MTN announced that agreements to lease 2,500 of its towers to ATC have been finalized.
MTN responded to a story claiming that it had received better terms from IHS Towers for the lease of 2,500 sites. ATC recently won the contract after a very contested bidding process.
The telecom company said in a statement yesterday that MTN has not received a revised offer from IHS and that the rumors are untrue.
MTN said in September that ATC had been granted the lease for the 2,500 sites, which were scheduled to expire in 2024 and 2025, following a very equitable and transparent procurement procedure.
Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Nigeria declared: “After a rigorous process involving our highest governance approvals, the agreement with ATC over the 2,500 sites is final.”
“Our preference is always for bilateral renewal, subject to competitive pricing and terms. In this instance the ATC proposal was superior.”
The telecom company declared that it will keep up a positive dialogue with IHS regarding any new prospects that present themselves, such as the renewal of the upcoming tower generations that are scheduled for renewal in 2025.
“There will be more chances for value optimization, and we’ll follow a similar stringent procedure. We anticipate that participating companies, such as IHS, will make a strong case for their proposal,” Okigbo stated.
Claims that awarding the sites to ATC would negatively affect the environment and cause network outages were rejected by him, saying that they were misleading and factually inaccurate. Network disruption is not a guarantee when two infrastructure companies switch towers.
MTN expressed its confidence in ATC’s preparations to guarantee a seamless switchover between towers.
“We are paving the way for a new era of connectivity in Nigeria through our partnership with ATC, one that not only satisfies our customers’ increasing demands but also aligns with our focus on expense efficiencies, commitment to sustainability, and environmental responsibility,” Okigbo stated.
MTN stated that it anticipates ATC to deploy telecom sites following NESREA and NCC regulations.
“We have a strong desire to achieve net-zero emissions, and one aspect of the unique value that ATC offers is its dedication to running green sites that guarantee a large decrease in carbon emissions. In contrast to the claims of negative environmental effects, the collaboration with ATC will lower greenhouse gas emissions,” he remarked.
