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Our history

Founded in 2001, IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world. We are the largest independent tower operator in six of the markets in which we operate, and the only independent tower operator in four of these markets, with over 39,000 towers in our portfolio.

This is our story. 

2024
Renewed Master Lease Agreements with Airtel in Nigeria until 2031 and MTN in Nigeria until 2032. Completed the sale of IHS Peru S.A.C. to affiliates of SBA Communications Corporation in April 2024 and the sale of our 70% interest in IHS Kuwait Limited to Zain Group in December 2024.
2023
Built approximately 1,329 new sites including 812 in Brazil and 237 in Nigeria. Achieved 8.8 million homes passed for fiber through I-Systems in Brazil, and in Kuwait, completed the sixth closing of 101 towers.
2022
Acquired 2,115 towers in Brazil pursuant to the GTS SP5 Acquisition, and completed the MTN SA Acquisition to enter the South African market by acquiring 5,691 towers in South Africa from MTN.
2021
Completed the TIM fiber acquisition with TIM Brasil to form I-Systems, which provides a neutral network infrastructure solution for broadband service in Brazil.
Announced further expansion in Africa; obtained a license to construct, operate and lease telecom towers in Egypt, and signed an agreement to acquire towers of MTN South Africa.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange through the completion of our initial public offering ("IPO").
Acquired Skysites in Brazil, Centennial Brazil and Centennial Colombia, acquiring 1,005 towers, 602 towers and 217 towers, respectively. Completed the third and fourth closings of 67 towers and 126 towers in April 2021 and October 2021 in Kuwait, and the acquisition of 162 towers in April 2021 from Airtel Rwanda.
2020
Entered the Middle East and Latin America through the completion of a controlling investment in Zain Kuwait’s 1,620 towers in Kuwait; completed the first closing of 1,022 towers in February 2020 and the second closing of 140 towers in October 2020; and the completion of the Cell Site Solution (CSS) acquisition, for 2,312 towers primarily across Brazil, as well as Peru and Colombia.
2016
Acquired HTN Towers, which owned 1,211 towers in Nigeria, to consolidate our leading position in the country.
2015
Acquired Airtel Zambia’s 949 towers and Airtel Rwanda’s 200 towers and further expanded in Nigeria through the acquisition of an additional 555 towers from 9mobile.
2014
Entered Zambia and Rwanda through the acquisitions of MTN’s tower portfolios of 719 towers in Zambia and 550 towers in Rwanda; also acquired 10,966 towers from 9mobile in Nigeria, and the balance of 4,696 towers from MTN Nigeria which closed the following year.
2013
Acquired MTN Côte d’Ivoire’s tower portfolio of 911 towers and MTN Cameroon’s 818 towers. Additionally, completed MLL agreements for Orange Côte d’Ivoire’s tower portfolio of 1,191 towers and Orange Cameroon’s 819 towers.
2009
Began owning towers and leasing space to MNOs in Nigeria and launched our Colocation service operations through which we lease space to other MNOs.
2004
Launched our Managed Services operations for MNO-owned towers with services including maintenance, security and power supply.
2001
Founded as a builder of communication towers for MNOs in Nigeria; our founders continue to lead the business today.

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