Airtel Africa taps American Tower for infrastructure

A multi-year, multi-product agreement has been announced between American Tower Corporation’s African operation, ATC Africa, and pan-African operator Airtel Africa.

According to American Tower, a notable independent owner, operator, and developer of multitenant communications real estate, the agreement will support the network rollout of Airtel Africa by utilising ATC Africa’s vast portfolio of communications sites, as well as its capabilities for developing new sites and products, across its footprint in Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, and Uganda.

ATC Africa’s new green site requirements, which are anticipated to significantly reduce dependency on fossil fuels while increasing American Tower’s progress toward attaining its science-based standards, must be followed for any new site development covered by the agreement. For both ATC Africa and Airtel Africa, this strategic alliance is anticipated to lessen exposure to gasoline price volatility.

The parties have also agreed to keep collaborating to gradually adapt current telecom sites to ATC Africa’s green site requirements. Additionally, Airtel Africa and ATC Africa will work together to train underserved populations in information and communications technologies.

The businesses claim that by working together, they hope to significantly expand connections across the African continent, bring digital inclusion to neglected areas, and get closer to achieving their shared goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to lessen on-site reliance on fossil fuels, ATC Africa reports that it has so far invested almost $300 million in energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy deployments, and energy storage technologies. For the purpose of financing the implementation of future energy efficiencies, the corporation has also set aside extra capital.