MTN’s IHS Towers takeover advances as regulator demands fair access
The conditions address the deal’s central tension: MTN will own the tower infrastructure while continuing to compete with other mobile operators that use it.
South Africa's Competition Commission has given the green light to MTN's $2.2 billion acquisition of IHS Towers, subject to certain conditions. The telecoms giant, Africa's largest mobile operator, has now secured full ownership of the telecoms infrastructure company, which operates nearly 29,000 towers across Africa.
Regulators have demanded that IHS's infrastructure remains accessible to competing operators on fair and non-discriminatory terms. This means MTN South Africa will not be able to gain an unfair advantage from owning infrastructure that rivals also rely on. The conditions aim to protect customers, jobs, and prevent preferential treatment for MTN South Africa.
The Commission found that the proposed transaction raises competition and public interest concerns. Despite this, MTN and IHS are confident the acquisition will benefit the entire industry, improving network performance and supporting the rollout of technologies like 5G and fixed wireless access. The deal, which is all-cash, was announced in February, with MTN securing 100% ownership of IHS.
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