Airtel Africa, through its fiber service arm, Airtel Africa Telesonic, has selected Nokia to build a high-capacity terrestrial fiber network spanning East and Central Africa.
The strategic project is positioned to be a major catalyst for digital development across the continent, focusing on linking multiple African countries and creating crucial connections between vast subsea cables and local terrestrial networks. This initiative is expected to enhance digital connectivity significantly, providing affordable and reliable infrastructure that will contribute to boosting economic growth and improving the quality of life for millions.
A core objective of the project is connecting essential submarine infrastructure, notably the 2Africa subsea cable, directly to Africa’s terrestrial networks.
The new backbone utilizes state-of-the-art technology from Nokia. The network is built on Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform, which is engineered for massive capacity.
“Deploying Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch platform is a pivotal upgrade to our network infrastructure across Africa,” stated Razvan Ungureanu, Chief Technology Officer at Airtel Africa. “This will enable us to provide greater capacity and high-speed connectivity to efficiently handle webscale traffic. With Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine powering our DWDM network across multiple countries, we are setting the stage for transformative growth and new opportunities throughout the continent.”
The technological specifications highlight the project’s future-readiness:
- Capacity: The new network will support up to an immense 38 Terabits per second (Tbps) for extremely fast data transfer.
- Technology: It is C+L Band Ready to allow for future capacity enhancement.
- Architecture: The Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network consists of 139 nodes and is powered by Nokia’s high-speed coherent Photonic Service Engine (PSE) technology, essential for high-speed connectivity and delivering cloud-based services.
PD Sarma, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa Telesonic, emphasized the partnership’s continental significance: “Our collaboration with Nokia is a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s digital infrastructure. By leveraging Nokia’s cutting-edge fiber-optic solutions, we aim to meet the escalating demand for data across the continent. This network will drive economic growth, empower communities, and create new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.”
Samer Lutfi, Head of Growth Group for Network Infrastructure at Nokia Middle East & Africa, reiterated Nokia’s dedication to the region. “We are proud to partner with Airtel Africa Telesonic in this ambitious project to enhance digital connectivity across Africa. Our advanced DWDM technology, with its high capacity and reliability, is built to help enterprises succeed in their mission to spark digital transformation and economic growth in the region. This project is a reflection of our shared commitment to connecting communities and driving progress.”