Helios closes on Airtel towers deal

Bharti Airtel has announced plans to sell around 3,100 telecom towers in four countries to Helios Towers.

Airtel, which has been looking to sell towers in its African portfolio for a while did not say which countries the sales took place in, nor how much the deal is worth.

However, a sale of that volume is thought to be worth up to US$2 billion, which Airtel said it would be using to repay debt.

The deal will expand Helios Towers’ tower coverage in Africa to over 7,800 owned towers.

As standard, Helios will take on a lease from Airtel as the lead tenant, and will then sublet capacity to rival networks.