The telecoms sector has come a long way since network infrastructure was seen as a source of competitive advantage by mobile network operators. With infrastructure sharing recognised as a critical strategy to reduce network costs amidst declining revenues, TowerXchange invited four MNOs to share their strategies, experiences and concerns regarding the sharing of passive and active infrastructure.
Tower divestments, towerco relations and co-locations
Across Africa and the Middle East there have been 31 tower transactions of scale, with highly variable strategies between operators in the region. At the one end of the spectrum, Airtel has closed tower transactions in 10 of the 14 markets in which it operates (and has agreed the sale of its Tanzanian portfolio to American Tower); whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Vodafone has preferred to keep its towers in-house, having only entered into tower agreements in Tanzania and Ghana (and in both instances retaining ownership of or equity in the towers).
