Helios Towers

Source: Myjoyonline

Helios Towers has commemorated 15 years of transformative work in Ghana’s telecommunications landscape with a high-profile gala at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre—celebrating a legacy of connectivity, innovation, and inclusion.

Launched in Ghana in 2010, Helios Towers has since grown into one of Africa’s leading independent telecom infrastructure providers. The company has enabled mobile coverage for more than 18 million Ghanaians, established over 1,096 tower sites nationwide, and taken industry leadership in green energy innovation with more than 400 solar-powered towers deployed.

“Ghana is where our story began—and it remains the heartbeat of our operations,” said Kweku Frempong, Managing Director of Helios Towers Ghana. “This milestone is a tribute to resilience, innovation, and the impact that comes from investing in people and potential.”

The celebratory event brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Sam George, and Board Chairman Sir Sam Jonah, alongside telecom executives, government officials, and community partners.

From its beginnings as a single-market operator, Helios Towers has expanded its footprint to over 14,000 sites across nine markets in Africa and the Middle East—including Tanzania, DRC, Senegal, South Africa, and Oman. The company credits its growth to strategic local partnerships and a deeply rooted Ghanaian workforce, with 100% of Helios Towers Ghana employees being Ghanaian and 22% of them women—an impressive feat in a male-dominated field.

Helios Towers Ghana has also made significant investments in rural connectivity, with more than 290 rural sites and nearly $1 million directed toward staff training and upskilling. Its green energy drive is exemplified by the countrywide solar rollout, underscoring its commitment to sustainability.

Now entering its next chapter, Helios Towers continues to position itself as a key enabler of Ghana’s digital future.

Source: Myjoyonline

The Government of Ghana and Helios Towers have renewed their commitment to bolstering the nation’s telecom sector through expanded infrastructure investment and ICT skills training.

During a recent courtesy visit to the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Helios Towers Group CEO Tom Greenwood announced plans to grow the company’s neutral tower footprint and train over 2,000 students in ICT. This initiative aligns with Ghana’s broader digital transformation strategy.

With 15 years of operational experience in Ghana, Helios Towers reaffirmed its commitment to long-term investment over the next 15 years. Minister George acknowledged the telecom sector’s pivotal role in driving digital access, citing the sector’s rise in GDP contribution from 4.4 billion cedis in 2016 to 21 billion cedis in 2022.

The renewed collaboration is expected to spur private sector participation, improve network reliability, and empower Ghanaian youth with relevant digital skills—advancing the country’s ambition to become a tech-enabled, connected economy in West Africa.

Written by: Hikmatu Bilali
Source: Ecofin Agency

Helios Towers is capitalizing on the explosive demand for mobile data services across Africa and the Middle East, with a sharpened focus on improving its tenancy ratio and maximizing infrastructure utilization.

According to CEO Tom Greenwood, the company’s operations in nine high-growth markets—eight in Africa and one in the Middle East—are benefiting from mobile penetration rates that still lag behind Europe, offering significant room for expansion. While mobile phone usage in Europe averages 90%, it hovers around 50% across Africa. Subscriber growth is at about 5% annually, with data consumption projected to quadruple over the next five years in the region.

“Our business is driven by structural growth,” Greenwood explained. “As data usage increases, so does the need for mobile infrastructure.”

Helios currently operates 14,417 sites across Congo Brazzaville, DRC, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Oman. Its average tenancy ratio has increased to 2.09 tenants per site, and the company is on track to meet its 2.2x target by 2026. Revenue for Q1 2025 rose 5% to $203.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA up 9% to $111.1 million.

Greenwood emphasized that Helios is committed to organic growth, with no plans for new market entries or M&A at this time. “There’s so much demand where we are now, that’s keeping us busy.”

Helios forecasts 2,000–2,500 tenancy additions in 2025, with full-year adjusted EBITDA of $460–$470 million, and capex of $150–$180 million. The towerco is also backed by $5.3 billion in contracted revenues, 99% of which comes from multinational mobile network operators.

