Technology company, MTN Nigeria, has announced that it has no intention of changing its mind about leasing 2,500 of its tower sites to ATC.
According to The Times, this was said by MTN in a statement released on Tuesday in response to a Reuters story that claimed IHS, the previous tower contractor, was going to present MTN with a better offer in order to win back the contract.
MTN said it has not received an offer from IHS and does not intend to rescind its decision regarding the contract, despite the fact that ATC was awarded the contract following a fiercely competitive bidding process.
The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, made the statement rejecting the report as untrue.
“The 2,500 site agreement with ATC has been finalized after a rigorous process involving our highest governance approvals. Bilateral renewal is always our first choice, provided that the terms and prices are competitive. The ATC proposal was better in this case.
“MTN and IHS will keep up their positive dialogue regarding any new opportunities that present themselves, such as the 2025 tower renewals of the upcoming vintages. There will be more chances for value optimization, and we’ll follow a similar stringent procedure. We anticipate that participating parties, such as IHS, will make a strong case for their proposal,” Okigbo stated.
Additionally, Okigbo refuted claims that awarding the sites to ATC would negatively affect the environment and cause network outages.
He argued that these accusations are false and deceptive because network disruption is not always the result of tower transfers between two infrastructure companies. He continued by saying that MTN is sure that ATC’s plans will guarantee a seamless switch 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.
He stated that MTN anticipates ATC to deploy telecom sites in accordance with 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 continued.
