Indian Telecom Giant Indus Towers Expands to Africa Starting with Nigeria

India’s leading telecom infrastructure company Indus Towers has announced its first international expansion with plans to enter African markets, beginning with Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The move aims to diversify revenue streams and leverage existing partnerships with parent company Bharti Airtel, which already has a strong presence across the continent.

The company’s board approved the strategic foray into Africa, recognising the growth potential in emerging markets. Indus Towers will utilise its financial strength and technical expertise to establish a competitive presence in these regions. Bharti Airtel’s Africa operations, serving over 169 million customers across 14 countries, will serve as the anchor customer for this expansion.

This move comes as Indus Towers reported strong financial performance with substantial free cash flow, though the company has chosen to prioritise expansion over dividend payments to shareholders. The African market offers significant opportunities for growth in telecom infrastructure due to increasing mobile connectivity demands across the continent.

The expansion aligns with the Indian government’s vision of encouraging domestic companies to grow into multinational entities. However, the company must still obtain necessary regulatory approvals and comply with local laws in each African country before commencing operations.

Indus Towers operates over 251,000 towers across India and provides infrastructure services to major telecom operators including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The company’s expertise in delivering cost-effective solutions positions it to compete effectively in Africa’s growing telecom market.