Mobile telecoms infrastructure provider IHS Towers has completed the second tranche of a transaction with Etisalat Nigeria, involving the transfer of an additional 555 towers. The deal was first announced on 7 August 2014, at which date 2,136 sites were transferred from the UAE-owned cellco to the tower company.
The transaction is part of the broader strategy to drive improvements in the quality of Etisalat’s network performance and to accelerate the rollout of 2G, 3G and 4G coverage throughout Nigeria. Following the completion of this transaction, IHS will manage over 15,500 towers in Nigeria and over 23,100 towers throughout Africa. All acquired towers will be connected to IHS’ Network Operations Centres to ensure that operations are optimised.
In other news, local newspaper Vanguard reports that Airtel Nigeria has signed up its 30 millionth mobile subscriber, up from the 27.56 million customers reported at the end of 2014. ‘This achievement signals a major milestone in Airtel’s Africa growth story. It is a clear sign that our strategy is working and that our customers continue to enjoy the wide range of quality services that we offer,’ commented the firm’s CEO and managing director, Segun Ogunsanya, adding: ‘We remain committed and will continue to invest in Nigeria to tap into the huge potential that this market offers.’
Source : SunOnline