Nigeria Telecom Tower Market Size
Nigeria Telecom Tower Market Analysis
The Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size in terms of installed base is expected to grow from 42.57 thousand units in 2025 to 51.70 thousand units by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.96% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- The country's telecom sector has witnessed significant growth in the past few years owing to the effective regulatory regime established by the Commission. This regime resulted in increased infrastructure deployment by telecom operators, which helped improve broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecom industry.
- For instance, Data from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that in Q1 2023, Nigeria's Telecommunications and Information Services Sector contributed NGN 2.508 trillion to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 14.13%. Additionally, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that in Q1 2024, the telecommunications sector in Nigeria saw a growth rate of 15.70%, an increase from 14.10% in Q4 2023.
- Further, The telecom tower market in the country is further driven by the government initiatives to launch 5G services. Additionally, the increasing participation of leading MNOs in the 5G spectrum is analyzed to sustain the market growth in the coming years.
- For instance, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued the country's first 5G license to MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications. Also, In February 2024, Airtel Nigeria has entered into a renewed partnership with IHS Nigeria. As part of this agreement, Airtel Nigeria plans to boost its tenancies to nearly 10,000 over the next five years. Additionally, the Nigerian telecom firm will extend the term of its current tenancies, which stand at around 6,000, pushing the expiration date to December 2031.
- Overall, the telecom tower market in the country is analyzed to grow at a rapid pace owing to the growing number of smartphone users and growth in 5G deployments across the country coupled with the expanding 4G coverage across the country. In addition, the Nigerian telecom tower industry is expected to show a positive outlook in the coming years owing to the innovative and predictable telecom regulatory environment created, promoted, and implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Nigeria Telecom Tower Market Trends
Rising Operator-owned Telecom Tower in Nigeria
- Nigeria's telecom sector is witnessing a significant transformation, marked by a growing trend of operators taking ownership of telecom towers. This shift is primarily driven by the operators' quest for improved network reliability, cost efficiency, and greater strategic control over their infrastructure. With the rising demand for telecom services in Nigeria, operators are ramping up investments in owning and managing their tower infrastructure, which carries profound implications for the industry.
- Further, Nigeria has one of Africa's most prominent and fastest-growing telecom markets. The country's broadband penetration rate is high, and internet usage is expanding rapidly. According to a report by Jumia, in 2025, 3G mobile broadband coverage in Nigeria is estimated to reach 70 percent, whereas 4G connections might be 17 percent. In Nigeria, smartphones and tablets were the most common devices used for internet access, with a penetration of about 73 percent. This growth places substantial demand on telecom infrastructure, necessitating the development of new towers to provide adequate coverage and capacity. Hence, companies are launching new telecom towers.
- Also, Nigerian telecom operators are investing heavily in building and owning telecom towers. This investment aligns with their broader strategy to enhance network capabilities and support the growing demand for digital services. Companies like MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Glo have been actively expanding their tower portfolios.
- Aditionally, The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alongside other regulatory bodies, has actively supported initiatives aimed at bolstering infrastructure development. These bodies have significantly fostered the expansion of operator-owned towers by implementing regulatory frameworks that ease land acquisition, simplify permitting processes, and offer incentives for telecom infrastructure investments.
Rising Adoption of Renewable Fuel Type in Telecom Towers
- Nigerian telecom towers have relied heavily on diesel generators for a consistent power supply. Due to the country's often unreliable power grid, frequent outages have made backup generators necessary. However, this dependence on diesel has brought challenges, including soaring operational costs, hurdles in regular maintenance, and environmental concerns from emissions. Hence, the government is adopting renewable fuels in Nigeria's telecom sector is emerging as a viable solution to these challenges.
- Further, solar energy is becoming increasingly popular among Nigerian telecom operators. The country's abundant sunlight provides an ideal environment for solar power generation. Telecom companies are installing photovoltaic (PV) panels on tower rooftops or adjacent land to harness solar energy. Solar power reduces diesel consumption and provides a more stable and reliable energy source.
