“The protests were a wake-up call”

Youth protests exploded in Cameroon in 2023. In response, IHS Towers had to completely change its tower strategy. Revealed at TowerXchange Meetup Africa, consumer-driven demand for better network quality sparked "Airplane Mode” protests that shut down networks and became a catalyst for towercos and MNOs to reassess their infrastructure.

“The protests were a wake-up call” Olufemi Arosanyin, CEO of IHS Cameroon noted, adding that it underscored the urgency of expanding both coverage and capacity to meet expectations. Protests are not inevitable, but new approaches are essential to meet booming consumer demand across Africa.

Towercos are facing unique challenges in optimising their portfolios and preparing for the next wave of network upgrades. At September’s TowerXchange Meetup Africa industry leaders examined key factors such as portfolio optimisation, energy management for multi-tenant sites, and the future of urban network design in two key panels covered here. Towercos are collaborating with MNOs and responding to consumer demand but that is creating new demands on their network teams to drive profitability and scale infrastructure.

Collaboration between towercos and MNOs is not just about filling network gaps, it also directly impacts the design and lease strategy of towers. By working closely with carriers in network development and radio planning, towercos in Africa have been optimising their site deployments. For instance, panelists discussed how collaboration in geomarketing and radio-frequency planning enables towercos to anticipate the precise locations where additional capacity is most needed, whether in urban centres or along rural highways.

Eric Maina, Head of Operations at ATC Kenya shared, “collaborating with carriers ensures that we’re building in the right places, maximising tenancy opportunities while ensuring that MNOs have the coverage they need for network expansion.”

When it comes to rapid rollouts, especially in response to carrier demand, operational efficiency is critical. Maina continued sharing insights into what gives towercos an edge in these scenarios. “Speed and agility are everything when a carrier wants to deploy quickly,” he noted.

Towercos that can streamline the permitting process, rapidly deploy equipment, and ensure smooth collaboration with local authorities have a significant advantage. By investing in operational efficiencies, such as faster logistics and pre-negotiated permits with municipalities, towercos can reduce deployment times, enabling carriers to get new sites online as quickly as possible.

In South Africa, carriers are focusing less on new tenancies and more on site resiliency, according to Lieuwe Boonstra, Business Development Director of SBA South Africa, who discussed the complexities of expanding a network when resiliency takes priority. He noted that carriers are investing in making existing sites more resilient to outages and network degradation, especially with challenges such as power shortages.

Boonstra explained, “When new tenancies aren’t the priority, we still have to find ways to expand our footprint.” This has led towercos to innovate by upgrading energy systems and hardening sites, ensuring that towers remain operational even under challenging conditions. In some cases, towercos have also diversified their portfolios by incorporating small cells and smart poles to complement macro towers in urban areas.

On the other hand, for towercos operating in markets with only two financially healthy operators, driving tenancy growth requires creative strategies. One panelist highlighted that in these environments, co-locations are critical for maximising revenue. “When you have fewer MNOs, you need to make sure every tower is fully utilised,” Ben Smeaton, Principal Engineer at Helios Towers explained.

Smeaton, responsible for Helios Towers’ large and diverse portfolio of towers, discussed the challenges of managing information deficits—particularly in markets where data on existing infrastructure is incomplete. He noted, “The biggest challenge is not always having the information you need about the equipment on your towers.”

To address this, Smeaton emphasised the importance of digital solutions. “We’ve invested heavily in digital tools and processes to make sure we have real-time visibility of what’s happening on our towers,” he explained. Drones, AI-driven monitoring systems, and regular audits have become critical to ensuring that towercos can manage assets effectively and deliver the tenancies that customers expect.

Collecting accurate information on towers is essential for operational success. Apurba Tribedi, Senior Director at Bentley Systems, and other panelists discussed how data inaccuracies—whether related to equipment or site capacity—can hinder tenancy growth and network optimisation. Tribedi explained, “It’s about having a single source of truth ensuring that all departments are working from the same information.” This digitisation is not just about accuracy but also about efficiency. By centralising data, towercos can quickly respond to requests from carriers and optimize their networks to ensure that they’re meeting current and future demand.

The scarcity of accurate data on site assets poses a challenge to revenue assurance, but panelists discussed strategies to overcome it. Solutions discussed include regular audits of tower assets, better collaboration with carriers to ensure transparency on equipment leases, and using digital platforms to track tenancy agreements. By improving visibility and ensuring accurate billing, towercos can maintain steady cash flow while meeting their financial targets.

Africa currently has three megacities, where population exceeds 10 million souls: Cairo in Egypt, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lagos in Nigeria. By 2050, the continent is set to have four more: Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya, Khartoum in Sudan and Luanda in Angola. The OECD projects Africa to have the fastest urban growth rate in the world: by 2050, Africa's cities will be home to an additional 950 million people. And by 2033 half of Africans will live in urban areas.

This urbanisation brings a significant challenge: how can the telecom industry support the growing demand for connectivity in densely populated areas? As cities expand, towercos and MNOs must rethink their approach to network and site design.

Following discussions led by Kealan Delaney, CEO of Delmec, the consensus among panelists was clear: macro towers alone will not be enough to support the growing data demand in Africa’s megacities. While macro towers remain essential for broader coverage, they are increasingly complemented by smaller, more localised infrastructure like small cells and smart poles. As Azeez Amida, CEO of Pan African Towers noted, "the capacity on macro towers has its limits in dense urban environments. We need to shift towards smaller, more flexible solutions that can fill the coverage gaps."

To remain competitive, towercos must expand beyond traditional macro towers and diversify their product offerings. The deployment of small cells and smart solutions was a key focus during the discussions. These solutions not only support the densification needed for 4G and 5G networks but also open up new revenue streams. For example, smart poles can integrate IoT devices, security cameras, and even street lighting, providing additional value to cities and MNOs alike, as Salah Medawar, Chief Commercial Officer of ieng Group shared.

As 5G technology becomes a reality, both towercos and MNOs are under pressure to upgrade their infrastructure to support higher data speeds and larger bandwidths. According to Morenikeji Aniye, Founder & CEO of Hotspot Network “we are optimising our networks and preparing them for 5G,” highlighting the forward-thinking approach needed to meet Africa’s rapidly changing telecom landscape.

Deploying telecom infrastructure in urban environments presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to backhaul and underlying infrastructure. Panelists highlighted the difficulty of securing space for new sites in crowded urban areas and the need for better coordination with city councils and local municipalities. Rebecca Lwetutte, Head of Commercial at ATC Uganda represented the whole panel when she lamented that the process of getting permits and land rights can delay projects significantly."

Collaboration and cooperation with regulatory authorities is essential to streamline deployment and reduce barriers to growth. One successful example came from Kampala, where towercos partnered with city planners to integrate smart poles into the city's master plan. This proactive approach not only ensures that connectivity keeps pace with urban growth but also fosters goodwill between telecom companies and local authorities.

The future of Africa’s telecom industry lies in its ability to adapt to new demands and innovate through collaboration. Towercos and MNOs must work together to optimise tower portfolios, manage energy demands, and rethink how networks are designed to serve Africa’s rapidly growing megacities. By embracing a mix of traditional towers, small cells, and smart solutions, the industry can ensure that it meets the continent’s evolving connectivity needs while driving profitability and long-term sustainability.