TowerXchange Africa

With demand for affordable and high-speed internet access accelerating, Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) are stepping up to bridge the digital divide. But to scale sustainable, infrastructure partnerships are key. This panel explores how WISPs and towercos can align to deploy Fixed-Wireless Access (FWA) at scale, the differences and similarities between working with WISPs compared to MNOs, and the opportunities for towercos to generate additional revenues through FWA hosting. 

• What’s driving demand for Fixed-Wireless Access in Africa? 

• How tower hosting is becoming an increasingly relevant hosting option for WISPs 

• From power requirements and antenna placement to coverage expectations; what do towercos need to know about WISP deployments? 

• How do towercos need to adapt their commercial models to accommodate WISP realities? 

• Is there a towerco-ISP convergence on the horizon to deliver last-mile connectivity and services? 

As demand for digital services grows, infrastructure needs to be deployed at scale to keep pace. This means more complex, integrated networks, and in turn an opportunity for greater sharing through open access models. This panel explores how infrastructure sharing models will evolve alongside accelerating connectivity, opportunities for new adjacencies, revenue streams and partnerships, and whether we will start to see the rise of the ‘infraco’ in Africa. 

• Defining open access across different sectors; is there a shared understanding? 

• What are the challenges in aligning sharing operational models? 

• Are MNOs ready to embrace fully open-access models, or are there still concerns? 

• How do investors view cross-infrastructure open access vs a sector focus? 

• What impact will emerging technologies such as AI, 5G and IoT have on reshaping open-access models? 

The past few years have seen a decline in M&A, with the tower sector focusing on lease-up, greenfield and driving efficiencies. But there are still many tower portfolios remaining under operator management, and the potential for a new wave of tower activity and consolidation. However, it’s clear that the next decade of tower deals will look different from the previous decade. This panel will explore what this new future of M&A will look like, the changing nature of contracts, lease agreements and owner structures. 

• What is the current outlook towards M&A in the African tower sector? 

• How have expectations around lease terms, SLAs and operational control changed compared to the past decade? 

• Evaluating towercos in the current market; what are investors looking for? 

• The impact of more MNO-led M&A, from equity stakes to joint ventures 

• As digital infrastructure assets converge with towers, how is this influencing future deals? 

• Exploring consortium and multi-stakeholder partnership models for tower transactions 

Growing demand for digital access and services is fed by the continuous flow of capital into African infrastructure. But traditional reliance on foreign investment is bring re-examined. To mitigate foreign exchange risk, aligning with increasingly localised revenue streams, and build greater resilience, the localisation of capital is becoming a topic of exploration. This panel explore how local currency financing can support investment strategies for digital infrastructure, and the growing role of African financial institutions as key financing partners. 

• How is localization of currency reshaping investment strategies to mitigate foreign exchange risk?  

• How local capital markets and blended financing mechanisms can meet the requirements for digital infrastructure projects in Africa 

• Exploring the growing role of African financial institutions as infrastructure financiers; banks, pension funds and development finance institutions 

• Does Africa’s financial ecosystem have the right tools, regulatory frameworks, and depth to support infrastructure investment at scale? 

• Will localising the supply chain be the key to eliminating exchange risks related to US$? 

TowerXchange has partnered with the Africa Infrastructure Development Association to host the AFIDA Catapult Accelerator, a platform for infrastructure developers aiming to expedite their projects from concept to financial close. Designed to reduce timelines and uncertainties, the program enhances scale and optimizes the risk-reward balance between public and private sectors.

14:30 – 14:40 | Opening remarks 

14:40 – 15:10 | Pitch 1 

15:10 – 15:40 | Pitch 2 

15:40 – 16:10 | Pitch 3