AXIAN Telecom, a Mauritius based telecommunication firm has finalized on the acquisition of 99.63 percent stake in Wananchi Group Holdings Limited. The acquisition as had earlier been announced by the COMESA Competition Authority (CCA) in September 2024, has finally been realized on 5th November 2025. The acquisition was completed by AXIAN Telecom Fibre Ltd ( Yas ) a subsidiary of AXIAN Telecom Holding and Management PLC.
Yas already operates in 11 African markets including Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal and Togo. AXIAN Telecom is growing its presence in East AFRICAN market by setting stage in the East African market by setting the stage for a greater broad band competition. Wananchi serves customers through an extensive fiber backbone and a last mile network, it operates under its established brands, Zuku for consumers, and Simbanet for enterprises.
Hassan Jaber, CEO of AXIAN Telecom, commented: “Wananchi Group’s network, customer relationships, and local expertise align perfectly with our ambition to be a leader in broadband connectivity across Africa. Yas already has a strong presence in East Africa, and this acquisition builds on our deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and needs while giving us access to new vibrant markets in Kenya and Uganda. Together, we will unlock new potential for growth, innovation, and value creation—delivering better access and new digital services for the communities and businesses we serve”.
The acquisition will boost Yas’ fiber coverage, since in Kenya alone, according to the fixed internet market report of June 2025, Wananchi holds a market share of 12.7 percent, although facing competitors like Safaricom PLC at 34.3 percent and Jamii Telecom (Faiba) at 20.6 percent. Zuku and Simbanet will benefit from the increased investment capacity and technological expertise to upscale their Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) and cloud connectivity solutions. AXIAN is working to establish a wider presence in Africa a sign that the company sees the growth of the internet market in Africa and it wants a share in it.
“Our goal is to build a leading pan-African broadband connectivity provider, and Wananchi’s addition is a big step forward. We are committed to bringing high-speed Internet to millions more Africans. Our strong performance so far, doubling of our fixed broadband base and achieving double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth, shows the strength of our model.” Bertrand Lacroix, CEO of AXIAN Telecom Fibre.
Also read: IFC Powers Axian Telecom with $75 Million for Growth and Connectivity Goals
