Airtel Zambia: $107 million to improve network quality and coverage
December 18th 2025
In early November, the telecoms regulator had already questioned operators about the quality of services provided to consumers. According to its official data, the country had 24.5 million mobile phone subscribers at the end of June, distributed between Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.
Airtel Zambia has launched a $107 million nationwide network expansion program. Announced on Tuesday, December 16, this initiative aims to strengthen coverage, improve service reliability, and optimize the customer experience across the country.
According to the operator, the program includes the deployment of 406 additional network sites nationwide to reduce congestion, expand coverage, and strengthen network resilience in high-demand and critical areas, including schools, hospitals, and clinics. The company states that 121 sites are already operational, while the remaining 285 are expected to be completed by March 2026.
“As new sites come online, customers will benefit from improved data speeds, clearer calls and increased network availability, reinforcing our goal of providing a stronger and more resilient network for all ,” Airtel Zambia said in a statement posted on its LinkedIn page.
This announcement follows a recent warning from the Zambian regulator about deteriorating service quality, as consumers continue to experience dropped calls, poor internet connectivity, and unreliable service. Operators are now required to invest immediately in expanding infrastructure, equipping all core sites with backup systems, and deploying sustainable energy solutions to ensure a more resilient and efficient network, particularly in rural and underserved areas. They have even been threatened with sanctions if they fail to comply.
“The persistent deterioration in the quality of electronic communications services is not only concerning, it poses a direct threat to Zambia’s digital transformation agenda, economic competitiveness, and the daily lives of our citizens. It undermines productivity, stifles innovation, and erodes public trust in the very systems meant to connect and empower our people. The era of substandard services must now end ,” said Collins Mbulo, Director General of the Zambia ICT Authority (ZICTA).
These efforts to improve service quality, coverage, and availability should allow the company to strengthen its market position, according to the GSMA. The organization states that this can help “maintain a high level of customer satisfaction, which has the potential to reduce churn and increase usage .” It adds that this can also allow an operator to maintain a competitive advantage through its investments and avoid revenue losses due to poor quality.
Furthermore, with the expansion of its network, Airtel Zambia is positioning itself to reach potential new customers. As a reminder, Airtel reported approximately 12.3 million subscribers at the end of September, compared to around 6.7 million for its main competitor, MTN, while the telecommunications regulator recorded 24.5 million subscriptions at the end of June. The “PwC Zambia Telecommunications Report 2025” indicates that by the end of 2024, Airtel held a market share of 48%, compared to 28% for MTN and 23% for Zamtel.
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