AXIAN Telecom has received a US$100 million financing package from EIB Global to support the expansion of mobile broadband infrastructure across Madagascar and Tanzania.
Announced today, the investment will fund the rollout of 4G networks in both countries and support the continued deployment of 5G coverage.
Backed by a budgetary guarantee from the European Commission under the Global Gateway initiative, the investment aims to boost high-speed digital connectivity, promote inclusive digitalisation, and foster sustainable development.
It is expected to help close the telecom access gap in underserved regions of Africa and other emerging markets.
AXIAN Telecom, a prominent pan-African telecom company, currently operates in nine Sub-Saharan countries and serves more than 44 million subscribers.
Its core operations are in Tanzania, Madagascar, Senegal, Togo, and Comoros. In both Tanzania and Madagascar, the company operates under the Yas brand.
Of the total financing, US$60 million will be directed to Tanzania and US$40 million to Madagascar.
AXIAN Telecom CEO Hassan Jaber welcomed the support, saying:"The US$100 million EIB Global financing will help us expand mobile infrastructure in Madagascar and Tanzania, benefiting millions. This large-scale network investment paves the way for socio-economic growth, digital inclusion, and better opportunities."
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle emphasized the broader impact of the project:"Digital connectivity opens doors to education, business, healthcare, and social inclusion. This investment underscores the EIB’s commitment to empowering communities and driving sustainable development through affordable high-speed communication."
The investment supports the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By expanding resilient, energy-efficient broadband infrastructure, it aims to generate quality jobs, improve access to digital services, and enhance opportunities for vulnerable communities—fueling e-commerce, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
European Union ambassadors to Madagascar and Tanzania expressed strong support for the initiative.
EU Ambassador to Tanzania, Christine Grau, noted:"The European Union is a key partner in Tanzania’s digital transformation. This EIB Global investment in AXIAN Telecom, backed by a European Union guarantee, reflects our commitment to digital connectivity and to a people-centered model of digital transformation that leaves no one behind."
EIB Global plays a central role in financing telecom infrastructure and digitalisation across Africa and emerging markets.
This project contributes to the EU’s Digital4Development (D4D) initiative and is part of a broader effort to mobilise up to €150 billion for Africa’s physical and digital infrastructure by 2030.
Despite operating in a highly competitive market, AXIAN Telecom is poised for growth, driven by increasing demand for mobile communications and digital services—particularly among the continent’s fast-growing youth population.
