TowerXchange

TowerXchange, the network for tower industry professionals, is now InfraXchange – with an expanded focus beyond towers to other areas of the network and greater integration with techoraco’s other events in the wider digital infrastructure space. In a time of reduced M&A and operator need for opex and capex optimisation, this change meets the needs of operators and drives more strategic engagement between the key players in the industry – towercos, operators, and other partners.

Telecom operators in Africa are under growing pressure to power expanding networks in tough environments; where unreliable grids, soaring fuel costs, and carbon targets collide. CREI’s energy-as-a-service model, born from its sister company’s 17-year operational legacy, is stepping in to provide a scalable solution.

EE has begun switching on a network of 80 small-cell sites in the City of Westminster, working with neutral-host specialist Ontix under a long-running concession agreement with the local authority. Painted to match surrounding street furniture, each unit sits on existing lampposts and is connected back to EE’s core via fibre, creating a dense layer of capacity in streets that see more than 25 million visitors a year and play host to 50,000 businesses.

IHS Nigeria has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to tighten protection of critical telecoms infrastructure nationwide. The deal gives the NSCDC a formal mandate to surveil IHS towers and fibre routes, provide rapid incident response, and pursue vandals and cable thieves through to prosecution.

IHS Towers has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, setting out progress against the four-pillar strategy. The towerco, which owns or manages around nearly 40,000 structures across Africa and Latin America, reports that its Scope 1 and 2 kilowatt-hour emissions intensity fell by 11% year-on-year and by roughly 20% since the baseline year of 2021.

French mobile network operators SFR and Bouygues Telecom have decided the time is right to monetise their 50:50 tower joint venture, Infracos, according to a report in Le Monde. Created in 2014 to host the passive assets that underpin the pair’s shared-network grid in sparsely populated parts of France, Infracos controls c. 3,500 rooftop and ground-based structures—primarily pylons, water-towers and other high points that secure coverage along secondary roads and in rural communities.

IHS Towers, Africa's largest independent telecom tower operator, has agreed to sell 100% of it's Rwanda operations (IHS Rwanda Limited) including 1,465 sites to Paradigm Tower Ventures. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including government and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

Orange Middle East and Africa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have signed a partnership to sustainably strengthen access to digital services in eight African countries on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum. Subscribe to our Newsletter The goal is to develop a more inclusive and sustainable digital connectivity in underserved areas of West and Central Africa. This unprecedented partnership aims to leverage the complementary expertise of the two organisations.

Telefónica is continuing to slim down its operations in Latin America, with the latest move being the sale of its struggling Peruvian business. This decision aligns with the vision of new Executive Chairman Marc Murtra, who sees Brazil as the only key market worth holding onto in the region. Subscribe to our Newsletter The Spanish telecoms giant has signed a deal to sell Telefónica del Perú to Argentina-based Integra Tec International for just €900,000.

Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) has entered into a agreement to buy an additional 50% stake in the Danish TDF Group from the Danish pension funds PFA, PKA and ATP, the fund manager has announced. This transaction is via a MAM-led consortium including its managed funds. Subscribe to our Newsletter No financial details have been disclosed. The investment will result in Macquarie managing 100% of the capital in TDC Group.