Airtel Rwanda has finalised the sale its mobile towers, with IHS taking hold of the assets. According to Airtel, the deal will see a vast majority of mobile subscribers enjoy networks that are more stable. Additionally, the company revealed that higher network uptimes are expected across the country.
IHS has now acquired over 200 towers from Airtel, helping the operator to deleverage through significantly reducing on-going capital expenditure on passive infrastructure. IHS has been in management of the passive infrastructure since 01 February. IHS has also acquired Airtel towers in Zambia, bringing the total number of acquired towers in the two countries to 1,100. Airtel will continue to lease space on the towers, which will also be opened up to sharing with other operators.
Back in December 2014, Airtel revealed that the agreement will allow it to focus on its core business, customers, and enable it to deleverage through debt reduction, and will reduce its on-going capital expenditure on passive infrastructure in African markets.
At the time Christian de Faria, MD & CEO – Africa, Bharti Airtel stated that: “We are delighted to partner with IHS, which has a proven track record in passive infrastructure management in Africa and look forward to working with them. This agreement will accelerate infrastructure sharing amongst operators and benefit customers in form of affordable tariffs and wider network coverage.”
Darryl Linington
