Business · South Africa
MTN Eyes Full Control of IHS Towers to Boost Telecom Services
TechCentral · 2026/02/05
Summary
MTN Group, one of South Africa's biggest telecommunications companies, is in advanced talks to buy the shares of IHS Towers that it does not already own. IHS Towers is a company that owns and operates telecom towers, which are essential for mobile network coverage. By owning more shares in IHS Towers, MTN can strengthen its control over important infrastructure. This move could help MTN improve its network quality and coverage across South Africa and other African countries. The deal is still being negotiated, so it is not yet finalized. If completed, this acquisition would allow MTN to better support its growing customer base and fight competition from other telecom providers. It could also influence prices, services, and investment in telecommunications infrastructure in the region.
OnABudget takeaway: For consumers, this could mean better mobile network coverage and possibly more competitive pricing in the future. Small businesses relying on mobile services may see improvements in connectivity, which can help their operations.