Helios Towers Pan-African Telecom Infrastructure
Africa's leading independent tower company — connecting millions through shared infrastructure.
Helios Towers is one of Africa's largest independent telecommunications tower companies, operating over 14,000 tower sites across 9 markets in Africa and the Middle East. Founded in 2010 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2019, the company builds, acquires, and operates passive telecommunications infrastructure — towers, power systems, and shelters — that mobile network operators (MNOs) lease to deploy their radio equipment. By sharing towers among multiple operators, Helios Towers reduces the cost of network rollout and enables faster expansion of mobile connectivity across underserved areas. The company is a critical enabler of Africa's mobile revolution.
- 01Operate and expand a portfolio of over 14,000 telecommunications tower sites across Africa
- 02Enable mobile network operators to expand coverage efficiently through shared infrastructure
- 03Increase tenancy ratios by hosting multiple operators on each tower to maximise asset utilisation
- 04Reduce carbon emissions by transitioning tower power systems from diesel to solar and hybrid solutions
- 05Bridge the digital divide by extending telecom infrastructure into rural and underserved communities
- 06Deliver attractive returns to investors while supporting Africa's digital transformation
2010 · completed
Helios Towers Founded
Helios Towers is established to build and operate shared telecommunications infrastructure across Africa, initially focusing on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
2015 · completed
Portfolio Reaches 6,000 Towers
Through organic build-to-suit projects and acquisitions from MNOs, Helios reaches 6,000 towers across four African markets.
2019 · completed
London Stock Exchange IPO
Helios Towers lists on the London Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation exceeding $1.5 billion, raising capital for further expansion across Africa.
2021 · completed
Expansion into New Markets
Helios enters Senegal, Madagascar, and Oman through acquisitions, diversifying beyond its original East and West African markets.
2022 · completed
South Africa Market Entry
Helios acquires tower assets in South Africa, entering Africa's largest and most developed telecom market for the first time.
2025 · in progress
14,000+ Towers and Green Energy Push
Portfolio exceeds 14,000 towers. Helios accelerates its green energy programme, targeting 70% hybrid or solar-powered sites to reduce diesel dependency.
Infrastructure
Tower Portfolio
Over 14,000 telecommunications tower sites across 9 countries, including ground-based towers, rooftop installations, and in-building solutions.
Energy
Power Systems
Hybrid power solutions combining solar panels, batteries, and diesel generators. Ongoing transition towards predominantly renewable energy.
Human Capital
Field Operations Teams
Thousands of field technicians performing tower construction, maintenance, and power management across all operating markets.
Monitoring
Network Operations Centre
Centralised and regional NOCs providing 24/7 remote monitoring of tower uptime, power status, and security alerts.
Connectivity
Fibre and Backhaul Assets
Fibre optic connectivity at strategic tower locations to support high-bandwidth data services for tenant operators.
- Lattice steel and monopole tower designs ranging from 25 to 60+ metres for urban and rural coverage
- Hybrid power systems combining solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and backup diesel generators
- Remote monitoring and management (RMM) systems for real-time tower performance tracking
- Site sharing technology enabling multiple MNOs to co-locate equipment on a single tower structure
- Fibre backhaul integration at key tower sites for high-capacity data transmission
- Smart energy management systems to optimise power consumption and minimise diesel usage
What it means for the community
Helios Towers directly enables mobile connectivity for hundreds of millions of Africans by providing the infrastructure that mobile operators need to extend their networks. The shared tower model reduces the cost of network deployment by an estimated 30-50% compared to each operator building its own towers. The company employs over 2,000 people across its markets and supports Africa's digital economy growth. By transitioning from diesel to solar-hybrid power, Helios is eliminating thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from Africa's telecom infrastructure.
- Helios Towers Plc — listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: HTWS)
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