Airtel Africa has started selling its telecom towers in Africa. The company, which needs these infrastructures to continue its activities and extend the coverage of its network, calls on independent companies of telecommunications towers like American Tower.
The telecommunications group Airtel Africa PLC announced on Monday, October 10, that it had signed a multi-year partnership agreement with the telecom infrastructure manager American Tower Corporation Africa (ATC Africa) to continue the deployment of its network in Africa. The American company will provide the mobile operator with its portfolio of telecom sites in Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda, as well as its capacity to develop new sites and products.
According to the two companies, this partnership should notably make it possible to increase connectivity in Africa, extend digital inclusion to underserved communities and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, ATC Africa is working to use new and renewable energy sources to power its sites, “ which protects the industry, our customers and consumers from current and future fuel price volatility ”.
As of 2021, Airtel Africa has embarked on an extensive asset monetization program which includes the sale of part of its telecommunications tower portfolio in several of its African markets. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this is part of the company’s new strategy, which aims to reduce the ownership of its infrastructure in favor of leasing.
Now, the company plans to partner with independent telecommunications tower companies to expand its network, either by leasing space on their existing infrastructure or by contracting them to build towers specific to network coverage needs.
“ Airtel Africa’s corporate citizenship compels us to extend coverage to increasingly remote areas — and meeting this obligation is necessary to build a lasting partnership with a like-minded industry player. ideas. We continue to invest in infrastructure and distribution networks in the countries where we operate to support their economies and communities ,” said Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman and CEO of Airtel Africa.