MTN Group to acquire 100% shareholding in IHS Towers for US$2.2 billion

MTN Group's US$2.2 billion acquisition of the outstanding 72% equity interest in IHS Towers, announced on February 17, 2026, establishes full 100% ownership, fundamentally altering MTN's operational control over critical passive network assets. This strategic investment is designed to fully integrate IHS Towers' infrastructure directly into MTN's framework, moving beyond a partial stake to complete command. The commercial logic is clear: MTN aims to optimize network rollout and operational efficiencies across its 19 core African and Middle Eastern markets. By consolidating these telecommunications infrastructure assets, MTN gains direct oversight, which is crucial for enhancing service delivery to its approximately 280 million mobile subscribers and supporting its voice, data, and financial services offerings. This full integration is expected to yield significant operational benefits and greater agility in network management. For MTN Group, a multinational mobile telecommunications company connecting approximately 280 million people across 19 countries, this acquisition deepens its vertical integration, securing direct control over the infrastructure vital for its voice, data, and financial services. As the buyer, MTN's motivation stems from a clear strategy to optimize its operational framework and enhance direct management of its network assets in Africa and the Middle East. IHS Towers, one of the world's largest independent owners and operators of shared telecommunications infrastructure by tower count, transitions from a partially owned entity to a fully integrated division of MTN. This full ownership allows MTN to leverage IHS Towers' extensive infrastructure solutions more directly, aligning its passive network assets with MTN's overarching operational goals. The consolidation provides MTN with complete oversight of the infrastructure solutions that support its vast subscriber base.