Source: Anne Morris, Contributing Editor, Light Reading – lightreading.com

Helios Towers, a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company, is playing a pivotal role in enhancing mobile connectivity across Africa and the Middle East. By providing shared telecom tower infrastructure, Helios Towers enables mobile network operators (MNOs) to expand and improve their coverage more efficiently and cost-effectively. This approach not only accelerates the rollout of mobile services but also reduces the environmental footprint associated with building duplicate infrastructure. ​

The company’s operations span several countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they have established an extensive portfolio of telecom towers. This infrastructure supports the increasing demand for mobile connectivity driven by the region’s young and growing populations. By facilitating better network coverage, Helios Towers contributes to digital inclusion, connecting individuals and communities to essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. ​

Helios Towers’ business model promotes the sharing of tower infrastructure among multiple MNOs, allowing for quicker, more reliable, and cost-effective delivery of mobile connectivity. This strategy not only supports the expansion and quality of mobile networks but also aligns with sustainable development goals by minimizing environmental impact. ​

As mobile penetration continues to grow in Africa and the Middle East, the role of infrastructure providers like Helios Towers becomes increasingly critical in bridging the digital divide and fostering socio-economic development across the continent.​

Source: Extensia

Helios Towers has delivered a defining year in its financial journey, achieving two major milestones: ten consecutive years of Adjusted EBITDA growth and the company’s first-ever positive free cash flow. This marks a significant shift from expansion-driven financial strategies to a business model that is not just scaling, but self-sustaining.

What the Numbers Reveal

• Tenancy Growth as a Profit Driver: The company recorded 2,481 new tenancies, bringing its total to 29,406. This translated into a 14% jump in Adjusted EBITDA and a 10% revenue increase to $792 million.
• Efficiency at Scale: The tenancy ratio rose to 2.05x (from 1.91x), reinforcing the efficiency of Helios’ colocation model. This ratio is key—higher colocation rates mean greater revenue from existing assets, reducing capital intensity and improving return on invested capital (ROIC).
• Positive Free Cash Flow – A Pivotal Moment: With $100 million in cash flow expansion, Helios recorded $18.7 million in free cash flow, a crucial turning point that signals financial self-sufficiency. This is a game-changer, paving the way for deleveraging and potential capital returns to shareholders in 2026.
• Debt Refinancing & Improved Credit Profile: Net debt fell by 3% to $1.73 billion, and leverage reduced to 4.0x from 4.4x. Rating agencies took notice—S&P upgraded Helios to BB-, marking its second upgrade within a year.

Beyond the Numbers: The Strategic Impact

Helios Towers’ success is not just about revenue and profit growth—it is about optimizing operational efficiency while expanding network reach. The company now covers 151 million people, up from 144 million in 2023, and has exceeded its 2026 target for rural sites two years ahead of schedule.

The strong 99.99% power uptime further underlines Helios’ focus on reliability, a key metric for mobile operators in emerging markets where infrastructure challenges remain a bottleneck.

Looking ahead, Helios’ 2.2x tenancy ratio target by 2026 is critical. Achieving this will unlock even greater margin expansion, strengthen free cash flow, and ensure sustainable, long-term growth. The company’s commitment to digital transformation, AI-powered network planning, and energy efficiency will further bolster its competitive edge.

What This Means for Africa’s Telecom Landscape

Helios Towers’ trajectory highlights the evolving telecom infrastructure model in Africa. The shift from single-operator sites to shared infrastructure is not just about cost savings—it is about accelerating connectivity in a sustainable way. As mobile penetration deepens and data demand surges, Helios is positioning itself as a linchpin in Africa’s digital transformation.

With its 2024 results setting a solid financial foundation, Helios Towers is no longer just expanding—it is now poised to optimize and monetize its infrastructure at an unprecedented scale.

Source: TechAfrica News

The total value of taxes, fees and levies paid by and collected by the telecommunications industry for government has risen significantly from GH¢ 3.6 billion in 2020 to GH¢ 4.3 billion in 2021.

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