Airtel Africa Targets 5,000 Schools Connected to Free Internet by 2027 With UNICEF

The Airtel Africa Foundation announced on July 13, 2026 a target of connecting 5,000 schools across its African markets to free internet by 2027, expanding its digital education partnership with UNICEF. The programme has already connected 3,296 schools across 13 African countries, giving internet access to more than two million learners and around 40,000 teachers. The expansion is part of a broader wave of connectivity commitments across the continent, alongside Airtel Africa's planned Starlink satellite partnership aiming to reach over 173 million people across 14 countries once launched.