P/02 · TOWERS & ROOFTOPS
Shared ground-based and rooftop towers built for multi-operator colocation.
// What it is
One neutral host, multiple operators.
A shared tower is a steel monopole, lattice or guyed-mast structure that carries the passive infrastructure — steel, power, fencing, access road — for multiple mobile operators. Each operator brings its own active radio equipment (antennas, RRUs, baseband) and pays an annual colocation fee. African Towers builds the tower once, operates it continuously and markets unused headroom to additional tenants, driving down per-operator costs over time. Rooftop solutions follow the same model on existing buildings where a full tower is impractical: a ground-level plant room, riser cabling and a compact rooftop steelwork structure carry the same multi-operator payload.
// Who it's for
Built for these infrastructure users.
- Mobile network operators (MNOs) needing new macro cell sites
- Enterprise or municipal campus operators needing dedicated coverage
- Landlords with rooftop space willing to earn passive income
- Real estate developers seeking to attract MNO tenancy pre-completion
// How it works
The shared-infrastructure model explained.
African Towers finances and constructs the tower to a standard that can accommodate at least three MNOs simultaneously. The first operator becomes the anchor tenant and pays a below-market rate; subsequent colocators pay standard rates. All tenants share the passive components (structure, foundation, power, fencing) while keeping their active equipment entirely separate. African Towers' 24/7 NOC monitors power, access and structural integrity for all tenants.
// Use cases
Representative deployments.
- Urban infill — monopoles in dense Accra neighbourhoods where operators compete for rooftops
- Peri-urban expansion — lattice towers serving fast-growing corridors outside Accra and Kumasi
- Highway coverage — tall towers providing continuous roadway coverage on major national routes
- Industrial zones — Tema Free Zone and port areas with high workforce density
- Rooftop leasing programme — office buildings in Accra's commercial districts earning passive income
Frequently asked questions
- What is a shared or neutral-host tower?
- A neutral-host tower is owned and operated by an independent tower company (towerco) — African Towers — not by any single mobile operator. All MNOs can colocate on equal commercial terms. This separates passive infrastructure (the steel and power) from active radio equipment, reducing duplication and the total number of structures needed nationwide.
- How many operators can colocate on one tower?
- African Towers designs each tower to carry a minimum of three operators. Most structures can carry four or five, depending on height, structural loading and wind zone. All four Ghana MNOs — MTN, AirtelTigo, Telecel and Surfline — currently colocate on African Towers' portfolio.
- What is the difference between a ground-based tower and a rooftop solution?
- A ground-based tower is a freestanding steel structure built on a dedicated land parcel (owned or long-leased by African Towers). A rooftop solution uses an existing building as the vertical structure, with steelwork mounted on the roof and plant rooms at ground level or on a plant floor. Both serve the same multi-operator colocation purpose; the choice depends on available land, structural capacity and visual impact constraints.
- What is the colocation process?
- An MNO identifies a coverage gap or capacity need and approaches African Towers. We match the requirement to an existing site or propose a new build. A colocation agreement is signed, equipment is installed during a scheduled maintenance window, and the site is activated — typically within 4–8 weeks for an existing structure.
- Do you provide power at tower sites?
- Yes. African Towers offers Power-as-a-Service at every site: metered AC and 48V DC with a 99.95% availability SLA. This includes mains connection, diesel backup, batteries and remote monitoring. Operators pay only for the power they consume.
// Related services