Finnish telecommunications company Nokia has been selected to supply network equipment for Africell as the operator prepares to enter the Angolan market later this year.
Initial operations will focus on deploying a multi-standard radio network in Luanda that supports 2G, 3G and 4G services, with a planned software-based upgrade path to 5G in the future. This approach will allow Africell to offer broad coverage and modern mobile services from launch while remaining ready for next‑generation connectivity.
Nokia will provide its AirScale Single Radio Access Network (S‑RAN) across up to 700 sites, its AirFrame data center solution to host cloud-based applications, and cloud-native core network technology. Together, these systems are intended to give Africell a flexible, scalable platform to adapt to customer needs as they emerge.
Angola will become Africell’s fifth market in Africa, joining its existing operations in Uganda, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Africell’s expansion underscores the company’s strategy to grow its footprint across the continent.
“Africell is a competitive and highly differentiated player in the African telecoms market. Our vision is to offer superior voice and data services in an expanding footprint across the continent,” said Younes Chaaban, Africell’s chief technology officer. “To achieve this, we need reliable technology partners whose network technologies and support services give us the best platform from which to serve our own customers.”
Once Africell starts operations, it will become the third major mobile operator in Angola alongside Unitel and Movicel. According to the national regulator INACOM, Angola has an estimated 14.8 million mobile users, representing a sizable market for affordable, data-centric mobile services — the area Africell plans to target.
The African telecom sector has seen several notable developments recently beyond Angola. For example, Djibouti has announced plans to offer a significant minority stake in its state-owned telecommunications business to a strategic partner, reflecting broader interest in partnerships and investment across the region.
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