Airtel, the leading pan-African service provider, and IHS Towers, Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, have announced a joint effort to expand network coverage in Zambia. The two companies plan to install 152 new communication towers across the nation, investing approximately US$14 million for the project. The towers are expected to be completed within the next six months.
Airtel Zambia’s Managing Director, Hussam Baday, stated that this initiative aims to significantly improve the mobile network’s quality and expand coverage. He emphasized that the goal is to increase population coverage from the current 91.6% to 93% by the end of next year, with plans to reach 95-96% within the next two years.
IHS Towers CEO, Augustine Phiri, outlined the project’s two-phase rollout. The first phase will involve the construction of 50 towers, with the deployment set to begin in the coming weeks. The second phase will see the installation of an additional 102 towers.
Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, welcomed the announcement, highlighting the ICT sector’s 17.4% growth last year despite the challenges posed by drought. He attributed the sector’s growth to efforts by mobile network operators to maintain power at existing towers, often through the purchase of diesel to ensure uninterrupted service.
While the news is positive, Zambia is not one of the largest markets for IHS Towers. According to a report by TechCabal, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria together accounted for 57% of IHS Towers’ revenue in 2024. The company’s revenue dropped to US$1.7 billion in 2024 from US$2.1 billion in 2023, with nearly 99% of its earnings linked to three mobile network operators: MTN Nigeria, MTN South Africa, and Airtel Africa, which has operations in multiple African countries, including Zambia.
