The GSMA along with leading operator groups from Africa and the Middle East are working on sharing infrastructure to deliver mobile broadband to off-network rural communities, as well as reduce the cost of services elsewhere.

The eight groups are a line-up of the leading players from the two regions: Bharti Airtel, Etisalat, MTN, Ooredoo, Orange, STC, Vodafone and Zain.

“We are greatly encouraged by the shared vision of mobile operators and the common urgency to find solutions that will drive down the cost of mobile and internet services and help connect the unconnected,” said Anne Bouverot (pictured), the GSMA’s director general.

Unique mobile subscriber penetration is only 40 per cent in Africa and the Middle East, compared to 47 per cent globally, said Bouverot.

The initiative, which follows a meeting at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, has the support of the CEOs from the eight groups.

Manoj Kohli, who is managing director of Bharti Enterprises and also chairs the public policy committee of the GSMA board, said: “We call on governments to support and encourage the commercial infrastructure sharing arrangements that we aim to propose.”

The GSMA argues that regulation should encourage network-sharing arrangements as well as ease access to state-owned assets at preferential rates so that operators can deliver coverage to unserved communities.