Orange and Vodacom have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural communities, reinforcing their commitment to bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth.

Deploying and operating networks, particularly in deep rural areas, continues to be a significant challenge in the DRC. To bridge the digital divide and expand network coverage in underserved communities, the companies have pledged to jointly construct up to 2,000 new solar-powered base stations over six years, using 2G and 4G technologies. This agreement commences with an initial commitment of 1,000 sites after which Orange and Vodacom may scale the project by a further 1,000 towers. The completion of this joint venture remains subject to the approval of administrative, regulatory, and competition authorities.

Beyond enhanced population coverage, this combined investment will enable consumers to access voice, data, and mobile money services. With the first base station expected to start operating in 2025, Orange and Vodacom will be sharing active and passive equipment owned by the joint venture as anchor tenants for an initial term of 20 years.  The joint venture will offer its passive infrastructure to any MNO interested wherever technically feasible to increase usage and promote a wider range of options for the population. 

“With a footprint serving over 210 million customers across Africa, we have the opportunity to significantly contribute to the continent's socio-economic development by building a digital society and fostering inclusivity for all. This aligns with our purpose to connect for a better future, and our partnership with Orange is a crucial step towards providing mobile coverage to people in previously underserved areas in the DRC," says Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group. 

“Our longstanding presence in Africa, including over 10 years in the DRC, has equipped us with a deep understanding of the market and customer needs. Collaborating with Vodacom by sharing both passive and active infrastructure is the most effective approach to fulfilling our commitment to accelerating connectivity access for everyone, including rural areas, while minimizing our environmental footprint.” says Orange Middle East and Africa CEO, Jérôme Hénique.

Mobile Internet penetration in the DRC is at 32.3% and Orange and Vodacom's announcement to construct new base stations in the country aligns with the country's new vision for the digital economy as included in the National Digital Plan Horizon 2025 adopted in 2019. The plan aims to foster digital transformation across various sectors, leading to improved public services, enhanced economic growth, and equitable access to digital services for all citizens. This initiative emphasizes e-citizenship, e-government, and e-commerce and is expected to contribute to job creation, bridge the digital divide, and boost the country's GDP.

For nearly 12 years, Orange RDC, a subsidiary of the Orange Group, has been connecting Congolese people through innovative connectivity solutions and a proactive corporate responsibility policy. As the first and only telecom operator in the DRC to offer fiber to its subscribers and a pioneer in launching new technologies, Orange RDC plays a key role in the country’s economic and human development. The company is committed to digital and social inclusion, with initiatives such as the Orange Digital Center & Clubs in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Matadi, and Kananga, which provide free digital training to thousands of young Congolese.
Today, it has over 15 million subscribers across the country, with more than 3,400 sites, over 90% of which are 4G-enabled.

About Orange

About Orange Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. The Group aims to be the trusted partner for everyday digital life by providing individuals, businesses and communities with reliable connectivity and innovative services. As of the end of 2025, Orange connects 340 million customers (including MasOrange) across 26 countries and generated 40.4 billion euros in revenues.
As a trusted player, Orange leverages the excellence of its very high-speed broadband networks to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Group is a European leader in fiber, with 100 million connectable households, and convergent offers. In France, Orange connects 34 million customers and was ranked No. 1 by the regulator Arcep for the quality of its mobile network for the 15th consecutive year. In Africa and the Middle East, the Group’s growth engine, Orange serves nearly 180 million customers and promotes digital and financial inclusion through its connected solutions.
Under the Orange Business brand, the Group supports companies in transforming their networks as well as in AI, trusted cloud and cybersecurity. Orange is also a major player in the wholesale market, where it has a leading global telecom infrastructure and significant capabilities for deploying and operating submarine cables. A committed innovator, Orange relies on 700 researchers and holds a portfolio of 11,000 patents.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). More information: www.orange.com. 

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