(Ecofin Agency) - Mobile operator Africell Angola has announced ambitious plans to double its communication towers and extend its services to four additional provinces in the country by 2024. This plan was made public by Jorge Vasquez, the newly appointed CEO of the company, during a media briefing on Wednesday, November 15.

The expansion initiative aligns with Africell's gradual network extension strategy in Angola. Since launching its commercial operations in April 2022, the company now operates in four provinces: Luanda, Benguela, Huíla, and Kwanza Sul, boasting a network of 700 telecom towers. By the end of this year, the company aims to cover the provinces of Huambo and Namibe, with Cabinda and Soyo (Zaïre) expected to receive its signal in the first quarter of 2024. The ultimate goal is to achieve nationwide coverage by 2025.

Africell acknowledges the challenges posed by the inefficiency of telecom infrastructure sharing, which has hindered its expansion efforts in Angola. The company revealed that only 5% of the telecom towers it utilizes belong to other entities. Africell is open to sharing its future telecom infrastructure with competitors to accelerate the development of the telecom sector and contribute to the country's overall progress.

The company’s expansion plan is expected to connect thousands of additional subscribers, increasing Africell's market share. In the fiercely competitive mobile telephony sector, the company faces rivalry from Unitel and Movicel.