Africa’s cell towers turning to solar as diesel costs surge
NAIROBI, Kenya—Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran war are adding urgency to a shift already under way across Africa to move cell phone towers off fossil fuels and onto solar power.
Diesel, which powers the majority of Africa’s roughly 500,000 telecommunications towers, has become more expensive and sometimes harder to secure in recent weeks as global fuel markets tightened following the conflict.
The transition to cleaner power for the towers that provide cell phone service predates the latest price shocks, driven by cost pressures and climate goals.
But the Middle East conflict has accelerated the push and “strengthened the case for solar and hybrid solutions,” said Lande Abudu, senior energy specialist for Africa at GSMA, a global industry organization representing mobile operators.
Manual refueling
Globally, most telecommunication towers are connected to the electricity grid, with diesel generators used mainly as backup during outages.
In parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, operators have also relied heavily on diesel but are now pursuing similar transitions to renewable energy.
Cell phone towers in Africa have traditionally been powered by diesel generators—often large industrial units that require operators to manually refuel them.
Last month, American-owned Atlas Tower Kenya said it was investing $52.5 million to construct 300 new solar-powered towers to serve major operators.
The company currently has 82 percent of its 500 towers solar-powered. “It’s a significant shift, but there’s still a long way to go,” Abudu said.
Weaker grid infra
“By replacing diesel-powered telecom towers with fully solar-powered infrastructure, we expect to reduce the carbon emissions associated with mobile network operations,” said iSAT Africa CEO Rakesh Kukreja.
Replacing diesel generators with solar energy could help close Africa’s connectivity gap, where about 65 percent of people remain unconnected, according to GSMA.
In rural Kenya, residents in some off-grid communities say solar towers have improved service stability, enabling more consistent access to mobile banking, education and health information.
Africa’s reliance on diesel is more pronounced due to weaker grid infrastructure, making the shift more challenging and potentially more transformative.
Regulators say the transition could deliver broader benefits. In Nigeria, the telecom regulator has encouraged operators to integrate towers into solar mini-grids that can also supply nearby communities.
“These telecom towers can act as anchor clients for solar mini-grids, supplying electricity not only to the towers but also to nearby homes, businesses and public services,” said Aminu Maida, head of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“This is no longer just about climate,” Abudu said. “It’s about resilience, cost and keeping Africa connected.”
