Mauritius-based telecom operator AXIAN Telecom Holding and Management PLC (via its subsidiary AXIAN Telecom Fibre Ltd, branded as “Yas”) has completed the acquisition of a 99.63% stake in East African fixed-broadband specialist Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd, parent company of the consumer brand Zuku and enterprise provider Simbanet.
The move marks a significant step in Yas’s strategy to rapidly scale fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), enterprise SD-WAN and cloud connectivity services across East Africa. The transaction brings into Yas’s fold one million+ homes passed in the region, along with an established last-mile network and enterprise customer base.
According to the parties, Wananchi’s operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi will be integrated into Yas’s pan-African network, leveraging AXIAN’s investment capacity and operational scale to aggressively grow broadband penetration in what the company describes as “one of the continent’s fastest-growing markets”.
Hassan Jaber, CEO of AXIAN Telecom, said the acquisition aligns with AXIAN’s ambition “to be a leader in broadband connectivity across Africa”, emphasising Wananchi’s network, customer relationships and local expertise as strategic assets. Bertrand Lacroix, CEO of Yas, added that Wananchi’s addition is “a big step forward” in building a pan-African broadband provider.
Industry analysts note that the acquisition represents an accelerated entry into East Africa’s fixed-broadband market for AXIAN. Building a green-field network is capital-intensive and time-consuming; the purchase gives Yas instant capability and footprint in multiple markets.
While the financial terms have not been officially disclosed, some external commentary suggests a deal value in the region of USD 60 m-65 m.
Going forward, AXIAN has committed to preserving employment and customer service continuity within Wananchi’s operations during the transition. Integration efforts will focus on leveraging group-wide expertise, scaling fibre networks and deepening enterprise offerings.
This acquisition adds to AXIAN’s existing presence in Africa, where Yas operates in markets including Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal and Togo. The firm says the move into East Africa completes a key leg of its network expansion strategy.
Stakeholders will be watching closely the integration execution, regulatory compliance across jurisdictions, and competitive responses in Kenya and Tanzania, where fixed-broadband markets are evolving rapidly.
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