Airtel Africa Launches New Cyber Wholesale Unit

Airtel Africa has announced the launch of Airtel Africa Telesonic Limited (Telesonic), a new fiber unit, with the aim of revolutionizing the continent’s wholesale data market.

Telesonic aims to enhance connectivity in critical sectors such as education and healthcare, thereby fostering better access and efficiency, ultimately improving the quality of life for communities and boosting national economies.

Utilizing its terrestrial fiber assets and submarine cable systems, Telesonic provides comprehensive solutions for both terrestrial fiber and submarine cables, as stated in a recent LinkedIn update by Airtel Africa. This indicates that the operator’s fiber assets and subsea cable systems will be integrated into the newly established unit, Telesonic, spanning approximately 75,000km across 14 markets.

The announcement follows the launch of Nxtera on December 2023, Airtel’s new data center business, which has recently entered into a power-wheeling agreement with Ampln and Amplus Energy to acquire an additional 140,208 MWh of renewable energy. The partnership aimed at leading India’s green data center space and fulfilling their commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2031.

Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa, expressed his optimism about the potential impact of Telesonic on Africa’s digital landscape, stating, “The establishment of Airtel Africa Telesonic underscores Airtel Africa’s commitment to addressing Africa’s needs for the digital revolution by providing cutting-edge fiber-optic solutions that will empower businesses, education, healthcare, and communities at large.”

Furthermore, Airtel Africa’s ambitious plans include deploying 1,000 locally-assembled electric buses through its innovative Pay-As-You-Drive financing platform by 2026, marking another significant step towards sustainable development in Africa’s transportation sector.

As the company continues its expansion efforts, Airtel Africa recently announced a $100 million share buyback program, reflecting its robust operating performance and commitment to delivering value to shareholders. Additionally, with CEO Segun Ogunsanya’s impending retirement, the company is poised for a leadership transition, with Sunil Taldar slated to assume the role of CEO.