The past decade has seen a fundamental shift in the way that mobile network operators (MNOs) own and manage their tower infrastructure.

Increasingly, MNOs have transitioned to tower-sharing models that outsource the procurement, installation, management and maintenance of tower sites to tower companies (TowerCos), some of which are wholly or partly owned by MNOs. This ownership model lightens the burden on MNOs’ balance sheets by reducing CAPEX and OPEX, releasing funds for other critical activities, such as upgrading networks to 4G or 5G.

TowerCos build and operate the towers which are used as passive infrastructure to host the active elements of one or more telecommunications networks. Their role has expanded significantly since 2014, when the GSM Association reported that up to 90% of the world’s towers were owned and operated by mobile network operators (MNOs). At that time, control of the tower network was seen as part of MNOs’ core business.

Currently, around 344 TowerCos around the world own more than 72% of the world’s 5.5m macro-sites (ground-based towers and rooftop towers) that are used for mobile telecoms network installations. TowerCos are experiencing significant transformations driven by technological advancements, strategic expansions, and evolving market dynamics.