Bharti Airtel partners with Liquid Telecom to enlarge fiber connectivity in Africa

Bharti Airtel recently signed a deal to use Liquid Telecom terrestrial fiber network to connect its mobile base stations and enterprises, giving its mobile broadband subscribers in Africa faster Internet access speeds on its 3G and 4G networks.

Airtel will leverage Liquid Telecom’s existing 12,427-mile-long fiber network across East, Central and Southern Africa, as well as employ new purpose-built fiber infrastructure, to connect its mobile base stations and enterprise customers with fiber.

“Mobile operators are relying on Internet access and data services to grow their revenues," Nic Rudnick, Liquid Telecom Group CEO, said.  "(Mobile network operators), and in particular Airtel, have managed to attract a large number of customers on their 3G and 4G networks and now need to strengthen their backhaul to deliver a super-fast Internet access service. Liquid Telecom’s extensive and fast-growing terrestrial fiber network is the perfect solution for Airtel to rapidly do so.”

“The agreement is a milestone in providing fast broadband services to customers in a cost-effective way," Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria said. "Airtel has invested significantly in mobile broadband technology across its African footprint and this agreement will deliver end-to-end fibre connectivity to our 3G and 4G base stations. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all.”

Airtel has operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.