G Dual-Band Massive MIMO Radio in Africa, a significant milestone for the continent’s mobile connectivity landscape.

The deployment aims to enhance network performance, capacity, and coverage while reducing energy use and space requirements — a crucial step as African operators strive to expand mobile broadband to underserved regions. Nokia will also introduce its MantaRay NM, an AI-driven network management platform that consolidates monitoring and optimizes operations across Vodafone’s footprint.

Vodafone operates across Africa, primarily through Vodacom and Safaricom, serving millions of customers in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Ethiopia. Over the years, Nokia and Vodafone have worked closely on several innovations and modernization projects across both continents.

The two companies conducted Open RAN trials in the UK and launched network modernization initiatives in South Africa and Egypt. Later, in 2022, Nokia partnered with Safaricom in Kenya to test a new technology that enables operators to split their mobile network into dedicated lanes, providing faster and more reliable internet for businesses and secure connections for cloud-based services. Nokia has also supported Vodacom’s upgrades from 2G and 3 G systems to 4G and 5G networks, helping to expand rural coverage and improve connectivity across Africa.

According to GSMA Intelligence (2024), mobile technologies and services generated approximately 7% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, contributing over $140 billion to the economy as of 2023. This figure is projected to reach $170 billion by 2030 as 5G expands. It notes that 5G is growing rapidly and is expected to contribute $10 billion to the region’s economy by 2030, accounting for 6% of the overall economic value generated by mobile technologies.

Nokia’s energy-efficient RAN solutions and AI-based optimization tools can help close this gap, reducing operational costs for operators in markets affected by high energy prices and infrastructure constraints.

Hikmatu Bilali