Helios Towers partners with UNICEF to support children across Africa

Press Release

Helios Towers and UNICEF have announced a multi-year partnership to expand internet connectivity and digital learning access for children and young people across Africa, supporting two flagship UNICEF initiatives – Giga and Learning Passport.

The partnership will combine Helios Towers’ telecommunications infrastructure expertise with UNICEF’s global leadership in digital inclusion to help connect schools and expand access to quality education in underserved communities.

Through the collaboration, Helios Towers will support efforts to advance school connectivity mapping and infrastructure development through Giga – the joint UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union initiative that aims to support governments in connecting every school to the internet by 2030.

The company will also support expanded access to Learning Passport, a UNICEF programme that delivers high-quality, flexible and portable digital learning that enables children and young people to continue learning anywhere, at any time, both online and offline.

The partnership will initially focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Tanzania, with additional support planned for another country in West Africa, where Helios Towers’ established in-market presence and engineering capability will help extend connectivity to communities where access remains limited.

Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, with an estimated eight out of ten people expected to be born on the continent this century. Expanding reliable internet connectivity for schools is critical to ensuring children and young people can access education, develop digital skills and participate fully in future economies.

Helios Towers’ investment strategy focuses on underserved and high-growth markets, supporting connectivity infrastructure where need and potential impact are greatest. By contributing technical expertise, local operational knowledge and long-term market presence, the company will help strengthen scalable models for digital transformation across Africa.

“Connectivity is a core enabler of education, social inclusion and long-term economic growth. As a mobile tower company operating across Africa and the Middle East, we see first-hand how access to reliable connectivity can transform communities. Our partnership with UNICEF reflects our commitment to expanding digital inclusion and helping connect the next generation to learning, skills and opportunity,” said Tom Greenwood, Chief Executive Officer of Helios Towers. 

“Digital connectivity is increasingly essential for learning, opportunity and helping children reach their full potential,” said Philip Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer of UNICEF UK. “Through partnerships like this, UNICEF is working with governments, communities and the private sector to remove barriers to education and build systems that enable children to learn, grow and thrive. We are grateful to Helios Towers for its commitment to expanding connectivity where the need is greatest, helping bring quality learning opportunities to children and young people in underserved communities and supporting our shared ambition to make childhood unstoppable.”

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