By The MTN Group has pledged to absorb 2,762 employees from IHS Towers as part of its planned $2.2 billion acquisition of the infrastructure company, in a move that signals a major shift in how Africa’s largest telecom operator manages its network assets.
The company said it will guarantee salaries, bonuses and core benefits for all incoming staff for at least one year after the deal closes, aiming to ensure stability as workers are integrated into its operations.
The acquisition marks a strategic change for MTN, which has historically relied on independent tower companies like IHS Towers to run its telecom infrastructure. By bringing these operations in-house, MTN is seeking greater control over network quality, costs and long-term expansion.
Nigeria accounts for the largest share of the workforce transfer, with 1,559 employees, reflecting the country’s importance to both companies. Other staff will come from markets including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia and South Africa.
The majority of employees moving to MTN are in technical roles, underlining the engineering-heavy nature of tower operations. IHS Towers reported 1,621 technical staff, alongside smaller teams in finance, IT and human resources.
