NuRAN Wireless Inc., a premier provider of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, is delighted to announce an agreement with MTN Benin to deploy up to 200 rural 2G, 3G, and 4G sites under the Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) business model in Benin, West Africa.
This 5-year agreement extends NuRAN's presence to eight countries across Sub-Saharan Africa with signed NaaS agreements. The contract includes an option for renewal for an additional five years at the end of the initial term. Signed under the MTN Framework Agreement, this deal further solidifies the strong partnership between MTN and NuRAN, both committed to empowering rural communities across Africa.
The project will support a range of site categories to accommodate different population densities and coverage areas for 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. NuRAN will retain ownership of the infrastructure after the contract's completion, enhancing the overall value of the agreement.
With this new agreement, NuRAN now has a total of 5,092 sites under contract with various mobile network operators (MNOs), surpassing 50% of its goal to reach 10,000 sites within five years of launching the NaaS framework. This milestone not only highlights NuRAN's capability to execute large-scale deployments but also underscores its dedication to bridging connectivity gaps in remote and underserved areas.
Additionally, NuRAN management is pleased to announce the receipt of the initial US$2.5 million drawdown from the Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI). This funding will enable NuRAN to resume its rollout plan, with the majority allocated to Cameroon and a portion dedicated to initiating site builds in the Ivory Coast, Benin, and Madagascar, as well as delivering sites already in inventory in South Sudan.
