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Key Points
- AXIAN Telecom’s Yas Comoros unit secured a $28.8 million loan from IFC to expand broadband and boost digital access across the Comoros islands.
- The funding will support 5G, FTTH, and FTTO rollouts starting in 2025, enhancing services for consumers, SMEs, and public institutions.
- AXIAN Telecom is ramping up its pan-African growth, with over 42.9 million mobile subscribers and $1.4 billion in annual revenue.
AXIAN Telecom, the pan-African telecom group led by Malagasy businessman Hassanein Hiridjee, has secured a €25 million ($28.8 million) loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) through its Comorian unit, Yas Comoros. The funding will be used to improve telecom infrastructure, enhance network reliability, and boost connectivity between the islands.
This partnership with the IFC marks a major step forward in Comoros’ digital development. By expanding both mobile and fixed broadband access, the initiative is expected to fuel economic growth and promote social inclusion across the island nation. This move follows AXIAN Telecom’s recent acquisition of a 9.18 percent stake in e-commerce firm Jumia, now worth about $35 million—further cementing its commitment to the region.
Yas Comoros bets on digital future
Yas Comoros has quickly become the fastest-growing arm of AXIAN Telecom. The new funds will help the company meet rising demand for data services and improve service quality. Plans are already in motion to begin deploying advanced technologies like 5G, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), and fiber-to-the-office (FTTO) starting in 2025.
“This loan is an opportunity not only to modernize our network but also to invest in advanced technologies from 2025 — including 5G rollout, FTTH, and FTTO — and thus accelerate the digitization of the Union of the Comoros over the next five years,” said Christophe Oliver, CEO of Yas Comoros. “We are committed to delivering improved connectivity solutions across the board — for consumers, SMEs, corporates, and public sector institutions — in alignment with the government’s digital vision.”
AXIAN expands broadband in Africa
Headquartered in Mauritius, AXIAN Telecom now serves more than 42.9 million mobile subscribers and 15.2 million users of its mobile financial services. It’s currently the sixth-largest mobile operator on the continent. Under Hiridjee, the company’s annual revenue grew from $1.08 billion to $1.4 billion last year, powered by strong uptake of 4G and 5G services.
This isn’t AXIAN Telecom’s only major move in recent months. In January, it secured $160 million from the African Development Bank to support its digital and financial service expansion. Just three months later, it received another $100 million from EIB Global to speed up broadband deployment in Madagascar and Tanzania—two countries where demand for better internet access is growing fast.
AXIAN’s investments reflect a long-term approach to digital development. Its recent partnership with e-commerce giant Jumia is just one more sign that the company is laying down roots—not just to grow, but to help shape the digital future of Africa.
