Pan-African service provider Airtel and tower company IHS, Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, have unveiled a plan to expand network reach in Zambia.
Airtel and IHS Towers say they are planning to collaborate to set up 152 new communication towers across the nation. This will involve an investment of approximately US$14 million to ensure the towers are installed within the next six months.
Airtel Zambia managing director Hussam Baday says the initiative aims to significantly enhance network quality and expand coverage for the mobile network operator.
Baday has also outlined targets to increase population coverage from the current 91.6% to 93% by next year and then further increase those figures to 95 to 96% within two years.
IHS CEO Augustine Phiri says the tower construction project will be rolled out in two phases, with the initial deployment of 50 towers commencing in the coming weeks, followed by an additional 102 towers.
Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati has reacted positively to the news and pointed out that the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector recorded 17.4% growth last year despite the effects of drought.
This, he suggested, was down to efforts by mobile network providers to maintain power to existing towers and ensure network availability by buying diesel.
Although this deal is undoubtedly welcome, Zambia is not among IHS Towers’ biggest markets. According to a report on the TechCabal website, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria accounted for 57% of IHS Towers’ revenue in 2024.
IHS Towers’ revenue reportedly fell to US$1.7 billion in 2024 from US$2.1 billion in 2023, with 98.5% of its earnings tied to three mobile network operators: MTN Nigeria, MTN South Africa and the pan-African Airtel Africa, which has a presence in a number of African countries including Zambia.
