Meeting Growing Data Traffic Demands: Nigeria Needs Additional 40,000 Towers

With a population of more than 180 million people, increasing smartphone penetration and limited fixed line infrastructure, Nigeria’s vibrant mobile industry could still maintain a sustained period of network investment and growth. However, with the continuous explosive data growth, new and developing areas springing up by the day, coverage levels continue to dwindle. This also calls for exciting market opportunity for the tower market.

In fact reports say that with level of data traffic and anticipated data growth, Nigeria needs up to 40,000 more towers to meet demand. This revelation was one of the reasons, according to Executive Vice Chairman & Group Chief Executive Officer of IHS holding limited, Issam Darwish, his company recently acquired frontline tower infrastructure sharing company, Helios Towers Limited, HTN. The acquisition means that HTN’s portfolio of 1,211 diversified tower sites throughout Nigeria now belongs to IHS. According to the companies, the transaction will allow the continued delivery of best-­ in-­ class solutions to customers and additional investment in infrastructure upgrades. 

Under the terms of the transaction and subject to requisite regulatory approvals, IHS will acquire the entire issued share capital of HTN from HTN Towers Plc which is ultimately owned by Helios Investment Partners, Pembani Group, First City Monument Bank and other minority shareholders. Upon completion of the transaction which is expected to close in Q2 2016, IHS will have full operational control of the underlying business and will market independent infrastructure sharing services to mobile network operators and internet service providers in Nigeria. Business will continue as usual for HTN’s towers which will be seamlessly integrated into the IHS network and connected to IHS’s state of the art network operating centre which monitors each tower 24 hours a day, seven days a week.