Helios is expanding its tower network in Africa and the Middle East, boosting tenancy growth and data demand. This page answers the key questions readers have about why Helios’ profit forecast rose, where data demand is strongest, how tower deployments are changing, and what this means for consumers’ mobile coverage. Explore the latest findings and see what’s next for digital connectivity in the region.
Helios raised its 2026 adjusted core profit forecast to $515 million–$530 million after first-quarter results showed robust tenancy growth and strong mobile data demand in Africa and the Middle East. The growth is underpinned by rising mobile penetration, population growth, and ongoing investments in digital connectivity, including 5G deployments that require more cell sites and tenancy capacity across Helios’ portfolio of 14,000+ telecom sites.
Data demand is strongest in Africa and the Middle East, driven by growing smartphone use, increased internet access, and regional digital initiatives. To meet this demand, tower networks are expanding with more tenancies per site and additional sites being added. This expansion supports faster networks, better coverage, and higher capacity to handle peak usage in urban and rural areas alike.
For consumers, the expansion means better mobile coverage, improved data speeds, and more reliable connections as networks add capacity. Users may experience fewer congestion issues during peak times, especially in high-traffic areas. For the market, more tenancies and new towers generally translate to improved service quality and greater network resilience.
Helios benefits from a large existing site portfolio and a strategic focus on Africa and the Middle East, regions with rising mobile penetration and ongoing 5G investments. By increasing tenancy growth and adding new sites, Helios is aligning its assets with the data demand-driven expansion happening across these markets.
While direct pricing details aren’t provided here, greater tenancy and network capacity typically improve service reliability and can influence pricing dynamics. Operators gain efficiency from scale, which can support continued investment in coverage while maintaining competitive pricing for customers.
Investors should track quarterly tenancy growth figures, capex plans for new towers, regional data demand indicators, and regulatory or macro factors affecting telecom expansion in Africa and the Middle East. Positive momentum in tenancy additions and data demand would support continued profit growth forecasts and broader network rollout plans.
The telecoms group said total revenues fell 6.5% to £2.39 billion in the first quarter, while underlying earnings were down 3.4% to £901.7 million.