| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Volume (2025) | 27.22 Thousand units |
| Market Volume (2030) | 34.14 Thousand units |
| CAGR | 4.64 % |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
South Africa Telecom Tower Market Analysis
The South Africa Telecom Tower Market size in terms of installed base is expected to grow from 27.22 thousand units in 2025 to 34.14 thousand units by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.64% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- The South African telecom tower market is expanding, fueled by increasing demand for internet connectivity from both businesses and consumers. This surge is further bolstered by rising smartphone adoption, heightened internet penetration, and significant investments from independent tower companies. These companies are actively expanding their tower portfolios to address the country's escalating demand for internet services.
- In South Africa, rural mobile connectivity plays a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, granting individuals in remote areas access to essential information, communication, and services. Moreover, the heightened focus on enhancing internet connectivity in rural regions significantly drives the deployment and enhancement of telecom infrastructure, bolstering the market's expansion.
- Moreover, as industries undergo digital transformation, data traffic surges, amplifying the demand for enhanced network connectivity. Moreover, TowerCos, such as American Tower Corp., IHS Towers, and Helios Towers, are swiftly broadening their tower portfolios in South Africa, aiming to meet the surging demand for internet connectivity among businesses. This expansion is poised to bolster the telecom towers market in the nation throughout the forecast period.
- Furthermore, government initiatives in South Africa to enhance broadband adoption are set to fuel the demand for telecom towers in the coming years. For example, the South African government has announced plans to deactivate 2G and 3G networks by March 2025. This move is intended to reallocate the spectrum for advancing 5G and 4G services. Given the expanding 4G network coverage, rising demand for telecom towers in rural regions, and accelerated 5G rollouts by market players, South Africa is poised to emerge as a lucrative market for telecom tower companies in the coming years.
- In the coming years, as 5G is rapidly deployed nationwide and businesses increasingly demand high-speed internet, the push to upgrade the country's existing passive infrastructure will intensify.Furthermore, partnerships and acquisitions between MNOs and independent tower companies are poised to fuel market expansion. These developments are poised to shape the telecom tower market's growth trajectory.
South Africa Telecom Tower Market Trends
Private-owned Segment is Analyzed to Witness Significant Growth
- Independent tower companies, through acquisitions and investments, are continuously expanding their portfolios, positively influencing the growth of South Africa's telecom tower market. This growth is further bolstered by the rising penetration of the internet and smartphones across the nation coupled with significant presence of large number of independent tower companies in South Africa.
- GSMA Intelligence reports that South Africa had 118.6 million cellular mobile connections at the beginning of 2024. These figures suggest that, as of January 2024, mobile connections in South Africa surpassed the total population by 195.4%. From the start of 2023 to the start of 2024, South Africa saw an addition of 4.2 million mobile connections, marking a growth of 3.7 percent.
- Further, Tower companies have rapidly expanded their influence, owing to their vast portfolio of telecom towers. This portfolio has enabled telecom operators and MNOs to launch services faster than ever. Furthermore, MNOs in the country have increasingly turned to independent telecom tower providers for their infrastructure needs, further fueling the segment's growth in the region. Various private-owned companies hold a significant number of tower sites in the country and support the telecom expansion in the country.
- For instance, SBA South Africa, a privately owned tower company, provides high-quality, strategically located, and neutral communications infrastructure. This infrastructure is designed for efficient sharing among multiple service providers. The company supplies the capital, resources, expertise, and operational capabilities, allowing network operators and other digital service providers to concentrate their limited resources on their primary business: delivering connectivity, applications, and content to a broad customer base. With over 1,800 sites nationwide, SBA South Africa boasts a highly experienced local team, supported by the resources of one of the world's largest tower companies.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
Download PDF
Renewable Segment is Analyzed to Drive the Market Growth
- Telecom tower companies across the country are progressively turning to renewable energy sources, In response to surging liquid fuel and operational costs. This momentum is poised to intensify in the coming years, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), tower companies (TowerCos), and other regional stakeholders actively seeking technological solutions to transition their diesel-powered towers to renewable energy, thus positively supporting the growth of the segment over the forecast period.