- According to the report by IRENA, as of 2023, renewable energy accounted for nearly 21% of Nigeria's total electricity capacity, up from 16.4% in 2016. Such growing demand for renewable energy has driven the adoption of Nonrenewable fuels in telecom towers. Renewable fuels contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of telecom operations.
- Moreover, Nigeria's telecom towers are increasingly adopting renewable fuels, marking a pivotal move towards sustainable and economical energy solutions. By harnessing solar, wind, and biogas technologies, telecom operators mitigate their reliance on diesel and champion environmental sustainability. With advancing technology and decreasing costs, the shift to renewable energy is poised to gain momentum in Nigeria's telecom sector, resonating with national objectives and global sustainability movements.
Nigeria Telecom Tower Industry Overview
The Nigeria telecom towers market is consolidated and consists of several major players, such as HIS (Nigeria) Limited, Globacom Limited, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd, and others. These major players are expanding their customer base internationally through strategic collaborations and acquisitions of telecom tower startups. This has led to a high market concentration, with a few dominant players benefiting from significant market share.
- In July 2024, Niger Telecoms unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing nationwide connectivity, with a particular focus on underserved rural regions. As a key step in their expansion strategy, they've recently established 16 new sites in the Maradi region. The project will be implemented in stages, commencing with the installation of cutting-edge equipment, followed by the provision of mobile services to local communities.
Nigeria Telecom Tower Market Leaders
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HIS (Nigeria) Limited
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Globacom Limited
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ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd.
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PAN Africa Tower Limited
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MTN Communication Nigeria
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Nigeria Telecom Tower Market News
- August 2024: IHS Holding Limited, a subsidiary of Africa's largest mobile network operator, MTN Group, successfully renewed and extended all Master Lease Agreements for towers in Nigeria until December 2032. This renewal covers approximately 13,500 tenancy contracts. Notably, out of the nearly 2,500 tenancies belonging to MTN Nigeria that are due to expire at the end of 2024 and in 2025, IHS Towers will renew 1,430 tenancies under the new agreement.
- April 2024: MTN Nigeria Communications revealed its successful renegotiation of tower lease agreements with IHS Nigeria, INT Towers, IHS Towers NG, and ATC Nigeria, achieving terms that strengthened the company's financial and operational stability.
Nigeria Telecom Tower Industry Segmentation
Telecom towers encompass a variety of structures, such as monopoles, tripoles, lattice towers, guyed towers, self-supporting towers, poles, masts, and other similar forms. These towers, equipped with one or more telecommunication antennas, facilitate radio communications. They can be situated on the ground or atop a building's rooftop and often include storage for equipment and electronic components.
The Nigeria telecom towers market is segmented by ownership (operator-owned, private-owned, and MNO Captive sites), by installation (rooftop, and ground-based), and by fuel type (renewable and non-renewable). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Installed Base (in Thousand Units) for all the Above Segments.
Ownership | Operator-owned |
Private-owned | |
MNO Captive sites | |
Installation | Rooftop |
Ground-based | |
Fuel Type | Renewable |
Non-renewable |
Nigeria Telecom Tower Market Research FAQs
How big is the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market?
The Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size is expected to reach 42.57 thousand units in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.96% to reach 51.70 thousand units by 2030.
What is the current Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size?
In 2025, the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size is expected to reach 42.57 thousand units.
Who are the key players in Nigeria Telecom Tower Market?
HIS (Nigeria) Limited, Globacom Limited, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd., PAN Africa Tower Limited and MTN Communication Nigeria are the major companies operating in the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market.
What years does this Nigeria Telecom Tower Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size was estimated at 40.88 thousand units. The report covers the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Nigeria Telecom Tower Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Nigeria Telecom Tower Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Nigeria Telecom Tower market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Nigeria Telecom Tower analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.