(Editor’s note: this article was substantially updated on 10/9/14 to reflect IHS’s acquisition of 9,151 towers from MTN Nigeria)
IHS acquired 2,136 towers from Etisalat Nigeria in August, then added a further 9,151 towers from MTN Nigeria in September 2015, giving IHS an estimated 56% share of Nigeria’s towers. With Airtel’s ~4,000 Nigerian towers also ‘on the block’, and Helios Towers Nigeria, SWAP and several smaller towercos already accounting for a further 2,000 plus towers, TowerXchange forecast that 85% of Nigeria’s towers will be owned or operated by independent tower companies by the end of 2014, representing almost all the country’s towers except Globacom’s.