- Moreover, South Africa's expanding renewable energy capacity is set to boost the adoption of renewable fuels for tower operations nationwide. For instance, data from IRENA indicates that in 2023, South Africa's total renewable energy capacity reached 10,623 megawatts (MW), marking a 1.12 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, the country's renewable energy capacity has shown a consistent upward trajectory, surging from 1,501 MW in 2013.
- In response to severe power cuts, major South African mobile network operators, such as Vodacom, MTN, and the state majority-owned Telkom, are increasingly turning to renewable energy sources. This shift aims to ensure their networks remain operational. While many South African telecom towers utilize backup batteries, there's a pressing need for more advanced systems. This gap presents a significant growth opportunity for renewable energy fuels in the South African telecom tower market.
- For instance, in April 2024, South African operator MTN announced plans to invest USD101.3 million by mid-year into generators, batteries, and renewable energy solutions, fortifying itself against the ongoing rolling blackouts in South Africa. Such developments are further analyzed to drive the growth of the renewable segment as mobile network operators and private-owned telecom tower companies expand the use of renewable energy sources in telecom infrastructure.
Get Analysis on Important Geographic Markets
Download PDF
South Africa Telecom Tower Industry Overview
The South Africa telecom tower market is semi-consolidated, with some of the major market vendors holding a significant share of the market. Market players are advancing their telecom infrastructure investments in the country to expand their market share. In addition, the partnership, acquisition, and merger activities are shaping the future of the South Africa telecom tower market.
- In August 2024, IHS Holding Limited and MTN Group announced an agreement to renew and extend all Nigerian tower Master Lease Agreements until December 2032. The updated contracts introduce new financial terms for a more balanced split between local and foreign currencies. This move marks the completion of the renewal of around 26,000 MTN tenancies on IHS Towers' infrastructure, spanning six African markets: Nigeria, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia, and South Africa.
South Africa Telecom Tower Market Leaders
-
IHS Holdings Limited
-
Reunert
-
ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd
-
Helios Towers plc
-
SBA Communications Corporation
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Need More Details on Market Players and Competiters?
Download PDF
South Africa Telecom Tower Market News
- June 2024: Alan Dickson, the group CEO of Reunert, and Graeme Eddey, the segment CEO of Reunert ICT, announced that SkyWire, a subsidiary of the JSE-listed technology group Reunert, has invested USD 3.06 million over the past two years. This investment aims to expand its network of hi-site telecommunications towers, facilitating high-speed internet connectivity for South African enterprises.
- March 2024: Actis, a prominent global investor specializing in sustainable infrastructure, partnered with Royal Bafokeng Holdings as its empowerment ally to finalize an agreement for the complete acquisition of Swiftnet. Swiftnet, a top-tier telecom tower portfolio in South Africa, was acquired from Telkom for an enterprise value of USD 355 million. For Actis, acquiring Swiftnet is a strategic move, granting access to a network of over 4,000 sites nationwide.
South Africa 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 South Africa 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 size 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 |
Need A Different Region or Segment?
Customize Now
South Africa Telecom Tower Market Research Faqs
How big is the South Africa Telecom Tower Market?
The South Africa Telecom Tower Market size is expected to reach 27.22 thousand units in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 4.64% to reach 34.14 thousand units by 2030.
What is the current South Africa Telecom Tower Market size?
In 2025, the South Africa Telecom Tower Market size is expected to reach 27.22 thousand units.
Who are the key players in South Africa Telecom Tower Market?
IHS Holdings Limited, Reunert, ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd, Helios Towers plc and SBA Communications Corporation are the major companies operating in the South Africa Telecom Tower Market.
What years does this South Africa Telecom Tower Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the South Africa Telecom Tower Market size was estimated at 25.96 thousand units. The report covers the South Africa Telecom Tower Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the South Africa Telecom Tower Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
South Africa Telecom Tower Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 South Africa Telecom Tower market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. South Africa 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.
