Airtel Uganda has added 840 network sites over the past two years, expanding its network by approximately 25%, Managing Director Soumendra Sahu has said.
Sahu described the rollout as a record pace for the company and said the sites were intended to address coverage and service-quality gaps. The operator is also investing in home broadband and business connectivity as customers increasingly depend on data services.
The company’s wider connectivity programme includes satellite links for compatible smartphones. Sahu said the direct-to-cell service is aimed at basic communication in remote areas, rather than replacing every function of a conventional mobile network.
Smartphone prices and dependable electricity remain obstacles to wider adoption. Sahu called for tax relief on entry-level smartphones and improved grid access around telecom sites. His comments link the next stage of expansion with more than infrastructure alone: customers also need affordable devices and networks with enough reliable capacity to serve them.
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