MTN to absorb 2,762 IHS employees in $2.2B acquisition

MTN Group, Africa's largest telco, is acquiring IHS Towers for $2.2 billion, absorbing 2,762 employees. The deal guarantees incoming staff salaries and benefits for 12 months at pre-acquisition levels to maintain morale during integration. Nigeria leads with 1,559 employees, reflecting its central role in IHS's business. Other key markets include Côte d'Ivoire (158), Cameroon (145), Zambia (108), and South Africa (123). The workforce is 59% technical roles, with 1,621 engineers. MTN gains operational control of critical infrastructure, signaling Africa's shift toward operator-owned towers. Personnel costs rose 9.2% to $166.4M in 2025, driven by talent retention. Nigeria contributed $1.07B revenue in 2025, despite MTN's 1,050 site exits. IHS Towers will delist and become MTN's subsidiary, consolidating Africa's largest tower portfolio.

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/03/17/mtn-takes-on-2762-workers-in-ihs-towers-buyout/