MTN Group, a prominent telecom giant in Africa, is currently engaged in advanced negotiations to acquire the remaining 75% stake it does not already possess in tower operator IHS Holdings. This potential transaction is estimated to value IHS at approximately $2.76 billion, an announcement that has significantly impacted market perceptions due to its potential to reshape MTN’s ownership and operational strategy for critical infrastructure it currently leases across the continent.

MTN, which is a major client of IHS and leases thousands of its towers in crucial markets such as Nigeria and South Africa, indicated that any proposed offer would likely be positioned near IHS’s most recent closing price on the New York Stock Exchange. However, the telco was careful to emphasize that a definitive agreement has not yet been reached. Should the deal be finalized, it would grant MTN substantially greater control over the essential physical backbone that supports its network operations. This strategic shift would reverse a long-standing industry trend of sale-and-leaseback deals, where operators typically divest passive assets to specialized tower companies. IHS Towers, originally founded in Nigeria in 2001, has expanded to become one of the world's largest independent tower owners, managing tens of thousands of sites across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The significance of this potential acquisition stems from the long-standing commercial partnership between MTN and IHS, with MTN being one of IHS’s largest customers and a key shareholder. The two companies even renewed long-term tower lease agreements across multiple African markets just last year, highlighting their intertwined business relationship. Despite the ongoing talks, MTN has informed investors that it will continue to explore various options to unlock value from its existing IHS stake, even if the current negotiations prove unsuccessful. Shareholders have also been advised to exercise caution, as the transaction, if concluded, could materially influence MTN’s share price. All attention remains focused on the progression of these negotiations and whether MTN will secure full control of this vital African digital infrastructure business.

In parallel, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is not slowing down its innovation, with its Starlink division reportedly exploring ambitious new products that could extend its services well beyond traditional home internet. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that SpaceX is investigating new Starlink offerings, including the potential development of a Starlink phone, direct-to-device internet connectivity, and a space-tracking service. While specific details regarding the Starlink phone are still nascent, Musk himself has confirmed it’s “not out of the question,” hinting at a device designed differently from current smartphones and optimized for artificial intelligence performance rather than conventional applications. Starlink has rapidly emerged as SpaceX’s most significant revenue generator, reportedly contributing a substantial portion of the company’s $15–16 billion revenue last year, thereby helping to finance Musk’s more ambitious endeavors, such as orbiting data centers linked to SpaceX’s merger with xAI.

The prospect of Starlink successfully delivering direct internet to ordinary mobile phones holds the potential to redefine connectivity, particularly in areas grappling with weak mobile network coverage. However, industry analysts suggest that SpaceX manufacturing its own phone could create unease among traditional telecom operators, many of whom might be reluctant to support a competitor that also controls the underlying network. Beyond mobile connectivity, SpaceX is also venturing into space traffic monitoring with a new service named Stargaze, which utilizes cameras already integrated into Starlink satellites to track objects in low-Earth orbit. This expansion underscores Starlink’s rapid transformation into more than just an internet project; it is becoming a foundational pillar of SpaceX’s future business strategy.

Furthermore, Starlink has officially commenced operations in Senegal, marking a significant milestone for the country’s digital development goals. This satellite internet service, managed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now live, making Senegal the 26th African nation to gain access to Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet delivered from space. Elon Musk personally announced the launch on X, expressing his enthusiasm for the innovations local entrepreneurs and innovators in Senegal will develop with this new access. This excitement is particularly palpable in communities that have historically contended with slow or unreliable internet connectivity.

The Senegalese government has warmly embraced Starlink’s entry. Mamadou Talla, the Minister of Digital Economy and Telecommunications, lauded its arrival as a historic achievement that aligns with Senegal’s national drive for digital inclusion. He articulated that enhanced internet access would foster greater opportunities for citizens to innovate, establish businesses, and effectively compete on a global scale. Abdoulaye Dione, Director-General of the Senegalese Agency for Digital Development, further emphasized that satellite internet has the capacity to significantly reduce “digital deserts” in remote regions, enabling residents outside major cities to better access education, operate online businesses, and participate more fully in civic life. Senegal now joins an expanding roster of African countries where Starlink is active, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Botswana, highlighting the growing influence of satellite internet in reshaping education, entrepreneurship, and daily life across the continent.