Orange and Vodacom have announced a rural towerco joint venture (JV) that aims to serve underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The two carriers have claimed the JV to be a first of its kind in Africa.

Democratic Republic of Congo
– Getty Images

According to the telcos, the JV will extend network coverage for up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural areas of the DRC.

To support the connectivity plans, the duo have pledged to jointly build up to 2,000 new solar-powered base stations over the next six years, which will provide 2G and 4G connectivity.

The companies have agreed to an initial commitment of 1,000 sites after which Orange and Vodacom may expand the project by a further 1,000 towers.

Both carriers noted that the JV remains subject to the approval of administrative, regulatory, and competition authorities.

The first base station as part of the JV is expected to be in operation later this year, and will see Orange and Vodacom share active and passive equipment owned by the JV as anchor tenants for an initial term of 20 years.

Other MNOs will be able to use the passive infrastructure, too, noted the duo.

"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," said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.

Jérôme Hénique, Orange Middle East and Africa CEO added: "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."

At present, mobile Internet penetration in the DRC registers at just 32.3 percent. Orange and Vodacom say the JV will increase this number and help to bridge the country's digital divide.

Both carriers operate in several African markets, with Orange serving 160 million customers across 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

In DRC, Orange has more than 15 million subscribers, and more than 3,400 sites.

South African-based Vodacom, which is a subsidiary of UK telco Vodafone, operates in several other African markets, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Vodacom and Orange carried out 5G tests in DRC in 2023.