Africa’s telecommunications industry, traditionally anchored in heavy infrastructure and siloed systems, is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With the rapid adoption of digital technologies and the push for agile, scalable operations, telecom-as-a-service (TaaS) is emerging as a compelling model for operators across the continent.
A cloud-first, API-driven transformation can deliver agility, new monetization, and operational efficiencies, but to scale beyond urban and enterprise pockets across Africa, coordinated investment is required. Legacy frameworks, such as fiber and edge capacity, will continue to serve as the basis for cloud–API success; otherwise, the model will accelerate major gaps between leading operators and consumer functionality.
At its core, TaaS represents a shift from owning and maintaining physical networks to delivering telecom capabilities as modular, software-defined services. This model allows operators to dynamically allocate network resources, deploy services faster, and scale operations in response to market demand.
Traditional telecom operations often involve long procurement cycles, rigid infrastructure, and complex integration challenges. TaaS, by contrast, offers an agile approach, reducing the time and cost associated with launching new services.
Cloud from the Outset
The adoption of cloud-first strategies is central to the TaaS model. By hosting network functions, analytics, and service platforms on cloud infrastructure, operators can achieve unprecedented flexibility. Cloud-native architectures support automated provisioning, continuous software updates, and elastic scalability.
Indicating strong success, Ethio telecom launched a branded cloud service called ‘telecloud,’ offering public and sovereign cloud solutions for government and enterprise customers. It has attracted large support from state and commercial entities and has positioned the operator as a cloud services provider, replicating the TaaS model, where telecom infrastructure underpins cloud-offered services.
Additionally, Safaricom has partnered with AWS and Google Cloud to bring enterprise-grade cloud computing, AI, and API-driven platforms to its customers and developer ecosystem. While primarily enterprise-oriented, these partnerships support cloud-native application delivery and integration, essential ingredients of a broader TaaS architecture.
By utilizing cloud-native architectures, telecom operators can respond to fluctuating demand, launch new offerings quickly, and maintain service reliability without the heavy overhead of on-premises hardware.
APIs as Supporting Frameworks
API-driven frameworks further enhance the TaaS proposition as they enable telecom operators to expose network capabilities as programmable services that can be integrated with external systems, third-party applications, and partner platforms.
This modularity fosters innovation by allowing developers and partners to build new services on top of existing telecom infrastructure.
For instance, APIs can provide access to messaging, billing, or location services, enabling businesses to embed telecom functionalities into their own applications. By standardizing APIs, operators reduce integration complexity, accelerate time-to-market, and expand their service ecosystems.
Daraja 3.0, Safaricom’s official developer portal, provides a wide range of M-PESA APIs for integrating mobile payments (C2B, B2C, STK Push, and more) into apps, websites, and business systems, enabling seamless fintech innovation. It supports testing in sandbox environments and now runs on a cloud-native architecture to improve uptime and developer experience.
Supported by Ericsson, MTN Mobile Money Open APIs allow third-party developers to build on the MTN MoMo platform, creating new digital financial services. These APIs were first rolled out in Uganda in 2018 and extended across 11+ African countries including Ghana, Zambia, Cameroon, South Africa, and more, unlocking integration with fintech and mobile apps.
Furthermore, Chenosis is a pan-African API marketplace that boasts a broad set of APIs across multiple industries, letting developers discover, subscribe to, and monetize APIs in a unified ecosystem, reflecting an infrastructure play toward an API-led digital marketplace.
Why Go Cloud-First and API-Driven?
The benefits of TaaS are not limited to operational efficiency. Customer experience is increasingly becoming a key differentiator in telecom, and the cloud-first, API-driven approach enables operators to deliver more personalized, responsive services.
Real-time analytics, powered by cloud platforms, allow operators to understand customer behavior, anticipate needs, and offer tailored solutions. API integrations facilitate seamless interactions across channels, whether for account management, service activation, or troubleshooting.
By enabling a more connected and responsive ecosystem, TaaS aligns telecom operations with the expectations of a digital-first customer base.
Shalini Boodhooa, Alliance & Partnerships Manager at MTN, identified that about 45% of workloads in major African businesses are now in the public cloud. “The adoption of cloud services in Africa is accelerating rapidly,” she said. “Many African businesses are transitioning to cloud environments to leverage benefits such as cost efficiencies, scalability, and enhanced collaboration.”
Moreover, the TaaS model supports the growing trend of network-as-a-service (NaaS) and 5G monetization. As 5G networks expand, operators face the challenge of offering differentiated services beyond raw connectivity. TaaS enables operators to package network slices, edge computing capabilities, and IoT services as on-demand, subscription-based offerings. Enterprises can access these capabilities without investing in costly infrastructure, while operators can generate new revenue streams and reduce capital expenditures. The flexibility and programmability inherent in the TaaS approach make it a natural fit for the emerging digital economy.
Considerations Before the Shift
Security and compliance remain critical considerations in the shift to TaaS. Moving network functions and services to the cloud introduces new attack vectors, necessitating robust cybersecurity frameworks. API security, data privacy, and regulatory compliance must be embedded into the architecture from the outset. The ability to rapidly patch vulnerabilities and enforce policy updates across cloud and API layers enhances both security and operational resilience.
Challenges to TaaS adoption exist, particularly for operators with legacy infrastructure and established business models.
Migration to cloud-native environments requires significant investment in skills, platform modernization, and cultural change.
Integrating TaaS with existing OSS/BSS systems can be complex, and ensuring interoperability across multi-vendor networks remains a technical hurdle.
Onwards and Upwards
By embracing cloud-first, API-driven strategies, operators can achieve faster service delivery, enhanced flexibility, and deeper engagement with customers and partners. As digital transformation accelerates across industries, the ability to provide telecom capabilities as agile, programmable services will be a key differentiator. TaaS not only reshapes internal operations but also positions operators as enablers of broader digital ecosystems, bridging connectivity with innovation.
In conclusion, TaaS represents a strategic evolution from static, hardware-dependent models to dynamic, service-oriented ecosystems. With agility, scalability, and customer-centricity at its heart, TaaS is redefining what it means to operate in the telecom industry, creating new opportunities for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage.
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