At the recent MWC Kigali 2025, Hassan Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Axian Telecom, laid out an ambitious and deeply hopeful plan for Africa’s tech future. With a calm confidence, Jaber detailed how his company envisions helping the continent leapfrog decades of digital underdevelopment – building a future where public institutions, businesses, and citizens are linked in a resilient, tech-driven ecosystem.
Axian Telecom, a pan-African operator active in countries like Madagascar, Tanzania, Senegal, Togo, and the Comoros, says its mission is not just to connect people, but to empower them; to make data accessible, to support affordable devices, and to anchor the continent in transformative technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence (AI).
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Teaming Up: Partnerships That Power Progress
Jaber was clear: no single player can drive Africa’s digital future alone. “We cannot do it alone,” he said, highlighting that partnerships between private companies and governments are essential. For Axian, this means working with governments to offer services that help public administrations go digital, while also ensuring the right regulatory environment to attract investment.
He urged regulators to craft policies that create safe, stable spaces for investment, and he called on the private sector to deliver meaningful services for citizens. This dual approach, he argued, accelerates the adoption of new technology across the markets where Axian operates.
Already, Axian Telecom has struck important alliances to make its vision concrete. In November 2025, the company announced a strategic partnership with Cisco to deliver a suite of “Next Generation Secure Business Connect” solutions to African businesses and governments, according to AXIAN Telecom.
By combining Axian’s regional footprint (under its unified Yas brand) with Cisco’s global networking and security strength, the partnership aims to provide reliable, scalable, and secure digital infrastructure to institutions across multiple African countries.
Making Digital Inclusion Real: Affordability, Access, and Innovation
A key pillar in Axian’s blueprint is bridging the digital divide through three core areas: connectivity, financing, and innovation. According to Jaber, laying down infrastructure (like 4G and 5G) is only half the battle. The other half is making access affordable, especially in underserved and rural regions.
To achieve this, Axian is promoting flexible financial solutions that allow customers to acquire smartphones over time. This is critical in markets where average revenue per user (ARPU) is still low compared to other continents. Alongside that, the company is rolling out pilot projects to bring connectivity to remote areas without overburdening its balance sheet. By combining low-cost data plans, affordable devices, and accessible financing, Axian aims to democratise internet access for millions more Africans.
On the innovation front, Axian is preparing for a future where 5G and AI are not just buzzwords, but tools for real change. The company is already investing in 4G and 5G infrastructure, but Jaber made a point of stressing that the build-out is about laying a foundation for future AI-driven use cases. He argued that data centres, fibre networks, and undersea cables must be in place first, so Africa can host and develop its own AI solutions — not just import them. According to him, the goal is to create “made-in-Africa” AI applications that tackle local challenges.
Building Resilient, Purpose-Driven Infrastructure
Axian’s long-term strategy is grounded in both resilience and social purpose. The telco is striving for a robust infrastructure that can not only support everyday connectivity but also stand up in crisis situations. As part of this commitment, Axian has signed the GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter, pledging to strengthen its disaster response capabilities across its network.
In countries like Madagascar, Tanzania, and the Comoros, Axian (through Yas) is working with the GSMA to build an early warning system that monitors hazards, assesses risk, and delivers timely alerts to communities — a life-saving tool in regions prone to natural disasters.
Meanwhile, the company’s 2024 sustainability report shows real progress. Axian claims to have reached 98% of its sites with 4G, sped up its 5G rollout in cities, and expanded fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services in response to growing demand.
To improve network reliability, it’s deploying predictive maintenance tools powered by AI and machine learning. In Tanzania, for instance, automation allows the network to detect and fix problems before they escalate.
Axian is also investing in its infrastructure arm, Silver Links, which manages terrestrial and submarine cables. Together, they ensure the network remains resilient, scalable, and ready for the increasing demands of data-hungry applications
The Bigger Picture: Africa’s Digital Renaissance
Through all of this, Jaber’s tone remains optimistic — even visionary. He described Africa as entering a “Renaissance era” of digital transformation, driven not by catching up but by leapfrogging to future technologies. Instead of following the development trajectory of industrialised nations, Africa has a chance to build a homegrown digital ecosystem that serves its own needs.
Axian Telecom positions itself at the heart of this transformation: scaling up infrastructure, driving adoption, and deploying innovations that matter. With a blend of public-private collaboration, financial inclusivity, and long-term investment, Jaber believes the company can help millions more Africans become active digital users — and create real, measurable value in their daily lives.
He summarises his vision simply: connect as many people as possible, support them with affordable access, and enable real use cases that improve lives. In doing so, Axian hopes to anchor Africa in the global digital economy not as a passive consumer, but as an active creator.
Why this matters (in a Nigerian context):
- Nigeria is among the most connected countries in Africa, but digital inclusion remains uneven — particularly in rural areas. Axian’s blueprint (if replicated or partnered with local operators) offers a useful model of how to bridge that gap.
- The push for affordable devices and flexible payment plans could be transformative in Nigeria, where upfront cost is often a barrier to smartphone adoption.
- As AI and 5G become more central globally, building local infrastructure ensures Nigeria (and other African countries) don’t just consume technology — they help produce it.
By focusing on affordability, partnership, and resilience, Axian Telecom is laying the blueprint for a more connected, more inclusive, and more technologically sovereign Africa. The company’s approach may not solve all challenges overnight, but it signals a serious shift: from aspirational talk to real investment, from fragmented markets to continental collaboration. If executed well, this could be the groundwork for Africa’s next digital leap.
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