Axian Telecom Fibre Ltd (“Yas”), a subsidiary of Axian Telecom Holding and Management PLC, has completed the acquisition of 99.63% of Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd, one of East Africa’s most established fixed broadband and enterprise connectivity operators. The $63m transaction marks a significant step in Axian Telecom’s long-term strategy to build a scaled, multi-country broadband network across Africa.
Wananchi, known for its Zuku consumer broadband and Simbanet enterprise services, brings more than one million homes passed and a deep operational footprint across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. By integrating Wananchi’s metro and last-mile fibre assets with its existing backbone networks in Tanzania and Madagascar, AXIAN Telecom is positioning itself to expand high-speed connectivity across key urban and emerging growth corridors.
The acquisition comes amid a broader consolidation wave in Africa’s telecoms market, where scalable regional operators are increasingly acquiring legacy networks to reduce infrastructure duplication, improve service reliability, and accelerate expansion. Rather than dozens of operators building parallel networks, the industry is shifting toward shared capacity, coordinated builds, and investment-driven growth.
“Wananchi Group’s network, customer relationships, and local expertise align perfectly with our ambition to be a leader in broadband connectivity across Africa,” said Hassan Jaber, Chief Executive Officer, Axian Telecom. “Yas already has a strong presence in East Africa, and this acquisition builds on our deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and needs while giving us access to new, vibrant markets in Kenya and Uganda. Together, we will unlock new potential for growth, innovation, and value creation – delivering better access and new digital services for the communities and businesses we serve.”
Bertrand Lacroix, CEO of Axian Telecom Fibre, described the acquisition as a natural evolution for the business. “Our goal is to build a leading pan-African broadband connectivity provider, and Wananchi’s addition is a big step forward. We are committed to bringing high-speed Internet to millions more Africans. Our strong performance so far – doubling our fixed broadband base and achieving double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth – shows the strength of our model.”
The sale of Wananchi reflects a broader shift in Africa’s telecoms market structure. For more than a decade, many fixed broadband operators operated as standalone national players, often constrained by limited access to capital and rising infrastructure costs. As demand for cloud services, fintech platforms, digital payments, content streaming, and enterprise connectivity accelerates, scale has become essential. Consolidation allows larger players to spread costs, negotiate better bandwidth pricing, invest in service reliability, and expand coverage faster.
For Axian Telecom, the acquisition strengthens its position as one of Africa’s most active broadband investors, building on operations in Madagascar, Tanzania, Comoros, Senegal, and Togo. Under its new ownership, Wananchi will benefit from increased investment capacity, operational efficiencies, and cross-market expertise. The company has stated that continuity for employees, customers, and partners remains a priority to ensure a smooth transition.
The deal signals growing confidence in East Africa’s digital infrastructure sector – and underscores that the next phase of the continent’s connectivity story will be shaped by companies capable of deploying capital at scale, operating across borders, and building networks designed for high-growth digital economies.
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