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Airtel Africa Commits Free Internet Access for 5,000 African Schools by 2027
Airtel Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating digital education across the continent with a pledge to provide free internet connectivity to 5,000 schools by 2027, strengthening efforts to bridge Africa’s digital learning divide and expand equitable access to quality education.
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The commitment was announced by Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, during a visit to St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka, Zambia, where he highlighted the transformative impact of the company’s partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in expanding digital learning opportunities for millions of African children.
Implemented through the Airtel Africa Foundation, the initiative combines free internet access, zero-rated educational platforms, digital learning resources and teacher capacity-building to improve educational outcomes, particularly in underserved and rural communities across Africa.
Driving Digital Inclusion Through Education
Taldar said meaningful connectivity is becoming a powerful catalyst for educational transformation, enabling students to access high-quality digital learning resources aligned with national curricula while equipping teachers with the skills needed to deliver technology-enabled education.
“Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity,” he said.
The initiative supports Airtel Africa’s broader vision of leveraging digital connectivity to improve education, enhance digital literacy and prepare young Africans for the demands of the digital economy.
“We are also training teachers so they can effectively deliver digital education. Our goal is to continue expanding meaningful connectivity in schools through free internet access, zero-rated learning platforms and teacher training across the continent.”
Thousands of Schools Already Connected
Since its launch in 2021, the Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership has made significant progress in expanding digital access across multiple African countries.
The programme has already:
- Connected 3,296 schools to the internet.
- Provided digital learning access to more than 2 million students.
- Supported over 40,000 teachers through digital education initiatives.
- Zero-rated 64 educational platforms, enabling approximately 11 million users to access online learning content free of data charges.
The initiative is backed by Airtel Africa’s US$57 million partnership with UNICEF, demonstrating one of the continent’s largest private sector investments in digital education and connectivity.
Reaching Underserved Communities Across 13 African Countries
The programme is being implemented across 13 African markets where Airtel Africa operates, with a strong emphasis on extending connectivity to schools in rural and underserved communities.
Participating Countries
East and Central Africa
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- Malawi
- Zambia
- Madagascar
West and Central Africa
- Nigeria
- Niger
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- Gabon
Beyond providing internet connectivity, the programme delivers curated digital learning content developed jointly by UNICEF and national Ministries of Education while helping schools integrate technology into classroom teaching.
Teacher Training Remains Central to Digital Learning
Recognising that connectivity alone cannot transform education, Airtel Africa and UNICEF are investing heavily in teacher development to ensure educators can effectively use digital tools and online resources in classroom instruction.
The programme equips teachers with practical digital skills, enabling them to integrate technology into lesson delivery and improve learning outcomes for students.
This holistic approach aims to ensure that digital infrastructure translates into meaningful educational impact.
Schools Report Improved Learning Outcomes
Schools already benefiting from the programme have reported noticeable improvements in students’ access to learning materials and academic engagement.
Headmistress of St. Monica’s Girls School, Sr. Matilda Soloko, described the initiative as transformative for both students and teachers.
“Being among the first schools connected during the initial phase, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal, and their academic engagement has significantly improved. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF,” she said.
Bridging Africa’s Digital Education Gap
UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr. Saja Farooq Abdullah, said the partnership is helping to narrow educational inequalities by ensuring children can access quality digital learning regardless of their location.
“What this partnership has brought is truly helping to bridge the inequality gap and the digital divide,” she said.
“It is ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn wherever they are.”
As Africa continues expanding digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity, initiatives such as the Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting digital inclusion, improving educational equity and equipping young people with the digital skills required for the future workforce.
With a target of connecting 5,000 schools by 2027, Airtel Africa is positioning digital connectivity as a strategic enabler of education, human capital development and sustainable socio-economic growth across the continent.
