At a Glance
- Africa’s leading tower firms anchor telecom growth across emerging and developed markets.
- Rising data demand drives major tower investments across Africa’s expanding digital landscape.
- Tower infrastructure powers mobile access, digital finance, and e-commerce growth continentwide.
Africa’s digital economy depends on the telecom towers rising across its cities, villages, and frontiers. As demand for mobile data surges, a new generation of telecom infrastructure companies is powering the continent’s connectivity.
These firms build, own, and manage thousands of towers that make calls, internet access, and digital transactions possible. From Nigeria to South Africa, their steel networks support everything from fintech to e-commerce.
These five companies form the backbone of Africa’s mobile communications landscape. They enable millions of people to make calls, access the internet, and connect to digital financial services daily. Beyond telecom support, their infrastructure underpins economic growth, from e-commerce and education to healthcare and smart city development.
As Africa’s population surges past 1.4 billion and smartphone adoption continues to climb, demand for high-quality network coverage will only intensify. Tower companies—once quiet partners in the telecom ecosystem—are now central to the continent’s transformation.
In the race to connect Africa’s next billion users, the steel towers rising across cities, villages, and deserts are not just infrastructure—they are symbols of progress.
Shore Africa profiles Africa’s 10 biggest communications infrastructure companies shaping the continent’s digital transformation and connecting millions daily.
1. American Tower Corporation
American Tower Corporation, one of the world’s largest independent tower companies, has built a strong presence across Africa. Operating in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Uganda, ATC provides critical infrastructure to multiple telecom operators, enabling network sharing and cost efficiency. Its African operations have become a cornerstone of the company’s international portfolio, driven by long-term contracts and steady data growth.
ATC’s model—leasing shared infrastructure to multiple carriers—has proven vital for extending connectivity to underserved regions while supporting sustainable network expansion. The company continues to invest in power solutions and renewable energy to improve uptime and reduce environmental impact across its African sites.
2. IHS Towers
IHS Towers, founded in Lagos in 2001 by U.S.-Nigerian telecom mogul Sam Darwish, has grown into one of the largest independent tower companies in the world, with over 40,000 towers across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The company operates extensively in Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda, providing infrastructure to major mobile operators such as MTN and Airtel.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, IHS symbolizes the global potential of African infrastructure firms. Its business model is rooted in innovation—focusing on power management, renewable energy integration, and data center expansion to meet the continent’s growing connectivity needs.
3. Helios Towers
Helios Towers, headquartered in London, operates one of Africa’s largest portfolios of telecom towers, spanning countries like Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa. Since its founding in 2009, Helios has focused on building scalable, reliable, and sustainable networks that support the rapid growth of mobile and broadband services.
The company’s long-term lease agreements with mobile operators and its focus on efficiency have positioned it as a trusted partner in Africa’s digital expansion. Its commitment to green energy solutions, particularly solar power and hybrid systems, has also made it a leader in sustainable infrastructure operations.
4. Pan African Towers (PAT)
Pan African Towers (PAT), a Nigerian telecommunications infrastructure company founded in 2017, provides tower colocation, fiber, and power solutions to telecom operators and internet service providers. The company stands out for its commitment to local ownership, community engagement, and environmentally sustainable operations.
5. SBA Communications Corporation
SBA Communications, one of the world’s leading independent tower companies, continues to expand its presence in Africa as part of its international growth strategy. Though still building its footprint on the continent, the company is positioning itself to play a strategic role in supporting Africa’s rising data consumption and the rollout of next-generation networks. SBA’s entry brings additional global expertise and capital to the continent’s fast-growing digital infrastructure market.
6. Atlas Tower Group
Atlas Tower Group: A Growing Independent Player in African Infrastructure Atlas Tower Group has steadily expanded across key African markets, providing critical tower infrastructure to mobile operators, internet service providers, and emerging digital networks. Focused on build-to-suit deployments and long-term partnerships, Atlas Tower offers flexible, locally driven solutions aimed at deepening connectivity in underserved areas. The company’s emphasis on agility, rural network expansion, and sustainable energy systems makes it a notable challenger in Africa’s tower landscape.
7. Eastcastle Infrastructure
Eastcastle Infrastructure, established by industry veterans, operates primarily in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two of Africa’s most dynamic telecom markets. Its strategy centers on building new towers in high-demand areas, offering operators faster deployment, better coverage, and improved service reliability. By focusing on build-to-suit projects, Eastcastle supports the expansion of 4G and the coming wave of 5G networks. The company’s agility and deep understanding of local market needs have made it one of Africa’s fastest-growing independent tower operators.
8. Paradigm Infrastructure Limited
Paradigm Infrastructure Limited is a growing tower and digital infrastructure provider focused on expanding telecommunications access across Africa. The company develops, owns, and operates tower assets and related power systems, supporting mobile network operators in improving coverage and network performance. With a strategy rooted in long-term infrastructure investment and sustainable technology, Paradigm is positioning itself as a key player in strengthening Africa’s connectivity backbone.
9. Hotspot Network Ltd
Hotspot Network Ltd is an independent telecom infrastructure company supporting network operators with tower colocation, fiber backhaul, and power solutions. Based in Nigeria and expanding into other African markets, Hotspot focuses on cost-efficient deployment and modern energy systems to enhance rural and urban network reach. The firm has carved out a niche in quick-deployment sites and community-focused expansion, helping close digital gaps across underserved areas.
10. TowerCo of Africa (TOA)
TowerCo of Africa (TOA) operates telecom tower infrastructure across Madagascar, providing build-to-suit, colocation, and managed services for mobile network operators. With a portfolio that supports 2G, 3G, and 4G rollouts—and preparation for 5G expansion—TOA plays a crucial role in connecting remote island regions and strengthening digital communications. Its expansion plans reflect growing investor interest in regional tower markets across East Africa and the Indian Ocean.
