The African telecom tower market is growing, with installed bases projected to rise from 208.31 thousand units in 2024 to 261.21 thousand units by 2029, according to Mordor Intelligence. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.63% over the forecast period.
Over the past decade, the telecom tower industry in Africa has undergone a significant transformation, prompting tower companies to adapt their business models to meet the unique demands of African markets (encompassing rural connectivity, energy challenges, cost-efficiency, weather-resilient infrastructure, high mobile penetration with limited fixed-line access, rapid urbanization, technology evolution (4G/5G rollouts), regulatory complexity, affordability for both operators and end-users, and private-public partnerships). Many of these companies are expected to focus on their core business—building and leasing vertical real estate—while also accommodating the increasing overlay of 5G antennas.
Nigeria has experienced the highest growth in telecom infrastructure, with the number of third- and fourth-generation telecom towers increasing by 73.2% back in 2021 alone, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission. Global tower companies are capitalizing on this momentum by forming strategic collaborations to tap into emerging opportunities.
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Demand and Consequential Catalysts
The rise of mobile workforces and the ‘bring-your-own-device’ (BYOD) trend is driving the need for high-speed, reliable networks. Organizations are increasingly adopting BYOD to enhance employee interaction and streamline operations, further fueling the demand for telecom towers. Investments in cloud-based services and the global rollout of 4G LTE have also encouraged carriers to expand their networks, boosting telecom tower deployment across Africa.
Improving internet connectivity in rural areas remains a top priority. Governments and private organizations are investing in, and prioritizing, digital technologies and smartphone penetration to increase internet adoption across the continent. Privately-owned towercos, which lease space to mobile network operators (MNOs) contribute to this associated infrastructure expansion. These companies are anticipated to dominate the market, driven by MNOs' growing demand for network rollouts and telecom tower acquisitions.
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Tower Market Overview: Sub-Saharan Africa
According to Ericsson, 5G subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to surpass 104 million by 2027, underscoring the need for strong 5G infrastructure. Considering this, research conducted by TowerXchange found that Nigeria leads the market with 40,656 towers, followed by South Africa with 23,978 and Kenya with 12,555. Ethiopia also boasts a significant presence with 10,600 towers, while the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has 7,066 and Ghana has 7,143.
Other notable markets include Tanzania with 8,328 towers, Angola with 6,550, Uganda with 5,611, and Cote d’Ivoire with 4,986. Countries such as Mozambique (4,600), Senegal (4,708), Zimbabwe (3,400), and Zambia (3,485) show moderate tower deployments, while Madagascar (3,229), Niger (2,851), and Burkina Faso (2,781) highlight smaller but growing segments. Gabon (993), Namibia (889), Chad (1,580), Malawi (1,328), Rwanda (2,021), and Congo Brazzaville (1,069) represent emerging markets with the potential for expansion, driven by increasing mobile penetration and connectivity demands.
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