Last week’s news that tower company IHS had boosted its offer to MTN Nigeria for the lease of 2,500 tower sites in an apparent attempt to get it to reconsider its contract with American Tower Corporation has received short shrift from the operator.
MTN Nigeria has stated that there is no going back on its decision. ATC outbid competitors, including IHS, to clinch the contract after the present agreement expires in 2024 and 2025.
Despite media reports that MTN was reconsidering its choice, the operator stated earlier this week that it has not received a revised offer from IHS and that any reports that it is now reconsidering its decision to award the 2,500 tower sites contract to ATC are inaccurate.
Quoted by the IT Web Africa news service Tobechukwu Okigbo, chief corporate services, MTN Nigeria, described the agreement with ATC over the 2,500 sites as final, adding: “Our preference is always for bilateral renewal, subject to competitive pricing and terms. In this instance the ATC proposal was superior.”
MTN says IT plans to continue to engage with IHS Towers on further opportunities that arise, though there will also be participation from other parties.
Okigbo referred to IHS arguments that switching partners might lead to network disruption as “factually incorrect, and misleading”. He also insisted that the partnership with ATC aligns with the company’s focus on expense efficiencies, commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
